Carnegie Mellon University (CMU-Africa) Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026/2027 | Fully Funded MS for Young Africans
- Omran Aburayya
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
If you’re a talented young African who dreams of top-tier education but faces financial and social barriers, the Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program for the 2026/2027 intake is an outstanding opportunity. This is a fully funded master’s scholarship that empowers future change-makers to obtain world-class training in technology and engineering — and then return home to drive meaningful transformation across the continent.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Location: Kigali, Rwanda, at CMU-Africa
Host Institution: Carnegie Mellon University Africa
Study Level: Master’s
Target Group: Young Africans facing high social and economic barriers, with proven academic talent, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to giving back
Fields of Study:
Information Technology (MSIT)
Electrical & Computer Engineering (MS ECE)
Engineering Artificial Intelligence (MS EAI)
Coverage / Benefits: Fully funded — covers tuition, fees, medical insurance, travel, basic living costs, project & entrepreneurship support, leadership training, and more.
Application Deadline: Early deadline: 15 December 2025 for test-fee coverage; Final deadline: 15 January 2026
📚 Scholarship Overview
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at CMU-Africa was launched in 2016 to support gifted, service-oriented young Africans who confront significant financial hardship. This program is part of a global network of 33 partner institutions supported by the Mastercard Foundation, all committed to training Africa’s next generation of leaders.
At CMU-Africa, Scholars enroll in one of three Master of Science programs (MSIT, MS ECE, MS EAI). Throughout their studies, they benefit from holistic, wrap-around support including academic help, mentorship, leadership training, community engagement, and resources for their transition into impactful careers.
Upon graduation, Mastercard Foundation Scholars are expected to drive social and economic change in their communities — leveraging their technical education to lead innovative projects, mentor others, and contribute to Africa's development.
🎁 Scholarship Benefits
The CMU-Africa Mastercard Foundation Scholarship is more than just financial support. Key benefits include:
Full tuition and academic fees coverage
Living stipend, accommodation, and basic expenses
Health insurance throughout the study period
Travel support (flights, visa)
Laptop and study materials to support your learning
Project and entrepreneurship funding so scholars can run meaningful initiatives
Leadership development: training, community service, student clubs
Career preparation: internships, career fairs, networking, one-on-one coaching
Give-back ethos: Scholars lead or join community service projects and drive social impact in partnership with CMU-Africa.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the CMU-Africa Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, applicants should meet the following:
Must be a citizen of an African country
Academic excellence — strong undergraduate record, capacity to do graduate-level work
Demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to giving back to the community
Must face social/economic barriers (i.e., financial need is part of the selection)
Must first be admitted to one of CMU-Africa’s eligible master’s programs (MSIT, MS ECE, MS EAI)
For financial aid, after admission, students will fill CMU’s financial aid form, and the Selection Committee chooses the awardees.
📝 Application Process
Apply to CMU-Africa
Submit your application to CMU-Africa for one of the eligible master’s programs.
Depending on the program, you may have to take technical or language tests.
Submit Required Documents
Academic transcripts (undergraduate)
A CV / resume
Essays or statement of purpose (or short essays depending on the program)
Video essay: You will be presented with a randomly selected question or prompt to answer in video format.
References / recommendation contacts: for some programs, referees are contacted directly.
Valid ID (passport or national ID)
Apply for the Scholarship
Make sure to indicate that you are applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program when you apply to CMU-Africa.
Early applicants (by December 15) may get test-fee coverage.
Selection and Notification
Applications are reviewed holistically, considering academic merit, leadership, financial need, and commitment to community impact.
Admitted students will then be evaluated for the scholarship and notified of the decision.
Prepare for Arrival
If selected, you’ll join orientation, leadership training, and other support programs to transition into academic life at CMU-Africa.
👌🏻 Tips for Applicants
Demonstrate your impact: Highlight your community service, leadership roles, and how you plan to give back to your community after graduation.
Prepare your essays carefully: Use clear, concrete examples of how your academic and personal journey aligns with the goals of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Gather strong references: Choose recommenders who can speak to both your academic ability and your character/leadership.
Submit early: Applying by December 15 not only helps with test-fee coverage but also shows your commitment.
Be realistic but ambitious: The selection is competitive — but the holistic nature of the program means they’re looking beyond just grades.
Reach out if unsure: Use the contact email (applyafrica@andrew.cmu.edu) for any application-related questions or clarifications.
🚀 Final Thoughts
The CMU-Africa Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is more than a scholarship — it’s a transformative journey. For young Africans who are driven to learn, lead, and give back, this is an opportunity to build cutting-edge technical expertise and become a catalyst for positive change on the continent. If you’re committed, community-minded, and ready to break barriers, this could be your path to creating impact at scale.