The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh is offering postgraduate scholarship opportunities for exceptional young Africans who have faced significant barriers to education and are committed to creating positive change in their communities and countries.

For the 2027/28 academic year, the programme offers both on-campus Master’s scholarships and online Master’s/Postgraduate Diploma scholarships. The scholarships are particularly focused on young African leaders whose ambitions and experiences connect with climate action, climate justice and sustainable development.

There is an important change for the 2027/28 intake: prospective applicants must attend a mandatory virtual information session between 15 and 24 September 2026 before they can access the scholarship application form. Simply attending a session does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

Scholarship Benefits

On-Campus Master’s Scholarship

Successful on-campus scholars will undertake a one-year, full-time postgraduate taught Master’s degree at the University of Edinburgh and will live and study in Edinburgh as members of the university community.

The scholarship provides:

Full approved tuition fees
Accommodation
Travel support
Living-cost stipend
Study materials
A Climate Leadership Programme
Participation in the Climate Enterprise School, an intensive week-long programme focused on sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation
Additional support for scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of their needs
Transition support to help scholars move into their studies and university life.

All Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Edinburgh participate in the Climate Leadership Programme, which provides opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and networks for climate action.

Online Scholarship

The online option is designed for exceptional young people who have overcome barriers to education and want to continue their studies while remaining in their local context.

Online qualifications from the University of Edinburgh are equivalent to degrees taught on campus.

Applicants can choose between:

Online Master’s degree — part-time, up to three years
Online Postgraduate Diploma — part-time, up to two years.

The online scholarship provides:

Full approved tuition fees — scholars do not pay any part of the tuition
An academic stipend to provide access to a laptop and high-quality internet
Opportunity to attend an in-person gathering
Participation in the wider Climate Leadership Programme, including regular online workshops, coaching and support.

For the online Master’s, applicants should generally have an undergraduate degree and should not already have a postgraduate qualification.

For the online Postgraduate Diploma, applicants can have either an undergraduate or Master’s degree from an African university, provided they will graduate and can provide the required degree certificates and transcripts by the application deadline.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must meet all of the programme’s eligibility requirements. The University states that it cannot make exceptions to the eligibility criteria because of the large volume of applications.

1. Academic Qualification

Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for one of the eligible degree programmes.

Generally, applicants are expected to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s Honours degree or higher.

Applicants should also check the University’s postgraduate entry requirements for their specific African country.

2. You Must Have Faced Significant Barriers

Applicants must have experienced significant barriers to education and in their early career.

These may include:

Social barriers
Financial barriers
Personal barriers
Practical barriers
Health-related barriers.

The programme is specifically looking for candidates whose educational and career journeys have been affected by substantial obstacles.

3. African Citizenship/Residence

You must:

Be a citizen and resident of an African country, or
Hold refugee status in an African country.

4. Undergraduate Degree

Applicants must have graduated from undergraduate study.

You must have your:

Degree certificate
Official final transcript

available to upload with your application by 19 November 2026.

This is important: if you will not have these documents by the deadline, the programme’s FAQ states that you should not proceed with the application.

5. Leadership and Community Service

Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.

The programme is looking for people who have already demonstrated leadership and community involvement rather than applicants relying solely on academic achievement.

6. Commitment to Climate Action

Applicants must demonstrate either:

Experience in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis, or
A clear ambition to make a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis.

The programme’s selection process also considers the quality of the application in relation to its broader theme of climate justice.

7. Age Requirement

Applicants must be 35 years old or younger in the year the programme begins.

For the 2027/28 academic year, applicants must have been born on or after 1 January 1992.

Anyone born in 1991 or earlier is not eligible.

Additional Requirement for Master’s Applicants

If you are applying for a Master’s programme, you:

Must not have previously completed a postgraduate degree.
Must not be enrolled at another university while receiving the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
Must not be applying to enrol at another university while on the scholarship.

The FAQ also confirms that applicants do not need to have graduated from a previous Mastercard Foundation-affiliated institution to apply.

Who Can Apply for the Online Postgraduate Diploma?

The eligibility rules are slightly different for the online Postgraduate Diploma.

Applicants can have either:

An undergraduate degree from an African university, or
A Master’s degree from an African university,

provided they will graduate from the relevant degree by 19 November 2026.

If an applicant already has a Master’s degree, the University will review their first/undergraduate degree to determine whether they meet the entry requirement for the Postgraduate Diploma.

The programme will also review the Master’s transcripts to confirm the university’s graduation date and location.

Applicants Particularly Encouraged to Apply

The programme encourages applications from:

Women
People from refugee and displaced backgrounds
People with disabilities.

However, you do not have to belong to any of these groups to qualify.

The University specifically clarifies that being a woman, refugee/displaced person or person with a disability is not itself an eligibility requirement. These groups are encouraged to apply because the programme aims to maintain a diverse and inclusive scholar community.

Eligible Degree Programmes

The scholarship is not available for every Master’s programme at the University of Edinburgh. Applicants must choose one of the programmes specifically covered by the scholarship.

On-Campus Master’s Programmes

The eligible on-campus programmes include:

Africa and International Development
Climate Change Finance and Investment
Data, Inequality and Society
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Food Security
Environment and Development
Environmental Sustainability
Operational Research
Planetary Health
Sustainable Energy Systems

The University notes that the list of eligible programmes can change, so applicants should check the official scholarship page regularly for the latest programme list.

Online Programmes

The online scholarship currently covers:

Climate Change Management — Master’s only
International Development — Master’s only
Global Food Security and Nutrition — Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma
One Health — Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma
Social Justice and Community Action — Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma
Global Health and Infectious Diseases — Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health — Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma
Data-Driven Breeding and Genetics — Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma
Digital Education — Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma
Data Science Technologies — Master’s only.

No other academic programmes at the University of Edinburgh are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants can apply to other Edinburgh programmes, but those programmes will not make them eligible for Mastercard Foundation scholarship funding.

What Does the Scholarship Look For?

Selection is based on more than academic performance.

The selection process considers:

Academic merit and whether the candidate qualifies for admission to the University of Edinburgh
A demonstrated record as a transformative leader
Service within the community
The quality of the application and its connection to the programme’s climate justice theme
The applicant’s potential impact on the development of their home country
Whether the applicant has faced significant barriers to education, including social, financial, personal, practical or health-related barriers.

This means having good grades alone is not enough. Your leadership, community involvement, personal journey, barriers overcome and future plans matter significantly.

Can You Apply for a Different Master’s Field?

Yes.

Your chosen programme does not necessarily have to be in the same field as your Bachelor’s degree.

However, the University recommends that applicants clearly demonstrate:

Genuine interest in the new programme
How the programme connects with their current goals
How it connects with their future career or impact plans.

Applicants should also check the specific academic requirements of their chosen degree.

English Language Requirement

You do not need an English-language test result to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program itself.

However, depending on where you completed your undergraduate education, you may need to take an English-language test as part of the University of Edinburgh’s admissions process unless you already have a valid test result that meets the University’s minimum requirement.

The University says successful candidates who require the test will be supported to take an English Language Test.

The scholarship programme and study programme are conducted entirely in English.

Important Application Process for 2027/28

This year’s process has changed.

You cannot simply go to the scholarship application page and submit an application immediately.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Review the eligibility criteria and available on-campus and online programmes.

Step 2: Choose Your Preferred Study Route

Decide whether you want to apply for:

On-campus Master’s, or
Online Master’s/Postgraduate Diploma.

Applicants can apply for only one route — you cannot apply for both the online and on-campus Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh.

Step 3: Attend a Mandatory Virtual Information Session

You must attend one of the virtual information sessions taking place between:

15–24 September 2026.

Attendance is now a mandatory step to gain access to the scholarship application form.

On-campus information sessions

15 September 2026 — 3:00 PM UK time
21 September 2026 — 11:00 AM UK time
23 September 2026 — 4:00 PM UK time

The University currently states that the on-campus sessions are fully booked and that it is exploring the possibility of adding another session. Applicants are advised to check the official page for updates.

Online information sessions

17 September 2026 — 4:00 PM UK time
22 September 2026 — 11:00 AM UK time
24 September 2026 — 3:00 PM UK time.

Important: The sessions will not be recorded, and attending a session does not automatically guarantee an invitation to apply. Only attendees who also meet the eligibility requirements will receive an invitation.

Step 4: Receive an Invitation

On 13 October 2026, eligible attendees will be informed whether they are invited to apply.

Invitations will be sent through SurveyMonkey Apply.

Step 5: Applicant Declaration Form

If invited, applicants must complete the Applicant Declaration Form.

Deadline: 19 October 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time.

The University may close the form earlier if it reaches its application limit, so early submission is strongly recommended. Applicants who are unsuccessful at this stage will not proceed to the main application.

Step 6: Scholarship Main Application

Applicants who successfully complete the declaration stage will be invited to complete the main scholarship application.

Deadline: 19 November 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time.

Your final official undergraduate degree certificate and final official transcript must be available for upload by this deadline.

Do You Apply to Edinburgh Before the Scholarship?

No — not if this is the only Edinburgh scholarship you are applying for.

At the initial stage, applicants should apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship only, not the University’s degree programme.

If you receive a scholarship offer, you will then be invited to apply for your chosen University of Edinburgh degree through the University’s normal admissions process.

If you are applying for other scholarships that require you to have an active University application, you may apply for the degree programme separately at the same time.

Also, simply applying for a degree at Edinburgh does not automatically put you forward for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship.

What Happens After You Apply?

Applications are reviewed by representatives from across the University of Edinburgh. Admissions staff also assess whether applicants meet the academic requirements for their selected degree.

February 2027

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified about their Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application.

Early February 2027: On-campus applicants invited to interview
Mid-February 2027: Online applicants invited to interview.

February–March 2027

Interviews take place:

On-campus interviews: mid-February to March
Online interviews: end of February to mid-March.

Shortlisted candidates will also be asked for a reference.

End of March 2027

Interview outcomes are expected to be announced.

Successful candidates receive a conditional offer of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

They will then apply to the University of Edinburgh, with support from the programme team to help turn the offer into an unconditional one.

September 2027

The academic programme begins.

Important Dates

Date	What Happens
15–24 September 2026	Mandatory virtual information sessions
13 October 2026	Eligible attendees invited to apply
19 October 2026, 5 PM UK	Applicant Declaration Form deadline
19 November 2026, 5 PM UK	Main scholarship application deadline
End Nov 2026–Jan 2027	Applications assessed
Early Feb 2027	On-campus applicants notified/invited to interview
Mid-Feb 2027	Online applicants invited to interview
Feb–Mar 2027	Interviews
End Mar 2027	Interview outcomes
Apr–Aug 2027	Admission/immigration support
September 2027	Academic programme begins

The University notes that the timeline can change depending on application volume.

Can You Apply to Other Mastercard Foundation Scholarships?

Yes.

You can apply to Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programs at other institutions if you meet their respective eligibility requirements.

However, the University of Edinburgh recommends tailoring your application to each institution rather than submitting identical applications. You should explain why you specifically want to study at Edinburgh and how your chosen programme connects with your goals.

Is There an Application Fee?

For the Mastercard Foundation scholarship application itself, there is no separate scholarship application fee.

If you are awarded the Mastercard Foundation scholarship, the programme will support you in applying for your University of Edinburgh degree and the degree application fee will then be waived.

However, if you independently apply to other Edinburgh programmes that require an application fee, those fees may still apply.

Can You Bring Your Family to the UK?

A successful scholar may, in principle, travel with family members.

However, the scholarship’s accommodation is intended for the scholar and cannot be used by family members.

Any costs associated with bringing family members are the scholar’s responsibility. Family members may also face visa requirements and applicants may need to demonstrate significant funds to support them.

The University therefore suggests considering an online programme if relocating family members to the UK is not feasible.

What If You Have Internet or Technology Problems During the Interview?

Applicants are expected to make reasonable preparations for the interview, including having:

A quiet environment
A reliable internet connection
A setting where they can concentrate and be clearly heard.

The University understands that unavoidable technical problems can occur and will take them into consideration. As a last resort, an interview may be rescheduled if the University is completely unable to connect with the applicant.

What If You Don’t Receive Application Updates?

Application communications are sent through SM Apply.

The University warns that these emails can sometimes end up in applicants’ junk/spam folders.

Applicants should:

Mark SM Apply emails as safe senders
Check their junk/spam folder regularly
Monitor their email throughout the application process.

Important: This Is a Competitive Scholarship

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee selection.

The programme assesses academic merit, leadership, community service, climate-justice alignment, potential impact in the applicant’s home country and the barriers they have faced.

Applicants who do not meet all eligibility requirements cannot be considered, and the University states that it cannot make exceptions.

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Edinburgh 2027/28 — Quick Summary

Details	Information
Host university	University of Edinburgh, UK
Scholarship	Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Intake	2027/28
Eligible applicants	African citizens/residents or refugees in an African country
Study levels	Postgraduate Master’s & Postgraduate Diploma
Study options	On-campus and online
Age limit	35 or under
2027/28 birth-date requirement	Born on or after 1 January 1992
Academic requirement	Generally equivalent to UK 2:1 Bachelor’s or higher
Leadership	Demonstrated community leadership/service required
Climate focus	Experience or ambition to address the climate crisis
Education barriers	Significant barriers required
On-campus funding	Tuition, accommodation, travel, living stipend, study materials and other support
Online funding	Full tuition + academic stipend for laptop/internet + in-person gathering + Climate Leadership Programme
On-campus Master’s	One year, full-time
Online Master’s	Part-time, up to 3 years
Online PG Diploma	Part-time, up to 2 years
Information sessions	15–24 September 2026
Invitation to apply	13 October 2026
Declaration deadline	19 October 2026, 5 PM UK
Main application deadline	19 November 2026, 5 PM UK
Programme begins	September 2027
Application route	Online only
Scholarship contact	mcfsp@ed.ac.uk

How to Apply

The application must be completed through the University’s official Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program process.

First, check that you meet the eligibility requirements and register for a mandatory virtual information session between 15 and 24 September 2026.

Eligible attendees will receive invitations to apply from 13 October 2026.

Main scholarship application deadline: 19 November 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time.

CLOSING SOON

Scholarships Expiring Soon

Conclusion

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh is particularly suited to young African graduates who combine academic strength, leadership, community service and a genuine commitment to tackling climate and development challenges.

The biggest thing applicants should understand for the 2027/28 cycle is that the process has changed: you must attend a mandatory virtual information session before you can receive an invitation to apply. So if you are eligible, don’t wait until October to start paying attention—the information-session stage comes first.

CLICK HERE TO START APPLICATION