Study in the UK with the Cambridge Mastercard Scholarship

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge is now open for applications for the 2027/2028 academic year, giving eligible African students the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom with comprehensive financial support.

The programme is intended for talented African students who meet the academic requirements of their chosen Cambridge course and can demonstrate a commitment to creating positive change in their communities and contributing to sustainable futures in Africa.

Applications for courses beginning in 2027 opened in September 2026.

What Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a partnership initiative supporting talented young Africans through master’s-level study at Cambridge.

Established in 2022, the programme aims to enable 500 outstanding African students to enrol in master’s programmes at Cambridge by 2030. Its current themes are climate resilience and sustainability, but applicants can come from a wide range of academic disciplines.

The programme also provides scholars with access to a wider community of African students, alumni, mentors and programme activities throughout their time at Cambridge.

Scholarship Benefits

Successful Mastercard Foundation Scholars receive financial support intended to cover the major costs of studying in Cambridge.

The current programme information lists the following support:

Full course tuition fees
Monthly maintenance or living allowance
Return flight
Laptop
Student visa costs
Immigration health surcharge
Travel support, including transportation into Cambridge

The programme describes the scholarship as providing students with the support they need to thrive during their studies.

Beyond financial assistance, scholars become part of a community that includes orientation activities, social events, mentoring and opportunities to connect with other Mastercard Foundation Scholars and alumni.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must satisfy the programme’s core eligibility conditions.

You should:

Be a citizen of an African country.
Normally live in an African country.
Have a bachelor’s degree.
Meet the academic requirements of the Cambridge master’s course you intend to study.
Apply for an eligible full-time master’s programme.
Demonstrate a commitment to contributing to your community, home country or Africa more broadly.
Show an interest in sustainability and climate resilience.

Applicants who are temporarily outside Africa for study or work can still be eligible under the programme’s rules. The university also specifically encourages applications from women, refugees, internally displaced persons and people with disabilities.

There is no upper age limit for the programme.

Which Cambridge Courses Are Eligible?

The scholarship is available for most full-time master’s courses at the University of Cambridge.

The current exceptions are:

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Corporate Law (MCL)
Master of Finance (MFin)

Eligible master’s programmes can vary in length from approximately 9 to 12 months, provided they are full-time.

Because academic requirements differ between programmes, applicants should use the official Cambridge postgraduate course directory to check whether their academic background meets the requirements for their selected course.

Academic Requirements

There is no single academic grade requirement that applies to every Cambridge programme.

The requirement depends on the course you choose.

Some programmes require the equivalent of a UK first-class honours degree, while others accept an equivalent upper-second-class qualification.

Cambridge therefore recommends that applicants check the specific entry requirements of their chosen programme before beginning the application.

Your previous degree does not necessarily have to have been obtained in Africa. Cambridge states that applicants can hold an undergraduate degree from outside Africa, provided they satisfy the programme’s residence and other eligibility conditions.

How to Apply

The Mastercard Foundation scholarship application is incorporated into the University of Cambridge postgraduate application.

You do not submit a completely separate initial application to Cambridge for the scholarship.

1. Choose a master’s course

Begin by searching the Cambridge postgraduate course directory.

Review:

Academic requirements
Course duration
Required documents
Funding deadline
English-language requirements
Course-specific application information

Official course directory

2. Start the Cambridge application

Open the page for your chosen programme and select Apply Now.

You can create an account and return to your application before submission.

3. Request an application fee waiver

Applicants to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program who meet the academic requirements of their selected course are eligible for an application fee waiver.

For applicants from certain African countries, the fee is automatically waived.

The countries currently listed for automatic waiver include Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

Applicants whose country is not on the automatic-waiver list need to submit the fee-waiver request form with the required supporting documents.

For the 2027/2028 cycle, the fee-waiver request deadline is 18 November 2026.

4. Select the Mastercard Foundation funding option

During the Cambridge application, applicants should opt in for funding.

If you meet the requirements, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will appear among the funding options available to you.

5. Prepare your scholarship statement

The scholarship statement should address your:

Education and career history
Leadership potential
Future goals and aspirations
Reasons the scholarship would help you achieve those goals
Plans for contributing to sustainable futures in Africa

This is where applicants should clearly connect their personal experience, proposed course and long-term ambitions.

6. Submit before the funding deadline

The important deadline is the funding deadline for your chosen course, not necessarily the final standard application deadline.

For the current cycle, these deadlines are generally in early December 2026 or early January 2027, depending on the programme.

Applicants should check their individual course page rather than relying on a single deadline for the entire university.

What Happens After Submission?

Cambridge departments first assess applicants for admission to their chosen programmes.

Departmental selection takes place between December and February.

Applicants who receive a Cambridge course offer can then be considered by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program team.

Scholarship selection takes place around late February or early March, with scholarship offers generally issued around March or April.

Some academic departments may interview shortlisted applicants before making their admission decision.

Can You Apply Without IELTS?

Yes.

Applicants do not necessarily need to have their IELTS results available when submitting their initial application.

If English-language evidence is required and you are selected, it can become a condition of your offer.

Cambridge states that the required score for many courses is 7.0 or 7.5 overall, although the exact requirement depends on the programme. Applicants should therefore check the English-language requirements of their chosen course.

What Makes This Scholarship Different?

The programme combines university admission, financial support and participation in a wider scholar community.

Incoming scholars take part in a week-long orientation before their course begins, where they can meet other scholars and members of the programme community.

During the academic year, scholars can also participate in activities designed to build connections and support their experience at Cambridge.

The programme’s focus on sustainability and climate resilience also means applicants should consider how their proposed studies can contribute to these broader challenges, even if their chosen discipline is not directly related to environmental science.

Tips for Applicants

Choose one course carefully

The programme allows applicants to apply for most eligible full-time master’s programmes, but applicants should select a course that fits their academic preparation and professional direction.

The scholarship’s FAQ also notes that the application fee waiver applies to one course, so applicants should make their choice carefully.

Do not leave the application until December

Because the funding deadline comes earlier than the standard course deadline, applicants should begin preparing well ahead of time.

Start collecting transcripts, references, CV information and other supporting documents before the application window becomes busy.

Make your leadership evidence specific

Rather than simply describing yourself as a leader, explain what you have actually done.

For example, discuss a project you created, a community initiative you supported, a problem you helped solve or an organisation you contributed to.

Explain your future impact

Your scholarship statement should make a clear connection between your previous experiences, the Cambridge programme you want to study and what you intend to accomplish afterwards.

Check official information before submitting

Course requirements, deadlines and application instructions can vary.

Always confirm the information on the official Cambridge website before submitting your application.

2027/2028 Application Timeline

Stage	Expected timeframe
Applications open	September 2026
Application fee waiver deadline where applicable	18 November 2026
Course funding deadline	Early December 2026 or early January 2027, depending on course
Departmental selection	December 2026 – February 2027
Mastercard Foundation selection	Late February – early March 2027
Scholarship offers	March – April 2027
Programme begins	2027