The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a major scholarship and leadership programme for academically talented young people, especially in Africa, who face significant social or financial barriers to university. It is not a single global form with one deadline. You apply through a partner university, and each partner sets its own courses, eligibility rules and dates.
This is general information, not an official application guide. Always confirm details on the partner university's Scholars Program page and on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program site.
How the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program works
The Foundation works with universities and other partners to fund education and to support scholars as they move into work and leadership. Partner institutions are mainly in Africa, with additional partners in other regions. The application process and the selection decision sit with the partner, not with a central "apply here" button that covers every university.
What the award covers can include tuition, living costs, and academic or wraparound support, but the package is defined by the partner and the level of study. Do not assume that every partner funds both undergraduate and master's study, or that a research-only PhD is included. Some partners explicitly exclude part-time study or degrees by research only.
Typical themes in partner eligibility pages include academic promise, demonstrated leadership or community service, and financial or social barriers. Many partners also encourage applications from women, refugees, internally displaced people, and young people with disabilities, where those categories are part of the programme design. Meeting a theme does not guarantee a place.
Apply to the university first, then to the scholarship
Almost every partner follows some version of this sequence:
- Read the partner's Scholars Program page and the list of eligible courses for that intake.
- Submit an admission application to the university for an eligible programme, by the university's own deadline.
- Submit a separate Scholars Program application, by the scholarship deadline, with the documents that partner asks for.
- If shortlisted, attend an interview or further checks. Offers are usually limited to applicants who also hold, or go on to hold, an offer of admission.
Deadlines differ and they pass quickly. As examples checked in 2026, the University of Pretoria advertised Scholars Program windows for undergraduate and postgraduate applicants who had applied to UP, with dates running into August and September 2026 for that intake. The University of Cape Town advertised a 2027 intake, with a postgraduate Scholars Program deadline later in 2026, while some undergraduate windows had already closed. Makerere University's advertised 2026/27 undergraduate and master's window closed on 5 June 2026. Those dates are historical examples of how partners stagger their calls. They are not a promise of the next cycle. Always use the live page of the university you want.
How to choose a partner and prepare a strong file
Start with partners whose courses match your subject and whose location you can actually take up. A fully funded place you cannot relocate to, or a course outside your background, is not a good target. Then:
- Map admission requirements (grades, language, references) and the scholarship requirements (leadership evidence, financial information, essays) on one sheet.
- Write about specific service and leadership you have already done, with results, rather than general claims about wanting to "change Africa."
- Be truthful about your financial and personal circumstances. Partners are used to genuine hardship; they are also used to exaggerated or copied essays.
- Prepare transcripts, ID, refugee or disability documentation if you are applying under those categories, and references early.
- Do not pay anyone who claims to have an inside route to the Foundation. Official applications are submitted through the university's published process, often at no application fee for the scholarship form itself.
Checklist
- Find current partners through the Foundation's programme page and each university site, not through a forwarded PDF of unknown date.
- Confirm the academic level (undergraduate, honours, postgraduate diploma, taught master's) the partner is funding this cycle.
- Submit the university admission application in time, because the scholarship usually cannot run ahead of admission.
- Keep copies of every form and a note of each deadline in your own calendar.
- Prepare for an interview: your story, your course choice, and what you plan to do after graduation.
What to do if this year's window has closed
Because each partner runs its own cycle, one closed deadline does not mean the whole programme is shut. Look at other partners whose calls are still open, and put the next intake for your first-choice university in your calendar, including the earlier admission deadline. Use the waiting time to improve the parts of the file you can control: grades or a transcript explanation, a clearer record of community work, language scores, and a better fit between your intended course and the work you already do. A rushed application to a poorly matched course is weaker than a prepared application in the next cycle.
If you are a refugee, an internally displaced person, or a young person with a disability, read the partner's notes on supporting documents carefully. Missing a required ID, medical or status document is a common avoidable problem. If a partner says it will support reasonable adjustments at interview or on campus, ask early through the official contact address on its Scholars Program page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to several partner universities at once?
Usually yes, because each partner runs its own admission and scholarship process. You must meet each university's rules and keep the applications consistent. You cannot hold two full awards for the same period if a partner forbids it, and you should read each offer's conditions.
Is the programme only for undergraduates?
No. Several partners fund postgraduate diplomas, honours or taught master's degrees as well as first bachelor's degrees. The mix depends on the partner and the year. Some partners do not fund research master's or PhD study.
Do I need IELTS?
You need whatever English or language evidence that university requires for admission. Some accept alternative tests or previous instruction in English. The scholarship does not replace the university's language rule unless the partner says so in writing.
Where do I apply if I just want "the Mastercard scholarship"?
There is no single central student application that covers all partners. Choose a partner university, then follow that university's Scholars Program instructions.
Information checked November 2026; always confirm on the official site.