Mastercard foundation scholars program at University of Edinburg – Masters, The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is about more than just financial support for talented young Africans. The Program at the University connects scholars with climate leadership opportunities, networks and support systems to enable them to make the most of the opportunities available, and to give back to their communities.
Apply for a scholarship
Find out more about the process of applying for a postgraduate scholarship with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh.
On-campus postgraduate scholarships
All Mastercard Foundation Scholars at the University of Edinburgh will participate in a Climate Leadership Programme. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program aims to make a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis.
The Program is dedicated to nurturing a community of talented, entrepreneurial, and compassionate leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
We empower young people with the necessary knowledge, skills, and networks to drive sustainable transitions by offering a range of exceptional sustainability-focused postgraduate opportunities through the Program at the University of Edinburgh.
Applying for an on-campus scholarship
We recruit exceptional young people with great academic and leadership experience who have overcome barriers to their education and are committed to pursuing their studies on-campus.
This is a one-year postgraduate on-campus scholarship for the following programmes ONLY:
Applying for an on-campus scholarship
We recruit exceptional young people with great academic and leadership experience who have overcome barriers to their education and are committed to pursuing their studies on-campus.
This is a one-year postgraduate on-campus scholarship for the following programmes ONLY:
- Africa and International Development
- Food Security
- Sustainable Energy Systems
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Data, Inequality and Society
- Operational Research
- Environmental Sustainability
- Climate Change Finance and Investment
- Planetary Health
- Environment and Development
Candidates Eligibility for Mastercard foundation scholars program at University of Edinburg: On campus
You must meet the eligibility criteria to apply:
- Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree programme listed. You will generally need to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher. Find out more about the postgraduate entry requirements for your country:
- Applicants will have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related).
- Applicants must have graduated from an undergraduate study and must have a degree certificate and official final transcript to upload alongside their application by 8 November 2024.
- Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in a sub-Saharan African country.
- Applicants must have faced barriers to education and in their early career.
- Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
- Applicants must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis
- Applicants must be 35 or under the year the programme commences. Therefore, for the 2025/26 academic year, we accept applications from those born on or after 1 January 1990. Anyone born in 1989 and prior is not eligible.
- Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or apply to enrol) at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
- We particularly welcome applications from female scholars, scholars from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and scholars with disabilities (see FAQs below for further information)
What the on-campus scholarship provides
- Covers full approved tuition, accommodation, travel, living cost stipend and study materials.
- A climate leadership programme to inspire and support scholars in making change in their communities and countries.
- Additional support is offered to scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs.
How to apply
You must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh. We require that applicants apply for this scholarship before applying to the University.
The Program will not accept applications submitted outside the online application system.
If you have any queries regarding the Mastercard Foundation Scholarships, which are not answered in the FAQs, please get in touch with us at: mcfsp@ed.ac.uk
Applications for 2025/26 will open on 1 October 2024 at 10:00 a.m. and close on 8 November 2024 at 5:00 p.m. UK time.
Online postgraduate scholarships: Applying for an online learning scholarship
We invite exceptional young people with great academic and leadership experience who have overcome barriers to their education and are diligently committed to pursuing their studies to apply for an Online Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh.
Online studies are an excellent way to earn a qualification for those who would like to continue working and prefer to study in their local context.
Online qualifications through the University of Edinburgh are equivalent to degrees taught on campus.
Applicants can apply for either:
- Online Masters (part-time up to 3 years. However, MSc Circular Economy and MSc Sustainable Lands and Cities must be studied over 2 years part-time) OR
- Online Post-graduate Diploma (part-time up to 2 years)
Online Masters
Masters programmes normally aim at those who have completed an undergraduate degree and want to develop more specialised knowledge in the same subject or similar career area.
Applicants who already have a postgraduate qualification are not able to apply for the online Masters.
Online postgraduate diploma
Postgraduate diplomas are aimed at those who are considering a potential change in their careers and tend to be more vocational.
Candidates with either an undergraduate or Master’s degree from a Sub-Saharan African university are equally able to apply (provided they will graduate from either degree and provide their degree certificates and transcripts by the application deadline)
We offer scholarships for the following online degree programmes ONLY:
- International Development (Masters route only)
- Global Food Security and Nutrition (Masters or Diploma)
- Global Challenges (Masters or Diploma)
- Carbon Management (Masters route only)
- One Health (Masters or Diploma)
Circular Economy (Masters or Diploma
How to apply online postgraduate scholarship
You must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh. We require that applicants apply for this Program before applying to the University. The Program will not accept applications submitted outside the online application system.
If you have any queries regarding the Mastercard Foundation Scholarships, which are not answered in the FAQs, please contact us at: mcfsp@ed.ac.uk
Applications for 2025/26 will open on 1 October 2024 at 10.00 am and close on 8 November 2024 at 5.00 pm UK time.