Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/28

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Cambridge empowers young Africans with the talent and drive to create impact, removing financial barriers so they can focus on their academic and leadership journey. If you are a passionate, ambitious young African committed to creating impact and driving positive change, this is your next bold step.

Key features of the programme:

• Full funding — tuition plus a monthly maintenance allowance

• Any eligible one-year master's at Cambridge (with four exclusions)

• Built into the course application — no separate scholarship form

• Climate resilience & sustainability themes — but open to all academic disciplines

• Leadership development — grow as part of a global network of Mastercard Foundation Scholars

Related: Learn more about Mastercard Foundation Scholars opportunities.

Successful Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Cambridge receive:

• Full tuition costs for the duration of the one-year master's

• A monthly maintenance allowance covering living expenses in Cambridge

• Access to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars network — leadership development, mentoring, and career support across Africa and beyond

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application is built into the Cambridge course application — you complete one application for both admission and the scholarship. When you apply for your chosen course through the Cambridge postgraduate application portal, you will typically need:

• Completed online application form (course application — this automatically includes the scholarship application)

• Scholarship statement — a key document for Mastercard Foundation funding (see next section)

• Academic transcripts from all previous institutions

• Degree certificate(s) or proof of expected graduation

• Two academic references (submitted directly by your referees through the portal)

• CV / Resume

• Research proposal or written work — where required by your chosen course

• English language test results — where required by your chosen course (check your course's requirements)

• Passport or national ID — for identity verification

Tip: Deadlines are set by each course, and courses close early once full — apply as soon as your documents are ready rather than waiting for the final funding deadline.

To be eligible for the programme, you must:

1. Have a bachelor's degree

2. Meet the academic entry requirements of your chosen course — some courses require the equivalent of a UK first-class honours degree, others an upper second-class degree; check your course's entry requirements in the postgraduate study course directory and review equivalent qualifications for your country

3. Be from, and live in, an African country — you can apply if you're temporarily living outside Africa for study or work (exception: internally displaced persons and refugees may also apply)

4. Apply for an eligible course — any full-time one-year master's excluding MBA, MCL, MFIN, and MACC

5. Demonstrate a commitment to giving back to your community, home country or Africa more generally, and to the themes of sustainability and climate resilience

Step 1: Explore master's courses using the Cambridge Postgraduate Study Course Directory and confirm your course is eligible (i.e., not MBA, MCL, MFIN, or MACC)

Step 2: Check you meet your course's academic entry requirements and gather your documents

Step 3: Watch the short application video on the apply page and read the step-by-step guide

Step 4: Submit your course application through the Cambridge postgraduate portal — the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application is built in; you'll be prompted for your scholarship statement

Step 5: Pay your course application fee (unless eligible for a waiver)

Step 6: Wait for the outcome — shortlisted candidates may be contacted for further information

Step 7: If successful, prepare for your move to Cambridge for the October 2027 start