Mastercard Foundation Partner Universities Offering Scholarships provide opportunities for talented African students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate education with comprehensive support. Explore participating universities, application requirements, study levels, deadlines and how to apply directly through official Mastercard Foundation partner institutions.
The Mastercard Foundation Partner Universities Offering Scholarships provide students with access to higher education opportunities across Africa and internationally. Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, participating universities and nonprofit organizations support talented young people who demonstrate academic potential, leadership qualities and a commitment to creating positive change in their communities.
The programme is more than a traditional scholarship. According to the Mastercard Foundation, its partners work to provide students with support throughout their academic journeys and their transition into meaningful employment. Depending on the institution, support can include academic assistance, leadership development, personal and professional development, entrepreneurship programming and other forms of student support.
One of the most important points for prospective applicants is that students do not apply directly to the Mastercard Foundation for a scholarship. Applications are managed by individual partner universities and organizations, meaning applicants must follow the application instructions of the institution they want to attend.
Background & Scholarship Overview
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative focused on developing the next generation of transformative leaders.
Since 2012, the programme has supported more than 50,000 young African leaders, providing resources and opportunities designed to help them succeed in education and the world of work.
The programme works with universities and NGOs that have expertise in supporting young people, including individuals from communities that have historically faced barriers to higher education.
The Foundation states that the programme particularly encourages consideration of young people who demonstrate a commitment to ethical leadership and community development, as well as applicants from underrepresented groups, including women, refugees, forcibly displaced people and people with disabilities.
However, eligibility is not identical across all universities. Each partner institution establishes its own requirements, programmes, deadlines and application procedures.
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Mastercard Foundation Partner Universities
The Foundation’s official partner directory includes institutions offering undergraduate, postgraduate or both levels of study.
Based on the current partner listing provided, examples include:
Addis Ababa University
Located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Addis Ababa University is included among the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program institutions.
Prospective students should consult the university’s dedicated Mastercard Foundation page for current programmes, eligibility requirements and application information.
Addis Ababa University – Mastercard Foundation information
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is listed in the partner directory for postgraduate opportunities.
The current listing identifies its location as Cape Town and indicates that applications were closed at the time of the supplied source.
AIMS – Mastercard Foundation information
African Leadership University
The African Leadership University (ALU) in Kigali, Rwanda, is listed for undergraduate study and was marked as accepting applications in the supplied partner directory.
African Leadership University – Mastercard Foundation information
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is listed as offering both undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities through the programme.
The supplied directory marked applications as open.
American University of Beirut – Mastercard Foundation information
Arizona State University
Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, Arizona, is included in the partner network for postgraduate study.
The supplied listing indicated that applications were open.
Arizona State University – Mastercard Foundation information
Ashesi University
Ashesi University in Berekuso, Ghana, is another partner institution, with the supplied listing identifying undergraduate study.
The application status shown in the source was closed.
Ashesi University – Mastercard Foundation information
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom is included in the partner network for postgraduate opportunities.
Its Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports eligible African students pursuing master’s-level study at Cambridge, with the university managing its own application process and requirements.
University of Cambridge – Mastercard Foundation information
Carnegie Mellon University Africa
Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa) in Kigali, Rwanda, is listed for postgraduate study.
The supplied Mastercard Foundation directory indicated that applications were open.
Carnegie Mellon University Africa – Mastercard Foundation information
EARTH University
EARTH University in San José, Costa Rica, is included in the partner network for undergraduate study. The supplied directory indicated that applications were open.
EARTH University – Mastercard Foundation information
International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering
The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is listed for both undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities.
The supplied directory showed applications as closed.
2iE – Mastercard Foundation information
KNUST
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, is listed for undergraduate study. The supplied directory showed applications as closed.
KNUST – Mastercard Foundation information
Makerere University
Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, is listed for postgraduate study, with the supplied directory showing applications as open.
Makerere University – Mastercard Foundation information
Who Can Apply?
The Mastercard Foundation explains that candidates should generally demonstrate strong academic potential and a commitment to making a positive difference in their communities.
The Foundation’s general guidance also states that applicants for undergraduate programmes must be 29 or younger when applying, while applicants for master’s programmes must be 35 or younger.
These are general programme guidelines, however, and individual universities may impose additional eligibility requirements.
Applicants should therefore check the specific partner institution before preparing an application.
What Support Can Scholars Receive?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is designed to provide more than tuition assistance.
Depending on the partner institution and programme, scholars may receive comprehensive support intended to help them succeed academically and professionally.
The programme highlights areas including:
- Academic and educational support
- Leadership development
- Psychosocial and wellbeing support
- Personal and professional development
- Entrepreneurship-focused programming
- Support during transition into employment
- Access to a broader community of Mastercard Foundation Scholars
The exact financial and non-financial benefits vary between partner institutions, so applicants should not assume that every university offers an identical scholarship package.
How to Apply
The application process is handled directly by each participating university or organization.
Applicants should begin by selecting a partner institution and identifying the relevant degree programme.
They should then:
- Review the university’s Mastercard Foundation eligibility requirements.
- Check whether applications are currently open.
- Review the university admission requirements.
- Prepare academic records, references and other required documents.
- Follow the institution’s scholarship application instructions.
- Submit the application before the university’s stated deadline.
- Monitor official communication from the university regarding the selection process.
The Foundation specifically advises applicants to apply directly through the affiliated institution rather than through third-party agents or unofficial recruitment channels.
Important Fraud Warning
Prospective applicants should be particularly careful about scholarship scams.
The Mastercard Foundation states that it is aware of social media posts advertising recruitment for the Scholars Program and requesting application fees. The Foundation says such groups are not associated with the Mastercard Foundation.
The Foundation does not solicit funding or request payments from individuals.
Applicants should therefore use official university websites and the Foundation’s partner directory when searching for scholarship opportunities.
View the official Mastercard Foundation partner university directory
Additional Information
Scholarship availability can change between institutions and application cycles. Some universities may accept applications while others have already closed their current scholarship window.
The supplied partner directory also indicates that opportunities span different countries, levels of study and applicant circumstances. Its filters include undergraduate and postgraduate study, as well as opportunities associated with disability and refugees or displaced persons.
Applicants should therefore avoid relying on a single general deadline for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. There is no single application deadline that applies to every partner institution.
Instead, each university establishes its own deadline and application procedure.
Final Thoughts
The Mastercard Foundation Partner Universities Offering Scholarships give students multiple pathways to pursue higher education while developing leadership and professional skills.
Institutions in the current partner directory include universities and educational organizations in Africa, Europe, North America and other regions. Opportunities range from undergraduate programmes to postgraduate study.
For prospective applicants, the most important step is to identify a suitable partner university and carefully follow that institution’s official application process.
The Mastercard Foundation does not manage a single central scholarship application. Students must apply directly through the partner institution they wish to attend.
RELATED ARTICLE
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027: Fully Funded University Opportunities
Mastercard Foundation Master’s Scholarships 2027
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Mastercard Foundation Partner Universities Offering Scholarships
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Mastercard Foundation Entrepreneurship Programs 2026–2027
Mastercard Foundation Jobs and Professional Opportunities 2026
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Mastercard Foundation Opportunities Young Africans Should Watch in 2027
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