Scholarship guide refreshed 5 October 2026. Berkeley’s Master of Development Engineering is an eligible route for Mastercard Foundation scholarship consideration. Admission and scholarship selection are separate: meeting the academic requirements does not guarantee funding.
About the programme and support
The professional master’s focuses on development, humanitarian and social-impact engineering. Berkeley describes the Scholars Program as comprehensive financial, academic and leadership support for selected African students. Applicants should review the award terms for covered expenses rather than assume a universal cash allowance.
Eligibility
The scholarship targets academically strong African citizens who have faced barriers to higher education, demonstrate leadership and community commitment, and intend to contribute to Africa after study and eligible training. African refugees within the continent can be considered.
Berkeley excludes applicants holding dual citizenship, asylum, refugee status or permanent residence in the US, Canada, UK or EU. Read its precise eligibility rules if these conditions affect you. Priority may favour applicants with African undergraduate degrees, no prior postgraduate degree and no previous Mastercard Foundation scholarship; priorities should not be confused with automatic exclusions.
Application process and documents
Apply to the degree programme first and follow the separate scholarship-consideration instructions. Nominated candidates may later receive a scholarship supplement and interview invitation.
Degree application materials include transcripts, three references, a CV of up to two pages, a statement of purpose and personal-history statement of up to 500 words each, a one-to-two-minute video, and a portfolio of three to five projects. The portfolio limit is ten pages and 20 MB. English-language evidence may be required; GRE scores are not required.
Use the earlier scholarship schedule
The general degree deadline is 15 February 2027 at 8:59 pm Pacific Time. Scholarship applicants must follow an earlier schedule, with some materials due in early December. Do not wait for the general February deadline.
The department directs scholarship candidates to a separate application guide for exact dates. Those detailed dates have not been independently confirmed here. Read the guide linked from the official MDevEng application page before planning submission. Review the scholarship eligibility requirements as well.
Prepare your evidence
Choose projects that clearly show the problem, people affected, your contribution and the outcome. Avoid inflated impact claims. Ask referees early and track each document separately so that an unfinished reference or portfolio does not delay your application.
| Study route | Master of Development Engineering, fall 2027 |
|---|---|
| Scholarship audience | Eligible African applicants |
| Timing | Earlier scholarship schedule; some materials due early December |
| Funding decision | Competitive and separate from admission |
Keywords: Mastercard Foundation scholarship, Berkeley Development Engineering, African master’s scholarships, 2027 postgraduate funding.
