Mastercard Foundation Scholarships 2024 | Application Guidelines

Mastercard Foundation is currently inviting applications from young persons with high academic ambitions to apply for  their ongoing scholarship programme 2023/2024. Interested candidates should kindly follow the application guidelines listed in the article below.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, the largest scholarship and leadership initiative of its kind in Africa aims at preparing talented and diverse young persons with a commitment to giving back with the skills and mindsets they require to run with their aspirations and enrich their communities.

The scholarship program is more than just a scholarship, it offers mentoring, leadership skills development, tutoring, internship opportunities, and career services in addition to covering tuition and basic living expenses. The Implementation of the Scholars program is through a Pan-African and global network of more than 40 universities and non-governmental organizations. The Program is strengthening the higher education ecosystem by encouraging inclusion and accessibility, innovation in teaching and learning, research and collaboration across critical sectors and stakeholders.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarships 2024, interested applicants must meet the following requirements:

• For an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree, candidates must be 29 years old or under at the time of application.
• For a graduate (master’s) degree, candidates must be 35 years old or under at the time they apply.
• Be a student with exceptional academic credentials interested in joining network of young changemakers.
• A young person whose academic ambitions exceed your financial resources.
• In addition, each university has its own eligibility criteria. Carefully review the application requirements at the institution you are interested in applying.

Application Procedures

There are certain guidelines to follow and certain things to look out for before and while applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Applicants are to take note of the following:

Before you apply:

• Be sure that you have researched the Program website of the university of your choice to know the specific details about eligibility criteria, requirements, deadlines, and other application instructions.
• Choose the institution and program you want to apply to. While there is no limit to the number of schools you can apply to, it is important to note that it takes a great deal of effort to complete an application package.
• Prepare the necessary documents to submit. Each institution requires different types of documents as part of the application process. Failing to submit a document on time will result in an incomplete application.
• If applicable, take the required tests a few months before starting your application. Before being considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, every applicant must first meet the admissions requirements of the university. For some partners, tests like the SAT and/or TOEFL or IELTS are part of the standard requirements for all international students. Other university partners do not require these to be completed.
• Ask for references. Most universities will require recommendation letters. Some universities will require the recommendation to be submitted online. In this case, it is the applicant’s responsibility to follow up with his/her referees about the online submission.

When applying:

• Follow the application instructions on the university program. Some partners only accept online applications; some others require paper-based applications.
• Take note of the deadline and avoid waiting until the last day to submit your application. Check your application package to make sure that you have submitted all the required documents. A late or incomplete application will not be considered for the Scholars Program.

Partner Institutions