UKMastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027-28 supports talented young Africans to pursue a master’s degree and grow leadership potential. The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Cambridge funds study and leadership development for one-year postgraduate courses aligned to programme themes.
The scholarship is delivered through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge. The programme focuses on climate resilience and sustainability and aims to cover full tuition costs and provide a monthly maintenance allowance to help students thrive in Cambridge.
Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Benefits
- Full tuition costs covered.
- Monthly maintenance allowance.
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Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- Be a citizen of an African country.
- Be resident in an African country, unless you can show temporary absence for study or work (exception – if you identify as an internally displaced person or have refugee status).
- Meet the academic requirement of the course you’re applying for.
- Excludes the following one-year postgraduate courses: Master of Business Administration (MBA).
- Excludes the following one-year postgraduate courses: Master of Corporate Law (MCL).
- Excludes the following one-year postgraduate courses: Master of Finance (MFIN).
- Excludes the following one-year postgraduate courses: Master of Accountancy (MACC).
How to Apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
- Explore master’s courses available at the University of Cambridge using the Postgraduate Study Course Directory (https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses).
- The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application is built into the course application.
- You’ll be asked to submit a scholarship statement covering your career/education history, leadership potential, how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals, and how you hope to contribute to sustainable futures in Africa.
- Visit the ‘How to apply’ page for more information (https://www.mastercardfoundation.fund.cam.ac.uk/apply/how-apply).
- Attend programme webinars during the application period to find out more and how to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply based on the official programme information.
What is the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Cambridge?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at the University of Cambridge enables talented young Africans to pursue a one-year master’s degree and develop leadership potential. The programme focuses on climate resilience and sustainability and supports students who aim to create impact and drive positive change in Africa.
Who can apply for the scholarship?
To be eligible you must be a citizen of an African country and be resident in an African country unless you can show temporary absence for study or work. Exceptions to residency include those who identify as internally displaced persons or have refugee status. Applicants must also meet the academic requirements of the course they apply for.
Which courses are excluded from the programme?
Prospective Mastercard Foundation Scholars can apply for any full-time one-year postgraduate courses at Cambridge excluding the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Corporate Law (MCL), Master of Finance (MFIN), and Master of Accountancy (MACC).
What does the scholarship cover?
The programme aims to cover everything students need to thrive in Cambridge, explicitly including full tuition costs and a monthly maintenance allowance to support living expenses while studying.
How do I apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship?
The scholarship application is integrated into the University of Cambridge course application. Start by exploring master’s courses in the Postgraduate Study Course Directory, then complete the course application which includes the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application and scholarship statement.
What should I include in the scholarship statement?
You will be asked to submit a scholarship statement covering your career and education history, evidence of leadership potential, how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals, and how you hope to contribute to sustainable futures in Africa. This is part of the integrated course application.
Are there events to help applicants learn more?
Yes. The programme is holding a series of webinars during the application period to provide information about the programme and the application process. Remaining webinar dates are listed on the programme pages and participants can sign up.
Does the programme encourage applications from diverse groups?
The programme supports diversity in all its forms and actively encourages women, refugees, internally displaced people, and people with disabilities to apply, as stated in the programme information.
Where can I find more information about available courses?
Applicants should use the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Study Course Directory (https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses) to explore available one-year master’s courses and check course-specific academic requirements before applying.
Where can I find detailed application instructions?
Detailed instructions are available on the programme’s ‘How to apply’ page (https://www.mastercardfoundation.fund.cam.ac.uk/apply/how-apply). The course application includes the scholarship application and guidance on the required scholarship statement.
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