University of Cambridge MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme 2026-2027 (Young Africans) — Fully Funded

Application Deadline: January 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 University of Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge enables talented young Africans to pursue a master’s degree and grow their leadership potential at one of the world’s leading universities. 

Selection criteria include:

• Outstanding intellectual ability
• A desire and commitment to contribute to climate resilient and sustainable futures for Africa and the world at large
• Leadership potential

Requirements

To be eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge, you must:

1. Have a bachelor’s degree. 

2. Meet the academic entry requirements of your chosen course. Some courses require the equivalent of a UK first-class honours degree and others an upper second-class degree. Please use the postgraduate study course directory to check your course’s entry requirements.

3. Be from, and live in, an African country. You can apply if you’re temporarily living outside of Africa for study or work.

4. Apply for an eligible course. This can be any full-time master’s excluding:

• Master of Accountancy (MACC)
• Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Corporate Law (MCL)
• Master of Finance (MFIN)

5. Demonstrate a commitment to giving back to your community, home country or Africa more generally, and to the themes of sustainability and climate resilience.

Benefits

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program covers:

• Course fee
• A monthly living / maintenance allowance
• Visa application fee, IHS surcharge and an economy return ticket from the student’s home country to the United Kingdom

In addition, Scholars will benefit from:

• A cohort-wide induction programme before the start of the academic year
• Termly leadership training module, which support scholars in thinking about sustainable leadership, and developing collaborative leadership qualities needed to build cross-sector solutions for sustainable development
• Support to take up a 3-6-month placement in a leading Africa-based organisation
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars will be able to join both the Cambridge University Alumni group and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumni group, where they can continue to draw on and contribute to the community of African scholars

Please note that due to the change in the UK Home Office rules from January 2024, spouses and children of students on one-year taught master’s programmes are not eligible to apply for dependant visas.

Application Timeline:

Stage	Date
Applications open	10 September 2025
Application and Funding deadline	Depending on your course – either early December 2025 or early January 2026
Departmental academic selection	December 2025 – February 2026
Mastercard Foundation Scholars selection	Late February – early March 2026
Scholarships offered	March / April 2026

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the University of Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme