Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh 2027/28 — Fully Funded Master’s for African Students

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For African students who have demonstrated academic excellence, faced significant barriers to education, and are committed to addressing the climate crisis, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh offers one of the most comprehensively funded postgraduate scholarship packages available anywhere in the world.

The scholarship covers full tuition, accommodation, travel, living cost stipend, and study materials for a one-year, full-time, on-campus Master’s degree at the University of Edinburgh, one of the world’s top 30 universities. It also includes a dedicated climate leadership programme, participation in the Climate Enterprise School, and transitions support.

Attendance at a mandatory information session between 15–24 September 2026 is required to access the application. Do not miss this window.

What the Scholarship Covers

This is a genuinely comprehensive package, one of the few scholarship programmes in the world that covers accommodation and travel alongside tuition and living costs.

Who Can Apply: Eligibility

All of the following must be met:

Nationality and residency: You must be a resident and citizen, or hold refugee status, in an African country. This is a scholarship exclusively for people based in Africa.

Academic qualification: You must have graduated from undergraduate study and have your degree certificate and official final transcript available to upload by 19 November 2026. You must generally have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s Honours degree or higher.

Barriers to education: Applicants must have faced significant barriers to education and early career — social, financial, personal, practical, or health-related. This is explicitly part of the selection criteria.

Leadership and service: You must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within your community.

Climate commitment: You must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis.

Age: You must be 35 or under in the year the programme commences. For 2027/28, applicants must have been born on or after 1 January 1992.

No prior postgraduate degree: If applying for a Master’s, you must not have previously completed a postgraduate degree.

Encouraged to apply: Women, people from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and people with disabilities are explicitly encouraged.

The Application Process: A New Approach for 2027/28

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh has changed its application process significantly. Read every step carefully.

Step 1 — Attend a Mandatory Information Session (15–24 September 2026)

You cannot access the scholarship application form without attending one of these sessions. Attending an information session is a mandatory prerequisite — not optional.

On-campus applicant sessions:

• 15 September 2026 | 3pm UK Time
• 21 September 2026 | 11am UK Time
• 24 September 2026 | 4pm UK Time

When you register for a session, you complete a short eligibility questionnaire. Only attendees who also meet the eligibility requirements receive an invitation to apply. Attending a session does not guarantee an invitation.

Step 2 — Receive Your Invitation to Apply (13 October 2026)

Eligible session attendees are notified on 13 October 2026 whether they are invited to apply. Invitations are sent through SurveyMonkey Apply.

Step 3 — Complete the Applicant Declaration Form (by 19 October 2026 at 5pm UK Time)

The Applicant Declaration Form is Stage 1 of the scholarship application — confirming additional eligibility details. Complete it immediately upon receiving your invitation. This form may close earlier than 19 October once the application limit is reached.

Step 4 — Complete the Scholarship Main Application (by 19 November 2026 at 5pm UK Time)

Applicants who successfully pass Stage 1 are invited to complete the main scholarship application. This is Stage 2.

Important: Do not apply to the University of Edinburgh for your degree programme at this stage. If your scholarship application succeeds and you receive a scholarship offer in March 2027, you will then be invited to apply for your chosen degree through the University’s standard admissions process.

Full Timeline

For more information and application: 

Visit the official website of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh 2027