The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the largest privately funded scholarship efforts in the world focused on Africa. It has committed over 58,000 awards for secondary, undergraduate and Master's study, and it runs through more than 60 partner universities in Africa, North America, Europe and the Middle East. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide is about how the program actually works and whether it makes sense for you.
Let me be direct with Pakistani readers first. The core eligibility rule is African citizenship, with a separate track for Indigenous youth in Canada. A Pakistani passport on its own does not meet that rule. If you hold African citizenship, read on, because this is a serious full-ride option. If you do not, check eligibility for your nationality on the official site before spending any time on applications, and look at our scholarships guide for Pakistani students for programs that are open to you.
The program in one table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Study levels | Secondary, Bachelor's, Master's (depends on the partner institution) |
| Fields | All fields |
| Deadline | Varies by partner institution, generally between October and March each cycle |
| Where you study | Multiple partner universities, mostly across Africa, plus some in North America, Europe and the Middle East |
| Provider | Mastercard Foundation, with 60+ partner universities and colleges |
| Official site | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program |
There is no single Mastercard Foundation application
This is the part most applicants misunderstand. The Foundation does not run one central portal. Instead, each partner university admits and manages its own cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars inside its normal admissions cycle. Partners include African Leadership University, University of Cape Town, Ashesi University, University of Rwanda and American University in Cairo, along with dozens of others on the continent and institutions such as McGill, Oxford, Cambridge, Duke and Sciences Po.
In practice, you usually need to gain admission to a partner institution first, and then you are nominated or automatically considered for the Mastercard Foundation award as part of that same application. That means the university's own entry requirements matter as much as the scholarship criteria. A strong scholarship story will not rescue an application that misses the grade or English requirements of the university.
It also means the rules change from campus to campus. Some partners, such as ALU, offer only undergraduate awards. Others extend to Master's level. PhD funding is generally not available under this program, so doctoral applicants should look elsewhere. The official list of partner institutions is where you find out which universities take part and what each one offers.
What full funding means here
The Foundation describes the program as more than a tuition waiver, and the coverage list backs that up. Scholars receive:
- Full tuition fees at the partner institution
- Accommodation or housing costs
- Books and learning materials, with a laptop or device allowance at some partners
- A monthly or termly living stipend
- Return economy air travel between the home country and the host institution
- Structured mentoring, leadership development and career preparation
- Application fee reimbursement for selected candidates at institutions that charge one
Stipend amounts and whether you get a device allowance depend on the partner, so do not assume the package at one university matches another. Read the specific university's scholarship page for those figures.
The mentoring and career support run alongside your degree. The idea behind it is what the Foundation calls give-back: scholars graduate and then put their skills back into their home communities. This is built into eligibility too, as you will see below.
Who the selectors are looking for
The program targets young people with strong academic promise and leadership potential who face real financial, social or systemic barriers to higher education. Priority goes to women, refugees and displaced youth, people with disabilities, and students from rural or conflict-affected communities. Currently 71% of active scholars are young women.
The listed requirements are:
- African citizenship, or for the Canada-based track, being an Indigenous youth in Canada
- A strong academic record plus demonstrated leadership or community service
- Demonstrated financial need, or membership in an underrepresented group (women, refugees, students with disabilities, rural students)
- Meeting the admission requirements of the chosen partner university, which vary (grades, standardized tests, English proficiency and so on)
- A commitment to return and contribute to development in Africa after graduation
- Attending the partner institution's mandatory information session, where one is required, before the application form is released
That last point catches people out. At many partners, you cannot even see the application until you have attended the info session. Miss it and you may be locked out of the scholarship track entirely.
The return commitment is also worth taking seriously. If your real plan is to settle permanently abroad after graduating, this program is a poor fit, and that will likely come through in your essays and interviews anyway.
Paperwork to prepare
Each university sets its own forms, but the common set of documents is:
- The completed partner-university application form
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Proof of financial need or background documentation
- A personal statement or essay on leadership and community impact
- Letters of recommendation
- English proficiency proof (IELTS or TOEFL) where the institution requires it
- A valid passport or national ID
The financial need documents deserve real effort. This is a need-based program, and vague claims will not help you. Gather whatever official background documentation you can that shows your family's situation. For general advice on getting transcripts and certificates ready, see our documents checklist for international scholarships.
Applying through a partner university
- Find which partner university offers the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in your country or field of interest, using the partner list.
- Register for and attend that institution's mandatory virtual information session, since many partners require this before releasing the application.
- Submit the standard university admission application together with any Mastercard Foundation supplementary essays or forms.
- Complete any interviews, aptitude tests or shortlisting stages the partner sets.
- If you are admitted and selected as a Scholar, finish enrollment, visa and onboarding with help from the university's Scholars program office.
Because selection at each partner is independent, you can apply to more than one partner university if you qualify for several. That is sensible if your profile fits more than one campus, but only if you can do each application properly.
A cycle that starts earlier than you think
Exact dates are institution-specific, so treat this as a rough pattern rather than a calendar to rely on:
| Period | Stage |
|---|---|
| September-October | Info sessions, often mandatory before you can access the application |
| October-December | Applications open (varies by partner) |
| December-March | Application deadlines (institution-specific) |
| February-April | Interviews and shortlisting, where required |
| April-June | Offers released, following the partner's own admissions calendar |
Some partners hold the info session months before the actual deadline. If you start looking in January, you may already have missed the session for that cycle. Confirm every date on the specific university's page, since that is the authoritative source for each cycle.
Where applicants go wrong
The most common mistake is searching for a Mastercard Foundation application form. There isn't one. Go to the partner institution directly.
The second is writing an essay that is all grades. The program screens heavily for community impact and leadership. Show what you have actually done for people around you, with specifics, and connect it to what you plan to do after graduating.
Third, people stay quiet about the very things the program prioritises. If you are a woman, a refugee, or have a disability, say so clearly wherever the form allows it. These are explicit priority categories, not something to hide.
Finally, do not ignore the university's own admission bar. English tests, standardized tests and grade requirements differ between partners, and you need to clear them to be considered for the award at all.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply?
The eligibility rules require African citizenship, or Indigenous youth status in Canada for the Canada-based track. Pakistani nationals without African citizenship should check eligibility for their nationality on the official site before applying.
Can I apply directly to the Mastercard Foundation?
No. You apply through one of its 60+ partner universities, and each runs its own admissions and selection.
Does it fund PhD study?
Generally no. Funding is available at secondary, undergraduate and Master's levels, depending on the partner institution.
Is there an application fee?
Some partner universities charge one, but it is typically reimbursed if you are selected as a Scholar.
Is the deadline the same everywhere?
No. Deadlines vary by partner institution and generally fall between October and March each cycle. Check the specific university's page for the exact date.
How big is the program overall?
The Foundation aims to reach 100,000 scholarships by 2030 and has already put roughly $6.5 billion (USD) toward education and economic transition programs across Africa.
For current partner lists and cycle dates, go to the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program website, and see the full scholarship page for a summary of the key facts.