Application Deadline: December 1, 2026 (application deadlines vary)
LOCATION: USA
The Center for African Studies(link is external) and the Mastercard Foundation(link is external) are engaged in a ten-year partnership to support 201 master’s degree students from African countries who are academically talented and committed to transformative change on the continent. The Program recruits widely across Africa and encourages applications particularly from women, people with disabilities, and those who are refugees or displaced.
ELIGIBILITY:
The main eligibility criteria are:
Being a citizen of an African country: This includes Africans who have been forcibly displaced or have refugee status within the African continent. Those with dual citizenship, asylee, refugee or permanent resident status in the US, Canada, UK or EU are not eligible.
Having academic talent: All prospective Scholars must first be admitted to a UC Berkeley master’s degree program to be considered for the Scholarship. An important criteria for admission to the University is demonstrated academic excellence.
Demonstrating leadership potential: The Program seeks those committed to developing the skills and mindsets associated with transformative leadership, i.e, that which engages others in an ethical manner to generate positive and lasting change.
Experienced significant barriers to accessing higher education: This Scholarship is designed for those extremely talented individuals who might have faced barriers to quality higher education, including social, financial, personal, practical or health related.
Having demonstrated the commitment to give back to your community, country, or continent: They are looking for well-rounded students who are engaged in activities beyond the classroom. Some may be directly related to your field of study, but this may also include other issues (social, economic, and political) that you are working on and passionate about. Applicants should elaborate on their achievements both in their application to UC Berkeley and then later in the application for the Scholars Program.
Having expressed the desire and intention to return to your home country after completing your studies and post-graduation training: We are looking for students who are engaged with and passionate about issues affecting their communities and who will take advantage of their education at UC Berkeley to better equip themselves with the knowledge and training to address these issues upon return. While important work can be done from abroad, the intention of the Program is to enable Scholars to return home after forming valuable professional connections through internships, academic training, and job placements.
Other considerations:
All other things being equal, we will give priority to candidates who:
Did their undergraduate degree at an African university.
Do not already have a postgraduate degree (i.e., master’s or doctorate).
Have not already benefited from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Every year the mix of candidates varies. There are always more well-qualified and deserving candidates than there are spaces in the Scholars Program at UC Berkeley.
Send questions on eligiblity to mcfs.programinfo@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).
BENEFIT:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars receive a comprehensive scholarship equivalent to the costs associated with earning a master’s degree, which includes travel, tuition, Berkeley student fees, visa and SEVIS fees, housing, food, living expenses, and cohort signature programs which will focus on leadership and entrepreneurship.
