Applications are now open for young undergraduates to join the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2023 through the Mastercard Foundation Scholarships available in most prestigious Universities across Africa and around the world.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (MFSP) offers a fully funded Scholarship for young people from economically disadvantaged communities, who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership potential to access a quality and relevant education. The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship provides financial, social, and academic support and a wide range of mentoring services that leads to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
To enable Scholars, and young people across Africa to succeed, we know there is a need to address systemic barriers in higher education, strengthen capacity, support innovative solutions across critical sectors, and connect ecosystem actors together to amplify our impact across the continent.
Working together, alongside young people, universities, NGOs and other higher education stakeholders, the Program strive to create the conditions that will enable young people to attain inclusive and relevant education, transition smoothly into dignified and fulfilling work, and lead transformative lives.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program targets a transformative network of young people and institutions driving inclusive and equitable socio-economic change in Africa. Since launching in 2012, the Program has supported nearly 40,000 young people in Africa to pursue secondary or tertiary education.
Participating Universities
This Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program is implemented in prestigious universities such as: Stanford, Berkeley and Wellesley in the United States; University of Toronto and McGill in Canada; Sciences Po in France; University of Cape Town, Makerere, Ashesi and ALU in Africa, and is carried in Francophone Africa with Gaston Berger University in Senegal, 2iE in Burkina Faso and A.D.U. in Niger. Other Institutions include:
Secondary Education
- Camfed International
- Equity Group Foundation
Undergraduate Studies
- African Development University
- African Leadership Academy
- American University of Beirut
- Ashesi University College
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
- Sciences Po
- University of Abomey-Calavi
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Gondar
- EARTH University
- Makerere University
- United States International University Africa
- African Leadership University
- International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE)
- Master’s Studies
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
- American University of Beirut
- Arizona State University
- Carnegie Mellon University Africa
- McGill University
- Sciences Po
- University of British Columbia
- University of Cape Town
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Gondar
- University of Pretoria
- University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
- University of Toronto (U of T)
Benefits/Coverage of Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program
There are lots of benefits of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, there availability depends on the Participating University. Largely the Scholarship covers the following:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation
- School materials
- Transport
- Monthly allowances
Criteria for Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program
The Participating Universities sets their admission requirements and criteria, basically the applicant must meet the following criteria to apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program
- Be an Undergraduate or Possess a BSc or equivalent degree with an excellent academic background
- Demonstrate a clear need for financial support
Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program Courses
Depending on the implementing partner universities and non-governmental organizations, there are a number of courses available for the Scholars Program. Amongst the courses are:
- Private Law
- Business Administration (Accounting, Management, Information Systems Marketing, Human Resources…)
- Artificial Intelligence (Computer Science)
How to Apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Scholars Program
The method of application depends on implementing partner universities and non-governmental organizations. The MFSP partners manage the recruitment and selection of Mastercard Foundation Scholars.
The application process and decision-making are managed individually by each partner. If you are interested in becoming a Scholar, you must apply through the university of your choice.
Application Deadline/Closing Dates
Partner institutions have their own deadlines, admission timelines and fees. We recommend that you research the application guidelines or contact the institution of your choice for more information. For schools that require application fees as part of the admissions process, the fees will be reimbursed if the student is selected for the Scholars Program.
For further enquiry and application visit the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Application Portal links below:
https://mastercardfdn.org/all/scholars/becoming-a-scholar/apply-to-the-scholars-program/