The Call is now open for 2026/27 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh Scholarship applications for the MSc by Research in Sustainable African Futures

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Closing Date: 2 February 2026

The Call is now open for 2026/27 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh Scholarship applications for the MSc by Research in Sustainable African Futures

Wits-Edinburgh Programme in Sustainable African Futures 26/27

The University of Edinburgh (UoE) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) are pleased to invite eligible scholarship applications for the MSc by Research in Sustainable African Futures. Please note that recruitment is for an online Masters programme only, and there is no affiliated funding for an associated WESAF doctoral programme.

The MSc by Research (MScR) in Sustainable African Futures will be delivered predominantly online and administered by the University of Edinburgh. All applications should be made through the University of Edinburgh admission.

About the programme

The WESAF Doctoral Programme aims to provide research training to equip Fellows to complete interdisciplinary research on areas related to sustainability on the African continent. The blended Programme is designed to enable Fellows to complete primarily online masters followed by a primarily online doctorate.

The Masters by Research and PhD Programmes will however combine in-person elements including sustainability schools (in person schools focussed on enhancing knowledge in the field of sustainability research) in South Africa and contact sessions in Edinburgh alongside workplace-based internships. Supervision will be jointly delivered online and jointly by academics from both UoE and Wits.

The Programme will recruit an initial cohort of 50 Fellows from faculties from African higher education institutions to complete sustainability focused doctoral studies. Following an initial online Masters by Research, to front-load the development of critical research skills and delivered full time, at least 30 of these Fellows will continue to complete PhDs either full-time or part-time.

Through its cohort approach and emphasis on advanced research design and methods training, the Programme will produce a powerful cohort of African research specialists committed to addressing Africa’s sustainability challenges on its own terms.

Eligibility

The target group for scholarships are early career researchers and University staff members who meet the requirements to pursue a social sciences masters degree at the University of Edinburgh. To apply for this programme, applicants must:

Have successfully completed a university degree that will qualify for entry into a Masters
programme at the University of Edinburgh (A UK 2:1 Honours degree, or its international
equivalent).
Ideally demonstrate a level of English language competency that will enable the candidate
to succeed in their studies, regardless of their nationality or country of residence. Support
may be offered to offer holders who are slightly below the required IELTS band to help
them reach the necessary admissions requirement, but all applicants will need a
foundation in English to be eligible.
Be either:
a) recent graduates from the 14 partner universities with strong interests in pursuing a
career in academia and/or research, OR
b) demonstrably involved in research projects of one of the 14 partner universities OR
c) a staff member at one of the 14 partner universities (including lecturers, early career
researchers, professional service staff in arts and humanities, etc).have generally
completed their last university degree not more than 3.5 years ago at the time of
application
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. Anyone born in 1990 and prior is not eligible.
Be a resident and citizen or hold refugee status in an African country (including North Africa).

How to apply to MSc by Research in Sustainable African Futures.

Consider the following when completing the MScR Sustainable African Futures application form:

Save the form regularly: while the form can be saved and returned to at a later date, it does not auto-save, so please ensure you are regularly saving your application content.
Use a laptop/desktop if possible: while the application form is accessible by a smartphone, it is easier to complete the application on a laptop. If you complete it by phone, please ensure you hit ‘submit’ once you have completed the application in full. Saving it alone does not constitute submission.
Submission is final: once you have submitted your application it is no longer possible to edit it again.
Scholarship application before University application: if the WESAF Scholarship is the only scholarship you are interested to apply for at the University of Edinburgh, please apply for the scholarship only. DO NOT apply directly via the UoE Admissions until invited to do so.
For further information, including a preview of the narrative questions in the application form, please read the FAQS athttps://www.wits.ac.za/wesaf/.