Year: 2026

If you are considering undergraduate or postgraduate study, take some time to explore these opportunities. And please don’t wait until the deadline to begin.

Undergraduate opportunities:

University of Rwanda — 12 Oct 2026
https://lnkd.in/eJh6B_jX

African Leadership University, Rwanda — 30 Nov 2026
https://lnkd.in/eAjkVN9k

African Leadership College of Higher Education, Mauritius — 14 Nov 2026 for international applicants
https://lnkd.in/eSteVyzF

Ashesi University, Ghana — check current application round
https://lnkd.in/evsSpN_a

EARTH University — 31 Jan 2027
https://www.earth.ac.cr/friends-allies/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/

Graduate opportunities:

University of Edinburgh
https://lnkd.in/eEQ8MtCd

Carnegie Mellon University Africa — early deadline 15 Dec 2026
https://lnkd.in/dGFaJtV9

University of Cape Town — 31 Oct 2026
https://lnkd.in/ecmTZZe4

University of Cambridge — Dec/Jan depending on programme
https://lnkd.in/ex7-WeDK

Sciences Po — around mid-December
https://lnkd.in/dthr2HCi

UC Berkeley — deadlines vary by programme
https://lnkd.in/dDXsaGhg

There is also the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University, an eight-month programme for African students and recent graduates. Deadline: 1 Dec 2026.
https://lnkd.in/dPwu5QXr

The Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Africa Scholarship Programme (ASP) offers talented and motivated students from Africa the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in the Netherlands while contributing to capacity building across the African continent.

Who can apply?

• African nationals applying for an MSc programme at Wageningen University & Research.
• Applicants who have been unconditionally admitted to an eligible Master’s programme.
• Students with a First Class Honours degree (or equivalent) and a GPA of 80% or higher.
• Preference is given to applicants who do not already hold a Master’s degree.

Important eligibility requirements

• Submit a complete Master’s application before 1 December 2026.
• Meet all English language requirements before 1 December 2026.
• Have completed your Bachelor’s degree and uploaded your diploma before 1 December 2026.
• Obtain unconditional admission to an eligible MSc programme at WUR. [wur.nl]

Selection process Eligible candidates are considered by the WUR Scholarship Selection Committee. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in the final selection stage in March-April 2027. Successful candidates will be notified beginning 7 April 2027.

Application Deadline: 1 December 2026  

Refugee eligibility: Refugees who hold the nationality of an African country and meet the admission and scholarship requirements may be eligible to apply. Applicants must first apply for and secure admission to an eligible Master’s programme at WUR.

More information:
https://www.wur.nl/en/education/master/study-expenses-masters/scholarships

Please note that the Africa Scholarship Programme is awarded through a selection process following application and admission to a WUR Master’s programme; it is not a separate degree programme application.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is inviting applications for its In-Country/In-Region Programme Sub-Saharan Africa, which provides scholarships for selected Master’s degree programmes across several African universities. Refugees with recognized refugee status are especially encouraged to apply.

Who can apply?

• Graduates from Sub-Saharan African countries who hold a first university degree.
• Applicants seeking to pursue a Master’s degree in their home country, country of residence, or another eligible country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Female applicants, refugees with recognized refugee status, and candidates from marginalized regions or groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Available programmes include fields such as:

• Environmental Health
• Climate Change and Disaster Management
• Agricultural Economics
• Plant Breeding
• Research and Education
• Electrical Power Systems
• Geomatics
• Water and Environmental Engineering
• Molecular Cell Biology of Infectious Diseases, and more.

Application Deadline: 12 November 2026

More information and application details. Here

Please carefully review the specific eligibility criteria and application requirements for the programme you wish to pursue.

The University of Rwanda has launched the call for applications  for the Mastercard Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships

Interested candidates are kindly reminded that they must first secure admission to the University of Rwanda before applying for the scholarship.   

Are You Looking for a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Opportunity at the University of Cambridge? The programme supports talented young people from Africa who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to creating positive change in their communities. The programme is open to graduates who have achieved, or are on track to achieve, the equivalent of a First-Class or strong Upper Second-Class degree and are interested in pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Cambridge.

The Information Session will cover:

• An overview of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme at the University of Cambridge
• Eligibility criteria and academic requirements
• The postgraduate application process and key timelines
• Course selection guidance and application preparation
• Mentorship and student support opportunities
• Question-and-answer session

Who Should Attend?

This session is ideal for graduates who are considering postgraduate studies at the University of Cambridge and would like to learn more about scholarship opportunities through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme.

We encourage all interested candidates to attend and learn how to prepare a strong application for this prestigious opportunity.

To join the information session on 17 September 2026 starting at 12 pm, click this link

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh will recruit postgraduate scholars for the September 2027 intake across a range of sustainability-focused on-campus and online master’s programmes. The available programmes for the scholarship can be found here: Online postgraduate scholarships | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program | Global and On-campus postgraduate scholarships | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program | Global.

Important change to the application process:

Interested applicants must attend one of the mandatory virtual information sessions taking place between 15 and 24 September 2026. Attendance at one of these sessions is required to gain access to the scholarship application form, in addition to meeting the program’s eligibility criteria.

Eligibility:

• Have completed an undergraduate degree by 19 November 2026.
• Have faced significant barriers to education or early career opportunities.
• Demonstrate leadership, community service, and a commitment to creating positive impact.
• Show experience or strong ambition in addressing the climate crisis.
• Be 35 years old or younger at the start of the programme (born on or after 1 January 1992 for the 2027/28 intake).

Details of the information sessions can be found here

The information sessions will take place during the following times:

On-campus applicants:

• 15 September 2026 | 3pm (UK Time)

• 21 September 2026 | 11am (UK Time)

• 24 September 2026 | 4pm (UK Time)

Online applicants: 

• 17 September 2026 | 4pm (UK Time)
• 22 September 2026 | 11am (UK Time)
• 24 September 2026 | 3pm (UK Time)

Registration for the information sessions is done through this link: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Information Sessions for 2027/28 | University of Edinburgh

If you have any further questions, please refer to the document added and to the Frequently asked questions | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program | Global.

The university will host a refugee-focused information session covering the scholarship opportunity, eligibility criteria, application process, available academic programmes, and more.

Information Session Details

• Date: 26 August 2026
• Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (UK Time) = 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (East Africa Time)
• Zoom Link
• Meeting ID: 971 262 2599
• Passcode: RLRH2025”

More details can be found here.

The University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, is accepting applications for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, a fully funded opportunity for academically talented young leaders from Africa who are committed to creating positive social and economic change in their communities. The scholarship is ONLY available for a selected number of programs in the faculty of Land and Food Systems, the Faculty of Forestry and the Faculty of Science.

Eligibility:

Applicants should:

• Be citizens of an African country;
• Demonstrate academic excellence;
• Show leadership potential and a commitment to community service;
• Have limited financial means and require financial assistance to pursue graduate studies;
• Meet UBC’s admission requirements for the intended graduate program.

Some further information on the scholarship and applications can be found through the recording of an information session: Info session | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Overview | June 2026

Some additional resources and application tips:

#ApplicationTips: Applying Early and Meeting the Requirements – YouTube

#ApplicationTips: Submitting a Competitive Application and Staying Informed – YouTube

How to Write a Winning Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Essay | Tips from UBC Scholars

If you are interested in applying you need to submit an expression of interest between 31 August and 6 September 2026 through this link

Applicants who are eligible will be invited to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by September 15th – 30th, 2026. 

Further information can be found on this website.