ELIGIBILITY:

Postgraduate Qualifications: Master’s Degree:

At the time of application, an applicant must satisfy the following four criteria:

Be no older than 30 years for the master’s degree studies;

Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za) and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2025;

Be prepared to begin their first year of registration for full-time master’s degree study in January 2025;

Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.

Undergraduate Qualifications:

At the time of application, an applicant must satisfy the following four criteria:

Be no older than 26 years for the undergraduate studies;

Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za) and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2025;

Be prepared to register for full-time undergraduate study in January 2025;

Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.

BENEFIT:

In addition to providing support for tuition fees, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC provides a range of specialised resources to support Mastercard Foundation Scholars to facilitate their transition into dignified and fulfilling work. In particular, Mastercard Foundation Scholars will be provided with:

Pre-arrival support and an official on-boarding welcome programme;

Housing in a UWC residence on campus;

Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar has the best possible experience at UWC;

A monthly stipend and meal allowance;

Medical aid;

Laptop;

Study materials allowance; and

Holistic wrap around support programmes.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars are required to sign a scholarship agreement once they are accepted and enrolled onto the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

The Program will only fund Mastercard Foundation Scholars taking up full time studies at UWC – for 2 years – masters degrees,– undergraduate degrees, for the minimum duration of study.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars will not be permitted to hold another UWC scholarship / internal bursary concurrently with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. If you are the recipient of an external partial bursary the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will complement the scholarship where deemed necessary.  A Mastercard Foundation Scholar cannot hold the Mastercard Foundation award in addition to another full cost bursary/scholarship.  

Mastercard Foundation Scholars participate in wrap around support programmes (WASP) that are geared towards personal, academic and professional development including community – engaged learning, leadership development and entrepreneurship training to prepare Mastercard Foundation Scholars for the world of work. Participation in WASP, is compulsory for all Mastercard Foundation Scholars. 

Masters degree Mastercard Foundation Scholars who intend to take up a work-study program in the university are only allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours per month.