Program Overview

Introduction to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The Mastercard Foundation and the University of Edinburgh have been working in partnership since 2016. This partnership has led to the establishment of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which aims to provide scholarships to talented students from Africa at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Program Overview

The University of Edinburgh has been working closely with the Mastercard Foundation since 2016, through a gift to the University, which provided 200 scholarships to talented students from Africa. Between 2023 and 2030, the partnership will continue to offer 850 postgraduate scholarships.

The Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the world, working almost exclusively in Africa. The Foundation has been led by Reeta Roy, its President and Founder, since 2006 and curates a portfolio of programs and initiatives aimed at increasing access to education and employability for young people across the African continent.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the Foundation's flagship initiatives, enabling learning and leadership development for talented young people, primarily young Africans. Since launching in 2012, the Program has supported nearly 40,000 young people to pursue secondary or tertiary education.

Key Features of the Program

• Implemented through a Pan-African and global network of more than 40 universities and non-governmental organisations
• Strengthens the higher education ecosystem by encouraging inclusion and accessibility, innovation in teaching and learning, research and collaboration across critical sectors and stakeholders

Future of the Program

By 2030, the Program will more than double its impact by adding 60,000 scholarships and partnering with new universities and key stakeholders, most of which will be based in Africa.

Partnership with the University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, and has been granted degree awarding powers. The University is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a "Recognised body". The partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and the University of Edinburgh aims to provide opportunities for talented students from Africa to pursue higher education.