University of Edinburgh and Mastercard Foundation
University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/2028 — Fully Funded Postgraduate Scholarships for Africans
The University of Edinburgh and the Mastercard Foundation are offering postgraduate scholarships for the 2027/2028 academic year to eligible African students who have demonstrated academic ability, leadership potential and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities. Funding is available for selected on-campus Master's degrees in Scotland and approved online Master's and postgraduate diploma programmes, with a strong focus on climate leadership, sustainability and community development.
This page is an informational summary. Requirements and dates can change. Confirm every detail on the official provider website before taking action.
About the programme
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh aims to support talented young people from Africa who have faced significant barriers to education and have the potential to become leaders in their communities and countries.
For the 2027/2028 academic year, the programme offers two main study pathways. The first supports students pursuing selected one-year, full-time Master's degrees on campus in Edinburgh. The second provides scholarships for selected online Master's degrees and postgraduate diplomas, allowing scholars to study remotely while remaining in their local communities.
Both pathways incorporate climate leadership development. Scholars also participate in activities intended to strengthen their professional skills, support community impact and encourage sustainable entrepreneurship.
The programme particularly welcomes applications from women, people from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and people with disabilities.
Available study pathways and programmes
1. On-campus Master's scholarships
Successful scholars study full-time at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for one year.
The official programme lists the following eligible Master's programmes:
- Food Security
- Sustainable Energy Systems
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Data, Inequality and Society
- Operational Research
- Environmental Sustainability
- Climate Change Finance and Investment
- Environment and Development
- International Development
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
These programmes address issues including climate resilience, environmental protection, sustainable energy, food systems, social inequality, public health and responsible economic development.
The list of eligible degrees may change. Applicants should confirm that their preferred programme remains eligible before applying.
Official programme information: https://edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/apply-for-a-scholarship/on-campus-postgraduate-scholarships
2. Online Master's and postgraduate diploma scholarships
The online pathway is suitable for eligible applicants who want to pursue postgraduate study without relocating to the United Kingdom.
Online Master's programmes can take up to three years of part-time study, while postgraduate diplomas can take up to two years.
The official programme lists these online study options:
- Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health — Master's or postgraduate diploma
- Climate Change Management — Master's only
- Conservation Medicine — Master's or postgraduate diploma
- Data-Driven Breeding and Genetics — Master's or postgraduate diploma
- Data Science Technologies — Master's only
- Digital Education — Master's or postgraduate diploma
- Family Medicine (MFM) — Master's only
- Global Food Security and Nutrition — Master's or postgraduate diploma
- Global Health and Infectious Diseases — Master's or postgraduate diploma
- International Development — Master's only
- One Health — Master's or postgraduate diploma
- Social Justice and Community Action — Master's or postgraduate diploma
The online programme list is subject to change, so applicants should consult the university's official page before selecting a course.
Official programme information: https://edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/apply-for-a-scholarship/online-postgraduate-scholarships
Who can apply?
Applicants must meet the programme's personal, academic and leadership requirements. The main criteria include:
- Be a citizen and resident of an African country or hold qualifying refugee status in an African country.
- Be aged 35 or younger in the year the programme begins. For the 2027/2028 intake, applicants must have been born on or after 1 January 1992.
- Have faced significant barriers to education or in their early career, including social, financial, personal, practical or health-related challenges.
- Demonstrate academic ability sufficient for admission to the chosen University of Edinburgh programme. Applicants will generally need qualifications equivalent to at least a UK upper second-class bachelor's degree, or 2:1.
- Demonstrate a record of leadership and service in their community.
- Show experience or a clear ambition to contribute meaningfully to addressing the climate crisis.
- Have obtained an undergraduate degree and be able to provide the final official degree certificate and transcript by the main application deadline.
Additional requirements for Master's applicants
Applicants seeking an on-campus or online Master's scholarship must not have previously completed a postgraduate degree. They must also meet the specific entry requirements of their selected programme.
Additional requirements for online postgraduate diploma applicants
Applicants may qualify with an undergraduate or Master's degree from an African university, subject to the programme's academic and graduation-document requirements.
Applicants should review the official eligibility page carefully because academic entry requirements differ between programmes.
Official eligibility page: https://edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/apply-for-a-scholarship/eligibility
What does the scholarship cover?
On-campus scholars
The on-campus scholarship covers:
- Full approved tuition fees.
- Accommodation.
- Travel support.
- A living-cost stipend.
- Study materials.
- Participation in the Climate Leadership Programme.
- Training through the Climate Enterprise School.
- Additional disability-related support based on assessed needs.
- Transition support to help scholars prepare for and settle into their studies.
The Climate Enterprise School includes an intensive week of training in sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation.
Online scholars
Online scholarship benefits include:
- Full approved tuition fees.
- An academic stipend to support access to a laptop and high-quality internet.
- Participation in climate leadership activities, including online workshops and coaching.
- An opportunity to attend an in-person gathering.
- Participation in the Climate Enterprise School.
- A dedicated online coordinator.
- Additional disability-related support based on assessed needs.
- Transition support.
The funding package differs according to the study route. Online applicants should not assume that the on-campus accommodation, travel and living-cost package applies to online study.
Selection criteria
Applications are assessed on academic suitability, leadership, community service, potential impact and alignment with the programme's climate-justice objectives.
For online scholarships, applicants must also demonstrate a strong interest in online learning and an understanding of what studying remotely involves.
The programme is especially interested in applicants who can use their education and experience to contribute to sustainable development and positive change in their home countries.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee a scholarship. Applicants must pass the programme's screening and selection stages.
How to apply
Important: This application cycle has a restricted entry process. Applicants must have attended one of the mandatory virtual information sessions held from 15 to 24 September 2026 and received an invitation to apply. The sessions are not recorded, and attendance alone does not guarantee an invitation.
Eligible invited applicants should follow these steps:
- Review the official eligibility requirements: https://edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/apply-for-a-scholarship/eligibility
- Review the available on-campus and online degree programmes and decide which route best matches your academic goals.
- Access the official application portal using the invitation received from the University of Edinburgh: https://mcfspedinburgh.smapply.io/prog/202728_postgraduate_scholarshipon-campus_and_online/
- Complete the Applicant Declaration Form and Postgraduate Eligibility Assessment by 26 October 2026 at 5 p.m. UK time.
- Applicants who pass the first stage will be invited to complete the main scholarship application. The main application deadline is 19 November 2026 at 5 p.m. UK time.
- Complete the application essays, explain your academic and leadership experience, describe your future ambitions and upload the required official degree certificate and final transcript.
- Review all information carefully and make sure you mark the application complete and submit it through the portal.
Applicants who receive a scholarship offer will subsequently be supported through the University's standard degree admission process. If applying only for this scholarship, applicants generally do not need to submit a separate degree application at the outset.
For enquiries, contact mcfsp@ed.ac.uk.
Documents required
Applicants should prepare the following:
- Official undergraduate degree certificate.
- Official final undergraduate transcript.
- Personal and academic information requested in the Applicant Declaration Form.
- Responses to the main application essay questions covering personal experience, academic background, leadership and future ambitions.
- Any additional eligibility information requested by the programme.
The University requires applicants to have the final official degree certificate and transcript available for upload by 19 November 2026. Applicants who cannot provide these documents by the deadline should not proceed with the application.
Reference letters are not required as uploads at the initial application stage. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide referee details, and referees may be contacted during the later selection process.
The scholarship application does not itself require English-language test results, although the university may require an English test as part of degree admission depending on the applicant's previous studies and selected programme.
Important dates
- 15–24 September 2026: Mandatory virtual information sessions. These sessions have now passed.
- 20 October 2026: Eligible attendees were due to receive invitations to apply.
- 26 October 2026, 5 p.m. UK time: Applicant Declaration Form deadline.
- 19 November 2026, 5 p.m. UK time: Main scholarship application deadline.
- Early February 2027: On-campus applicants expected to be invited to interview.
- Mid-February 2027: Online applicants expected to be invited to interview.
- February–March 2027: Interviews and selection activities.
- End of March 2027: Expected announcement of interview outcomes.
- April–August 2027: Admission and immigration support for successful on-campus scholars, and admission support for online scholars.
- September 2027: Academic programmes begin.
All dates are subject to change. Applicants should refer to the official programme website for the latest information.
Official source
Use the official provider's website for current eligibility rules, application instructions, fees and deadlines.
Visit official websiteSource verification date: October 25, 2026. This is not a guarantee that the opportunity remains open.