Applications are now open for the fully funded 2026/27 Mastercard Foundation Scholar Program at UC Berkeley

Ednah Carrick November 21, 2025

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Closing Date: Varying depending on program

Applications are now open for the fully funded 2026/27 Mastercard Foundation Scholar Program at UC Berkeley

Overview

The Center for African Studies and the Mastercard Foundation are engaged in a ten-year partnership to support 201 master’s degree students from African countries who are academically talented and committed to transformative change on the continent. The Program recruits widely across Africa and encourages applications particularly from women, people with disabilities, and those who are refugees or displaced.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The University of California, Berkeley has partnered with The Mastercard Foundation in a collaborative, global network of education institutions and non-profit organizations that believe education is a catalyst for social and economic advancement. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program aims to develop a cohort of ethical, entrepreneurial, and energetic young leaders who will drive and lead socio-economic transformation in Africa. The Program is a growing commitment, and, to date, the Program has committed over USD $1.2 billion to supporting the education and leadership development of more than 40,000 young people.

The future of Africa will be shaped by its young people, including those talented, yet economically disadvantaged students who face significant barriers to accessing quality education. The Mastercard Foundation’s strategy, Young Africa Works, aims to enable 30 million young people, particularly young women, to secure dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. To harness the potential impact of this generation, The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides next-generation leaders who are committed to the social and economic transformation of their continent with access to quality education by delivering comprehensive financial, social, and academic support throughout their secondary and university education and supports their transition to further study or to the workforce.

Apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholar Program at UC Berkeley

Master’s degree applicants must first apply to an eligible master’s degree program before they can be nominated for the Mastercard Foundation Scholar Program at UC Berkeley. If a graduate program has multilple admission rounds with staggered deadlines, only those who submit applications in the first round can be considered for the Scholars Program.

Each graduate degree program has specific requirements and deadlines. Applicants should carefully review these. The Graduate Division also provides detailed information on the admissions process. Direct questions regarding admission requirements should be made to the specific graduate program.

While the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley is not open to undergraduates, students at this level are welcome to apply to the University of California, Berkeley. More information on the undergraduate process is available on the Undergraduate Admissions site. Other Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners are recruiting undergraduates.

Application and Selection Sequence

September through early January: Master’s degree program prospective applicants must first apply to the University of California, Berkeley through the regular admissions process. Admission application deadlines vary from September to early January with most in December. If a graduate program has multilple admission rounds with staggered deadlines, only those who submit applications in the first round (before January) can be considered for the Scholars Program.
November 15: The Scholars Program and some graduate degree programs are able to provide a limited number of admission application fee waivers. Applicants from African countries who complete the basic demographic information and provide the names of at least two recommenders in the UC Berkeley graduate admission online application by November 15 will receive an invitation by email to apply for admission application fee waivers. Applicants will be informed of fee waiver decisions before December 1.
February: The Scholars Program at UC Berkeley will invite candidates nominated by the graduate degree programs to complete a supplemental application.
March: The Scholars Program will invite selected candidates for an online interview.
Late March/early April: The Scholars Program will communicate final decisions.