Mastercard Foundation Online Scholarships 2027 at the University of Edinburgh offer eligible applicants an opportunity to pursue postgraduate study through online degree programmes. Learn about the new application process, mandatory information sessions, eligibility screening, key deadlines and how to apply for the 2027/28 scholarship cycle.
The Mastercard Foundation Online Scholarships 2027 at the University of Edinburgh provide an opportunity for eligible students to pursue postgraduate education through online study. For the 2027/28 cycle, the University has introduced a new application process that applicants must follow before gaining access to the main scholarship application.
The programme is part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh and is designed to support talented students who meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.
One of the most important changes for the 2027/28 intake is that prospective online scholarship applicants must attend a mandatory virtual information session before they can access the scholarship application form.
Background & Scholarship Overview
The University of Edinburgh has established both on-campus and online postgraduate scholarship opportunities through its Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
For applicants interested in online study, the programme provides a route to apply for eligible postgraduate degree programmes without initially submitting a standard University degree application.
The University’s updated process requires prospective applicants to first establish their preliminary eligibility and participate in an information session.
The process is therefore different from simply submitting a conventional scholarship application.
Applicants should carefully follow each stage because failure to complete an earlier step can prevent them from progressing to the next stage.
How the 2027/28 Application Process Works
The University of Edinburgh outlines several stages for applicants seeking the 2027/28 online postgraduate scholarship.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Before registering for an information session, prospective applicants should review the programme’s eligibility requirements.
The University advises applicants to make sure they meet the requirements before proceeding to the information-session stage.
Check the official eligibility requirements
Step 2: Explore Online Degree Programmes
Applicants should review the available online postgraduate programmes and identify the programme and study option they are interested in pursuing.
This allows applicants to understand the available academic pathways before proceeding with the scholarship application.
View the online degree programmes
Step 3: Attend a Mandatory Virtual Information Session
This is a critical requirement for the 2027/28 cycle.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will hold virtual information sessions between 15 and 24 September 2026.
For online applicants, the published sessions are:
- 17 September 2026 — 4:00pm UK time
- 22 September 2026 — 11:00am UK time
- 24 September 2026 — 3:00pm UK time
Applicants will complete a short questionnaire when registering.
Their responses will be reviewed to assess preliminary eligibility.
Importantly, attending an information session does not automatically provide access to the scholarship application. Only attendees who also meet the scholarship eligibility requirements will receive an invitation to apply.
RELATED ARTICLE
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027: Fully Funded University Opportunities
Mastercard Foundation Master’s Scholarships 2027
Mastercard Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships 2027
Mastercard Foundation Online Scholarships 2027
Mastercard Foundation Partner Universities Offering Scholarships
Mastercard Foundation Opportunities for African Women
Mastercard Foundation Opportunities for Refugees and Displaced Young People
Mastercard Foundation Entrepreneurship Programs 2026–2027
Mastercard Foundation Jobs and Professional Opportunities 2026
How to Apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholarships 2027
What Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Cover?
Mastercard Foundation Opportunities Young Africans Should Watch in 2027
What Happens After the Information Session?
Eligible attendees will be notified on 13 October 2026 about whether they have been invited to apply.
Applicants who receive an invitation will receive it through SurveyMonkey Apply.
Those who are not eligible to proceed will receive a notification confirming that they will not move forward.
Stage 1: Applicant Declaration Form
Applicants who receive an invitation must first complete the Applicant Declaration Form.
This is designed to collect additional information confirming the applicant’s eligibility.
The deadline for completing this stage is:
19 October 2026 at 5:00pm UK time
The University warns that the form may close earlier if the application limit is reached.
For this reason, applicants who receive an invitation are strongly encouraged to complete the declaration as early as possible.
Applicants who do not successfully complete this stage will not proceed to the main scholarship application.
Stage 2: Scholarship Main Application
Applicants who successfully complete the Applicant Declaration Form will then be invited to complete the Scholarship Main Application.
The deadline is:
19 November 2026 at 5:00pm UK time
This is the main scholarship application stage, so applicants should ensure that all required information is prepared before beginning the process.
When Should You Apply for the Degree?
One of the most important instructions for applicants is that they should not initially apply for their chosen University of Edinburgh degree programme as part of this scholarship process.
At the initial stage, applicants should apply only for the scholarship.
If the scholarship application is successful and the applicant receives a scholarship offer in March 2027, they will then be invited to apply for their selected degree through the University’s normal admissions process.
There is an exception for applicants pursuing other scholarships that require an active University application. Those applicants may apply to the University separately if necessary.
Key Dates for Mastercard Foundation Online Scholarships 2027
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Online information session | 17 September 2026, 4pm UK |
| Online information session | 22 September 2026, 11am UK |
| Online information session | 24 September 2026, 3pm UK |
| Invitation to apply | 13 October 2026 |
| Applicant Declaration deadline | 19 October 2026, 5pm UK |
| Main scholarship application deadline | 19 November 2026, 5pm UK |
| Expected scholarship offers | March 2027 |
Applicants should note that the information supplied by the University specifically identifies these dates for the 2027/28 on-campus and online postgraduate scholarship cycle.
Who Should Consider Applying?
The online scholarship route may be particularly relevant to prospective postgraduate students who want to pursue an eligible University of Edinburgh programme through online study.
However, applicants should not assume that being interested in an online degree automatically makes them eligible.
The University requires applicants to first review the programme’s eligibility criteria and complete the required information-session process.
Review the official application guidance
Important Application Advice
Prospective applicants should begin preparing well before September 2026.
First, review the eligibility requirements and identify suitable online postgraduate programmes. Applicants should then register for one of the mandatory online information sessions.
Because attending the information session is a requirement for gaining access to the scholarship application, applicants should treat this stage as an essential part of the process rather than an optional briefing.
Once invited, applicants should complete the Applicant Declaration Form as early as possible rather than waiting until the October deadline.
The University has specifically stated that the form may close early once its application limit is reached.
Applicants should also carefully monitor their email after the information session because invitations to apply will be issued to eligible attendees.
Additional Information
The University of Edinburgh published the updated application guidance on 13 August 2026.
The University has emphasized that applications must be submitted through the specified online application system. Applications submitted outside the required system or from applicants who have not followed the outlined process will not be accepted.
Applicants with questions that are not addressed in the University’s FAQ section can contact the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Team at mcfsp@ed.ac.uk.
View the official application timeline
Final Thoughts
The Mastercard Foundation Online Scholarships 2027 at the University of Edinburgh introduce a structured application pathway for the 2027/28 postgraduate intake.
The biggest point for prospective applicants is the requirement to attend a mandatory virtual information session in September 2026. Eligible attendees will then be notified in October about whether they can proceed with the scholarship application.
Applicants who receive an invitation must complete the Applicant Declaration Form by 19 October 2026, followed by the main scholarship application by 19 November 2026.
Because the process has changed for the 2027/28 cycle, prospective applicants should rely on the University’s latest instructions rather than older application guides.
RELATED ARTICLE
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027: Fully Funded University Opportunities
Mastercard Foundation Master’s Scholarships 2027
Mastercard Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships 2027
Mastercard Foundation Online Scholarships 2027
Mastercard Foundation Partner Universities Offering Scholarships
Mastercard Foundation Opportunities for African Women
Mastercard Foundation Opportunities for Refugees and Displaced Young People
Mastercard Foundation Entrepreneurship Programs 2026–2027
Mastercard Foundation Jobs and Professional Opportunities 2026
How to Apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholarships 2027
What Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Cover?
Mastercard Foundation Opportunities Young Africans Should Watch in 2027
Official source: University of Edinburgh – Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
SEO Keywords
Mastercard Foundation Online Scholarships 2027, Mastercard Foundation Scholarships 2027, University of Edinburgh scholarships 2027, online postgraduate scholarships 2027, fully funded online scholarships, scholarships for African students, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, University of Edinburgh online scholarships, postgraduate scholarships for Africans, study online scholarships 2027, Mastercard Foundation Edinburgh scholarship, online master’s scholarships, UK scholarships for African students.
One thought on “Mastercard Foundation Online Scholarships 2027”