Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program – Pan-African Partner Universities (Undergraduate & Masters)

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the largest and most comprehensive scholarship initiatives for young Africans, delivered through a network of partner universities across Africa, North America, and the UK — including leading institutions such as Makerere University (Uganda), University of Rwanda, University of Pretoria, American University in Cairo, University of Toronto, and the University of Edinburgh, among others.

What it covers: Tuition, accommodation, meals, books and learning materials, a laptop, health insurance, and (where applicable) travel — making it one of the most complete funding packages available to African students. The program also provides mentorship, leadership development, and transition support before, during, and after study.

Eligibility: Generally open to academically talented young Africans facing financial, social, or circumstantial barriers to higher education, who also demonstrate leadership potential and commitment to giving back to their communities. Each partner university sets its own intake numbers, programmes, and exact eligibility rules (age limits, prior qualifications, etc.), so requirements differ by institution.

When to apply: Each partner university runs its own application cycle and timeline — for example, Makerere University’s intake announcements are typically published earlier in the year for the following academic year. Because cycles vary by institution, the best approach is to identify the partner university you’re interested in and follow its admissions/scholarship office directly.

How to apply: Start at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page to find the current list of partner universities, then apply through the specific university’s scholarship portal (for Uganda, this is Makerere University’s dedicated application portal).