2025-2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UGHE: Fully Funded Master of Science in Health Professions Education (MSc-HPE) Scholarship

If you are an aspiring health professions educator in Africa looking for a transformative, fully-funded master’s opportunity, this call may be just for you. Applications are now open for the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program for the Master of Science in Health Professions Education (MSc-HPE) for the 2025-2026 intake. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about the opportunity, structure, benefits, eligibility and how to apply.

🎓 Scholarship Summary

• Location: Butaro-Burera, Rwanda (UGHE campus) – with blended delivery (online + in-person) 

• Host Institution: University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) 

• Study Level: Master of Science (MSc) in Health Professions Education (HPE) — 18-month full track (Direct Entry) 

• Target Group: Young African health professionals or educators (especially women, refugees/displaced persons, persons with disabilities) 

• Fields of Study: Health professions education—curriculum design, teaching methods, assessment, clinical teaching, leadership, quality assurance, research in HPE 

• Value & Coverage: Fully funded via the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — covering full tuition, blended-delivery support, living allowance, and other logistical benefits.

• Duration: 18 months (3 academic semesters) for the full MSc track.

• Application Deadline: 30 November 2025 @ 11:59 PM CAT.

• Start Date: Following selection (interviews in December 2025, final decision January 2026) — program commencement expected early in 2026.

  
  

📚 Programme Overview

The MSc-HPE at UGHE is designed to prepare current and emerging health educators and academic leaders to design, deliver and evaluate high-quality, equitable and innovative health professions education programmes across Africa.

Delivered in a blended format, this programme combines flexible online coursework with intensive in-person sessions at UGHE’s campus in Rwanda. This allows working professionals to continue engagement while studying.

The curriculum is structured around 180 credits over 18 months with no intermediate exit awards for the direct-entry route (Postgraduate Certificates/diplomas are part of the stepladder model but not for this direct track).

🧩 Key modules (Direct Entry Track)

• HPE9111 Principles of Curriculum & Course Design – 10 credits

• HPE9121 Innovative Teaching & Learning Methods – 10

• HPE9131 Assessment in HPE – 20

• HPE9141 Clinical Teaching – 10

• HPE9151 Principles of Global Health Equity – 10

• HPE9162 Program Evaluation & Faculty Appraisal – 10

• HPE9172 Quality Assurance & Accreditation in HPE – 10

• HPE9182 Educational Leadership & Management – 10

• HPE9192 Educational Leadership Practicum – 30

• HPE9211 Theories of Teaching & Learning – 10

• HPE9221 Educational Research & Scholarship – 20

• HPE9231 / HPE9241 Practicum in HPE OR Thesis in HPE – 30

  
  

  (Total 180 credits) 

💲 Scholarship Benefits

• Full tuition coverage for the MSc-HPE programme under the scholarship.

• Comprehensive financial support including living allowances, travel logistics (return economy flight), accommodation & meals for in-person sessions, mentoring, orientation, leadership & entrepreneurship training.

• Access to a strong network of educators and professionals across Africa committed to transforming health professions education.

• Flexible online learning combined with immersive in-person sessions allows professionals to balance work and study.

• Embedded focus on equity, innovation and inclusive health professions education to shape institutional reform and improve health outcomes.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following:

• Age: 35 years or under at time of application (exceptions for applicants with disabilities) 

• Citizenship/residency: Must be citizen, resident, or refugee in an African country.

• Academic: Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field from a recognised institution; official transcript(s) and degree certificate required.

• Experience: Professional experience in teaching, supervision, or educational leadership within a health-related higher-education institution is preferred; early-career applicants with strong teaching potential are encouraged.

• Institutional endorsement: If employed, applicant must submit a signed and stamped recommendation letter confirming employer support and dedicated study time.

• Academic restriction: Applicants who already hold a master’s degree are not eligible for the scholarship.

• Other priority groups: Emphasis on young women in health professions education, refugees/displaced persons, persons with disabilities.

📝 Application Procedure

1. Complete the online application: This includes the MSc-HPE programme application component at UGHE and the scholarship component via the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme.

2. Upload required documents:

   • Passport / National ID / Refugee ID 

   • Official academic transcripts and Bachelor’s degree certificate(s) 

   • Employer recommendation letter (if applicable) confirming institutional support and study time 

   • Any other personal and demographic information as required in the application form.

3. Submit only one completed application: Incomplete or multiple submissions will not be considered.

4. Important timeline:

   • Application opens: 22 October 2025 

   • Application closes: 30 November 2025 @ 11:59 PM CAT 

   • Admissions interviews: December 2025 

   • Final decision: January 2026 

5. Checklist reminder: Be sure to prepare your motivation/post-application statement (if required), ensure your institution supports your study leave (if employed), gather documents, and keep track of the deadline and time-zone (CAT).

6. Fees: There is no application fee for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UGHE.

7. Contact: For any application process-related challenges, send your inquiries to mfsp@ughe.org and admissions@ughe.org