The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the largest scholarship initiatives focused on African students specifically — but it works differently from scholarships like Chevening or Fulbright in an important way applicants often miss: you don’t apply to the Foundation directly.
Figures and partner details reflect general published guidance as of August 2026 — confirm current partner institutions and deadlines directly at mastercardfdn.org before applying, since availability changes by institution and cycle.
How the application actually works
You apply through a partner university, not through the Mastercard Foundation itself. Each partner institution manages its own application process, sets its own deadlines, and makes its own admission and scholarship decisions — the Foundation funds the program, but the university runs it. This means there’s no single centralized Mastercard Foundation application form; instead, you need to identify which partner universities offer the program at the level and location you want, and apply to that university directly, noting your interest in the Scholars Program through their process.
What it covers
For students selected, the program typically covers full tuition, accommodation, and books and academic materials — a genuinely comprehensive award. Beyond the financial side, scholars also receive mentoring, counseling, and leadership development support, plus return airfare when applicable. This non-financial support is a real differentiator from many other scholarships — the program is explicitly built around developing “transformative leaders,” not just covering costs.
Who it’s for
The program specifically prioritizes talented, service-oriented young people, with a strong emphasis on underrepresented groups, including women — over 71% of scholars supported to date have been young women. It’s available at the secondary, undergraduate, and master’s level, but not for PhD study. Partner institutions are concentrated in Africa, with additional partners in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Central America.
Examples of partner institutions
Named partners include Ashesi University and KNUST in Ghana, CAMFED Ghana, and Gaston Berger University in Senegal, among others. This is a partial, illustrative list, not the complete current partner roster — the Foundation’s website maintains the current full list of partner institutions by region, and it’s worth checking directly since partnerships are added and change over time.
How to actually pursue this
- Check the Mastercard Foundation’s current partner institution list for schools in your target country or region.
- For each relevant partner, find their specific admissions and Scholars Program application process — this usually sits within the university’s own financial aid or scholarships office, not a generic admissions page.
- Note each partner’s own deadline, since these aren’t centralized or synchronized across institutions.
- Apply to the university itself, following their specific instructions for indicating Scholars Program interest.
Other funding routes to consider alongside this
Since partner-institution availability is limited to specific schools, it’s worth having other scholarship options in progress in parallel — see Scholarships for Ghanaian Students and the broader Scholarships & Funding hub for fully-funded options that don’t depend on a specific partner-university match.