Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at University of Cambridge 2026-2027

If you are a talented young African with strong leadership potential, excellent academic credentials, and a desire to tackle sustainable futures in Africa, the applications for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge are now open (for courses starting October 2026). This master’s-level scholarship offers more than just funding — it’s a transformational opportunity to study at one of the world’s top universities and develop skills, networks, and capacity to contribute meaningfully back home. Read on for details.

🎓 Scholarship Summary

• Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom

• Study Level: Master’s degree (full-time)

• Target Group: Citizens of African countries; especially those from under-represented, economically marginalised, hard-to-reach communities; includes women, refugees, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities.

• Fields of Study: Any eligible full-time master’s course, excluding certain professional master’s. Special emphasis on leadership, sustainability, climate resilience, and giving back to the community or Africa.

• Value & Coverage: Fully funded. Covers tuition, accommodation, living stipend, health cover, visa & travel costs, laptop, possibly allowance for dependents. There is also application fee waiver if you meet requirements.

• Award Duration: Master’s duration, usually 1-year full-time (some courses may be longer depending on the discipline)

• Application Deadline: Usually early December or early January depending on the department/course. The funding application deadline is much earlier than standard course application deadlines.

• Start Date: October, or the standard start date for the master’s programme at Cambridge. For the 2026-2027 cycle, entry in September/October 2026.

• Eligible To: Citizens of African countries (including those temporarily outside Africa for study or work), meeting Cambridge master’s course entry requirements; applying to an eligible master’s program; committed to sustainable development/climate resilience etc.

📚 Scholarship Overview

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Cambridge is more than financial support: it is designed to grow leadership among young Africans, to prepare them to contribute back to their communities and to work on challenges such as sustainability and climate resilience.

• Structure / Curriculum / Activities:

  Scholars follow their chosen master’s degree as per the department’s curriculum. In parallel they are expected to submit a scholarship statement addressing their academic/career history, leadership potential, how the scholarship helps their goals, and how they hope to contribute to sustainable futures in Africa.

  There are also webinars and information sessions (e.g. regional webinars) to help prospective applicants understand the process.

• Brief Application Flow:

  1. Apply to the master’s course via Cambridge’s postgraduate course directory.

  2. Indicate in the application that you wish to apply for funding and opt into the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Submit fee waiver request if needed.

  3. Departments evaluate course applications; offers are made starting December → February.

  4. The Mastercard Foundation team then reviews those with departmental offers, considering the scholarship statement. Offers under the scholarship usually in March/April.

  5. After offer, outstanding documents (like English test scores) must be submitted by 31 July.

🎁 Benefits

• Full tuition fees are covered.

• Living stipend/maintenance allowance for the period of study.

• Accommodation and meals (or support for accommodation) or sufficient stipend to cover these.

• Health insurance coverage.

• Travel, visa costs.

• A laptop.

• Application fee waiver (if eligible, or by request) for Cambridge course application.

• Special encouragement and support for women, refugees, displaced persons, persons with disabilities.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following:

1. Citizenship: Be a citizen of an African country.

2. Residency: Live in an African country (unless temporarily abroad for work/study). Refugees and displaced persons are included.

3. Academic Qualifications: Have a bachelor’s degree and meet the Cambridge course’s academic entry requirements (some require UK first class, some upper second class, depending on course).

4. Eligible Course: Must apply for a full-time master’s course; certain professional master’s are excluded (e.g. Mac­countancy, MBA, MCL, MFin).

5. Commitment: Show strong leadership potential, intent to contribute in your community/Africa, and focus on sustainability/climate resilience.

6. English Language / Other Requirements: Meet any English or other subject/departmental requirements; submit test scores or equivalent as needed. May receive conditional offer if test scores outstanding, with support.

📝 Application Procedure

1. Look up your chosen master’s course in the Cambridge postgraduate course directory to ensure it’s eligible, check entry requirements, check funding deadlines.

2. Check if your degree meets Cambridge’s academic entry requirements using the international qualifications checker: www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international-qualifications

3. Start the application via the course portal; create an account.

4. If required, submit a scholarship fee waiver request during your application. Some applicants from African countries get automatic fee waiver.

5. Opt in for funding / select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program as funding option. Submit the scholarship statement (see below).

6. Complete and submit full application by the funding deadline (often early December or early January).

7. Department reviews applications; Cambridge makes course offers. Then Mastercard Foundation team selects scholars among those who have departmental offers.

8. After the offer, submit outstanding documents by 31 July (if applicable).

📂 Documents Required

• Bachelor’s degree certificate / transcripts

• Passport or national ID proving citizenship

• English proficiency test score or evidence thereof (IELTS or other accepted test) or proof of meeting requirements (may be conditional).

• Scholarship statement (covering career/education history; leadership potential; how the scholarship will help achieve goals; and how you hope to contribute to sustainable futures in Africa)

• Letters of recommendation (as required by Cambridge department)

• Any required documents specific to department/course (e.g. research proposal if relevant, writing samples etc.)

• Proof of financial status if needed for fee waiver or part of eligibility assessment

🌍 Eligible Countries

The programme is open to citizens of all African countries. You must be from an African country and living in Africa (or temporarily outside for work/study) to qualify.

Some further clarifications:

• Refugees and internally displaced persons from African countries are welcome.

• Temporary residence outside Africa doesn’t disqualify you, provided you are originally from and are citizens of an African country.

🌐 For Further information about the application procedure, visit this webpage.

🔗 Official Link

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