University of Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/2028, offering eligible African students the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree at one of the world’s leading universities with comprehensive financial support. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Cambridge officially announced the new application cycle on September 11, 2026. The programme aims to cover the essential costs scholars need to study successfully at Cambridge, including course fees, a maintenance/living allowance, visa costs, the UK Immigration Health Surcharge, travel and a laptop. For women across Africa who have been considering postgraduate study in the United Kingdom, this is an opportunity worth examining early rather than waiting until the funding deadline approaches.
What Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Cambridge?
The programme enables talented young Africans to pursue master’s degrees at Cambridge while developing their leadership potential. For 2027/2028, its overarching themes are climate resilience and sustainability. Importantly, this does not mean applicants are restricted to environmental-science programmes. Cambridge recognises that building sustainable futures requires expertise across many disciplines. Scholars can therefore apply to most eligible full-time, one-year postgraduate courses offered by the University.
Four courses are specifically excluded:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Corporate Law (MCL)
- Master of Finance (MFin)
- Master of Accountancy (MAcc).
The programme is for master’s study only. It does not fund undergraduate or PhD programmes at Cambridge.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be citizens of an African country. They must normally also be resident in an African country. Temporary absence from Africa for work or study may be permitted. The programme also makes an exception for applicants who identify as internally displaced persons or have refugee status. Candidates must satisfy the academic entry requirements of the Cambridge master’s course they select. Academic requirements differ considerably between courses. Many programmes expect a first-class undergraduate degree, while some accept a strong upper-second-class degree or its international equivalent. There is no upper age limit for the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Is the Scholarship Specifically for Women?
No. The programme is open to eligible African applicants regardless of gender. However, Cambridge explicitly states that the programme actively encourages women, refugees, internally displaced people and people with disabilities to apply. That makes the newly opened call especially relevant to the Opportunities for Women community.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
This is comprehensive postgraduate funding. According to Cambridge’s official programme FAQ, the scholarship aims to cover:
- Course fees
- Maintenance/living allowance
- Visa costs
- UK Immigration Health Surcharge
- Travel, including flights and transport into Cambridge
- A laptop.
The official 2027/2028 announcement similarly states that the programme aims to cover what scholars need to thrive at Cambridge, including full tuition costs and a monthly maintenance allowance. This is important because international postgraduate study involves considerably more than tuition.
Visa expenses, relocation, flights, accommodation, food and everyday living costs can make an otherwise strong university offer inaccessible. The scholarship is designed to address those barriers comprehensively.
Which Courses Can You Study?
Applicants can choose from most full-time master’s courses at Cambridge, provided the programme meets the scholarship requirements. Courses generally range from nine to twelve months. Applicants should begin with the University’s Postgraduate Course Directory rather than selecting a scholarship first and trying to find a course later. The academic programme must match your existing qualifications, interests and career direction.
How Do You Apply?
One of the most useful features of the process is that applicants do not submit an entirely separate Mastercard Foundation scholarship application.
The scholarship application is integrated into the Cambridge course application.
- First, find an eligible master’s course through Cambridge’s Postgraduate Course Directory and check its academic requirements.
- Then begin the postgraduate application.
- During the application, opt in for funding. Eligible applicants will then be able to select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Applicants must prepare a scholarship statement addressing areas including their education and career history, leadership potential, how the scholarship would support their goals, and how they hope to contribute to sustainable futures in Africa.
Application Fee Waiver
Eligible Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program applicants can receive an application fee waiver for one course.
For applicants from a number of African countries, the waiver is automatic.
Applicants from other eligible African countries may need to submit a fee-waiver request form with supporting documentation.
For the 2027/2028 cycle, applicants who need to request the waiver should do so by November 18, 2026.
What Is the Application Deadline?
There is not one universal scholarship deadline.
Cambridge states that candidates must submit their course application by the funding deadline for their chosen programme, which will generally fall in early December 2026 or early January 2027. Applicants should therefore check the funding deadline shown on their individual course page.
Do not use the later general admission deadline if your course has an earlier funding deadline.
How Are Scholars Selected?
- Academic departments first evaluate applications for admission.
- Departments make selections on a rolling basis between approximately December and February. Some programmes may interview shortlisted applicants.
- Candidates who receive academic offers and meet scholarship requirements are then considered by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
- Scholarship offers are expected around March or April 2027.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Start with the course rather than the scholarship. Make sure your academic background genuinely meets the entry requirements.
- Your scholarship statement should also go beyond saying you want to “make an impact.”
- Show what you have already done.
- Leadership can include building an organisation, mentoring students, solving a community problem, conducting meaningful research, creating employment, volunteering or improving an existing system.
- Then connect your proposed Cambridge education to a specific challenge affecting Africa.
- Finally, start early. Academic references, transcripts, course-specific documents and fee-waiver requirements can take longer than expected.
How to Apply
This is a newly opened opportunity for, officially announced on September 11, 2026. If you are an African woman considering a master’s degree at Cambridge, now is the right time to identify your programme, check its funding deadline and start building your application. And if you know a woman whose education and leadership could contribute to Africa’s sustainable future, send this opportunity directly to her.
