Location: United Kingdom
Program: Postgraduate (Master’s Degree)
Eligibility: Sub-Saharan African Countries
Duration: 1 year
Deadline: November 21, 2025
JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP & GET UPDATES ON SCHOLARSHIPS WORLDWIDE
The University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program recruits exceptional young people with great academic and leadership experience who have overcome barriers to their education and are committed to pursuing their studies on-campus. This is a one-year postgraduate on-campus scholarship for talented students from across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program aims to make a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis and is dedicated to nurturing a community of talented, entrepreneurial, and compassionate leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The University of Edinburgh has been working closely with the Mastercard Foundation since 2016, through a gift to the University which provided 200 scholarships to talented students from Africa at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. From 2023 to 2030, the partnership will offer 850 postgraduate scholarships for African students. The Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the world, working almost exclusively in Africa. Since launching in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has supported nearly 40,000 young people to pursue secondary or tertiary education.
Benefits of the Scholarship
This scholarship will provide the following comprehensive support to its recipients:
- Full tuition coverage for approved tuition fees
- Accommodation expenses fully covered
- Travel costs including flights to and from Edinburgh
- Living cost stipend to cover daily expenses
- Study materials including a laptop
- Climate Leadership Programme to inspire and support scholars in making change in their communities and countries
- Additional support for scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs
- Other benefits
Also Check:
Simon and June Li Annual Travel Awards 2026 at University of Oxford
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
- Qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree programme.
- Have faced significant barriers to education
- Have graduated from undergraduate study and must have a degree certificate and official final transcript to upload alongside their application by 21 November 2025
- Be 35 or under the year the programme commences.
- Not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship
- Be an African citizen or hold refugee status in an African country
- Demonstrate a track record of leadership in your community
Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements.
Also Check:
Arizona State University MasterCard Foundation Scholarship Program 2026
MSCA Choose Europe for Science – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships in Europe
Selection Criteria
The selection process for the University of Edinburgh program evaluates applicants based on their academic merit, demonstrated transformative leadership and community service, alignment of their application with the theme of climate justice, potential impact on their home country’s development, and the extent to which they have overcome significant barriers to education.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to visit the official page and submit your application
