Fully Funded Mastercard Cambridge Master's Scholarship

The University of Cambridge runs the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which pays for young Africans to take a one year master's degree at Cambridge. The programme's themes are climate resilience and sustainability, but you can apply for almost any full-time master's course, and the scholarship application is built into the course application itself. Scholars also get a leadership programme, mentoring and support to take up a placement with an Africa-based organisation afterwards.

What you get:

• Full course fees for a one year, full-time master's at Cambridge
• A monthly maintenance allowance for living costs
• Student visa and UK Immigration Health Surcharge paid
• Travel to Cambridge, including flights and airport transfer
• A laptop
• A week-long orientation, a mentoring scheme and a leadership development programme run with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
• A three-day social ventures course at King's College Entrepreneurship Lab
• Support to take up a 3 to 6 month placement at a leading Africa-based organisation after your degree

What you'll do:

• Choose an eligible full-time master's course in the Cambridge Postgraduate Course Directory and apply to it
• Opt in for funding in the course application and select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
• Write a scholarship statement on your career and education, your leadership potential, your goals, and how you hope to contribute to sustainable futures in Africa
• Study in Cambridge for 9 to 12 months as a member of one of the University's 31 Colleges

Key dates:

• Applications opened in early September 2026 for courses starting October 2027
• Application fee waiver request (applicants from African countries not on the automatic waiver list): by 18 November 2026
• Funding deadline: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 depending on the course, 11:59pm UK time
• Departmental selection: December 2026 to February 2027
• Scholars Program selection: late February to early March 2027
• Scholarship offers: late March to April 2027
• Outstanding documents, usually IELTS results: by 31 July 2027
• Information webinars: 6 October and 3 November 2026, 11am UK time

More information:

• Check your chosen course's own funding deadline in the Cambridge Postgraduate Course Directory; it is earlier than the standard course deadline
• Selection for a place on the course is by the department; the Scholars Program then chooses scholars from applicants who hold an offer
• Most courses need IELTS 7.0 or 7.5 overall, but you can apply without results and receive a conditional offer
• The programme warns of a scam offering paid application help in Cambridge's name; do not pay anyone to help you apply

• Citizen of an African country
• Resident in an African country, unless temporarily away for study or work (exception for internally displaced people and refugees)
• Hold a bachelor's degree and meet the academic entry requirements of your chosen course (many require a UK first-class degree or equivalent, some an upper second)
• Apply for a full-time master's course; the MBA, Master of Corporate Law, Master of Finance and Master of Accountancy are excluded
• Demonstrate a commitment to giving back to your community, home country or Africa, and to sustainability and climate resilience
• Dual African and UK passport holders are not eligible
• Master's applicants only; not for PhD or undergraduate study
• No upper age limit