Applications are now open for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/2028 at the University of Cambridge, giving eligible citizens of African countries a chance to apply for a fully funded one-year master’s degree. The scholarship covers full tuition and a monthly maintenance allowance, and it is aimed at students whose work and interests align with climate resilience and sustainability.
Key facts
- The scholarship is for the 2027/2028 academic year at the University of Cambridge.
- It supports one-year full-time postgraduate courses at master’s level.
- Applicants must be citizens of African countries and meet the academic entry requirements of the course they choose.
- Funding includes full tuition costs and a monthly maintenance allowance.
- The application is integrated into the Cambridge postgraduate application process.
What this means for students and applicants
The program is relevant for African students who want to pursue a master’s degree at Cambridge without paying tuition and living costs upfront. It is also open to applicants from groups the university says are particularly encouraged to apply, including women, refugees, internally displaced people and people with disabilities.
Applicants must choose an eligible full-time one-year master’s course. The scholarship excludes the MBA, MCL, MFIN and MACC, and the university says successful applicants must also show a commitment to giving back to their communities or the wider African continent, especially around sustainability and climate resilience.
- Application fee waivers are available to eligible applicants.
- The fee-waiver request deadline is 18 November 2026 for applicants whose country is not automatically covered.
- Course funding deadlines are usually in early December or early January, depending on the course.
- Offer letters for scholarship funding are sent in late March or early April.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants must be citizens of an African country, resident in an African country unless temporarily away for study or work, and able to meet the academic entry requirements for the course they want to study. The program says it also accepts applicants who identify as refugees or internally displaced people, and it encourages women and people with disabilities to apply.
Cambridge says applicants can use the postgraduate course directory to check eligible courses and entry requirements before starting an application. The scholarship is available for most full-time master’s courses, but not for the MBA, Master of Corporate Law, Master of Finance or Master of Accountancy.
How does the application process work?
Applicants start through the relevant postgraduate course profile and click “Apply Now.” Once the application is open, they can opt in for funding and select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program if they meet the academic requirements for the course.
The university says departments select applicants on a rolling basis between December and February, with some departments interviewing shortlisted candidates. Scholarship selection then takes place after a place on the course has been offered, and the final funding offers are issued in late March or early April.
What does the scholarship cover?
Cambridge says the award is designed to cover the main costs of study and arrival, including course fees, a maintenance or living allowance, visa and health surcharge, travel such as flights and taxi transfer into Cambridge, and a laptop. Successful applicants may receive a conditional offer if IELTS results are still outstanding, and they must submit any remaining documents by 31 July.
The university also says the scholarship cannot be transferred to the following year if the applicant cannot take up the place. It adds that there is no upper age limit for the program and that applicants should not pay anyone for application support, after warning about a scam involving people falsely claiming association with the university.
When will applicants hear back?
Departmental selection runs from December to February, while scholarship selection takes place in late February or early March. Cambridge says funding offers are sent in March or April, and successful applicants usually have 10 working days to confirm acceptance, with the exact deadline set out in the offer letter.
Frequently asked questions
Can applicants apply for more than one course fee waiver?
No. Cambridge says the application fee waiver is limited to one course, so applicants are advised to focus on the course they are best suited to and make that application as strong as possible.
Can students bring a spouse or children on this visa route?
No. The university says it cannot support travel expenses for a spouse or child because, as of January 2024, the UK Home Office stopped allowing students on one-year master’s programmes to bring a spouse and/or children on their visa.
Can applicants from outside Africa qualify if they studied there before?
Yes, as long as they are resident in Africa or temporarily away for study. Cambridge says an undergraduate degree from outside Africa does not automatically disqualify an applicant if that residency condition is met.
