By Kelvin Kibet | Last updated: 28 September 2026
Status: Rolling. Each partner university has its own window. Some 2026/27 deadlines have passed, and others for 2027 entry are still open or coming. Check each partner.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is not one central application. It works through partner universities and organisations, and each one manages its own applications and decisions. The Foundation says to apply directly through the institution you want to attend. The Foundation itself does not ask individuals for payment. If a partner charges an application fee, it is reimbursed if you are selected.
What a scholar typically receives
The exact package differs by partner, but it usually includes:
- Tuition and university fees for the length of the degree
- Accommodation and living or meal support
- Books, learning materials and often a laptop
- Health insurance
- Travel support where you study abroad
- Mentoring, leadership training and career support
Step 1: Choose your partner carefully
The program works with more than 60 partner institutions across Africa, North America and Europe. Picking the partner matters more than anything else, because levels, deadlines and rules differ.
- In Kenya: USIU-Africa and the University of Nairobi run scholars programs. USIU-Africa’s program targets first-time undergraduate applicants and asks for at least a C+ or equivalent set by the Commission for University Education. Check the University of Nairobi’s page for its current intake, as one listing showed an August 2026 deadline.
- Elsewhere in Africa: Partners include Makerere University (Uganda), the University of Pretoria and University of the Western Cape (South Africa), KNUST and Ashesi (Ghana), and African Leadership University.
- Outside Africa: Partners have included Cambridge, McGill, Sciences Po, UC Berkeley, Arizona State University and the University of British Columbia, mostly at Master’s level.
Partnerships change, so use the Foundation’s “where to apply” page as your source, not a blog list.
What selectors look for
- Academic ability: Strong results for your level. Thresholds differ by partner, so do not rely on a single grade cutoff.
- Financial need: You must show that you could not afford university without support.
- Leadership and service: Real involvement in your community, school, or a cause.
- Commitment to give back: A clear plan to use your education in Africa.
Writing the financial-need section
Be honest and specific. Describe your household situation in plain terms and back it up with documents where the partner asks for them, such as fee balances, a letter from a chief or guardian, or proof of a parent’s death. Do not exaggerate. Selectors read many of these, and inconsistencies stand out.
Writing the leadership essay
- Pick one or two real examples instead of listing ten activities.
- Explain what problem you saw, what you did, and what changed.
- Show how the experience shapes what you want to study and do next.
- Avoid claims like “I want to change Africa”. Name a specific issue in a specific place.
A practical order of work
- Shortlist two to four partners that fit your level and course.
- Note each deadline and requirement in one place.
- Gather documents once, then adapt them for each partner.
- Apply to more than one partner where the rules allow.
Common mistakes
- Treating the program as one application
- Missing a partner’s deadline while checking another’s
- Paying a third party to “secure” a scholarship
- Copying an essay between partners without tailoring it
Frequently asked questions
Is there a single Mastercard Foundation application form? No. You apply through each partner institution.
Can I apply to more than one partner? Generally yes, as each partner runs its own process.
Do refugees and displaced youth qualify? Many partners have dedicated pathways. Check each partner’s page.
Official source: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program “where to apply” page (mastercardfdn.org).