University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation On-Campus Postgraduate Scholarships 2026/2027

If you are an aspiring young African leader passionate about climate action, sustainability, and development, the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation On-Campus Postgraduate Scholarship 2026/27 offers you a life-changing opportunity to study in one of the world’s leading universities. Applications opened on 14 October 2025 for outstanding candidates who have demonstrated leadership, resilience, and a commitment to driving positive change in their communities. Here's everything you need to know.

🎓 Scholarship Summary

• Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

• Host Institution: University of Edinburgh (in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation)

• Study Level: Master’s Degree (on-campus, one year)

• Target Group: Talented African students (including refugees and displaced persons) who have faced barriers to education and shown leadership potential

• Focus Areas: Climate, sustainability, development, and innovation-focused postgraduate programmes (listed below)

• Value & Coverage: Fully funded (tuition, accommodation, travel, living stipend, study materials, disability support, and transition assistance)

• Program Duration: One academic year

• Application Deadline: 21 November 2025, 5pm (UK time)

• Start Date: September 2026

• Eligible To: Citizens, residents, or refugees of African countries born on or after 1 January 1991 (aged 35 or under at the time of study)

🧭 Scholarship Overview

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh aims to empower young Africans to lead sustainable transformations across the continent. It nurtures talented, entrepreneurial, and compassionate individuals through a sustainability-focused postgraduate experience.

✏️Programme Structure and Features

• Full financial support covering tuition fees, accommodation, travel, and living expenses.

• Climate Leadership Programme — a structured leadership training focused on climate justice and sustainability.

• Climate Enterprise School — a week-long intensive entrepreneurship and innovation programme promoting climate solutions.

• Transition and disability support — tailored assistance based on individual needs.

📚 Eligible Study Programmes

The Mastercard Foundation On-Campus Postgraduate Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh is available only for the following master’s programmes:

• MSc Africa and International Development

• MSc Food Security

• MSc Sustainable Energy Systems

• MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation

• MSc Data, Inequality and Society

• MSc Operational Research

• MSc Environmental Sustainability

• MSc Climate Change Finance and Investment

• MSc Planetary Health

• MSc Environment and Development

These programmes are selected for their alignment with the scholarship’s focus on climate leadership, sustainable development, and social transformation across Africa.

💲 Scholarship Benefits

• Full tuition fee coverage for one year of study

• Monthly living allowance

• Accommodation (university-approved housing)

• Return air travel from home country to Edinburgh

• Books, study materials, and research allowance

• Climate Leadership and Climate Enterprise training programmes

• Disability support (based on assessed needs)

• Post-study transition and career guidance

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026/2027, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Academic Qualification:

  • Must meet the University of Edinburgh’s academic entry requirements for the relevant postgraduate programme.

  • Typically, applicants must hold the equivalent of a UK Second Class Upper (2:1) Bachelor’s Honours degree or higher.

  • Must have completed an undergraduate degree and possess a degree certificate and final official transcript uploaded by 21 November 2025.

• Residency and Citizenship:

  • Must be a resident and citizen of an African country, including North African nations.

  • Applicants holding refugee or displaced person status in an African country are also eligible.

• Barriers to Education:

  • Must have faced significant barriers to education — these may be social, financial, personal, practical, or health-related.

  • Applicants should also have experienced similar barriers in their early career journey.

• Leadership and Service:

  • Must demonstrate a proven track record of leadership, service, or community engagement.

  • Should show the potential to influence positive social or environmental change within their community or country.

• Climate Impact Commitment:

  • Must show experience or ambition in addressing the climate crisis, aligning with the Program’s focus on climate justice and sustainable development.

• Age Requirement:

  • Applicants must be 35 years old or younger at the time the programme begins.

  • For the 2026/2027 academic year, eligible applicants must be born on or after 1 January 1991.

  • Anyone born in 1990 or earlier is not eligible.

• Previous Study Restrictions:

  • Applicants must not already hold a postgraduate degree.

  • Must not be enrolled, or planning to enrol, at any other university while participating in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

• Inclusivity Encouragement:

  • The programme strongly encourages applications from:

    • Women

    • Refugees and displaced persons

    • Persons with disabilities

🔍 Selection Criteria

Applicants are evaluated on:

• Proven academic merit meeting University of Edinburgh entry requirements.

• Demonstrated transformative leadership and community engagement.

• Alignment with climate justice goals and the ability to articulate impact on sustainability.

• Commitment to Africa’s development and plans to apply acquired knowledge upon return.

• Evidence of overcoming barriers to education — social, financial, or personal challenges.

• Age limit: Born on or after 1 January 1991.

• Must not already hold a postgraduate degree or be enrolled elsewhere during the scholarship period.

📆 Application Timeline

• 14 October 2025 (10am BST) – Applications officially open.

• 17 October 2025 (4–5pm BST) – Information session for prospective applicants.

• 14 November 2025 (5pm UK time) – Deadline for completing the Declaration & Eligibility Form (Stage 1).

• 21 November 2025 (5pm UK time) – Final deadline for submitting the full scholarship application (Stage 2).

• Late November 2025 – January 2026 – Screening and evaluation of applications by the selection committee.

• Mid-February to March 2026 – Online interviews for shortlisted on-campus applicants.

• Mid-March 2026 – Announcement of scholarship offers for on-campus scholars.

• End of March 2026 – Announcement of results for online/distance-learning applicants (if applicable).

ℹ️ Important Note: At this stage, applicants should apply only for the scholarship. Those selected will later be invited to apply formally for admission to their chosen degree at the University of Edinburgh.

📝 Application Procedure

1. Visit the official scholarship page on the University of Edinburgh Global website.

2. Complete the Stage 1 Declaration and Eligibility Form before 14 November 2025.

3. Once verified, eligible candidates will receive a link to complete the Stage 2 Application Form before 21 November 2025.

4. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews between February and March 2026.

5. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-March 2026.

6. Selected scholars will then apply formally for admission to their chosen master’s programme.

🗂️ Required Documents

• Bachelor’s degree certificate and official academic transcripts

• Personal statement/essays demonstrating leadership, barriers overcome, and commitment to climate justice

• Two academic or professional recommendation letters

• Updated CV or résumé

• Proof of nationality or refugee status (if applicable)

• English language proficiency certificate (if required)

• Disability documentation (if applicable)

• Completed eligibility and declaration forms

ℹ️ For further information, visit the official page: University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

💫 Tips for Applicants

• Attend the information session on 17 October 2025 to understand the process.

• Clearly articulate your vision for climate leadership and how it connects to your chosen field of study.

• Demonstrate leadership, resilience, and a community-oriented mindset.

• Review the FAQs and Application Guidance provided on the University portal before submitting your application.

• Submit all documents early to avoid technical issues near the deadline.

🔗 Apply Now

🔗 Official Website

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