Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The largest scholarship programme of its kind in Africa — and the only one here that will pay for your first degree, not just a Master's.
Offered by Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program funds young Africans through secondary school, a first degree or a Master's, with a particular focus on young women and on students who could not otherwise afford to study. It began in 2012 and has already funded more than 45,000 scholarships, aiming for 100,000 by 2030. It is different from the other scholarships on this site in two ways that matter. First, it pays for UNDERGRADUATE degrees — if you have finished secondary school and cannot afford university, this is the one to look at, because Chevening, Commonwealth, DAAD and Fulbright all require a degree you do not have yet. Second, there is no central application form: the Foundation works through partner universities, and each one runs its own process, its own deadline and its own selection. One warning worth reading twice: getting admitted to a partner university does NOT mean you get the scholarship. The Foundation says plainly that the programme is highly competitive and admission does not guarantee selection.
No single deadline — each partner institution sets its own, and several are open at any given time
There is no Mastercard Foundation deadline to wait for. Each partner institution opens and closes its own applications, so some are accepting applications while others are shut. Open the institution list below, find the ones that fit you, and use the dates on their own pages. Because the windows move, check the Foundation's list again rather than relying on a date you read months ago.
Details checked against the official source on 13 August 2026. Rules change every year — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
TontonAfriJobs is not connected to this scholarship and never charges any fee. You can apply yourself, for free, using the steps below. Nobody needs to apply on your behalf.
Fully funded
Bachelors, Masters
No single deadline — each partner institution sets its own, and several are open at any given time
Set by each partner institution — several African partners require no English test at all
Competitive
What the scholarship pays for
What you still pay for yourself
Find your country
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is built for young Africans, with a particular focus on young women and on students facing financial hardship. Rather than a country list, what matters here is which institution you apply to — each sets its own entry rules, and several of the partner universities are themselves in Africa.
Don't see your country? Eligibility can change each year — check the official country list.
Can I apply?
You need to be able to tick every box below. Each one links to the official page that states the rule.
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You are a young person from Africa with strong academic results who could not otherwise afford higher education. Financial need is a real criterion here, not a formality. About the programme
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You meet the entry requirements of the partner institution you apply to. Each partner sets its own academic rules, its own eligible subjects and its own deadline. Partner institutions
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You are applying for secondary, undergraduate or Master's study. PhD and doctoral study are NOT funded by this programme. Official FAQ
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You show leadership and an intention to give back to your community. The programme exists to build leaders who return and change things, and selection reflects that. What they look for
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Note that the programme cannot fund you at a university that is not a partner. The Foundation states plainly that no exceptions are made. Official FAQ
How to apply, step by step
Do these in order. Every step links to the exact official page you need — you never have to guess, and you never need an agent.
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1
Decide which level you need funded
This programme covers secondary school, a first degree and a Master's — but not a PhD. If you have just finished secondary school, this is the scholarship to focus on, because almost every other major award requires a degree first.
What levels are funded -
2
Choose partner institutions from the official list
Use the list below or the Foundation's own page. Check which level each partner funds, and whether it is currently open — the windows differ from one institution to the next.
All partner institutions -
3
If test fees are a barrier, start with the African partners
The Foundation says openly that it has partnered with African universities offering undergraduate and graduate programmes that do NOT require SAT or TOEFL scores. If those fees are what is stopping you, this removes the obstacle entirely.
Support with admission fees -
4
Read that institution's application guidelines carefully
Each partner publishes its own instructions, eligible majors and documents. Contact the institution directly if anything is unclear — they, not the Foundation, make the decision.
Find your institution -
5
Apply for admission and for the Scholars Program
You apply to the institution, indicating you want to be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. If the institution charges an admission fee and you are selected as a Scholar, that fee is reimbursed.
About admission fees -
6
Do not assume admission means the scholarship
The Foundation states that the programme is highly competitive and that being admitted to a partner university does not guarantee selection as a Scholar. Apply to more than one partner, and have a plan if the scholarship does not come through.
Official FAQ
Papers you need to prepare
Start gathering these early — some take weeks to get.
Your secondary school results, or your degree certificate and transcripts
Which one depends on whether you are applying for undergraduate or Master's study.
Evidence of financial need
Financial need is a genuine selection criterion — do not understate your situation.
Evidence of leadership and community service
Be specific: what you organised, who benefited, and what changed.
Reference letters
Number and type set by each partner institution.
TOEFL, IELTS or SAT scores
Only for partners that require them — several African partners do not.
A valid passport or national ID
Required by most partners for identity and, later, for a visa.
English test — which one to take
An English test proves you can study in English. You take it at a test centre (or sometimes at home), pay a fee, and receive a score. Book directly on the official website below — never pay an agent to book it for you.
TOEFL iBT
Required by the North American partner universities. NOT required by several of the African partners.
If the fee is beyond you, the Foundation suggests two things: ask your school principal for a letter of support to send to the university admissions office, and ask EducationUSA about help with test costs. Or choose an African partner that does not require the test.
IELTS Academic
Accepted by many partners as an alternative. Check the specific institution before booking.
Never book a test before confirming your chosen partner actually requires it.
UK universities to apply to
These are the institutions that actually run the scholarship. You apply to one of them, not to the Mastercard Foundation. Tap an institution to open its official Mastercard Foundation page, which links through to that institution's own application. The African partners are worth looking at first if test fees are a problem, because the Foundation says some African partners require no SAT or TOEFL scores at all.
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
Cameroon, WAEMU, South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana
Master's degrees funded here.
American University of Beirut
Lebanon
Undergraduate and Master's degrees funded here.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa)
Rwanda
Master's degrees funded here.
International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE)
Burkina Faso
Undergraduate and Master's degrees funded here.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST)
Ghana
Undergraduate degrees funded here.
University of Pretoria (UP)
South Africa
Undergraduate and Master's degrees funded here.
University of the Western Cape
South Africa
Undergraduate and Master's degrees funded here.
United States International University Africa (USIU-A)
Kenya
Undergraduate degrees funded here.
Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique
Morocco
Undergraduate and Master's degrees funded here.
This is a starting shortlist, not the only choice — any UK university is allowed as long as the course follows the rules above. Always confirm a course qualifies with Chevening's official course finder, and apply on the university's own website. You should never pay an agent to apply for you.
Questions people ask
How do I apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
You apply directly to a Mastercard Foundation partner university or NGO, not to the Mastercard Foundation itself. Each partner institution manages its own application process, sets its own deadline and makes its own selection decisions. The Foundation publishes the full list of partner institutions and links to each one's application page.
Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program pay for undergraduate degrees?
Yes. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides scholarships at secondary, undergraduate and Master's level, which makes it the main fully funded option for African students who have not yet completed a first degree. It does not fund PhD or doctoral study.
Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program cover PhD study?
No. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program funds secondary, undergraduate and Master's study only. Scholarships are not currently available to PhD candidates, so doctoral applicants should look at DAAD or Fulbright instead, both of which fund doctoral study.
Does getting into a partner university mean I get the Mastercard Foundation scholarship?
No. The Mastercard Foundation states that the Scholars Program is highly competitive and that gaining admission to a partner institution does not guarantee selection for the programme. Admission and scholarship selection are separate decisions, so apply to more than one partner and plan for the possibility that the scholarship does not come through.
Do I have to pay an application fee for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
Some partner institutions charge their own admission fees, and the Mastercard Foundation reimburses that fee if you are selected as a Scholar. The Foundation also partners with African universities that do not require SAT or TOEFL scores, which removes those test costs entirely for applicants who cannot afford them.
What does the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program cover?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program covers tuition, accommodation, books and learning materials, and a return air ticket home where needed. It also provides mentoring, counselling and leadership development, because the programme is designed to support Scholars personally and academically rather than only financially. Exact benefits vary by partner institution.
How many Mastercard Foundation Scholars are there?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has enabled more than 45,000 scholarships since it launched in 2012 with 145 Scholars and nine partners. Its target is 100,000 Scholars by 2030, doubled from an original goal of 50,000, which makes it the largest scholarship initiative of its kind in Africa.
Tips that genuinely improve your chances
- If you have just finished secondary school, this is your scholarship. Most other major awards will not consider you until you already hold a degree.
- Apply to more than one partner. Admission does not equal selection, and each partner decides separately.
- If SAT or TOEFL fees are the obstacle, choose an African partner that does not require them — the Foundation confirms these exist.
- The programme prioritises young women and students facing real financial hardship. Write about your circumstances honestly rather than hiding them.
- Ask your principal or counsellor for a letter of support to send to the admissions office. The Foundation itself recommends this where test costs are a barrier.
Protect yourself from scams
The Mastercard Foundation states that it never solicits funding, issues credit cards, or requests payments from individuals. All applications go through partner institutions, and any admission fee is paid to the university itself — never to an agent or to anyone claiming to represent the Foundation. If someone asks you to pay them for a Mastercard Foundation scholarship, it is fraud, and the Foundation asks that you report it.
Ready to apply?
Applications are made directly on the official website — it is free, and you do it yourself.
Where this information came from
- https://mastercardfdn.org/en/what-we-do/our-programs/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/
- https://mastercardfdn.org/en/what-we-do/our-programs/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/where-to-apply/
- https://mastercardfdn.org/en/frequently-asked-questions/
- https://mastercardfdn.org/en/what-we-do/our-programs/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/application-tips-series/