Mpumelelo Mseleku, the son of Kwa-Zulu Natal polygamist Musa Mseleku, is facing backlash on social media for not paying lobola (a dowry) to his three girlfriends.

Critics argue that his polygamous marriage is not legitimate until he fulfills this traditional practice.

In an interview, Mpumelelo expressed his admiration for his father’s polygamous lifestyle and his desire to have even more than his father’s four wives. He explained that is’thembu (polygamy) is a gift bestowed by ancestors, and he grew up witnessing it in his own family.

Mpumelelo, who is 22 years old, is determined to embrace a polygamous life and believes that disagreements among wives are normal and part of the journey. The upcoming reality show “Izingane zeS’thembu” featuring the Mseleku family will provide further insight into Mpumelelo’s journey and whether he will pay lobola for any of his girlfriends.

British Council Scholarships Without IELTS 2024 to Study in UK for Free!

Introduction

The British Council is offering fully-funded scholarships for international students interested in pursuing undergraduate, master, or doctoral degree programs in the UK for the academic year 2024-2025. These scholarships aim to support qualified and motivated students seeking advanced learning opportunities in the United Kingdom.

Scholarship Coverage

The British Council scholarships without IELTS offer generous funding to international students, providing various coverages such as:

1. Tuition fee waiver with research funding from an affiliated organization.
2. Free accommodation at an affiliated organization’s premises.
3. Monthly stipend for personal expenses.
4. Health insurance plan.
5. Fare for traveling funded by an affiliated institution.
6. Free access to affiliated university libraries.

IELTS Exemption and Admission Criteria

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam is not required for these scholarships. Instead, applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency through other valid credentials from their former university, showing completion of English language degree courses.

List of Universities Offering Admissions Without IELTS

Several UK universities have waived the IELTS test score requirement for British Council scholarships and admissions. Some of them include:

1. University of Basel
2. University of Bolton
3. University of Northampton
4. London Southbank University
5. Portsmouth University
6. Birmingham City University
7. Swansea University of Geneva
8. The University of Bolton
9. Sheffield Hallam University

Scholarship Opportunities for 2024-2025

• British Chevening Scholarships: Fully-funded for students pursuing full-time Masters or MPhil degrees. Applicants can provide other English language testing proofs such as PTE, Duolingo (DET), TOEFL, or any other valid proof.
• Bristol University Think Big Scholarships: Available for undergraduate and master’s levels with valid proof of English language proficiency.

• Nottingham Developing Scholarships: For high-achieving overseas students from Africa, India, and certain Commonwealth areas, covering 50% or 100% of master’s tuition.
• Reach Oxford Scholarships: Open to students from underdeveloped countries, providing fully covered tuition fees, living expenses, and return airfare per year.

• Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships: Offered to residents of China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Pakistan, Canada, and the United States, providing around 50 awards valued at £8000 each.
• University of Sussex Scholarships: Scholarships for undergraduate and master’s degree programs with a 50% decrease in tuition fees and a grant for living expenses.

• Rhodes Scholarships: Available for brilliant students pursuing Masters and Ph.D. degrees at Oxford University, including tuition, living allowance, visa fees, medical insurance, and airfare.
• Scotland Scholarships: Focused on research-based programs, covering tuition, accommodation, and travel costs.

• Charles Wallace Trust Scholarships: Available for doctoral and fellowship levels without presenting IELTS test scores on certain conditions.
• British Scholarships for Women in STEM: Intended to assist women pursuing a Master’s degree in STEM fields, covering tuition, health insurance, and travel expenses.

• Great UK Scholarships: Fully-funded scholarships for one-year postgraduate programs, covering up to £10,000 tuition fees.
• British Commonwealth Scholarships: Fully-funded scholarships for Master’s programs for applicants from Commonwealth countries.

These scholarships present great opportunities for international students to advance their education in the UK without the need for an IELTS exam.