University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation On-campus Postgraduate Scholarships for Young Africans 2026/2027

📖 About the Scholarship

The University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation On-campus Postgraduate Scholarships for Young Africans aims to recruit exceptional young individuals with outstanding academic and leadership experience. The program is designed for those who have overcome barriers to education and are committed to pursuing their studies on-campus.

📅 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: October 15, 2025
• Application Deadline: November 21, 2025
• Category:
  • Postgraduate
  • Masters
  • PhD
  • Bachelors
  • Women
  • Persons with Disabilities
• Eligible Locations: Africa

🎁 Benefits

The scholarship provides the following benefits:

• Full coverage of approved tuition, accommodation, travel, living cost stipend, and study materials.
• A Climate Leadership Programme to inspire and support scholars in making impactful changes in their communities and countries.
• Participation in the Climate Enterprise School, a week-long intensive training programme on sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Additional support for scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs.
• Transitions support to help scholars adapt and succeed.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To apply for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

General Requirements:

• Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree programme. Typically, this requires achieving the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher.

Postgraduate Entry Requirements:

• Applicants must have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical, or health-related).
• Applicants must have graduated from undergraduate studies and must upload a degree certificate and official final transcript alongside their application by November 21, 2025.
• Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in an African country (including North Africa).
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
• Applicants must show experience or ambition in addressing the climate crisis.
• Applicants must be 35 years or younger in the year the programme commences (born on or after January 1, 1991).
• Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree or be enrolled at another university while on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.

Specific Programme Requirements:

• Online Masters Programme: Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree or be enrolled at another university.
• Online Postgraduate Diploma: Applicants must have an undergraduate or Masters degree from an African university (graduation by November 21, 2025). If holding a Masters degree, the admissions team will review the undergraduate degree to meet the diploma entry requirements.

Encouraged Applications:

• Women
• People from refugee and displaced backgrounds
• People with disabilities

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: November 21, 2025
• Visit the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Portal to apply.

🌟 Contact Information

For further details, visit the official scholarship portal.

This scholarship is an incredible opportunity for young Africans to pursue higher education while contributing to their communities and addressing global challenges like the climate crisis.

• 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.
• Participation in the Climate Enterprise School, an intensive week-long programme of training in sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Additional support to scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs.
• Transitions support.