Opportunities from University of Edinburgh — Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The 2027/28 application process has a mandatory pre-application step: prospective applicants must attend a virtual information session between 15 and 24 September 2026 to become eligible for an invitation to apply. For online applicants, the University currently lists sessions on 17, 22 and 24 September. Eligible attendees are notified from 13 October whether they are invited to apply. Invited candidates must complete the Applicant Declaration by 19 October 2026 at 17:00 UK time, and candidates who pass that stage must submit the Scholarship Main Application by 19 November 2026 at 17:00 UK time. The online scholarship covers full approved tuition fees; eligible online Master's programmes are studied part-time for up to three years.

Applicants must be residents and citizens of an African country, or hold refugee status in an African country; this includes eligible applicants in Niger. They must demonstrate barriers to education, leadership and community service, and experience or ambition to address the climate crisis. For the 2027/28 cycle applicants must be age 35 or under in the year the programme begins (born on or after 1 January 1992). Master's applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and must meet the academic requirements for the selected eligible programme. Attendance at a mandatory information session is required before access to the scholarship application.