Application for this year’s cycle for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 at University of Edinburgh is currently open from suitably qualified students from all over the world looking to study a postgraduate course in the UK for the 2027/2028 academic session.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 offers financial aid to young leaders who have overcome educational barriers and are committed to on-campus or online postgraduate degree program at the University of Edinburgh starting from the 2027 academic years. This Postgraduate Scholarships provides a fully funded financial aid towards achieving your educational success.
SEE MORE: UNU-WIDER Visiting Scholars Programme 2027 to Finland
Eligibility Requirements
- 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.
- Applicants will have faced significant barriers to education and in their early career (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 19 November 2026.
- Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in an African country.
- 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 2027/28 academic year, we accept applications from those born on or after 1 January 1992. Anyone born in 1991 and prior is not eligible.
- If applying for a Masters programme: Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or applying to enrol) at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
- 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 19th November 2026). 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.
Eligible Online Degree Programmes
- Climate Change Management (Masters route only)
- International Development (Masters route only)
- Global Food Security and Nutrition (Masters or Diploma)
- One Health (Masters or Diploma)
- Social Justice and Community Action (Masters or Diploma)
- Global Health and Infectious Diseases (Masters or Diploma)
- Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health (Masters or Diploma)
- Data-Driven Breeding and Genetics (Masters or Diploma)
- Digital Education (Masters or Diploma)
- Data Science Technologies (Masters route only)
Eligible On-campus Degree Programmes
- Africa and International Development
- Climate Change Finance and Investment
- Data, Inequality and Society (while there is the option for students to take this Masters in a hybrid format the stipulation for those on an Mastercard Foundation Scholarship and for Tier 4 visa regulations means you will need to undertake the programme in person for the full year)
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Food Security
- Environment and Development
- Environmental Sustainability
- Operational Research (While we are aware of the different specialisation options for this programme (with Risk, Computational Optimisation, and Data Science) our scholarship covers the general Operational Research MSc only)
- Planetary Health
- Sustainable Energy Systems
Note: The degree programmes listed above are subject to change. Please check the website regularly for the latest updates. No other academic programs at the University of Edinburgh are eligible for this scholarship.
Attend a Mandatory Virtual Information Session
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will host virtual information sessions between 15 and 24 September 2026.
Attending an information session is a mandatory step to gain access to the scholarship application form.
When you register for a session, you will complete a short questionnaire. Your responses will be reviewed to assess your preliminary eligibility.
Note: Attending an information session does not guarantee an invitation to apply. Only attendees who also meet the scholarship eligibility requirements will receive an invitation to apply.
After The Online Session
Applicants will receive invitation to apply.
On 13 October 2026, eligible attendees will be notified whether they are invited to apply.
If you are invited, you will receive an invitation through SurveyMonkey Apply.
If you are not eligible to proceed, you will receive a notification confirming this.
Method of Application
If you are invited to apply, you will complete the application for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 at University of Edinburgh in two stages:
Stage 1: Complete the Applicant Declaration form
The Applicant Declaration Form is the first stage of the scholarship application. It asks for additional information to confirm your eligibility.
If you are invited to apply, you should complete the form as soon as possible.
The deadline is 19 October 2026, 5pm UK time.
Applicants who are not successful at this stage will receive a notification and will not proceed to the main application.
Stage 2: Complete the Scholarship Main Application
Applicants who successfully complete the Applicant Declaration Form will be invited to complete the Scholarship Main Application.
The deadline for submitting the main application is 19 November 2026, 5pm UK time
When to apply for your degree programme
At this stage, you should only apply for the scholarship. If your scholarship application is successful and you receive a scholarship offer in March 2027, you will then be invited to apply for your chosen degree programme through the University’s standard admissions process.
If you are applying for other scholarships that require an active University application, you may apply to the University in parallel.
Important: The Program will not accept applications submitted outside the online application system or from applicants who have not followed the application process outlined above.
Application Deadline: October 19, 2026.
For More Information: Visit the Scholarship Website.
