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Deadline: November 21, 2025
Applications are now open for the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation On-Campus Postgraduate Scholarships 2026/2027, an incredible opportunity for young African leaders to pursue fully funded postgraduate degrees in Scotland, United Kingdom.
This prestigious scholarship program—part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program—aims to empower academically talented yet economically disadvantaged students from Africa to access high-quality education, develop transformative leadership skills, and contribute to sustainable change across the continent.
Scholars will study on-campus at the University of Edinburgh, one of the world’s leading universities, known for its commitment to global innovation and inclusive education. The program supports postgraduate students who are dedicated to addressing key challenges in their home countries through research, leadership, and community service.
Benefits
The on-campus scholarship provides:
- 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.
SEE ALSO: TWAS-UNESCO Associateship Scheme 2026 for Researchers from Developing Countries (Fully Funded) – Young Women Aspire
Eligibility Criteria
You must meet the eligibility criteria to apply:
- Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree programme listed. You will generally need to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher.
Postgraduate entry requirements
- Applicants will have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related).
- Applicants must have graduated from an undergraduate study and must have a degree certificate and official final transcript to upload alongside their application by 21 November 2025.
- Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in an African country (including North Africa).
- Applicants must have faced barriers to education and in their early career.
- Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
- Applicants must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis
- Applicants must be 35 or under the year the programme commences. Therefore, for the 2026/27 academic year, we accept applications from those born on or after 1 January 1991. Anyone born in 1990 and prior is not eligible.
- Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or apply to enrol) at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
- If applying for the online Masters programme: Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or applying to enrol) at a separate university.
- If applying for the online Postgraduate Diploma: Applicants can either have an undergraduate or Masters degree from an African university (provided they will graduate from either degree by 21 November 2025). If you have a Masters degree, our admissions team will review your first degree (undergraduate) to meet the postgraduate diploma entry requirement. The Program will review your Masters degree transcripts to confirm your university’s graduation date and location.
- The program encourage applications from women, people from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and people with disabilities.
Application Process and Documents Required
The selection process for applications is based on the following criteria:
- Academic merit of the candidate that qualifies for admissions to the University of Edinburgh
- Track record as a transformative leader and service within their community.
- Quality of application in line with the Program’s theme of climate justice.
- Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country.
- Applicants who have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related).
