Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
The Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Has a Reversed Process — And an Online Track That Lets You Study Without Leaving Africa
Two things about the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/28 that most guides fail to highlight prominently:
One: The application process runs in reverse of almost every other scholarship.
Applicants should not apply for their chosen University of Edinburgh degree program at this stage. The scholarship application is completed first. Candidates who are subsequently awarded a scholarship in March 2027 will then be invited to apply for their selected degree through the University’s standard admissions process.
Do NOT apply to Edinburgh first. Apply for the scholarship first. If you are awarded the scholarship, Edinburgh then invites you to apply for admission. The scholarship selection comes before not after the university application.
Two: This scholarship has an online track that allows Africans to earn a University of Edinburgh postgraduate degree without leaving their home country.
The scholarship provides an opportunity for talented African students to pursue postgraduate qualifications online while remaining in their local communities.
The online track is not a compromise version of the scholarship. Edinburgh’s online qualifications are equivalent to those taught on campus. A scholar in Nairobi, Lagos, or Addis Ababa studying online receives the same University of Edinburgh degree as a scholar sitting in Edinburgh lecture halls.
Applications are open for the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/28. Scholarships are available for selected on-campus Master’s programs and online Master’s and Postgraduate Diploma programs.
The mandatory virtual information sessions are happening September 15-24, 2026. You must attend one before you can access the application.
The main application deadline is November 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time.
The Two Tracks — Choose ONE Only
Applicants can apply for either the online program or the on-campus program, not both.
Track A: On-Campus at University of Edinburgh
Study physically in Edinburgh, Scotland, one of the world’s most beautiful and academically prestigious cities. The on-campus track provides a full 1-year Master’s degree at Edinburgh’s campuses.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
| Duration | 1-year full-time Master’s |
| Level | Master’s degree |
| Interview notification | From early February 2027 |
| Scholarship award | March 2027 |
On-campus financial package:
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living stipend
- Accommodation support
- Travel allowance (to/from Edinburgh)
- Visa support
- Leadership development programming
Track B: Online (Stay in Africa)
Study online while remaining in your home country, a revolutionary option that removes the barrier of relocation entirely.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Stay in your African country |
| Duration | Master’s: up to 3 years part-time |
| Level | Master’s degree OR Postgraduate Diploma |
| Interview notification | From mid-February 2027 |
| Scholarship award | March 2027 |
Online financial package: indeBenefits include tuition fees, academic stipend, laptop and internet support, and additional program support.
A laptop is provided because Edinburgh understands that reliable equipment is not a given in many African contexts. Internet support is also included, a recognition that connectivity costs are real barriers to online study in Africa.
PG Diploma exception — important: Applicants for the online Postgraduate Diploma can either have an undergraduate or Master’s degree from an African university.
Master’s track applicants cannot have a previous postgraduate degree. But PG Diploma applicants CAN already hold a Master’s if it was from an African university. This opens the online track to more experienced professionals.
Eligible Countries — All of Africa Including North Africa
Applicants must be citizens, residents of an African country, or hold refugee status in an African country, including countries in North Africa.
All 55 African Union member states are eligible. North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia) is explicitly included. Refugees with legal refugee status in any African country are also eligible regardless of their original nationality.
This means:
- A Sudanese refugee in Uganda = eligible
- An Eritrean refugee in Ethiopia = eligible
- A Congolese living in Kenya = eligible (as resident)
- An Egyptian student = eligible (North Africa included)
The Mandatory Information Session — Required Before Applying
Applicants must attend a mandatory virtual information session between 15 and 24 September 2026 before they can access the scholarship application.
This is not optional. Without attending one of these sessions, you cannot access the application form. The sessions explain:
- Detailed eligibility requirements
- The application process step-by-step
- Available programs for each track
- What the scholarship panel looks for
Register now: https://app.geckoform.com/public/#/modern/21FO00qhthfxnj0088c5zc8g9h
Sessions are virtual attend from anywhere in Africa. Multiple session times are available. Register immediately session spaces may fill up.
The Application Timeline — Step by Step
The scholarship program has introduced important changes to the application process for the 2027/28 cycle. Prospective applicants must follow a structured process beginning with an eligibility assessment and a mandatory virtual information session before they can access the scholarship application form.
| Stage | Date | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Info sessions | September 15-24, 2026 | Attend mandatory virtual session (register now) |
| Eligibility notification | October 13, 2026 | Eligible attendees notified |
| Applicant Declaration Form | October 19, 2026 (5 PM UK) | Stage 1 — confirm eligibility |
| Main scholarship application | November 19, 2026 (5 PM UK) | Stage 2 — full application |
| On-campus interviews | From early February 2027 | Shortlisted candidates |
| Online interviews | From mid-February 2027 | Shortlisted candidates |
| Scholarship awarded | March 2027 | Successful candidates notified |
| Edinburgh admission | After March 2027 | Invited to apply via standard process |
| Start studies | September/October 2027 |
Eligibility — Full Requirements
1. African citizen, resident, or refugee Citizens and residents of all African countries including North Africa, or those holding refugee status in any African country.
2. Age ≤35 when program begins For the 2027/28 academic year, applicants must have been born on or after 1 January 1992. Anyone born in 1991 and prior is not eligible.
3. UK 2:1 equivalent Bachelor’s or higher You will generally need to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher.
4. Significant barriers to education — REQUIRED Applicants will have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related).
This requirement reflects the scholarship’s mission: it is not for the most privileged talented Africans. It is for talented Africans who have overcome substantial obstacles. The application will ask you to describe these barriers specifically.
Types of barriers that qualify:
- Financial hardship (inability to fund education)
- Social barriers (conflict zone, gender discrimination, family opposition)
- Personal circumstances (caregiving responsibilities, personal crises)
- Practical barriers (geographic isolation, lack of institutions nearby)
- Health-related (illness, disability affecting access to education)
Additional
5. Leadership and community service track record Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
6. Climate change commitment Applicants must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis.
“At least ambition” is significant, you do not need an established climate career. But you must be able to demonstrate genuine engagement with climate and sustainability issues, and how your proposed study connects to climate solutions.
7. No previous postgraduate degree (Master’s applicants) Master’s scholarship applicants should not have previously completed a graduate/postgraduate degree.
Exception: PG Diploma online applicants CAN have a previous Master’s from an African university.
8. Not enrolled elsewhere during scholarship Cannot be enrolled or applying to another university simultaneously.
Priority groups (encouraged, not mandatory): Women | People with disabilities | Refugees | First-generation university students
Why University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh (est. 1583) is one of the world’s oldest universities and consistently ranks in the QS top 20-30 globally among the 5 highest-ranked universities in the UK.
Edinburgh’s alumni include Charles Darwin (evolution theory), Alexander Graham Bell (telephone), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes), David Hume (philosophy), and dozens of Nobel laureates. The city of Edinburgh itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site a globally recognized cultural and intellectual capital.
For African scholars who choose the on-campus track: studying in Edinburgh places you at the heart of one of Europe’s most innovative cities, with a particularly strong tech and sustainability ecosystem.
For scholars who choose the online track: the Edinburgh degree you receive is equivalent in every way to the on-campus degree. An Edinburgh Master’s is an Edinburgh Master’s, regardless of where you studied.
Quick Reference
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Program | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at University of Edinburgh |
| Tracks | On-campus (Edinburgh UK) + Online (stay in Africa) |
| Cannot apply to both | Choose ONE track only |
| Countries | All African countries + North Africa + refugees |
| Age | ≤35 (born on/after January 1, 1992 for 2027/28) |
| Academic | UK 2:1 equivalent minimum |
| Barriers required | YES — financial/social/personal/health |
| Leadership | YES — track record required |
| Climate | YES — experience or ambition required |
| Previous PG degree | NO (Master’s) |
| Info sessions | September 15-24, 2026 — MANDATORY |
| Main deadline | November 19, 2026 at 5 PM UK |
| Scholarship awarded | March 2027 |
| Edinburgh admission | After award (reversed process) |
| On-campus covers | Tuition + stipend + accommodation + travel + visa |
| Online covers | Tuition + stipend + laptop + internet support |
| Start | September/October 2027 |
FAQ
Can I apply to both on-campus and online tracks?
No, applicants can apply for either the online program or the on-campus program, not both.
Do I apply to Edinburgh first?
No, the scholarship application is completed first. Candidates awarded a scholarship in March 2027 will then be invited to apply for their degree through Edinburgh’s standard admissions process.
Are North African countries eligible?
Yes, citizens and residents of African countries including North Africa are eligible.
Are refugees eligible?
Yes, individuals holding refugee status in an African country are eligible.
What is the main deadline?
November 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time.
Are the mandatory information sessions really mandatory?
Yes, applicants must attend a mandatory virtual information session between 15 and 24 September 2026 before they can access the scholarship application.
Can PG Diploma applicants have a previous Master’s?
Yes, Postgraduate Diploma scholarship applicants can have either an undergraduate or Master’s degree from an African university.
When is the age cutoff?
For 2027/28: born on or after 1 January 1992.
Free Application Tools
- Motivation Letter: Motivation Letter Generator
- SOP / Study Plan: SOP Generator
- CV: Free CV Builder
- Reference Letter: Reference Letter Generator
- MOI Certificate (if needed): MOI Generator
- Research Proposal (PhD): Research Proposal Generator