Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2025 Application

Under this article, your likely questions on Mastercard Foundation Scholarship program are being answered clearly, including the criteria for the eligibility of the Scholarship program, and many other related knowledge on this topic are carefully articulated on this blog post.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship is a program which is one of the largest scholarship program and leadership initiative of its kind, established to provide financial support for the proper education of students from Africa. It provides logistics support, including an economy return flight, visa and Immigration Health Surcharge fees, settling down allowance, and access to a Thrive Fund for emergencies.

This Scholarship program, centres on strengthening the higher educational ecosystem within Africa, by providing financial aid, innovation in teaching and learning, research, and every other viable means of improving the educational rate in Africa.

Requirements/Eligibility for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 

To qualify for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship program, the applicant must satisfy these following impeccable requirements:

• You must be a citizen of any African country.
• You must not be above 35 years of age the year the programme commences.
• Proof that you have faced significant barriers to your education.
• Proof of track record of leadership and service within your community.
• You must be highly talented and demonstrating your academic excellence.
• proof of intention to return to your home country after completing your studies and post-graduation training.
• Proof of proficiency in English by partaking in tests like; IELTS or TOEFL tests.

How to Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

If you are intending to apply for the Mastercard foundation Scholarship program it is advisable for you to apply directly through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program-affiliated institution you wish to attend. This is so because, it will make it will be much more easier for you if you already have a targeted university in mind. Also, the applicant should make necessary research on the program-affiliated universities before applying for one.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Affiliated Universities

After conducting a satisfying research, Iuschools has come up with list of top 10 universities in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship program, within and outside Africa. They are as follows:

1.  McGill University
2. University of Oxford,
3. University of Cape Town
4. University of California, Berkeley
5. University of Edinburgh
6. African Development University
7. Arizona State University 
8. African Institute for Mathematical Sciences
9. University Of British Columbia
10. Sciences Po University

Note, You can apply in any of these Universities for your Mastercard Scholarship program.

Tips on how to Win the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The following tips could make you scale through and gain the Mastercard Scholarship program:

1. Thoroughly choose the program affiliated-university of your choice, and learn the specific details about the eligibility criteria, requirements, deadlines, and other application instructions of your chosen affiliated-university.
2. There is no limit to the number of universities you can apply to, therefore it is important for you to know that it takes rigorous processes and efforts to complete an application package, so you should start your application process early as possible.
3. Prepare the necessary documents to submit. Note, that each institution requires different types of documents as part of the application process. That is why choosing the program affiliated-university of your choice as early as possible is an essential tip in bagging the Scholarship program.
4. If possible, take the required tests a few months before starting your application. Because before being considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program, you 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.
5. References should never be undermined. Most affiliated-universities may require recommendation letters. Hence before you apply, it is advisable for you to get letter of recommendation from someone who knows you well, such as your lecturer or teacher, mentor, or community leader, to support you with this step. This tip may multiply your chances of winning the Scholarship program.
6. Be very much cautious 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 necessary documents. Late submission of application or incomplete application might not be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program.

How to know if you have Qualified, and have Won the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Award?

Conclusion

Note, that the Scholarship program works hand-in-hand with  global network of over 4o universities and non-governmental organisations geared towards providing, funding, mentoring, leadership skills development, tutoring, internship opportunities and career services of African students. Also, both undergraduates and postgraduates are eligible to apply for this program.

Note, that every applicant must apply through the university of their choice and check each university’s submission guidelines and deadlines before applying. This is because every affiliated university of your choice has its own criteria of winning it’s Scholarship award.