University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026

Omran Aburayya
11 minutes ago
5 min read

If you’re looking for a life-changing fully-funded scholarship to study global health in Africa — the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, 2026 — is a top opportunity. Here’s a detailed breakdown and what you need to know

🎓 Scholarship Summary

Location: Rwanda (University of Global Health Equity)
Host institution: University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)
Study level: Master’s (Graduate)
Target group: Young Africans (especially young women, refugees/displaced persons, persons with disabilities)
Program options:
- Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD) with options: Global Surgery, Health Management, One Health, Social & Community Medicine
- Master of Science in Health Professions Education (HPE)
Value & coverage: Fully funded: tuition, accommodation, meals, study materials, health insurance, monthly stipend, transport, flights & visa support for international scholars, laptop, etc.
Application deadline: For MGHD – 18 January 2026 @ 5:00 PM CAT
Start date / cohort class: Class of 2027 (so the scholarship is for intake in 2026 leading into the 2027 class)

📚 Scholarship Overview

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UGHE aims to support talented young Africans facing significant social or economic barriers, by enabling them to complete Master’s studies in health-equity-focused programs.

For 2026, the scholarship includes the MGHD program (Master of Science in Global Health Delivery) with four specializations:

Global Surgery
Health Management
One Health
Social & Community Medicine

It also supports the Master of Science in Health Professions Education (HPE) — which trains future health educators, institutional leaders, and innovators in health professions education.

The application process for MGHD includes: online application → admission exam (Feb 2026) → interview (March 2026) → final decisions by May 2026.

💲 Scholarship Benefits

The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UGHE provides a comprehensive package:

Full tuition and academic fees.
On-campus accommodation and meals.
Study materials, including textbooks, online tools, multimedia resources, and a laptop.
Health insurance once on campus.
Monthly stipend for personal expenses and transport.
Travel support: flights and visa for international students.
Research / practicum support: UGHE also supports practicum, research funding, and provides free access to research tools.
Living and peer support: inclusive housing, psychosocial resources, counseling, mentoring, and support for students with disabilities.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the UGHE Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:

Age: 35 years or younger at the time of application (with some flexibility for people with disabilities).
Nationality / Status: Be a citizen or resident of an African country, or hold refugee status in an African country.
Academic background: Hold an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree in any field (MGHD) or health-related field (HPE) with official transcripts and degree certificate.
No prior master’s: Applicants who already have a master’s degree are not eligible.
Skills & interests:
- Passion for improving health outcomes, addressing inequities, and contributing to global health.
- Analytical skills, interest in problem-based learning, and readiness for biostatistics, epidemiology, and accounting.
English proficiency: Able to comprehend academic materials and communicate (writing and speaking) in English.
Equivalence Certificate (if applicable): If your degree is from outside Rwanda, you may need a Rwanda Higher Education Council (HEC) Equivalence Certificate. Note: you can only apply for this after admission at UGHE because the admission letter is required.

Furthermore, UGHE gives priority to underrepresented and marginalized groups, particularly:

Young women
Refugees / displaced persons
Persons with disabilities

📝 Application Procedure

Here’s how to apply and what to prepare:

Application portal: Submit a single, fully completed online application using the UGHE admissions portal. The application includes both the MGHD (or HPE) program and the Mastercard Foundation scholarship components.
Documents to upload:
- Passport (non-Rwandans) or national ID / refugee ID (for Rwandans or refugees)
- Official undergraduate transcript(s) and degree certificate
- Two recommendation letters
- CV / Resume (highlighting relevant achievements)
- (If applying for HPE and employed) a letter of institutional endorsement confirming support from your employer / institution to attend.
Submit only one application: Avoid duplicate or incomplete submissions — these will not be considered.
After submission:
- Shortlisted candidates for MGHD will undergo an admissions exam (February) and interview (March)
- Final decisions are communicated by May 2026 for MGHD.
No application fee: The University of Global Health Equity and the Mastercard Foundation do not charge any application fee for this scholarship.
Beware of fraud: UGHE warns applicants to report any suspicious activity or fraud attempts to them (email: mfsp@ughe.org) and local authorities.

📖 Scholar Life & Support

Once selected as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at UGHE, you’ll benefit from more than just financial support:

Housing & accessibility: Scholars are provided with inclusive, safe, accessible on-campus accommodation (including for persons with disabilities).
Academic & psychosocial support: There are peer mentoring, faculty advising, academic-writing support, mental health counseling (individual and group), and safe spaces for different identity groups (women, refugees, persons with disabilities).
Special provisions: For example, nursing mothers with children under two may receive special accommodation.
Failure support: Struggling academically doesn’t mean losing support — students can get tutoring and mentoring.
Alumni network & return expectation: Scholars are expected to “return home” (or to their communities) after graduation to apply their skills, aligning with the mission of social transformation.
Career & post-graduation: There is an alumni network, mentorship, and opportunities: e.g., scholars working on entrepreneurial ideas may apply to the Mastercard Foundation’s entrepreneurship fund.

👌🏻 Tips for Applicants

Here are some strategic pointers to improve your application:

Show leadership & commitment to community: Highlight any work, volunteering, or experiences that demonstrate your passion for health equity, leadership, or service.
Be clear about your specialization: If applying for MGHD, explain why you chose one of the four tracks (Global Surgery, One Health, etc.) and how it aligns with your experience and future goals.
Demonstrate analytical and academic readiness: Because the program uses problem-based learning and quantitative methods, highlight any relevant experience (statistics, research, policy, etc.).
Leverage recommendations: Ask recommenders who know your academic and community leadership well. For HPE, include someone who can vouch for your teaching or institutional engagement.
Prepare for the admissions exam / interview: If shortlisted, make sure you review global health topics, epidemiology, and your motivation.
Proofread & submit early: Ensure your documents (transcripts, CV, ID) are correct, complete, and submitted ahead of deadlines.

🚀 Why This Scholarship Matters

It’s fully funded, reducing financial barriers to a world-class, equity-driven graduate education in global health.
It centers marginalized and underrepresented Africans — especially young women, refugees, and persons with disabilities — empowering them to address health inequities.
It builds a network of future health equity leaders, equipping scholars with both academic and leadership tools to make real change in African systems.
It mirrors the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works ethos: investing in youth to transform communities.