The 2025/2026 University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships are now open for applications. These scholarships are designed to support outstanding young people who have shown strong academic performance and leadership qualities while overcoming significant obstacles in their educational journey. The program allows them to pursue on-campus studies at the University of Edinburgh.

This scholarship covers a range of postgraduate programs, but it is limited to specific fields of study. These include Africa and International Development, Food Security, Sustainable Energy Systems, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Data, Inequality and Society, Operational Research, Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change Finance and Investment, Planetary Health, and Environment and Development.

To be eligible, applicants must first meet the academic qualifications for the University of Edinburgh’s postgraduate courses. This generally means having the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher. In addition to academic achievement, applicants must have faced considerable barriers in accessing education—these could be financial, social, health-related, or practical challenges. Applicants must also have completed their undergraduate studies and be able to provide a degree certificate and an official transcript by the deadline of November 8, 2024.

The scholarship is open only to those who are residents or citizens of a sub-Saharan African country or hold refugee status in the region. In addition to overcoming educational challenges, applicants must also demonstrate leadership experience and a commitment to serving their community. They should also have a passion for addressing the climate crisis or at least show an ambition to contribute to solutions for climate-related issues.

There is also an age requirement: applicants must be 35 or younger at the start of the program. For the 2025/2026 academic year, this means only those born on or after January 1, 1990, are eligible. Additionally, the program is not available to those who have already completed a postgraduate degree or those enrolled in any other university during the scholarship period.

The scholarship provides full coverage of tuition fees, accommodation, travel expenses, a living allowance, and study materials. Scholars will also have the opportunity to participate in a climate leadership program, designed to inspire them to make a meaningful difference in their home countries. Extra support is available for students with disabilities, based on an individual assessment of their needs.

For those applying solely for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, it’s important to note that you should first apply for the scholarship itself. Once you’ve been awarded the scholarship (which is expected to be announced in March 2025), you can then proceed to apply for your chosen postgraduate program at the University of Edinburgh. If you are applying for other scholarships as well, you may apply directly to the University in addition to this.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached to apply for this opportunity