MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program for African Students

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program pays for the education of young Africans who have the grades but not the money to study. It is run by the MasterCard Foundation and covers secondary school, undergraduate, and master's study. The program has committed over 58,000 scholarships for young African leaders and aims to enable 100,000 young people to access higher education by 2030.

• Host: MasterCard Foundation
• Level: Secondary school, Bachelors and Masters degrees
• Study in: Africa, North and Central America, Europe, and the Middle East
• Who can apply: Young Africans, with a focus on young women and marginalized groups
• Awards: Over 58,000 scholarships committed, with a goal to reach 100,000 by 2030
• Deadline: varies by institution
• Course starts: varies by institution

These universities and institutions were picked for their academic standards, supportive environments and programs tied to growth sectors in Africa such as manufacturing, telecommunications, banking and agriculture:

• African Leadership Academy, South Africa
• Ashesi University, Ghana
• American University of Beirut, Lebanon
• Arizona State University, USA
• Camfed , USA
• Brac, Uganda
• Duke University, USA
• Earth University, Costa Rica
• Forum for African Women Educationalists, Kenya
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
• Makerere University, Uganda
• McGill University, Canada
• Michigan State University, USA
• Stanford University, USA
• University of British Columbia, Canada
• University of California, Berkeley, USA
• University of Pretoria, South Africa
• University of Toronto, Canada
• Wellesley College, USA
• University of Cape Town, South Africa

Partner institutions are primarily in Africa, but there are also partners in North and Central America, Europe, and the Middle East.

You can study the approved fields offered by the participating universities and institutions. Check the MasterCard Foundation Scholarship pages of the universities and institutions listed above for the subjects each one offers.

The program has committed over 58,000 scholarships for young African leaders. By 2030, it aims to double its impact by enabling 100,000 young people to access higher education.

Young Africans, with a focus on young women and marginalized groups. 71% of scholars are young women.

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program provides financial, psychosocial, and academic support. Financial support includes, but is not limited to, tuition fees, accommodation, books and other academic materials, mentoring, counselling, leadership development, and a return air ticket to a MasterCard Foundation Scholar's country of origin, if necessary.

21st Century Skill Building: students build skills that matter for finding work, such as critical thinking, communications, and entrepreneurship.

Transition Support: students get help moving into secondary school, university or the workforce through mentoring, career counseling, internships, leadership development, and other life skills coaching.

Give-back Component: scholars commit to giving back to their communities and countries of origin. They show this through volunteerism and community service, as well as other forms of experiential learning.

Alumni Network: graduates join an alumni network that offers information, resources, and opportunities to consult with other graduates.

Check the specific eligibility criteria of the host institution or university you want to attend. The program supports young Africans, with a focus on young women and marginalized groups. Scholarships are available at the secondary, undergraduate, and master's levels, but not for PhD candidates.

• Read the official guidelines for the specific university before you start, since each partner sets its own rules.
• Gather your transcripts, certificates and identity documents early so nothing delays your submission.
• Check whether the university requires a language test and book it in good time if it does.
• Ask referees for recommendation letters well before the deadline.
• Write your community service and leadership experience clearly, because giving back is part of the program.

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program is managed through partner universities and non-governmental organizations. The application process and decision-making are managed by the partners. To apply, send your application directly to the participating university or institution you choose. Each partner institution offers different programs and has its own timelines for admission, fees, and application guidelines. Deadlines differ by institution.

Visit the websites of the institution or university you are interested in (links above) and the official website (link below) for full details on how to apply.

• Who can apply for the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program? Young Africans, with a focus on young women and marginalized groups. Each host institution also sets its own eligibility criteria, so check the one you want to attend.
• What does the scholarship cover? Financial support includes tuition fees, accommodation, books and other academic materials, mentoring, counselling, leadership development, and a return air ticket to the scholar's country of origin, if necessary. Also included are skill building, transition support, a give-back component and alumni network access.
• When is the deadline? Deadlines vary by institution. Check the program website of the partner institution of your choice for the specific deadline.
• How do I apply? Apply directly to the participating university or institution of your choice, then follow its instructions and the official website.
• Which levels of study are funded? Secondary school, undergraduate (Bachelors), and master's levels. PhD candidates are not currently supported.
• How many students does the program support? The program has committed over 58,000 scholarships and aims to enable 100,000 young people to access higher education by 2030.