Tyla opens music scholarships to South African students

Four South African students could receive US$5,000 each through Tyla’s That Girl Music Scholarship. The programme supports young women studying music or the arts, and applications may close before the listed deadline if enough eligible responses arrive.

The scholarship will make 10 awards in total. Four are reserved for South African students, according to reporting by Complex and BONA. The Institute of International Education (IIE) administers the programme. Recipients will also receive two tickets to a Tyla show and an opportunity to meet her.

Who can apply?A route for current students and Grade 12 learners

South African applicants must be at least 18 by the deadline and enrolled full time in a music or arts-related major at an accredited university or equivalent institution. Grade 12 students may also apply if they plan to begin a full-time music or arts-related degree in South Africa in 2027.

Applicants must meet the programme’s minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. The eligibility rules differ for US applicants; the full requirements are on the IIE eligibility page.

Apply soonThe deadline may come early

IIE lists the deadline as October 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. It also says applications may close once 50 eligible responses have been received, so applicants should check the official application page for the latest status before preparing their submission.

A complete application must be submitted in English and include a personal statement of up to 3,000 characters, an estimate of tuition and mandatory fees, an academic record and a self-introduction video of no more than 30 seconds. Financial-aid information is required from US applicants only.

IIE says all application materials must reflect the applicant’s own work, voice and experience. It does not permit AI-generated material in applications.

What the award coversA contribution towards study, plus a Tyla show

The one-time US$5,000 award is for required tuition and mandatory fees. It is not intended to cover all education and living expenses, and the payment goes directly to the student’s institution. Recipients also receive two tickets to a Tyla concert and an opportunity to meet her, according to the award details published by IIE.

IIE says applicants will be notified of their results by the end of November. Selected students must verify full-time enrolment before the award is paid.