University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

The University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarships is for exceptional young individuals with strong academic and leadership backgrounds who have overcome challenges in accessing education and are committed to furthering their studies on-campus at the University of Edinburgh.

The University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation scholarship supports one-year postgraduate studies in the following fields only:

• 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
• Environment and Development

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be academically qualified for admission to the University of Edinburgh for one of the specified degree programs. This typically means holding the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher. You can check the postgraduate entry requirements for your country here.
• Have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical, or health-related).
• Have completed undergraduate studies and be able to submit a degree certificate and official final transcript by 8 November 2024.
• Be residents and citizens of a sub-Saharan African country, or hold refugee status in a sub-Saharan African country.
• Demonstrate a history of leadership and service within their community.
• Show experience or ambition in addressing the climate crisis.
• Be 35 years of age or younger at the start of the program (i.e., born on or after 1 January 1990).
• Not have previously completed a postgraduate degree.
• Not be enrolled in or apply to another university while on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Benefits

• Full coverage of tuition, accommodation, travel, living expenses, and study materials.
• Participation in a climate leadership program designed to equip scholars with skills to drive change in their communities.
• Additional support for scholars with disabilities based on an individual needs assessment.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• The academic qualifications required for admission to the University of Edinburgh.
• Proven leadership skills and community service.
• Alignment with the scholarship program’s theme of climate justice.
• The potential impact of the applicant’s work on their home country.
• Applicants who have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical, or health-related).

How to Apply

If you are applying solely for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, you should first apply for the scholarship. Once you receive a scholarship offer in March 2025, you may then apply for admission to your chosen program at the University of Edinburgh. If you are also considering other scholarships, you may apply to the university earlier.

Application Timeline for 2025/26

• 1 October 2024, 10am UK time: Applications open.
• 31 October 2024, 5pm UK time: First stage (Declaration and Eligibility Assessment) must be completed. No new applications will be accepted after this deadline.
• 8 November 2024, 5pm UK time: Final application deadline.
• Mid-November 2024 – January 2025: University committees assess all eligible applications.
• Early February 2025: Applicants are notified of the outcomes.
• Early February 2025: On-campus applicants invited to interviews.
• Mid-February to March 2025: On-campus interviews conducted.
• Mid-March 2025: Interview results announced.
• March – August 2025: Support provided for admissions and immigration processes.
• September 2025: Academic program begins.

For more information, please visit the Official Webpage of the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation On-campus Postgraduate Scholarships.