The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at African Leadership University (ALU) provides full scholarships to promising young African leaders who face financial barriers to higher education.
Offered through African Leadership University (ALU) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the programme is designed to make an ALU education accessible to talented students who demonstrate financial need, academic strength, leadership potential, and a commitment to creating meaningful impact in their communities.
Interested students can find complete programme information on the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at ALU page.
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SCHOLARSHIP LIST INLINE
About this opportunity
African Leadership University is a higher education institution based in Kigali, Rwanda, with an educational model focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, real-world learning, and solving challenges facing Africa.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at ALU aims to give promising African students access to higher education despite financial adversity or economic hardship.
The programme offers full-ride scholarships to selected applicants who demonstrate significant financial need and the potential to use their education to create positive change.
Scholarship places are limited and highly competitive.
Financial Benefits
Successful Mastercard Foundation Scholars at ALU receive a full-ride scholarship.
Scholarship support may include:
Full tuition
Additional financial support throughout the scholar’s journey at ALU
Access to ALU’s learning and leadership environment
Leadership and professional development opportunities
Access to the wider ALU community and network
Applicants should review the ALU Financial Aid page for current information about available financial support.
What's covered
- Tuition fees
- Living allowance
- Flight/travel costs
Documents Required
Applicants must first meet ALU’s academic admission requirements.
General requirements may include:
Completion of secondary school
A recognised A-Level equivalent qualification
Completion of final national secondary-school examinations
Required English-language proficiency
Applicants should check the ALU Admissions Application Guide for current requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for ALU scholarships must demonstrate financial need and strong potential to succeed at the university.
General eligibility includes:
Applicants who would otherwise be unable to afford ALU tuition
Students demonstrating financial need and socioeconomic disadvantage
Applicants meeting ALU admission requirements
Academically strong students
Applicants with strong national examination results
Applicants aged 23 or younger under current scholarship eligibility criteria
Applicants demonstrating strong leadership potential
Students actively contributing to their communities
Applicants committed to using their education to create positive impact
ALU particularly encourages applications from:
Young women
Refugees and displaced young people
Applicants with physical disabilities
Applicants with learning disabilities
Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a scholarship because available awards are limited.
How to Apply
Step 1: Start Your ALU Application
Visit the ALU application page and begin your admission application.
Step 2: Complete Your Admission Application
Provide information about your:
Academic history
Schools attended
Subjects and grades
Parent or guardian
Preferred intake
Refugee or humanitarian status, where applicable
Disability status, where applicable
Upload all requested academic and identification documents.
Applicants can follow the official ALU Admissions Application Guide for instructions.
Step 3: Indicate That You Need Financial Aid
Applicants interested in financial assistance should indicate this during the application process.
Step 4: Complete the Financial Aid Assessment
Provide accurate information about your family's financial circumstances.
ALU uses the information to assess demonstrated financial need and eligibility for available financial support.
Read the ALU Financial Aid information before completing this section.
Step 5: Complete the Financial Aid Application
Eligible applicants may need to provide details about:
Household income
Personal circumstances
Previous educational funding
Current financial circumstances
Relevant ALU partner affiliations
Their financial situation
Step 6: Upload Supporting Documents
Submit documents verifying the financial and personal information provided in your application.
Step 7: Complete Required ALU Assessments
Complete any assessment or application activities required for your chosen ALU intake.
Step 8: Submit Your Applications
Review your information carefully and submit both your admission and financial-aid applications.