The Mastercard Scholarship 2027 (Fully Funded)

Overview

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 supports young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in Sub-Saharan Africa who want to pursue a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD. Scholars study at partner institutions in Africa, North America, Europe and the Middle East. The programme looks for strong academic potential together with a commitment to giving back and leading positive change at home.

What you get

The package covers full tuition, accommodation, books and academic materials, travel expenses, a monthly living stipend and health insurance. Application fees charged by partner institutions are reimbursed for students selected as scholars.

Who can apply

Applicants should come mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa, though criteria may differ by partner institution. They must show strong academic performance through school grades, transcripts or equivalent records, come from an economically disadvantaged background, and provide recommendation letters from teachers, mentors or community leaders who can speak to their character, leadership and potential. Admission to a participating partner institution is a prerequisite. Some tracks are limited to particular fields such as STEM, social sciences or business.

Requirements

Partner institutions in Africa include the African Leadership Academy, Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Cape Town, the University of Pretoria, the University of the Western Cape and Makerere University. In North America they include Arizona State University, McGill University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, UC Berkeley and Wellesley College. Sciences Po in France and the University of Edinburgh represent Europe, and the American University of Beirut represents the Middle East.