The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University is a fully funded scholarship for Bachelor's and Master's study at Makerere's main campus in Kampala, Uganda. It is aimed at academically talented young Africans who cannot afford university: refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), young people with disabilities, youth from refugee-hosting communities, and members of groups underrepresented in Uganda's higher education system. You can read the full scholarship details page, but this guide is about something more practical: whether it makes sense for you to apply, and how to put together a file that holds up.
Let me be direct with Pakistani readers first, because this is where most confusion starts. This is not a general international scholarship. A Pakistani student only has a realistic route in through the Master's track, and only if their undergraduate degree was completed in an African country. If you did your Bachelor's in Pakistan, this program is not for you, and your time is better spent elsewhere. If you completed your first degree at a university anywhere in Africa, keep reading.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded (tuition, housing, monthly stipend, materials) |
| Study level | Bachelor's and Master's |
| Places in the 2026/2027 cycle | 245 undergraduate and 13 Master's |
| Usual opening | March |
| Deadline | Early June each year (for the 2026/2027 intake it was 5 June 2026, 11:59 PM EAT) |
| Host country | Uganda |
| Provider | Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with Makerere University |
| Official site | Scholars Program application portal |
Why the Master's track is the only realistic door for most outsiders
Each cycle, the program funds a large cohort at Makerere. In 2026/2027 that meant 245 undergraduate places and just 13 Master's places. Look at those numbers again. The undergraduate side is built mainly for Ugandan youth in the priority categories and for those who finished secondary school in Africa. The Master's side is explicitly open to applicants who completed their first degree in any African country, which is what makes it interesting for non-Ugandans.
The catch is obvious: 13 places is tiny. You are competing for a handful of seats with applicants from across the continent. If you qualify, apply, but do not treat this as your only plan.
Selection is designed around inclusion, not pure academic ranking. At least 70% of scholarships each cycle go to young women. That is a deliberate gender-equity target, and it means male applicants are competing for a smaller share. If you are a man applying, your file needs to be noticeably stronger, especially on financial need and community work.
What the full funding actually includes
The scholarship covers 100% of study costs for the whole duration of the degree. In concrete terms, that is:
- Full tuition fees at Makerere University
- On-campus accommodation or a housing allowance
- A monthly stipend for living expenses
- Required textbooks and academic materials
- Mentoring, leadership training, and career and internship support
- Wellness and psychosocial support, with extra accommodations for scholars with disabilities
The non-financial parts matter more than people expect. The Mastercard Foundation runs the same model across its partner universities, so scholars get access to a wider network, alumni mentoring and career support after graduation. The stated aim is to develop "Transformative Leaders" who go back and contribute to their communities and to Africa's development. Your application should read like it comes from someone who fits that description.
The source material lists no service bond tying graduates to a specific employer. Still, read the offer terms for your year carefully before you accept.
The eligibility rules, and where applicants trip up
The program has eight core requirements. The applicants most at risk are those who meet the academic bar but miss one of the quieter conditions.
Academic route
For the undergraduate track, you need one of the following: completed advanced secondary education in an African country, a diploma with at least a second-class qualification, or a pass in Makerere's mature-age entry exam. For the Master's track, you must have completed an undergraduate degree in an African country. That last rule is strict. A degree from Pakistan, the Gulf or anywhere outside Africa does not count.
Age limits
Most undergraduate categories require you to be 28 or younger. For refugees, IDPs and persons with disabilities, the limit is 32 or younger. These limits are revised slightly from cycle to cycle, so check the current year's official advert before assuming you are inside the window.
Priority category and financial need
You must fall into one of the program's priority groups: youth from refugee-hosting communities, refugees or IDPs, persons with disabilities, members of underrepresented ethnic groups in Uganda, or other disadvantaged Ugandan or African youth. On top of that, you must show real financial need that limits your ability to pay for university.
The rules that quietly disqualify people
- You must not currently hold, or have held, another scholarship. This includes the Uganda Government Scholarship.
- You must not already be pursuing or have completed a degree at the level you are applying for. Someone who already has a Master's cannot apply for the Master's track.
- You need evidence of leadership or community service engagement. Grades alone will not carry you.
The "no previous scholarship" rule catches a lot of people. If you had a full or partial award for your undergraduate degree, read the year's guidelines closely and confirm how it applies to you before investing time in an application.
The paperwork Makerere expects
The list is short compared with many European scholarships, but every item has to match your chosen category:
- The completed online application form on the Scholars Program portal at Makerere
- Academic transcripts and certificates (secondary school or undergraduate, depending on the track)
- A valid national ID or passport, or a refugee identity card or attestation letter for refugee and IDP applicants
- A personal statement covering financial need, leadership and community service
- Recommendation letter(s), as specified in that year's guidelines
- Proof of admission, or of an admission application, to Makerere for the relevant intake
If you are applying under the refugee, IDP or disability category, start gathering supporting identity documents early. Verification can take time, and you do not want to discover a missing letter in late May. For a general list of what international scholarship files usually need, our documents checklist for Pakistani students is a useful cross-check.
Applying for admission and the scholarship at the same time
This is the part people get wrong in sequence. The scholarship expects you to have applied for admission to Makerere for the same intake. Do not wait for an admission decision before you start the scholarship application. Run both in parallel.
- Apply for admission to your chosen undergraduate or Master's programme at Makerere for the target intake year. All fields offered at the main campus are eligible. The Makerere University website is the place for programme information.
- Register on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program portal.
- Fill in the scholarship form and select the eligibility category that genuinely fits you.
- Upload every required document, including proof of identity or refugee status where it applies.
- Submit before the deadline, which is typically early June.
- If shortlisted, you will be contacted for an interview or further verification before final awards are confirmed.
How the March to September cycle runs
The yearly rhythm is fairly predictable, though exact dates change. The advert and portal typically open in March. The deadline falls in early June (for the 2026/2027 intake it was 5 June 2026). Between June and August, the program office shortlists applicants, verifies documents and eligibility categories, and holds interviews. Award confirmations usually come in August or September, ahead of the academic year.
Each year's official advert is published on Makerere University News. Read that year's PDF in full. Categories and age limits shift slightly between cycles, and the advert is what counts, not last year's information or a summary on a third-party site.
Writing a personal statement that does not sound generic
Generic statements are the most common reason for rejection. Too many essays say "I am passionate about helping my community." That sentence tells them nothing.
What works is specifics. Explain your financial situation honestly: who supports you, what your family earns, what has stopped you from paying for study. Then describe community work you have actually done, with numbers and outcomes where you have them. If you organised something, say what, for whom and what changed. If you are applying under a specific category, connect your story to it clearly without exaggeration. Verification happens, and an inflated claim can sink an otherwise good file.
Finally, think about what you plan to do after the degree. The program wants people who will contribute to Africa's development. If your plan is to use a Ugandan Master's as a stepping stone to somewhere unrelated, it will show.
Who should apply, and who should skip it
This program suits disadvantaged African and Ugandan youth, refugees and displaced students, and people with disabilities who want a funded degree at a long-established university founded in 1922. For a Pakistani student who completed undergraduate studies in Africa and wants affordable, English-medium postgraduate study outside the usual US, UK and Europe options, it is a legitimate route with no application fee.
Skip it if your Bachelor's is from Pakistan or anywhere outside Africa, if you already hold a degree at the level you want to apply for, or if you have already held another scholarship. If you are looking for broader options, our scholarships guide for Pakistani students covers routes that are open to applicants from Pakistan directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Makerere Mastercard Foundation scholarship fully funded?
Yes. It covers full tuition, accommodation or a housing allowance, a monthly stipend and academic materials for the full length of the degree, along with mentoring, leadership training and wellness support.
Can a Pakistani student apply?
Only in a narrow case. The program mainly targets young Africans and refugee or displaced communities. A Pakistani applicant would realistically qualify only for the Master's track, and only if their undergraduate degree was completed in an African country. There is no general route for applicants without an African academic or refugee background.
How many scholarships are awarded each year?
It varies by cycle. For 2026/2027, Makerere allocated 245 undergraduate scholarships and 13 Master's scholarships under the program.
When do applications open and close?
The advert and portal typically open around March, and the deadline falls in early June for the intake that starts later that year. Confirm the exact deadline for your cycle on the official portal.
Is there an age limit?
For most undergraduate categories, applicants must be 28 or younger. Refugees, IDPs and persons with disabilities can be 32 or younger. These limits are adjusted slightly each cycle, so check the current advert.
Can I apply if I already have another scholarship?
No. Applicants must not currently hold, or have previously held, another scholarship, including the Uganda Government Scholarship.
Before you start, read the current advert and apply through the official Scholars Program portal, and keep the full scholarship details page open for a quick summary as you prepare.