Applications are now open for the 2027/2028 University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, offering fully funded postgraduate study opportunities to eligible young Africans. The programme supports talented students who have experienced significant barriers to education and who demonstrate leadership, community service and a commitment to addressing the climate crisis.

Applicants must meet the academic requirements for their chosen University of Edinburgh programme, generally requiring the equivalent of a UK Upper Second-Class Bachelor’s degree or higher. They must have completed their undergraduate studies and be able to provide their degree certificate and official final transcript by 19 November 2026. Applicants must also be citizens and residents of, or hold refugee status in, an African country and must be aged 35 or below when the programme begins in 2027. This means applicants must have been born on or after 1 January 1992.

Successful applicants are expected to demonstrate that they have faced significant barriers to education or early career development, whether social, financial, personal, practical or health-related. They should also have a record of leadership and community service, as well as experience or clear ambition to contribute meaningfully to efforts addressing the climate crisis.

For applicants pursuing a Master’s degree, they must not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and cannot be enrolled at, or applying to enrol at, another university while receiving the Mastercard Foundation scholarship. Applicants for the online Postgraduate Diploma may hold either an undergraduate or Master’s degree from an African university, provided they complete the relevant qualification by 19 November 2026.

The scholarship covers selected online programmes including Climate Change Management, International Development, Global Food Security and Nutrition, One Health, Social Justice and Community Action, Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health, Data-Driven Breeding and Genetics, Digital Education and Data Science Technologies. Selected on-campus programmes include Africa and International Development, Climate Change Finance and Investment, Data, Inequality and Society, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Food Security, Environment and Development, Environmental Sustainability, Operational Research, Planetary Health and Sustainable Energy Systems. The list of eligible programmes may change, so applicants should confirm the latest programme options before applying.

An important change for the 2027/28 cycle is that prospective applicants must first complete an eligibility assessment and attend a mandatory virtual information session before gaining access to the scholarship application form. Applicants should not apply for their chosen University of Edinburgh degree at this stage. Those who are eventually awarded the scholarship will be invited to apply for their selected degree through the University’s normal admissions process.

Mandatory virtual information sessions will take place between 15 and 24 September 2026. On-campus applicants can attend a session on 15 September at 3:00 p.m. UK time, 21 September at 11:00 a.m. or 24 September at 4:00 p.m. Online applicants can attend on 17 September at 4:00 p.m., 22 September at 11:00 a.m. or 24 September at 3:00 p.m. UK time. Applicants will complete a short questionnaire when registering, and attendance does not automatically guarantee an invitation to submit the scholarship application.

Applicants who meet the requirements and successfully participate in the information session will be notified on 13 October 2026 if they have been invited to apply. Invited candidates must then complete the Applicant Declaration Form by 19 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. UK time. Because the form may close earlier once the maximum number of applications is reached, early submission is strongly recommended.

Candidates who successfully complete the declaration stage will proceed to the main scholarship application. The deadline for the Scholarship Main Application and Postgraduate Assessment forms is 19 November 2026 at 5:00 p.m. UK time. Applicants should ensure that all required information and supporting documents, including their degree certificate and official final transcript, are submitted before the deadline.

Following submission, applications will be assessed by University committees from the end of November 2026 through January 2027. Successful and unsuccessful applicants are expected to receive notification in early February 2027. On-campus applicants will be invited to interviews in early February, while online applicants will receive interview invitations around mid-February. Interviews will take place from mid-February to March, with final outcomes expected by the end of March 2027.

Successful on-campus scholars will receive support with university admission and immigration processes from April to August 2027, while online scholars will receive support with their admission processes during the same period. The academic programmes are scheduled to begin in September 2027.

This opportunity is particularly suited to young African graduates who have overcome substantial barriers to education, have demonstrated leadership and community involvement, and want to use postgraduate education to create positive change, particularly in relation to climate and sustainable development. Interested applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements, select an eligible programme and register for one of the mandatory September 2026 information sessions before proceeding with the scholarship application.

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