Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Ashesi University

Level: Undergraduate
Location: Ashesi University, Berekuso, Ghana
Covers: Full fees, room and board, learning resources, and socio-economic support

What Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Ashesi?

Ashesi University is one of Africa’s most distinctive and respected institutions, a liberal arts and engineering university in Ghana with a powerful reputation for producing ethical, entrepreneurial African leaders. Since 2012, Ashesi has been one of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program’s original nine partner universities, and hundreds of Mastercard Foundation Scholars have studied there since the programme launched.

If you’re an African student with financial constraints and the academic and character profile to thrive at a rigorous, values-driven university, this is one of the most comprehensive undergraduate scholarships available anywhere on the continent.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Ashesi is described as one of the most comprehensive scholarships at the university. Coverage includes:

• All tuition and academic fees
• Room and board (accommodation and meals)
• Learning resources (books, materials, and study tools)
• Additional socio-economic support to help scholars successfully transition into Ashesi life and, ultimately, into strong careers

This isn’t a partial award that leaves you scrambling for living costs. It’s designed to remove financial obstacles entirely so scholars can focus on learning, leadership development, and community engagement.

How Do You Apply for This Scholarship?

Here’s an important distinction that confuses many applicants: you don’t apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program separately at Ashesi.

When you apply to Ashesi University and complete the general scholarship application, the Admissions and Financial Aid Office reviews your profile holistically. Based on that information, they determine which scholarship, including whether you qualify for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program award, you are eligible to receive.

In practice, this means:

• Apply to Ashesi University through the standard admissions process
• Complete the scholarship section of your application thoroughly and honestly
• The team will assess your financial need, academic record, and profile and allocate awards accordingly

Do not look for a separate “Mastercard Foundation” application portal at Ashesi. Apply to Ashesi. The scholarship consideration is built in.

What Does It Mean to Be a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at Ashesi?

Being selected as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar is both a financial award and a responsibility. Scholars are expected to:

• Serve as role models for their communities across Africa — as students and as alumni
• Give back to their communities in tangible, active ways — this isn’t abstract; Ashesi builds community service and volunteer opportunities directly into the scholar experience
• Carry a genuine commitment to ethical leadership and service beyond their own individual success

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme has always been explicit about this: it’s not looking for students who are simply academically excellent. It’s looking for future leaders who understand that their education is an investment their community has made in them — and who feel a genuine obligation to honour that.

About Ashesi University

Ashesi University, based in Berekuso (outside Accra), Ghana, was founded in 2002 with a radical premise: Africa’s development depends on a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders — and a different kind of university is needed to produce them.

Ashesi offers programmes in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, and Management Information Systems — all delivered through a liberal arts framework that emphasises critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication, and community engagement.

Its graduates work across Africa and globally in technology, business, development, and public service. It has been called one of Africa’s most innovative universities, and its campus culture, including the honour code system, is distinctive and intentional.

For any African student with strong academics, a service orientation, and financial need, studying at Ashesi as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar is a genuinely elite opportunity.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Which One Is Right for You?

Choose EducationUSA OFP if:
You’re Nigerian, academically strong (especially in STEM or tech), and you’ve been dreaming about studying in the US but haven’t been able to afford the application costs. This is your entry point.

Choose Ashesi Mastercard Foundation Scholars if:
You’re an African student with financial constraints, strong academics, and a clear commitment to serving your community. You want a full undergraduate education at one of Africa’s most respected universities, on the continent, close to home.

Both opportunities are legitimate, well-resourced, and genuinely life-changing. Neither requires you to have money to pursue them. That’s the point.

Apply Now

EducationUSA OFP 2026:
Applications open June 15 and close June 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM WAT. Visit the official EducationUSA Nigeria channels — website, Instagram, and advising centres — for the direct application link and full instructions.

For more information and application: 

Visit the official website of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Ashesi University