The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Programme – Mentorship and Funding for African Students
To students throughout Africa who aspire to a quality education, The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is among the largest and most generous programs on offer. This program doesn’t only provide financial assistance—it also gives mentorship, leadership development, and career counseling to empower students to succeed.
What Does the Program Provide?
The scheme collaborates with more than 40 universities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) globally to provide students with:
Partial or full scholarships to fund their studies
Guidance by experienced professionals
Development of leadership skills to equip them for future challenges
Tutoring and academic help
Internships to gain practical experience
Career services for facilitating employment after graduation
Who Can Apply?
Both undergraduate and postgraduate students are welcome, but there are age restrictions:
Undergraduate candidates should be 29 years or younger at the time of application.
Postgraduate candidates should be 35 years or younger when applying.
Which Universities Take Part?
Some of the leading universities that take part in the scheme are:
McGill University (Canada)
University of Oxford (UK)
University of Cape Town (South Africa)
University of California, Berkeley (USA)
University of Edinburgh (UK)
How to Apply?
Students need to apply through their own chosen university since each institution has its own:
Eligibility requirements (academic, documents, etc.)
Application deadlines (these differ, so double-check!)
Good news: Should you be awarded the scholarship, the program will reimburse you for any application fees you paid to the university.
Do You Need to Take Any Tests?
Some institutions may require:
Standardized tests (such as the SAT for undergraduates)
English language tests (like IELTS or TOEFL) if English is not your native language
Where Can You Find More Details?
For a complete list of partner institutions and application instructions step by step, you may visit the program’s official website here.
