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 and university study. The program is worth $500 million and aims to build the knowledge and leadership skills its scholars need to drive economic and social progress in Africa.

• Host: MasterCard Foundation
• Level: Bachelors, Masters and PhD degrees
• Study in: USA and Africa, plus partner campuses in Canada and Costa Rica
• Who can apply: Citizens of Sub-Saharan Africa
• Awards: $500 million worth of scholarships for 15,000 African students over 10 years
• Deadline: varies by institution, around January-July 2016
• Course starts: September 2016

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, USA
• 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

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 plans to give out $500 million worth of scholarships to 15,000 African students in 10 years.

Citizens of Sub-Saharan Africa

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program gives students support that goes beyond tuition:

Scholarships: students get financial support for fees, uniforms, books and supplies, transportation, accommodation, and stipends.

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.

• 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.

Send your application directly to the participating university or institution you choose. Deadlines differ by institution but fall around January-July 2016.

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? Citizens of Sub-Saharan Africa. Each host institution also sets its own eligibility criteria, so check the one you want to attend.
• What does the scholarship cover? Financial support for fees, uniforms, books and supplies, transportation, accommodation, and stipends, plus skill building, transition support, a give-back component and alumni network access.
• When is the deadline? Deadlines vary by institution and fall around January-July 2016.
• 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 and university study, at Bachelors, Masters and PhD degree level.
• How many students does the program support? The program aims to give out $500 million worth of scholarships to 15,000 African students in 10 years.