THE MASTERCARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM

THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

Applications for 2020 Entry

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at The University of Edinburgh believes

that all young people, no matter their starting point in life, should have an equal chance to gain
a quality education and pursue their aspirations to improve the lives of others.

In partnership with the Foundation, Edinburgh will provide a total of 200 full scholarships to educate
and support bright, young African students with great academic potential but who have experienced
challenges accessing education. Over the course of the seven-year program, full scholarships will be
offered to 80 undergraduate and 120 postgraduate African students who will study on degrees across
the University.

For 2020 entry, we invite applications from individuals who choose to study for a full-time, on-campus
master’s degree in the following programmes:

MSc Africa and International Development

MSc Environment and Development
MSc Global Health Policy
LLM Human Rights
MA Design for Change
MSc Sustainable Energy Systems
MSc Carbon Finance
MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The scholarships will be granted on the basis of academic talent, financial need and leadership
potential to students who intend to commence their studies at the University of Edinburgh in
September 2020. Applicants must not have studied or intend to take up other postgraduate study
before September 2020.

A strong expectation of the Scholars Program is that successful applicants who are awarded the
Scholarship return to their home countries to invest their gained skills and education in their
country’s social and economic growth.

Program Support

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University is supported by a small team based at
Edinburgh Global and the Centre of African Studies. It is a highly collaborative initiative with many
partnerships within the University, the city, in Africa and with other Mastercard Foundation partners.
Program Details

As well as receiving an excellent education at one of the top ranked universities in the world,
Postgraduate Scholars will:
• Receive comprehensive support, mentoring, and reflective opportunities through the
Scholars Program;
• Complete an Edinburgh Award in Transformative Leadership, a scheme for learning from and
receiving credit for community service;
• Undertake a work-based placement in their home region, a project that forms part of their
dissertation, develops research skills, and helps develop professional contacts;
• Participate in two Scholars Retreats, one designed to nurture transformative leadership skills;
and a second to receive support on dissertation writing.

Eligibility

• Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh, in an eligible
degree program. This includes a high level of English language proficiency.
• Applicants must be a national of and reside (except for educational purposes) in a Sub-
Saharan African country;
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their
community;
• Applicants must present economic circumstances which demonstrate a barrier to pursuing
tertiary (university) education in their home country, or elsewhere.

The scholarship is not available to students already on the Scholars Program at The University of
Edinburgh.

Criteria

The scholarships are competitive and awarded broadly on the basis of academic merit. Applicant’s
financial, personal, and family circumstances will also be taken into account. Applicants must also be
committed to returning to Africa following their graduation to give back to their home community
and country.

We particularly welcome applications from nationals of Malawi, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Rwanda,

Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe and also from applicants who have had access to education limited
as a result of disability or refugee status.

Preference will be given to candidates who have not already had the opportunity to study in the UK.
Value of the Scholarship

The scholarships will cover the following:

• Costs incurred for visa application processing;

• Costs incurred for English language tests;
• Economy class air tickets to and from Edinburgh for awardees who are citizens and residents
of a Sub-Saharan country;
• Full tuition fees at the Overseas rate;
• University self-catered accommodation;
• A food stipend to cover costs of food expenses;
• A general stipend to cover basic living costs, including an academic allowance towards
prescribed textbooks, printing and school supplies.
• Costs related to community activities as prescribed by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars
Program;
• Access to work-based placement opportunities and a small work-based placement fund; and
• Participation in the Scholars Retreats.

Awards are tenable for the duration of the postgraduate programme of study, and at the end of the
award candidates will be expected to return to Africa.

Application Procedure

Applications for 2020 entry to the Mastercard Foundation Scholar Programs at the University of
Edinburgh will open at 09:00 GMT on 1 October. The deadline for all applications will be 14:00 GMT
on Friday 29 November.

The application form can be accessed via our website at

www.ed.ac.uk/global/mastercard-foundation

All applicants are advised to apply for the scholarship first through our online application form and, if
successful, will be assisted in the process of applying for admission to the University.

Interviews via video or phone will be held during February and March 2020, with final decisions made
by April. All successful applicants will join the Program in September 2020.

Please note that applicants are entitled to make one application per year to the Program. All
applicants, once registered, should have read and understood the Application Guidance before
submitting an application to the Program to avoid any errors or incorrect information.

The University of Edinburgh and the Mastercard Foundation reserve the right to cancel incomplete
and/or late applications, to effect changes to the conditions of the scholarships or to make no awards
at all.