Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Toronto 2026-2027 | Fully Funded Master's Degree

Omran Aburayya
Nov 1
5 min read

If you are a recent graduate or are about to graduate from one of the Africa Health Collaborative partner universities and want fully funded graduate training to build skills that you’ll take back to Africa, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Toronto has opened recruitment for the 2026–2027 intake. The program offers full financial support and wrap-around academic and career supports for selected scholars who commit to returning to and contributing to health systems in Africa. Here's everything you need to know.

🎓 Scholarship summary

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (University of Toronto).
Study level: Graduate (Master’s level programs; some doctoral opportunities announced separately).
Target group: Citizens currently residing in Sub-Saharan African countries who are graduating or recent alumni of an Africa Health Collaborative partner university, under 35, with demonstrated academic excellence and leadership.
Fields of study: Health-related disciplines (listed in detail below).
Value & coverage: Fully funded — tuition + travel (including passport/visa fees), housing, food/grocery stipend, health insurance, learning materials, and other living expenses; plus additional academic and career supports.
Award duration: Covers the full duration of the scholar’s approved graduate program (i.e., for the normal length of the enrolled master’s degree).
Application deadline (2026–2027 round): Monday, 3 November 2025 at 12:00 noon (Toronto time). (Scholarship application opens 14 October 2025; virtual info sessions are scheduled on 14 Oct 2025.)

📚 Eligible study programmes (University of Toronto — 2026–2027)

For 2026–2027 the Mastercard Foundation scholarship at U of T accepts applicants to the following graduate programs (applicants must meet each program’s admission requirements):

Master of Engineering (Biomedical).
Master of Financial Insurance (MFI).
MHSc — Master of Health Administration (IHPME).
MHSc — Master of Health Informatics.
MPH — Health Promotion (Dalla Lana School of Public Health).
MPH — Occupational & Environmental Health (Dalla Lana School of Public Health).

⚠️ Note: applicants must consult the admission requirements for their selected program (departmental requirements and deadlines may differ from the Mastercard Foundation scholarship deadline). After scholarship selection, applicants proceed with the official U of T graduate application through the School of Graduate Studies.

🏛️Africa Health Collaborative — partner universities (eligible applicants)

The scholarship targets graduating students/recent alumni from the Africa Health Collaborative partner institutions. The partners listed in the announcement are:

Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia)
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
African Leadership University (ALU)
Amref International University / Amref Health Africa
Ashesi University (Ghana)
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) (Ghana)
Moi University (Kenya)
University of Cape Town (UCT) (South Africa).

🧭 Scholarship overview

Cohort & numbers: The 2026–2027 recruitment round will award up to 20 Mastercard Foundation scholarships across the listed graduate programs (number per program varies).
Summer orientation: Each scholar will participate in a two-week summer orientation designed to ease academic transition to graduate life in Toronto, introduce program supports, and prepare scholars for eventual return to Africa.
Academic & wrap-around supports: Beyond finances, scholars join a support network that includes academic advising, mentorship, career services and community events hosted or facilitated by U of T and Mastercard Foundation partners — all aimed at ensuring academic success and strengthening ties to African health ecosystems.

🎁 Scholarship benefits — what’s covered

Mastercard Foundation scholars at U of T receive comprehensive funding that includes:

Full tuition and mandatory fees for the approved graduate program.
Travel support: travel to Canada, and coverage for passport and visa application fees.
Accommodation & living costs: housing support plus a food/grocery stipend.
Health insurance and coverage for required learning materials/books.
Additional allowances for incidental academic or programmatic needs.
Access to orientation, academic advising, mentorship and career development programming.

✅ Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet all scholarship eligibility conditions (detailed list in the announcement):

Citizenship & residence: Be a citizen and currently residing in a Sub-Saharan African country.
Institutional background: Be graduating from, or be a recent graduate of, one of the Africa Health Collaborative partner universities listed above and have not yet started graduate studies.
Age limit: Be under 35 years of age at the time of application.
Academic & leadership record: Demonstrated academic excellence and leadership during undergraduate studies.
Admissibility: Be academically admissible to one of the sponsored graduate programs at U of T.
Commitment to return: Demonstrate a clear desire and commitment to return to your home country after graduation to contribute to social and economic development in Africa.

⚠️ Note: Meeting the program admission requirements for the chosen degree is a separate, necessary step — scholarship pre-selection does not replace the formal U of T application and departmental requirements.

✍🏻 Application procedure — steps & timeline

Follow the three-step process outlined by U of T:

Step 1 — Check program admission requirements

Review the admission requirements and documents for the specific U of T program you want (departments linked from the announcement). Only apply to programs for which you meet the academic prerequisites.

Step 2 — Scholarship application (Mastercard Foundation application)

Register for and attend a scholarship information session if possible. Virtual information sessions were scheduled for 14 Oct 2025 (two time slots; convert to local time).
Complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship application and upload required attachments by 3 November 2025 at 12:00 noon (Toronto time). Successful pre-screened applicants will be notified in early December and invited to proceed to Step 3.

Step 3 — Submit formal U of T graduate application

After scholarship pre-selection, submit a graduate application to the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies and the specific department/program. Follow departmental instructions for supplementary documents and program-specific deadlines.

📧 Contact & registration links: info and registration for the virtual sessions, and the contact email mcf.cie@utoronto.ca are provided in the U of T announcement (PDF)

🗂️ Documents commonly required

While exact requirements may vary by program and the Mastercard Foundation application, prepare to submit:

Academic transcripts (undergraduate).
Degree certificate or proof of expected graduation.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé.
Personal statement / motivation letter (explain your study choice, leadership, and commitment to return to Africa).
Letters of recommendation (check program-specific required number and format).
Proof of citizenship/residence (national ID or passport).
Any program-specific tests or documents (e.g., GRE if required, English proficiency exam scores) — verify with department.

⚠️ Things to note

Program admission ≠ scholarship award. You must meet both the scholarship eligibility and the specific program admission requirements; scholarship offers follow departmental admissions and scholarship committee approval.
Prepare a strong return-to-Africa plan. The Foundation prioritizes applicants who clearly articulate how they will use their training to improve health outcomes back home.
Attend information sessions. The October virtual sessions clarify expectations, timelines and the application link (the scholarship application opens 14 Oct 2025 and the deadline is 3 Nov 2025).
Watch departmental deadlines. After scholarship selection you’ll need to meet the School of Graduate Studies and department deadlines for official applications and supplementary materials.