University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Online Postgraduate Scholarships 2026/27
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 13
- 5 min read
If you’re a change-maker from Africa passionate about climate justice, pathbreaking in leadership, and seeking a flexible yet prestigious postgraduate opportunity, the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Online Postgraduate Scholarships 2026/27 could be your next step. The call is open, offering you a chance to study part-time, online, without leaving your home country, while contributing to sustainable change across Africa.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Location: Online (University of Edinburgh, UK)
Host Institution: University of Edinburgh, via the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Study Level:
Online Master’s (part-time, up to three years)
Online Postgraduate Diploma (part-time, up to two years)
Target Group: Young African citizens, residents or refugee status, under 35, who have overcome barriers and show leadership potential
Fields of Study: Sustainability, climate, environment, health, food security, biodiversity, digital, social justice (see full list below)
Value & Coverage:
Full tuition fee coverage (approved tuition)
Academic stipend (for laptop, internet)
Opportunity to attend an in-person gathering
Participation in the broader Climate Leadership Programme (coaching, workshops, support)
Dedicated online coordinator & additional support for persons with disabilities
Transitions support to assist with admission, etc.
Duration: Up to 3 years (for online Master’s) or up to 2 years (for PG Diploma)
Application Deadline: 21 November 2025, 5pm UK time
Start Date: September 2026
🧭 Overview & Structure
The Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Online Postgraduate Scholarships are part of the wider Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, designed to nurture a community of climate-justice oriented leaders across Africa through education, networks, and support.
All successful scholars in this online track will be enrolled in Edinburgh’s Climate Leadership Programme, which includes:
Regular online workshops, coaching sessions, and structured support
Participation in the Climate Enterprise School (intensive week-long training in sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation)
Peer networking, mentor interactions, and community engagement opportunities
The scholarship application is separate from degree programme admission: you apply first to the scholarship; if accepted (around March 2026), you will be supported to formally apply to the degree programme at Edinburgh.
Be aware: you can apply either to the online route (Master’s or Diploma) or the on-campus Master’s route, but not both.
🔍 Selection is based on:
Academic merit (meeting Edinburgh’s entry standards)
A proven track record of leadership, community service, and overcoming barriers
Alignment with climate justice / sustainability vision and potential impact in home country
🎁 Benefits of the Scholarship
Full coverage of tuition fees — scholars will not need to pay any part of the approved tuition.
Stipend for laptop and internet access, helping remove digital barriers.
In-person gathering to convene the cohort, strengthen peer bonds, and build networks.
Climate Leadership Programme participation, including training, coaching, and capacity building.
Dedicated online coordinator to support scholars through the online experience.
Support for scholars with disabilities, tailored based on need.
Admission & transitions support to help with course registration, visa / logistics (if needed) etc.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Must qualify academically for the relevant Edinburgh programme (typically equivalent to UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s degree or higher)
Must have graduated (or be about to graduate) from undergraduate degree, with certificate and final transcript ready by 21 November 2025.
Citizens, residents, or refugees of African countries (including North Africa)
Must have faced significant barriers (social, financial, health, practical) in education or career journey
Must show leadership & service experience or potential in community/contexts
Must demonstrate ambition / commitment to addressing climate crisis or sustainability
Age limit: 35 or under in the year the programme begins → for 2026/27, born on or after 1 January 1991
Restrictions on prior studies:
For online Master’s: applicants must not already hold a postgraduate degree and not be enrolled in another university.
For online Postgraduate Diploma: applicants may hold undergraduate or master’s degree (from African university), provided undergraduate still meets requirements.
Preference given to women, refugees, displaced persons, and persons with disabilities.
📝 Application Procedure
Declaration & Eligibility Assessment
Complete the first stage by 14 November 2025, 5pm (UK time). Application link is available on this webpage
Only those who pass this stage can proceed.
Full Application Submission (by 21 November 2025, 5pm)
In the full form, you will provide essay responses on your background, leadership, barriers overcome, climate vision, etc.
Review & Shortlisting
University committees (including admissions staff) will assess eligibility, academic fit, and alignment with the scholarship mission.
Notifications of shortlists: early February 2026 for on-campus, mid-February for online.
Interviews
Online applicants: interviews take place end February to mid-March 2026.
On-campus applicants: their interview window overlaps earlier.
Offer & Admission
Offers announced: by end of March 2026 for online applicants.
If awarded the scholarship, you will then be guided in applying formally to Edinburgh’s degree programme (admissions, visa, registration)
Documents needed (typically)
Degree certificates and transcripts (undergraduate, and if applicable master’s)
Proof of citizenship, residency or refugee status
Personal essays / statements (on leadership, climate vision, barriers overcome)
CV / resume
English language qualification (if required by programme)
Any other supporting materials as required by your chosen programme (e.g. references, project proposals)
📚 Eligible Online Study Programs
Below is a list of the eligible online postgraduate programmes (Master’s or Diploma) eligible under this scholarship
International Development (Master’s only)
Focuses on global development challenges: climate change, sustainability, governance, inequality, displacement, and how development strategies are formulated or contested. Offers analytical skills to interrogate different global contexts and policy approaches.
Global Food Security and Nutrition (Master’s or Diploma)
Analyzes food systems, nutrition, agricultural production, climate change impacts, and sustainable interventions. Students explore links among biodiversity, human health, environment, and policy in the context of global food security.
Global Challenges (Master’s or Diploma)
This interdisciplinary programme tackles broad systemic issues such as environment, health, development, justice, and inequality. The Diploma is structured through three postgraduate certificates (Global Environment, Global Health, Global Development), and completing all three leads to the MSc.
Climate Change Management (Master’s only)
Equips students to understand and respond to climate change from multiple angles — economic, ecological, policy, energy, adaptation. Emphasis on strategies for resilience and transitions to low-carbon futures.
One Health (Master’s or Diploma)
Integrates human, animal, and ecosystem health. Emphasizes linkages among climate change, biodiversity, disease emergence, and sustainable health systems.
Social Justice and Community Action (Master’s or Diploma)
Places climate change within frameworks of justice, citizenship, equity, and activism. Students explore grassroots development, public policy, community engagement, and social movements.
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health (Master’s or Diploma)
Focuses on interactions between human populations, ecosystems, and wildlife. Covers policy, resilience, extreme events, climate impacts, and ecosystem conservation strategies.
Global Health and Infectious Diseases (Master’s or Diploma)
Investigates the interplay of global health, infectious disease dynamics, and climate change. Emphasizes how climate shifts affect disease spread, health systems, and regional vulnerabilities.
Data-Driven Breeding and Genetics (Master’s or Diploma)
Looks at genetic and computational techniques in plant/animal breeding for resilient food systems. Key for adaptation, sustainability, productivity under climate stress.
Digital Education (Master’s or Diploma)
Interrogates how digital technologies and educational systems intersect with climate, exploring eco-friendly digital practices, e-learning impacts, sustainable design, and educational equity.
Data Science Technologies (Master’s only)
Teaches analytical and computational tools with applications for climate modelling, sustainability insights, resource allocation, and environmental data challenges. Includes reflection on environmental costs of AI and big data.
ℹ️ For further details and to apply, click on the button below 👇🏻
