The University of Edinburgh is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the town council under the authority of a royal charter from King James VI in 1582 and officially opened in 1583. It is one of the world's top universities.

The University of Edinburgh has been working closely with the Mastercard Foundation since 2016. A gift to the University provided 200 scholarships to talented students from Africa at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Between 2023 and 2030, we will continue to partner with the Foundation to offer 850 postgraduate scholarships. ALSO, APPLY for a fully funded scholarship for international students in COSTA RICA (NORTH AMERICA)

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS:

What the on-campus scholarship provides

• Covers full approved tuition, accommodation, travel, living cost stipend and study materials.
• A climate leadership programme to inspire and support scholars in making change in their communities and countries.
• Additional support is offered to scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs.

What the online scholarship provides

• Covers full approved tuition fees: scholars will not pay for any part of the tuition fees.
• Academic stipend to allow for access to high-quality internet and laptop.
• The opportunity to attend an in-person gathering.
• Participation in activities as part of the wider Climate Leadership Programme at the University of Edinburgh, including regular online workshops, online coaching and support.
• A dedicated Online Coordinator
• Additional support is offered to Scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs. ALSO, APPLY FOR a fully funded scholarship for international students in the USA (Bachelor's & Masters degree)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in a sub-Saharan African country.
• Applicants must be 35 or under the year the program commences. Therefore, for the 2025/26 academic year, we accept applications from those born on or after 1 January 1990. Anyone born in 1989 and prior is not eligible.
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
• Applicants must have graduated from an undergraduate study and must have a degree certificate and official final transcript to upload alongside their application by 8 November 2024.
• Applicants will have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related).
• Applicants must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis
• Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or apply to enroll) at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
ALSO, APPLY FOR a fully funded scholarship for international students in the CANADA

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS:

We offer scholarships for the following on-campus postgraduate programs:

• Africa and International Development
• Climate Change Finance and Investment
• Data, Inequality and Society (while there is the option for students to take this Master in a hybrid format the stipulation for those on a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship and for Tier 4 visa regulations means you will need to undertake the program 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 specialization options for this program (with Risk, Computational Optimisation, and Data Science) our scholarship covers the general Operational Research MSc only)
• Planetary Health
• Sustainable Energy Systems

We offer scholarships for the following online degree programs:

• Carbon Management (Masters route only) *to be renamed Climate Change Management
• International Development (Masters route only)
• Circular Economy (Masters or Diploma)
• Global Challenges (Masters or Diploma)
• Global Food Security and Nutrition (Masters or Diploma)
• One Health (Masters or Diploma)
• Social Justice and Community Action (Masters or Diploma)
• Sustainable Lands and Cities (Masters or Diploma)

Global Challenges: This program is made up of three postgraduate certificates: PgCert Global Environment Challenges, PgCert Global Health Challenges, and PgCert Global Development Challenges. Successful completion of all three of these Certificates leads to the award of the MSc in Global Challenges. Successful completion of any two of these Certificates leads to the award of the Diploma in Global Challenges.
ALSO, WATCH HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR a fully funded scholarship at African Leadership University (ALU)

No other academic programs at the University of Edinburgh are eligible for this scholarship. You are welcome to apply to any academic program but only those listed above will make you eligible for a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

• Your final official university degree certificate
• Your final official transcript.
• English Language Test results are not required when applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
• No application fees if you are accepted to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP?

If the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is the only scholarship you are interested in applying for at the University of Edinburgh, please apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship only. If you receive a scholarship offer from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, you can apply for the academic program.

If you are also applying for other scholarships at the University of Edinburgh, please apply directly for the degree program of your choice as well as the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application.

If you have already secured a place on an eligible degree program, please indicate in your Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form that you have already secured a place on the degree program.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Applications for our Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, for postgraduate degrees only, will open on 1 October 2024 at 10 am and close on 8 November 2024 at 5 pm UK Time. All applicants must have completed the first stage of the application – the Declaration and Eligibility Assessment by the 31 of October 2024 at 5 pm.