The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge is now accepting applications for the 2027/2028 academic year, offering talented young Africans the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge with comprehensive financial support.

The programme is designed for African students who demonstrate academic ability, leadership potential and a commitment to contributing to sustainable development and positive change in Africa. Applications opened on 11 September 2026.

Unlike scholarships where applicants submit a separate funding application after admission, the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation scholarship application is integrated into the University of Cambridge postgraduate course application.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Cambridge 2027/2028: Quick Overview

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program aims to provide scholars with the support they need to complete their master's studies successfully.

According to the University of Cambridge programme, the scholarship includes:

• Full course tuition fees
• Monthly living or maintenance allowance
• Return flight
• Laptop
• Visa costs
• Immigration Health Surcharge
• Travel support, including transportation into Cambridge

The programme also provides scholars with access to a community of African students and leadership-development opportunities.

This makes the opportunity particularly significant for applicants who may otherwise find the cost of studying in the UK difficult to meet.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must meet the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program's eligibility requirements as well as the academic requirements of their selected Cambridge course.

You must:

1. Be a citizen of an African country.
2. Normally live in an African country, although exceptions apply to applicants temporarily outside Africa for study or work.
3. Hold a bachelor's degree.
4. Meet the academic entry requirements for the master's course you want to study.
5. Apply for an eligible full-time master's programme.
6. Demonstrate a commitment to giving back to your community, home country or Africa more broadly.
7. Show an interest in the programme's themes of sustainability and climate resilience. 

The programme particularly encourages applications from women, refugees, internally displaced people and people with disabilities.

Which Master's Courses Are Eligible?

The scholarship is available across a wide range of full-time master's programmes at Cambridge.

However, some programmes are specifically excluded.

The following are not eligible:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Corporate Law (MCL)
• Master of Finance (MFin)
• Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Eligible programmes can generally be between 9 and 12 months, provided they are full-time and meet the programme's requirements.

Applicants should therefore check their intended programme carefully before beginning an application.

Academic Requirements

There is no single academic grade requirement that applies to every Cambridge master's programme.

Requirements depend on the course.

Some programmes require the equivalent of a UK first-class degree, while others require an upper-second-class degree or another specified qualification. Applicants should check the exact requirements of their selected programme in the Cambridge Postgraduate Course Directory.

Meeting the minimum academic requirement does not automatically guarantee admission or scholarship selection.

How to Apply for the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

The application process is integrated into the Cambridge postgraduate admission system.

Step 1: Choose an eligible master's course

Begin by identifying a suitable full-time master's programme at Cambridge.

Check:

• Academic requirements
• Course duration
• Required documents
• English-language requirements
• Funding deadline

Step 2: Start the Cambridge application

Open your selected course in the Cambridge Postgraduate Course Directory and select Apply Now.

Create an account and begin completing your postgraduate application.

Step 3: Request an application fee waiver

Applicants to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program are eligible for an application fee waiver if they meet the academic requirements of their chosen course.

Some African countries receive an automatic waiver. Ghana is not included in the current automatic-waiver list, so Ghanaian applicants should follow the procedure for requesting a waiver.

The Cambridge Mastercard Foundation programme currently advises applicants whose country is not on the automatic list to submit the fee-waiver request by 18 November 2026.

The University's general fee-waiver page currently gives 20 November 2026 for the request in this category, so applicants should check the latest instructions when submitting their request.

Step 4: Select Mastercard Foundation funding

Within the Cambridge application, applicants who meet the requirements can opt in for funding and select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

You will then complete the scholarship statement.

The statement should address areas including:

• Your education and career history
• Your leadership potential
• How the scholarship would help you achieve your goals
• How you intend to contribute to sustainable futures in Africa

Step 5: Submit before the funding deadline

This is particularly important.

The scholarship deadline is not necessarily the same as the standard Cambridge course deadline.

Cambridge states that the funding deadline is generally earlier and is usually in early December or early January, depending on the course.

Applicants should therefore check the exact funding deadline for their selected programme rather than relying on a general date.

What Happens After You Apply?

Cambridge departments first assess applicants for admission to their selected courses.

Departments select successful applicants on a rolling basis, with course offers generally made between December and February.

Applicants who receive a place may then be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

The programme states that scholarship offer letters are generally sent in late March or early April.

Successful applicants may subsequently be required to provide outstanding documents.

For example, applicants may need to provide evidence of meeting the English-language requirements for their course.

Do I Need IELTS to Apply?

You can submit a Cambridge application without already having IELTS results.

If your application is successful and your course requires proof of English proficiency, Cambridge may issue a conditional offer requiring you to meet the language requirement.

The Mastercard Foundation programme notes that many courses require an IELTS score of around 7.0 or 7.5 overall, but applicants must check the exact requirement for their chosen course.

Can Ghanaian Students Apply?

Yes. Ghanaian citizens are eligible to apply because the programme is open to citizens of African countries.

Ghanaian applicants should:

• Select an eligible Cambridge master's programme.
• Meet the programme's academic requirements.
• Apply through Cambridge's postgraduate application system.
• Select Mastercard Foundation funding where eligible.
• Complete the scholarship statement.
• Follow the application-fee-waiver procedure applicable to Ghana.
• Submit the application before the specific funding deadline for the selected course.

The programme's eligibility rules are based on African citizenship and residence requirements rather than nationality restrictions that exclude Ghana.

Is There an Age Limit?

There is no upper age limit for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Cambridge.

Can I Apply for a PhD?

No.

The Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is currently for master's-level study and does not provide PhD funding through this programme.

Can I Apply for an Undergraduate Programme?

No.

The 2027/2028 Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is intended for students pursuing a master's degree. Undergraduate applicants are not eligible under this particular Cambridge scholarship.

Important Advice for Applicants

The application should not be treated simply as a scholarship form. Applicants must first build a strong Cambridge postgraduate application.

Before submitting, carefully check:

• Whether your degree meets the Cambridge academic requirement.
• Whether your selected course is eligible.
• The exact course funding deadline.
• Required supporting documents.
• English-language requirements.
• Application fee-waiver requirements.
• Your scholarship statement.

Applicants should also make sure their leadership and community-impact experience is clearly connected to their future goals and the programme's focus on climate resilience and sustainability.

Scholarship Deadline

There is no single deadline for every Cambridge course.

The University states that Mastercard Foundation funding deadlines are generally in early December or early January, and they are earlier than the standard postgraduate application deadlines.

Therefore, applicants should check the funding deadline displayed on their specific Cambridge course page.

Key Dates

Because deadlines vary by course, applicants should treat the deadline shown on their chosen Cambridge course page as the operative deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mastercard Foundation Cambridge Scholarship fully funded?

The programme aims to cover the major costs associated with studying at Cambridge, including tuition, living allowance, travel, laptop, visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Is the scholarship open now?

Yes. Applications for the 2027/2028 academic year opened on 11 September 2026.

Can Africans living outside Africa apply?

Yes, applicants can apply if they are temporarily outside Africa for study or work. Special provisions also apply to refugees and internally displaced people.

Does Cambridge charge an application fee?

Eligible Mastercard Foundation applicants can request an application fee waiver. Some African countries receive the waiver automatically, while applicants from other countries need to follow the waiver-request procedure.

Can I apply for more than one Cambridge course using the fee waiver?

The programme states that applicants receive an application fee waiver for one course.

Is there an age limit?

No. There is no upper age limit for the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Official Application Links

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program – University of Cambridge: Official Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Application instructions: How to Apply

Eligibility: Eligibility Requirements

Cambridge postgraduate courses: Postgraduate Course Directory

Final Thoughts

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge provides an opportunity for talented African students to pursue master's-level study while receiving extensive financial and non-financial support.

For the 2027/2028 intake, applications are already open. Prospective applicants should start by identifying an eligible Cambridge master's programme and checking its specific funding deadline. Because the scholarship is incorporated into the Cambridge postgraduate application, applicants should allow enough time to prepare both the academic application and scholarship statement.

The programme is particularly suited to applicants who can demonstrate strong academic preparation, leadership potential and a clear commitment to contributing to sustainable development in Africa.