Where to Apply to the Scholars Program
Please note: Our partners manage the recruitment and selection of Mastercard Foundation Scholars.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is implemented through our partner universities and non-governmental organizations. The application process and decision-making are managed individually by each partner. If you are interested in becoming a Scholar, you must apply through the university of your choice.
Partner institutions have their own deadlines and admission fees. We recommend that you research the application guidelines or contact the institution of your choice for more information. For schools that require application fees as part of the admissions process, the fees will be reimbursed if the student is selected for the Scholars Program.
The Mastercard Foundation is aware of Facebook posts advertising recruitment for scholarship programs under the Program. These groups are not associated with the Mastercard Foundation. We urge the public to avoid engaging with these appeals and to inform us of any groups or posts claiming to be recruiting for Mastercard Foundation scholarships and requesting application fees.
The Mastercard Foundation remains committed to positively impacting the communities and young people reached through our programs.
Undergraduate Studies
-
American University of Beirut
The vision of the Faculty of Health Sciences is to promote the health and well-being of populations through quality higher education.
Recruitment closed.
Ashesi University College
Ashesi University College is a private, non-profit institution with a mission to educate a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders in Africa.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) advances knowledge in science and technology for sustainable development in Africa.
University of Abomey-Calavi
Créée en 1970, l’Université d’Abomey-Calavi est la plus ancienne et la plus grande université publique du Bénin. Avec une population estudiantine estimée à 85.000 inscrits pour l’année universitaire 2016–2017, l’Université est un véritable lieu du savoir ayant formé la majorité des élites de la nation béninoise.
University of Gondar
Established in 1954 as the Public Health Training Institute, and known as the Gondar College of Medical Sciences until 2003, the University of Gondar is the oldest medical school in Ethiopia and was established with the philosophy of a team approach and community-based teaching of health professionals. With 25,000 students, the University of Gondar offers 70 undergraduate and 90 post-graduate programs.
EARTH University
EARTH University is partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to provide scholarships to young leaders from disadvantaged communities around the globe. Approximately one-third of the scholars will come from Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest from Latin America and the Caribbean.
Recruitment closed.
Makerere University
Our Makerere University partnership will offer scholarships to 1,000 academically bright but economically disadvantaged youth from Africa to study at Makerere University from 2013 to 2023.
Recruitment closed.
USIU-A
USIU-A’s mission is to promote the discovery and application of knowledge, the acquisition of skills and the development of intellect and character in a manner which prepares students to contribute effectively and ethically as citizens of a changing and increasingly technological world.
Recruitment closed.
African Leadership University
ALU helps to build the skills that a young leader and entrepreneur will need for the future. Harness the characteristics essential for creating a mission-based life of impact and purpose.
International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE)
2iE’s vision is to reinforce its status as a socially responsible African center of excellence in education, research, and innovation while significantly contributing to Africa’s economic and social development.
University of Rwanda
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda is committed to developing Africa’s next generation of transformative leaders, with a focus on women pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
University of Western Cape
Scholarship Application Tips
- Do you want to know how to write an excellent scholarship application? Check out our Scholarship Application Tips series, which provides invaluable tips on crafting a strong application, gives insights into what to do and what not to do and will equip you with the tools to make your application stand out. Watch now
Master's Studies
-
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a pan-African network of centres of excellence for postgraduate education, research, and outreach in mathematical sciences.
Registration closed.
American University of Beirut
The vision of the Faculty of Health Sciences is to promote the health and well-being of populations through quality higher education.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is an institution committed to excellence, access, and impact. It pursues research that contributes to the public good.
Recruitment closed.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa
With a century-long history that has hosted 19 Nobel laureates, Carnegie Mellon University is renowned as one of the world’s leading engineering institutions.
Recruitment closed.
McGill University
McGill is an internationally diverse, leading Canadian postsecondary institution with a mission to advance learning through teaching, scholarship, and service to society.
Recruitment closed.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a world-leading centre of learning, teaching, and research, as well as the oldest university in the English-speaking world and number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the seventh year running. Through our partnership with Oxford, 400 young people will be supported to pursue their taught master’s degrees in a variety of academic disciplines related to pandemic preparedness and response in Africa.
Recruitment closed.
Sciences Po
Based in Paris, France, Sciences Po is an international research university, ranking among the finest institutions across the globe. They specialize in postgraduate courses in the fields of humanities and social sciences, offering an in-depth academic experience for those passionate about understanding and addressing societal challenges.
Recruitment closed.
University of British Columbia
Building on the Program’s success, the second phase of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia will focus on forestry, agriculture, and water and land management as key enablers of sustainable entrepreneurship and community-led development.
Recruitment closed.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s top ten leading universities, with a rich history of radical thinking dating back to 1209. Through our partnership with Cambridge, 1,025 scholarships (PhD, master’s degrees and certificate programs) will be awarded to young people pursuing careers related to climate resilience and sustainability.
Recruitment closed.
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town aspires to become a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa, and the world. Taking advantage of expanding global networks and its distinct vantage point in Africa, the University of Cape Town is committed, through innovative research and scholarship, to grapple with the key issues of our natural and social worlds.
University of Edinburgh
The mission of the University of Edinburgh is the creation, dissemination, and curation of knowledge.
Recruitment closed.
University of Gondar
Established in 1954 as the Public Health Training Institute, and known as the Gondar College of Medical Sciences until 2003, the University of Gondar is the oldest medical school in Ethiopia and was established with the philosophy of a team approach and community-based teaching of health professionals. With 25,000 students, the University of Gondar offers 70 undergraduate and 90 post-graduate programs.
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi-faculty, research-intensive university with campuses in Pretoria, its surrounds, and in the country’s economic hub, Johannesburg. The University is conveniently situated in close proximity to government departments and major research entities in Pretoria, including the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
The University of California, Berkeley with the Mastercard Foundation will support 108 master’s degree students from Sub-Saharan African countries who are academically talented and committed to transformative change on the continent.
University of Toronto (U of T)
The University of Toronto is partnering with the Mastercard Foundation to develop Africa’s next generation of leaders. U of T can now provide 67 African students with one of the world’s top-ranked educations—in one of the world’s most multi-cultural cities.
Recruitment closed.
University of Western Cape
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
To stay up to date with the Mastercard Foundation, sign up for our monthly newsletter. Get youth voices, impact stories and news and announcements all direct to your inbox.
*By signing up for the Mastercard Foundation’s newsletter, you accept our privacy policy.