The age criteria for the Tutu Fellowship Programme

Because candidates are nominated and nominators don't always know their candidate's exact age, nominees are typically given the opportunity to apply for the Tutu Fellowship Programme based on their nominators' best intentions.

There are, however, age criteria that must be met for Tutu Fellowship candidates. In brief, between 30 and 39.  For the 2026 Tutu Fellowship Programme, a candidate must be older than 30 on 30 April 2026 and younger than 40 on 30 April 2026.

To make this simpler for candidates to determine if you qualify, please put your birthdate into the age calculator below.  The calculator will do the work for you.

• • If you are 29 and 364 days or younger at that date, you are too young.  If the candidate was born after 30 April 1996 they are too young. Please seek re-nomination when you clear the threshold.  If you are already 40 at that date, you are too old. Please email us to signal your withdrawal. In practice, if the candidate was born prior to 30 April 1986, the candidate is too old.

Candidates who submit applications and who fall outside the age criteria - by even a few days - will be administratively declined for consideration.