Applications are now open for the fully funded 2026/27 on-campus and online postgraduate scholarships with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh

Closing Date: 21 November 2025

Applications are now open for the fully funded 2026/27 on-campus and online postgraduate scholarships with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh

Mastercard Foundation partnership with the University of Edinburgh

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.

A transformative network

The Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the world, working almost exclusively in Africa.  The Foundation has been led by Reeta Roy, its President and Founder, since 2006 and curates a portfolio of programs and initiatives aimed at increasing access to education and employability for young people across the African continent.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the Foundation’s flagship initiatives, enabling learning and leadership development for talented young people, primarily young Africans. Since launching in 2012, the Program has supported nearly 40,000 young people to pursue secondary or tertiary education.   

Implemented through a Pan-African and global network of more than 40 universities and non-governmental organisations, the Scholars Program strengthens the higher education ecosystem by encouraging inclusion and accessibility, innovation in teaching and learning, research and collaboration across critical sectors and stakeholders.

By 2030, the Program will more than double its impact by adding 60,000 scholarships and partnering with new universities and key stakeholders, most of which will be based in Africa.

University of Edinburgh is excited to build on this partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program over the coming years.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh Eligibility

Find out about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh eligibility criteria to apply to the on-campus and online postgraduate scholarships.

You must meet the eligibility criteria to apply:

• Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree programme listed. You will generally need to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher. 

Find out more about the postgraduate entry requirements for your country:

• Applicants will have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related).
• Applicants must have graduated from an undergraduate study and must have a degree certificate and official final transcript to upload alongside their application by 21 November 2025.
• Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in an African country (including North Africa).
• Applicants must have faced barriers to education and in their early career.
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
• Applicants must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis
• Applicants must be 35 or under the year the programme commences. Therefore, for the 2026/27 academic year, we accept applications from those born on or after 1 January 1991. Anyone born in 1990 and prior is not eligible.
• Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or apply to enrol) at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
• If applying for the online Masters programme: Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or applying to enrol) at a separate university.
• If applying for the online Postgraduate Diploma: Applicants can either have an undergraduate or Masters degree from an African university (provided they will graduate from either degree by 21 November 2025). If you have a Masters degree, our admissions team will review your first degree (undergraduate) to meet the postgraduate diploma entry requirement. The Program will review your Masters degree transcripts to confirm your university’s graduation date and location.

Timeline

Application timelines for the 2026/27 on-campus and online postgraduate scholarships with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Click Here To Apply

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