The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Be a part of Africa's Future

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is more than a scholarship, it is a community of talented, purpose-driven young leaders committed to creating positive change across Africa.
The University of Cape Town in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program empowers young people facing thehighest social and economic barriers to pursue a world-class education, develop their leadership potential and build the skills needed for dignified and fulfilling work and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
As part of the Mastercard Foundation’s vision to support 100,000 Mastercard Foundation Scholars by 2030, you will join a growing network of changemakers who are transforming lives, strengthening communities and shaping a more inclusive and prosperous future for Africa

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027 Applications are now open!

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Applications close 30 September 2026 (Undergraduate) and 31 October 2026 (Postgraduate)

Celebrating a Decade of Leadership Excellence

This year we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town.

A reception held in honour of the new cohort of Mastercard Foundation scholars was held at UCT’s d-school Afrika on Monday, 16 October.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program gives impetus to the spirit of ubuntu

"We live in a reality of being in a class with classmates who carry plastic bags as school bags; we live in a reality [where] a young girl has to walk kilometres to get to school, sometimes in broken shoes and often on an empty stomach."

Combining service and policy to make a real difference

Funwako Bakhile Dlamini has discovered many opportunities through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Tributes to ‘life-changing’ Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The MFSP launched in 2012 with six university partners and a first cohort of 145 scholars. In only a decade it has changed the trajectory of over 40 000 young Africans, with ripple effects across the continent.

NextGen Engineers’ winning toolkit takes innovation beyond the lab

NextGen Engineers, a team of three students from the University of Cape Town (UCT), have won an international award for their affordable engineering essentials toolkit tailored to students’ needs.

Mastercard Foundation Scholar focuses on ways to alleviate climate change while giving back to society

Giving back to society is of key importance to Grace Emmanuella Adoteye, one of the current members of UCT’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Diplomacy and leadership: the UN way

Mastercard Foundation scholar Monica Hella Ilonga was selected to join the 2021 Tanzanian International Model UN and Nasser fellowship for International Leadership.

Meet the Mastercard Foundation Scholars

A journey to be proud of

Undergraduate studies can be exciting – and overwhelming. Brighton Tandabantu reflects on the leadership, confidence and academic development he gained on the four-year journey at UCT.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

In December 2013, the University of Cape Town partnered with The Mastercard Foundation through its Global Scholars Program. An initiative aimed at providing academically talented young people facing economic barriers in developing countries with access to quality and relevant higher education opportunities. Through this partnership, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT seeks to develop the next generation of transformative leaders by supporting 371 young leaders to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies over a ten-year period. Since its inception, the Program has awarded 411 scholarships, with 292 Mastercard Foundation Scholars successfully graduating from UCT, reflecting its ongoing commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and social impact.

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