The University of Edinburgh runs the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which funds young Africans who have overcome barriers to education to earn a postgraduate qualification online while living at home.
Scholars take a part-time online Master’s (up to three years) or postgraduate diploma (up to two years) in one of twelve programmes, including International Development, Climate Change Management, One Health and Family Medicine. The 2027/28 round opened on 20 October 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Full tuition fees.
- An academic stipend for a laptop and internet access; the pages list no living allowance.
- An in-person gathering, the Climate Leadership Programme and a week-long Climate Enterprise School.
- A dedicated Online Coordinator, transitions support and disability support.
Eligibility
- Citizen and resident of an African country, or holding refugee status in one.
- Born on or after 1 January 1992 (35 or under in 2027/28).
- A UK upper second-class (2:1) bachelor’s or equivalent, with certificate and transcript by 19 November 2026.
- Master’s route: no prior postgraduate degree. Diploma route: a bachelor’s or Master’s from an African university.
- Significant barriers to education, a record of community leadership and service, and experience of or commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
- Master’s route: no enrolment (or application to enrol) at another university during the scholarship.
- Women, refugees and displaced people, and people with disabilities are especially encouraged.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo
Residents of Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo · DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe can also apply.
+ 42 more
DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Residence required
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo
+ 42 more
DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Education required
Bachelor
Age requirement
≤ 35 yrs
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Application process
- 1Attend a mandatory information session, the only way to get the application form (held 15–24 September 2026; registration has closed).
- 2Submit the Applicant Declaration Form by 26 October 2026, 5pm UK time.
- 3Submit the postgraduate assessment and scholarship main application forms by 19 November 2026, 5pm UK time.
- 4Shortlisted applicants interview online in February–March 2027.
Program timeline
Applications open
20 Oct 2026
Declaration form closes
26 Oct 2026
Application deadline
19 Nov 2026
Online interviews
Feb–mid Mar 2027
Programme starts
Sep 2027