Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 in South Africa

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is a fully funded scholarship opportunity for talented young people from African countries who face financial and social barriers to higher education.

The programme combines academic support with leadership development, mentorship, career preparation and access to a global alumni network. It aims to support young Africans who have strong academic potential, demonstrate leadership and are committed to contributing to positive change in their communities.

For the 2027 intake, UCT is accepting applications for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The current deadlines listed by UCT are September 30, 2026, for undergraduate applicants and October 31, 2026, for postgraduate applicants.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is implemented through partner universities and organizations rather than through one central application system. Each partner institution has its own eligibility requirements, application procedure, and deadline.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 Overview

Category	Details
Scholarship Name	Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027
Host Country	South Africa
University	University of Cape Town
Degree Level	Undergraduate & Postgraduate
Eligible Applicants	African Students
Funding Type	Fully Funded
Tuition Fees	Fully Covered
Accommodation	Covered
Monthly Stipend	Provided
Travel Support	Provided
Books & Learning Materials	Covered
Laptop	Provided
Health Insurance	Covered
Leadership Development	Included
Mentorship	Included
Undergraduate Deadline	September 30, 2026
Postgraduate Deadline	October 31, 2026

The UCT programme provides comprehensive financial and developmental support, including tuition, accommodation, living support, travel, learning materials and additional scholar-development activities.

What Does the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Cover?

The scholarship is designed to remove many of the financial barriers associated with university study.

Selected scholars at UCT can receive:

• Full tuition fee coverage
• University accommodation
• Monthly living allowance
• Economy-class travel to and from Cape Town
• Annual travel support to return home
• Textbooks and learning materials
• Laptop
• Health insurance
• Support for study permit or visa-related fees
• Mentorship
• Leadership development
• Career-readiness training
• Academic tutoring and support

These benefits make the programme a comprehensive funding opportunity rather than a tuition-only scholarship.

Who Can Apply?

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT is intended for young people from African countries who have strong academic potential but face economic or social barriers to accessing higher education.

Applicants should generally:

• Be a citizen of an African country.
• Apply for an eligible programme at the University of Cape Town.
• Demonstrate strong academic achievement.
• Have significant financial need or face social and economic barriers.
• Demonstrate leadership potential.
• Show commitment to community development and positive social change.
• Be willing to contribute to the development of their community and Africa after graduation.
• Meet the age requirements applicable to their level of study.

For the current UCT programme, undergraduate applicants must generally be 29 years old or younger, while postgraduate applicants must be 35 years old or younger at the time of application.

Academic Requirements

Academic excellence is an important part of the selection process.

Applicants should have a strong academic record and satisfy the admission requirements of their chosen UCT programme. Because academic requirements vary between programmes, students should check the specific requirements for their selected degree before applying.

A strong application should demonstrate:

• Consistent academic performance
• Relevant academic preparation
• Intellectual potential
• Commitment to learning
• Achievements beyond the classroom

Meeting the minimum academic admission requirements does not automatically guarantee selection for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program because scholarship selection is highly competitive.

Financial Need Requirement

Financial need is a major component of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

The programme is intended to support talented students who have the academic ability to succeed but face significant financial or social barriers that make higher education difficult to access.

Applicants should clearly explain their financial circumstances and the barriers they have experienced when completing the scholarship application.

Simply being interested in studying abroad is not enough. Applicants should demonstrate why financial support is necessary for them to pursue higher education.

Leadership and Community Commitment

The programme does not focus only on academic performance.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars are expected to demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to creating positive change.

Applicants can highlight:

• Community service
• Volunteer activities
• Youth initiatives
• Student leadership
• Social-impact projects
• Entrepreneurship
• Educational initiatives
• Work supporting disadvantaged communities
• Environmental or development projects
• Other activities that demonstrate leadership and responsibility

Applicants should focus on the actual impact of their work rather than simply listing a large number of activities.

Eligible Study Levels

The UCT Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports both undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Undergraduate Study

Students applying for eligible Bachelor's degree programmes can be considered for the programme if they meet the academic, financial and leadership requirements.

The undergraduate application deadline for the 2027 intake is currently listed as:

September 30, 2026

Postgraduate Study

Eligible postgraduate students can also receive support through the programme. Applicants must satisfy both UCT's admission requirements and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program criteria.

The current postgraduate deadline is:

October 31, 2026

Applicants should check UCT's official programme information for the exact postgraduate degrees covered under the current intake.

Required Documents

The exact documents depend on the selected UCT degree programme and scholarship application process.

Applicants should generally be prepared to provide:

• Academic transcripts
• Degree certificates where applicable
• Proof of African citizenship
• Personal information
• Evidence of financial need
• Leadership and community involvement information
• Personal statements or scholarship essays
• Letters of recommendation where required
• Curriculum Vitae for postgraduate applicants where applicable
• Proof of English proficiency, if required
• Additional documents requested by UCT

Applicants should make sure that all information is accurate and that supporting documents are submitted before the applicable deadline.

How to Apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027

The application process is different from many traditional scholarships because there is no single Mastercard Foundation application portal.

First, applicants should identify an eligible programme at the University of Cape Town and review its admission requirements.

Next, they should submit the required UCT admission application according to the university's instructions. Applicants must then follow the UCT Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application procedure for scholarship consideration.

The scholarship selection is managed by the partner institution. The Mastercard Foundation itself does not directly process individual scholarship applications.

Application Process

Applicants can follow this general process:

Choose an eligible UCT degree: Select an undergraduate or postgraduate programme that matches your academic background and career goals.

Check the admission requirements: Review the academic qualifications, language requirements and other conditions for your selected programme.

Apply to the University of Cape Town: Submit the university admission application through the official UCT application system.

Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Follow the scholarship-specific instructions provided by UCT for the relevant intake.

Provide financial and leadership information: Clearly explain your financial circumstances, leadership experience and community involvement.

Submit before the deadline: Undergraduate applicants should meet the September 30, 2026 deadline, while postgraduate applicants should meet the October 31, 2026 deadline listed for the current intake.

Wait for the selection decision: UCT manages the scholarship selection process and communicates with applicants regarding the outcome.

Application Deadlines

For the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 at the University of Cape Town, the current deadlines are:

Undergraduate: September 30, 2026

Postgraduate: October 31, 2026

Applicants should not wait until the final day because university admission and scholarship applications may require multiple documents and supporting information.

Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Fully Funded?

Yes, at UCT the programme provides comprehensive fully funded support for selected scholars.

The scholarship can cover:

• Tuition
• Accommodation
• Living expenses
• Travel
• Books and learning materials
• Laptop
• Health insurance
• Visa or study permit-related costs

In addition to financial support, scholars receive mentorship, leadership development, career preparation and other academic support.

However, applicants should remember that the exact benefits can vary between Mastercard Foundation partner institutions. The Foundation itself states that each partner manages its own programme and application process.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Is Not One Single Scholarship

An important point for applicants is that the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global programme implemented through many partner universities and organizations.

There is no universal application form through which a student applies once and is automatically considered by every university.

Instead, applicants must select a participating institution and apply according to that institution's requirements and deadline. The Mastercard Foundation confirms that partner universities manage their own application processes and decisions.

This means that applicants interested in other universities should check the individual university's Mastercard Foundation programme rather than relying on the UCT deadline.

Can PhD Students Apply?

Applicants should be careful about the study level.

The Mastercard Foundation currently supports secondary, undergraduate and Master's-level scholarships, but the Foundation's official FAQ states that scholarships are not currently available to PhD candidates.

Therefore, students looking for doctoral funding should not assume that every Mastercard Foundation partner offers PhD scholarships.

Leadership and Career Development

The programme goes beyond financial assistance.

Selected scholars can participate in:

• Leadership development
• Mentorship
• Career preparation
• Community engagement
• Academic tutoring
• Professional development
• Networking
• Alumni activities

The objective is to help scholars develop the skills and networks needed to create positive social and economic change.

Commitment to Giving Back

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program places strong emphasis on community impact.

Successful scholars are expected to use their education, knowledge and skills to contribute to their communities and the wider African continent.

Applicants should therefore explain how their education will help them address challenges in their communities and contribute to long-term social or economic development.

Important Scam Warning

Applicants should be careful about fraudulent Mastercard Foundation scholarship advertisements.

The Mastercard Foundation does not charge individuals an application fee for the Scholars Program and warns about social media posts or groups that falsely claim to recruit applicants while requesting payment. Applications should be submitted through official partner institutions.

Students should never send money to an individual or unofficial agent claiming that payment is required to secure a Mastercard Foundation scholarship.

Why Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?

The programme offers much more than financial assistance.

Selected scholars can benefit from:

• Fully funded university education
• International academic exposure
• Leadership development
• Professional mentorship
• Career-readiness support
• Community engagement opportunities
• Networking with other scholars
• Access to a global alumni community
• Opportunities to contribute to positive change in Africa

For students who face significant financial barriers, this combination of academic and personal development support can be particularly valuable.

Final Thoughts

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 at the University of Cape Town is an excellent opportunity for talented African students who need financial support to pursue higher education.

The programme offers comprehensive funding that can include full tuition, accommodation, living support, travel, learning materials, a laptop and health insurance, together with mentorship, leadership development and career support.

The programme is particularly suitable for students who combine academic achievement, financial need, leadership potential and a strong commitment to community development.

For the current UCT 2027 intake, the deadline is September 30, 2026, for undergraduate applications and October 31, 2026, for postgraduate applications.

Applicants should remember that the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program does not have one central application portal. Each partner institution manages its own applications, requirements and deadlines. Students should therefore apply directly through the official UCT process and carefully follow the university's scholarship instructions. Apply Now