African students seeking a fully supported master’s degree in the United States can consider the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of California, Berkeley, which provides comprehensive financial, academic and leadership support to selected students from African countries.
UC Berkeley and the Mastercard Foundation are working through a long-term partnership designed to support more than 200 master’s students from Africa.
The programme recruits widely across the continent and particularly encourages applications from:
- Women
- People with disabilities
- Refugees
- Displaced students
The current Berkeley programme is recruiting Mastercard Foundation Scholars through Fall 2028, making it relevant to students preparing applications for the 2027 academic cycle.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| University | University of California, Berkeley |
| Scholarship | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program |
| Study Level | Master’s degree |
| Target Region | African countries |
| Funding | Comprehensive scholarship |
| Tuition | Covered |
| Berkeley Student Fees | Covered |
| Travel | Covered |
| Housing | Covered |
| Food | Covered |
| Living Expenses | Covered |
| Visa Fees | Covered |
| SEVIS Fees | Covered |
| Leadership Training | Included |
| Entrepreneurship Programming | Included |
| Undergraduate Study | Not eligible at Berkeley |
| PhD Study | Not eligible |
| Eligible Master’s Duration | Up to 2 years |
| Application Period | Generally September to early January, depending on programme |
| Scholarship Recruitment | Continuing through Fall 2028 |
What Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Berkeley is intended to support academically talented African students who have faced significant barriers to accessing higher education and who demonstrate the potential to contribute to social and economic transformation across Africa.
UC Berkeley says the programme aims to develop:
- Ethical leaders
- Entrepreneurial leaders
- Socially engaged graduates
- Students committed to transformative change
The wider Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has committed more than US$1.2 billion to education and leadership development for more than 40,000 young people.
How Many Students Will UC Berkeley Support?
The current partnership is expected to support more than:
200 master’s degree students.
The programme indicates that approximately 55 master’s students may be supported at Berkeley annually, with new cohorts continuing through 2028.
Berkeley’s programme has already supported students from dozens of African countries.
Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Berkeley Fully Funded?
The programme describes its support as a:
comprehensive scholarship equivalent to the costs associated with earning a master’s degree.
Confirmed covered expenses include:
- Tuition
- Berkeley student fees
- Travel
- Visa fees
- SEVIS fees
- Housing
- Food
- Living expenses
- Leadership programming
- Entrepreneurship programming
For this Berkeley programme, describing the award as comprehensive or fully funded is supported by the official information.
Does the Scholarship Cover Tuition?
Yes.
Tuition is specifically included in the comprehensive scholarship package.
Does It Cover Accommodation?
Yes.
Housing is listed among the covered expenses.
Does It Cover Food and Living Costs?
Yes.
The programme states that the scholarship covers:
- Food
- Living expenses
in addition to tuition and university fees.
Does It Cover Flights?
Travel is included in the comprehensive scholarship package.
The official page does not provide a universal cash travel allowance, so applicants should not assume a particular dollar amount.
Are Visa Costs Covered?
Yes.
The scholarship covers:
- Visa fees
- SEVIS fees
Starting with Fall 2026, Berkeley states that Mastercard Foundation Scholars will study under:
F-1 student visas.
Who Can Apply?
The eligibility requirements are specific.
Applicants must generally meet several conditions.
1. You Must Be a Citizen of an African Country
Applicants must be citizens of an:
African country.
This also includes Africans who are:
- Forcibly displaced
- Refugees within the African continent
However, people who also hold certain immigration or citizenship statuses in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom or European Union may not qualify.
Who Is Not Eligible Under This Citizenship Rule?
Berkeley states that applicants are not eligible if they hold:
- Dual citizenship
- Asylee status
- Refugee status
- Permanent residence
in the:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- European Union
Applicants with complicated citizenship or immigration situations should verify their eligibility directly with the programme.
2. You Must Demonstrate Academic Talent
Students must first be competitive for admission to a UC Berkeley master’s programme.
Berkeley considers:
demonstrated academic excellence
an important part of university admission and scholarship consideration.
3. You Must Demonstrate Leadership Potential
The scholarship seeks applicants who show potential for:
transformative leadership.
Berkeley describes this as leadership that engages others ethically to create:
- Positive change
- Lasting change
This means high grades alone are unlikely to make an application competitive.
4. You Should Have Faced Significant Barriers to Higher Education
The programme is intended for academically talented candidates who may have experienced major barriers to accessing quality education.
These can include:
- Financial barriers
- Social barriers
- Personal barriers
- Practical barriers
- Health-related barriers
5. You Must Demonstrate Commitment to Giving Back
Applicants should show evidence that they are engaged beyond the classroom.
Relevant activities could involve:
- Community service
- Entrepreneurship
- Social initiatives
- Research
- Advocacy
- Development projects
- Leadership
- Volunteer work
The programme wants applicants who are committed to contributing to their:
- Community
- Country
- Continent
6. You Must Intend to Return to Africa
This is a major programme condition.
Applicants should demonstrate a genuine intention to return to their home country or continent after completing their:
- Degree
- Eligible post-graduation training
The programme is designed to equip scholars with knowledge, professional networks and experience that can be used to address challenges across Africa.
Does the Scholarship Require Students to Return Home?
Yes.
Berkeley makes clear that scholars should not plan to remain in the United States indefinitely after completing their studies.
Students may undertake eligible practical training under applicable visa rules, but the broader programme expectation is that scholars will eventually return and contribute to Africa.
Which Applicants May Receive Priority?
When candidates are otherwise equally competitive, Berkeley says priority may be given to applicants who:
- Completed their undergraduate degree at an African university
- Do not already have a master’s or doctoral degree
- Have not previously benefited from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
These are priorities, not necessarily universal exclusion rules unless separately stated.
Can Undergraduate Students Apply?
Not for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley.
Berkeley explicitly states that the current programme is:
not open to undergraduate applicants.
Other Mastercard Foundation partner institutions may offer undergraduate opportunities.
Can PhD Students Apply?
No.
Doctoral programmes do not qualify for the Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
The programme is focused on eligible:
master’s degrees.
How Long Can the Master’s Programme Be?
Berkeley only makes scholarship awards for eligible master’s programmes lasting:
two years or less.
Concurrent or dual-degree programmes taking longer than two years are not eligible.
Eligible Master’s Programmes at UC Berkeley
The current eligible programme list includes options across several Berkeley schools and colleges.
Haas School of Business
- Master of Business Administration
MBA applicants should note that a special funding structure applies.
Berkeley states that MBA candidates need to obtain additional scholarship support from Haas and must meet the:
Round One application deadline.
School of Education
- Master of Arts in Education
College of Engineering
Eligible programmes include:
- Master of Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering MS
- Industrial Engineering and Operations Research MS
- Information Management and Systems
Graduate School of Journalism
- Master of Journalism
Only applicants meeting the:
Round One deadline
are considered for the Scholars Program.
School of Law
- Traditional LLM programme
College of Letters and Science
Eligible programmes include:
- Master of Fine Arts
- Computational Social Science
- Folklore
- Global Studies
College of Natural Resources
Eligible options include:
- Energy and Resources
- Climate Solutions
- Forestry
- Social Welfare
Applicants interested in a Berkeley master’s programme not appearing on the list are advised to contact the Scholars Program.
Does Data Science Qualify?
The current published eligible-programme list should be treated as authoritative for each cycle.
Although previous Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars have studied Data Science and other fields, students should not assume every previous degree remains eligible in the current recruitment cycle.
Always use the current eligible-programme list before applying.
How Do You Apply?
A critical point is that students do not begin by submitting a standalone Mastercard Foundation scholarship application.
The first step is:
apply to an eligible UC Berkeley master’s programme through the normal graduate admissions process.
Application Process
Step 1 — Choose an Eligible Master’s Degree
Applicants should first identify a Berkeley master’s programme that qualifies for Mastercard Foundation support.
Check:
- Degree eligibility
- Academic requirements
- Programme deadline
- English-language requirements where applicable
- Department-specific documents
Step 2 — Apply to UC Berkeley
Prospective scholars submit the regular UC Berkeley graduate admission application.
Berkeley states that graduate deadlines generally fall between:
September and early January
with many programmes closing in December.
Step 3 — Apply in the First Round Where Required
This is extremely important.
If a programme has multiple admission rounds, applicants must generally apply during:
the first round
to be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Waiting for a later admission round can make an otherwise eligible applicant ineligible for scholarship consideration.
Step 4 — Scholarship Nomination
After graduate applications are reviewed, Berkeley degree programmes nominate candidates who may qualify for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Students are not automatically awarded the scholarship just because they applied for admission.
Step 5 — Supplemental Scholarship Application
In:
February
the Scholars Program invites nominated candidates to complete a supplemental scholarship application.
Step 6 — Interview
Selected candidates are invited for an:
online interview in March.
Step 7 — Final Decisions
Final scholarship decisions are generally communicated in:
late March or early April.
UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Application Timeline
| Stage | Typical Timing |
|---|---|
| Graduate applications | September–early January |
| Fee-waiver preparation deadline | November 15 |
| Fee-waiver decisions | Before December 1 |
| Scholarship supplemental application | February |
| Interviews | March |
| Final scholarship decisions | Late March–early April |
The exact graduate admission deadline varies by degree programme.
Is There One Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Deadline?
No.
There is no single universal graduate admission deadline for every eligible programme.
Each Berkeley department has its own deadline.
Applicants therefore need to check their chosen degree carefully.
November 15 Fee-Waiver Opportunity
Berkeley provides a potentially important opportunity for African applicants who need help paying the graduate application fee.
Applicants from African countries who complete the basic demographic section and provide the names of at least:
two recommenders
in the graduate application by:
November 15
may receive an invitation to apply for one of a limited number of admission application fee waivers.
Decisions are expected before:
December 1.
Is the Application Fee Automatically Waived?
No.
Fee waivers are limited.
Completing the required steps can allow an applicant to be considered for the waiver, but it does not guarantee one.
Documents You May Need
The exact graduate application requirements vary by programme.
Applicants may commonly need items such as:
- Academic transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Personal history statement
- Recommendation letters
- CV or résumé
- English-language test results where required
- Programme-specific documents
These should be verified with the chosen Berkeley programme.
There is not one universal Mastercard Foundation document list covering every master’s programme.
How Competitive Is the Scholarship?
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley should be considered highly competitive.
Berkeley itself states that every year there are:
more well-qualified and deserving candidates than available spaces.
Selection requires applicants to demonstrate several strengths simultaneously:
- Academic excellence
- Financial or other educational barriers
- Leadership potential
- Community engagement
- Commitment to Africa
- Admission to a strong Berkeley programme
Berkeley does not provide a universal acceptance rate for the scholarship, so no percentage should be invented.
How to Improve Your Chances
Apply to the Right Programme
Do not select a degree simply because you think it gives you a better scholarship chance.
Choose a programme that clearly connects with your:
- Academic background
- Professional experience
- Career goals
- Intended impact in Africa
Build a Strong Africa-Focused Career Story
Opportunities Feed Strategy
A strong application should connect three things:
your past experience → your Berkeley degree → the change you intend to create in Africa.
For example, instead of saying:
“I want to study engineering because Berkeley is prestigious,”
a stronger narrative could explain:
- A specific infrastructure problem you have worked on
- Skills you currently lack
- Why the Berkeley degree provides those skills
- How you plan to apply them in your country after graduation
Demonstrate Leadership With Evidence
Avoid simply writing:
“I am a leader.”
Provide examples such as:
- Leading a community initiative
- Creating a project
- Managing a team
- Starting an organization
- Mentoring young people
- Solving a problem
- Advocating for change
Show what changed because of your involvement.
Explain Your Barriers Clearly
The scholarship considers candidates who have faced significant barriers to higher education.
Applicants should explain those circumstances clearly without turning the entire application into a description of hardship.
The strongest applications connect:
barriers → resilience → achievement → future impact.
Show Commitment Beyond Academic Grades
Berkeley specifically seeks applicants involved in activities outside the classroom.
Strong evidence might include:
- Community projects
- Entrepreneurship
- Advocacy
- Volunteer service
- Research
- Social innovation
- Public-interest work
Explain Why You Will Return
The intention to return to Africa is central to the scholarship.
Applicants should be able to explain:
- What issue they want to address
- Which country or community they want to serve
- What career they intend to build
- How Berkeley will strengthen that work
Internship Opportunities in Africa
Students enrolled in master’s programmes lasting longer than two semesters are expected, subject to review and approval, to complete an internship in Africa during their studies.
Berkeley staff and faculty can help scholars identify relevant opportunities.
For eligible internships, the Scholars Program provides:
- Round-trip airfare to Africa
- A stipend intended to help with living expenses
The official page does not specify a universal internship stipend amount.
Can Scholars Work While Studying?
Scholars may be permitted to work part-time on campus.
However, Berkeley strongly discourages employment during the first year because students need time to:
- Adapt academically
- Participate in programme activities
- Manage their studies
Future employment should be discussed with programme advisors.
Does the Programme Provide Career Support?
The scholarship model includes broader academic, professional and leadership support.
Scholars become part of a global Mastercard Foundation network spanning institutions across:
- Africa
- North America
- Europe
- Other regions
This network can help graduates build professional and peer connections.
Leadership and Entrepreneurship Training
The Berkeley programme extends beyond academic funding.
Scholars receive specialized opportunities in:
- Leadership
- Entrepreneurship
- Innovation
- Professional development
They may also engage with the entrepreneurial ecosystems around:
- UC Berkeley
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Silicon Valley
Why This Scholarship Matters
Opportunities Feed Analysis
The scholarship is particularly significant because it addresses several barriers simultaneously.
Instead of providing tuition alone, it supports costs associated with:
- University attendance
- Living in California
- International travel
- Immigration processing
while also providing leadership and entrepreneurship development.
This matters because a tuition-only award could still leave an international student with substantial unmet expenses.
Who Is This Scholarship Best For?
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The programme is particularly suitable for African applicants who:
- Have a strong undergraduate academic record
- Demonstrate leadership
- Have faced meaningful barriers to higher education
- Are active in their communities
- Can clearly explain their intended contribution to Africa
- Want an eligible Berkeley master’s degree
- Intend to return to Africa after study and eligible training
Who Should Probably Look Elsewhere?
The Berkeley programme is not suitable for applicants seeking:
- Undergraduate funding at Berkeley
- PhD scholarships
- Master’s programmes longer than two years
- Dual or concurrent degrees exceeding two years
- A pathway primarily intended for permanent U.S. migration
Applicants who do not meet Berkeley’s programme structure may still find Mastercard Foundation opportunities at other partner institutions.
Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying for an ineligible master’s programme
- Applying to a later admission round when Round One is required
- Assuming there is a separate scholarship application before Berkeley admission
- Missing the graduate programme deadline
- Focusing only on academic grades
- Providing vague leadership claims
- Failing to explain educational barriers
- Failing to demonstrate commitment to Africa
- Assuming all Berkeley master’s degrees qualify
- Applying for undergraduate or doctoral study under this specific programme
- Assuming admission to Berkeley guarantees the scholarship
Does Admission Guarantee a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship?
No.
Students must first apply to and be considered for admission to an eligible Berkeley programme.
Scholarship consideration involves additional:
- Nomination
- Supplemental application
- Selection
- Interview
steps.
Can Students Contact Professors for the Scholarship?
Applicants should not contact individual programme staff or faculty members to request scholarship consideration.
Berkeley asks applicants to use the programme’s official information channels and states that its office does not process unsolicited résumés or transcripts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley?
It is a comprehensive scholarship programme supporting eligible African students pursuing selected master’s degrees at UC Berkeley.
Is it fully funded?
The official programme describes it as a comprehensive scholarship covering the costs associated with earning a master’s degree.
Does it cover tuition?
Yes.
Does it cover accommodation?
Yes.
Does it cover food?
Yes.
Does it cover living expenses?
Yes.
Does it cover flights?
Travel is included.
Does it cover visa fees?
Yes.
Does it cover SEVIS fees?
Yes.
Who can apply?
Eligible citizens of African countries who meet Berkeley admission and Scholars Program criteria.
Are refugees eligible?
Africans who are refugees or forcibly displaced within Africa can be eligible, subject to the detailed rules.
Can undergraduate students apply?
Not to the UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Can PhD applicants apply?
No.
Is the scholarship only for master’s students?
Yes, at Berkeley under the current programme structure.
Can I already have a master’s degree?
Applicants with postgraduate degrees are not automatically stated to be universally excluded, but Berkeley gives preference, all else equal, to candidates who do not already have a master’s or doctorate.
Do I need to return to Africa?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate an intention to return after their studies and eligible post-graduation training.
Is there one scholarship deadline?
No. Graduate programme deadlines vary.
When do applications usually happen?
Graduate applications generally run from September through early January.
What happens after applying to Berkeley?
Eligible nominated applicants may receive a supplemental scholarship application in February.
Are there interviews?
Yes. Selected candidates are generally interviewed online in March.
When are final decisions released?
Typically late March or early April.
Can MBA students qualify?
Yes, but a special funding process applies and applicants must meet the Haas Round One deadline.
Can Journalism students qualify?
Yes, but only those meeting the Round One deadline are considered.
Can scholars work in the United States?
Part-time on-campus employment may be permitted, although Berkeley discourages it during the first year.
Which visa do scholars receive?
Starting Fall 2026, scholars come under F-1 student visas.
Does the programme support internships?
For scholars in master’s programmes longer than two semesters, an Africa-based internship is part of the programme structure, with round-trip travel and a living-expense stipend provided for eligible internships.
Opportunities Feed Verdict
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley is one of the strongest comprehensive scholarship opportunities available to eligible African students seeking a master’s degree in the United States.
Successful scholars receive support for major education and living costs including:
- Tuition
- Berkeley fees
- Housing
- Food
- Living expenses
- Travel
- Visa fees
- SEVIS fees
alongside specialized leadership and entrepreneurship development.
The scholarship is not simply awarded on the basis of high grades.
Berkeley is looking for applicants who combine:
academic excellence, leadership potential, demonstrated barriers to accessing higher education, community engagement and a clear commitment to contributing to Africa.
Applicants also need to understand the application structure carefully.
You first apply to an eligible UC Berkeley master’s programme, generally between September and early January. Candidates nominated by their departments can then be invited to complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supplemental application, followed by interviews and final selection.
For students preparing for the 2027 cycle, one of the most important strategic steps is to identify the correct eligible master’s programme early and make sure they meet the first-round deadline where multiple admission rounds exist.
The programme will continue recruiting Scholars through Fall 2028, meaning future cohorts remain part of UC Berkeley’s current Mastercard Foundation partnership.
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