The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a fully funded scholarship for talented young people from underrepresented backgrounds who want to study at secondary, undergraduate or master's level. It pays for far more than tuition. Scholars also get accommodation support, mentoring, counselling and leadership training, and the program is built around one idea: you study so you can go back and drive change in your community.
Before you get excited, read this guide carefully. The program's stated focus is on developing leaders for Africa and for Indigenous communities in Canada, and that shapes who it is really for. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, but the honest summary for a Pakistani student is this: it is worth understanding, and worth checking, but it is not a scholarship you should assume you qualify for.
A scholarship run through many universities, not one office
The single most confusing thing about this program is its structure. There is no central application portal. The Mastercard Foundation partners with universities and NGOs, mostly in Africa, with more partners in North and Central America, Europe and the Middle East. Each partner runs its own application, sets its own admission criteria and makes its own decisions.
So when people say "I applied to Mastercard," what they actually did was apply to a specific partner institution that hosts Mastercard Foundation Scholars. That changes everything about how you prepare. Deadlines, required documents, eligible fields of study and even nationality rules come from the partner, not from one rulebook.
The scale is large. The Foundation has committed over 58,000 scholarships so far and aims to reach 100,000 young people by 2030. It also says it puts particular weight on recruiting young women, persons with disabilities and forcibly displaced young people.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Study levels | Secondary, undergraduate, master's (not PhD) |
| Fields | Vary by partner institution |
| Deadline | Varies by partner institution |
| Where you study | Partner institutions, mainly in Africa, plus North and Central America, Europe and the Middle East |
| Provider | Mastercard Foundation |
| Official site | mastercardfdn.org/all/scholars |
Is this realistic for a student from Pakistan?
The program describes its mission as developing transformative leaders committed to socio-economic change in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada. Nothing in the program information we have says it is open to Pakistani nationals, and nothing says it is open to all nationalities. Eligibility is decided by each partner institution.
That means you should not apply on the assumption that a Pakistani passport is accepted. If a particular partner university interests you, read its Mastercard Foundation Scholars page closely and look for a statement on which countries or communities it recruits from. If it is unclear, email the university's scholarship office and ask directly before you spend money on tests or applications. Check eligibility for your nationality first. Everything else comes after that.
If you are a Pakistani student looking for a fully funded undergraduate or master's award with clear open-to-all rules, you will likely get better odds elsewhere. Our all global scholarships guide lists options worth comparing.
What the funding pays for, and the support around it
The financial package is listed as covering:
- Full tuition fees
- Accommodation support
- Books and academic materials
- Mentoring and counselling services
- Leadership development training
- A return air ticket to your country of origin, if necessary
Note the wording on travel. The return ticket is provided "if necessary," so do not plan your budget around it until your host institution confirms what it pays. The same goes for accommodation, which is described as support rather than a fixed allowance. Exact amounts will depend on the partner.
What makes this program different from a plain tuition waiver is the psychosocial and community side. Scholars join an alumni network, can take part in the annual Baobab Summit and can enter social venture challenges. The program also supports scholars as they move from study into what it calls dignified and fulfilling work. If you want a degree and nothing else, this structure may feel like a lot. If you already do community work and want to scale it, it fits well.
The kind of applicant partners look for
Each partner sets its own admission rules, but the program-wide profile is consistent. You are expected to be:
- a young person from an underrepresented background
- academically excellent, with results to prove it
- someone with a track record of leadership and community service
- in demonstrated financial need
- planning to use your education to give back to society
- able to meet the specific admission requirements of the partner institution you choose
Applicants often underrate the financial need requirement. This is not a merit-only award for top scorers from comfortable families. Strong grades alone will not carry an application if you cannot show need and a real history of service.
PhD candidates are not eligible. The program currently covers secondary, undergraduate and master's study only.
Paperwork you should prepare early
The document list varies by partner institution, so treat the following as a starting set rather than a final checklist:
- academic transcripts
- a personal statement or personal story
- letters of support, if you are asking for test fee waivers
- anything else your chosen partner requires
For Pakistani applicants, transcripts usually need to be in a form a foreign university will accept. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers the common items, and you can match it against what your partner institution asks for.
The personal statement carries real weight here. The program is looking for leadership potential and a commitment to your community. Write about what you have actually done: the group you organised, the problem you tried to fix, what went wrong and what you learned. Vague statements about wanting to "make a difference" read the same as hundreds of others.
Applying through a partner institution
- Go to the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars page and look at the list of partner institutions.
- Pick the institution and the program you want to study.
- Read that institution's own application guidelines, deadlines and admission requirements on its website. Check here whether applicants from your country are considered.
- Submit your application directly to the partner institution.
- Wait while the institution runs its selection and decision process.
Be clear on one point: being admitted to a partner university does not guarantee you the scholarship. The program is highly competitive, and admission and scholarship selection are separate outcomes.
Why there is no single deadline to mark
There is no fixed opening date or deadline for the program as a whole. Each partner institution sets its own timeline, so you need to find the deadline on the specific university's website and confirm it there. If you are looking at several partners, keep a simple table of their deadlines and requirements, because they will not line up.
Start early. Some North American partners require tests such as the SAT or TOEFL, and test dates plus score reporting can take longer than students expect.
Mistakes that sink applications
Paying a recruiter. Do not pay fees to any third-party group claiming to recruit for the program. These are fraudulent. You apply directly to the partner institution, and there is no middleman.
Looking for a central portal is another common error. Students search for one Mastercard application form, find nothing, and either give up or land on a scam site. There is no central portal. Start from the official Foundation site and go to the partner institution from there.
Ignoring fee support is a quieter mistake. If you cannot afford an admission fee, contact the university and ask about support or a fee waiver. For North American universities that require the SAT or TOEFL, ask your school counsellor for a letter of support, which can help with test costs. And for institutions that charge application fees, the fees are reimbursed if you are selected as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar.
Finally, do not write a generic application. Applicants who reuse the same essay across partners usually miss what each partner values. Put your leadership record and your plan to give back at the centre, and tailor it to the institution.
If you do get selected and need a visa for study abroad, read up on common student visa rejection reasons before you file.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
The program focuses on young people who will drive change in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada. Nationality rules are set by each partner institution, so check the specific partner's eligibility for your nationality before applying.
Are PhD candidates eligible?
No. Scholarships are currently not available to PhD candidates. The program covers secondary, undergraduate and master's study.
Where do I submit my application?
Directly to the partner university or NGO. Each partner manages its own application process and deadlines. There is no central application portal.
If a partner university admits me, do I automatically get the scholarship?
No. The program is highly competitive, and admission to a partner institution does not guarantee selection for the scholarship.
Will I get my application fee back?
For institutions that require application fees, the fees are reimbursed if you are selected for the program. If you cannot pay the fee upfront, contact the university to ask about support or a waiver.
Someone is offering to get me into the program for a fee. Is that legitimate?
No. Do not pay any fees to third-party groups claiming to recruit for the program. These are fraudulent.
For partner lists and current information, use the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars website, and see our Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page for the full scholarship details.