What the funding covers
- Full funding for a one-year master's at Cambridge: fees and a maintenance allowance.
- Leadership development and a 'Transition Project' linking your studies to work back home.
- Application-fee waivers for eligible applicants.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Course fee, living (maintenance) allowance and a laptop | The scholarship |
| Student visa, UK immigration health surcharge, flights and a taxi into Cambridge | The scholarship |
| Application fee for one course | Waived for all programme applicants — automatically for 30 African countries, by form for the rest; a second course costs you the normal fee |
| Travel or visas for a spouse or children | Not covered — one-year master's students cannot bring dependants on a UK student visa (since January 2024) |
Who can apply
- Citizens of African countries with a strong academic record and financial need.
- A commitment to contributing to Africa's development — the programme is built around returning to lead change.
- Admission to an eligible Cambridge master's course; read the programme's eligibility page for course and age details.
Documents you will need
- Your course application in Cambridge's postgraduate portal, with 'opt in for funding' ticked and the scholarship statement: career history, leadership, goals and how you will contribute to Africa
- Academic transcript and passport
- An English test if your course requires one — typically IELTS 7.0 or 7.5 overall, depending on the course
- The application-fee-waiver form by 18 November 2026, with copies of your transcript and passport, if your country is not on the automatic waiver list
- Any outstanding documents by 31 July before you start
How to apply
- Choose an eligible one-year master's course and apply through Cambridge's graduate application portal, selecting the Mastercard Foundation scholarship.
- Applications for 2027–28 opened on 11 September 2026 and close on 5 January 2027 (some courses close earlier).
- If your country is not on the automatic application-fee-waiver list, submit the fee-waiver request form by 18 November 2026.
- Shortlisted applicants are interviewed in the spring.
Before you apply: things to know
- Course deadlines can be earlier than the scholarship deadline — check your course page.
- The fee-waiver request (18 November) comes well before the application deadline.
- Your statement should connect your course to a concrete plan for impact in your community.
Common questions
Is there an age limit?
No. There is no upper age limit for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Cambridge.
Can I bring my family?
Not on a one-year master's. Since January 2024 the UK Home Office does not let one-year master's students bring a spouse or children on their visa, so the programme cannot pay for their travel.
When will I know if I have the scholarship?
Departments make course offers on a rolling basis between December and February. The scholarship team then reviews applicants who have a place, and scholarship offers go out in late March or early April.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next typical deadline (Nov 18, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Aug 26, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth — confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Sep 9, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Sep 23, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Oct 7, 2026Order transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Oct 21, 2026Second draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically
Nov 4, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form
Nov 11, 2026Submit — never on the last day
Nov 18, 2026Typical deadline
Related routes
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Rolling · open year-roundDetails →
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Due ≈ in 19 daysDetails →
Chevening Scholarships
Due in 11 daysDetails →
Commonwealth Master's Scholarships
Due in 25 daysDetails →
Sources
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge
- Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — Eligibility
- Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — How to apply
- Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — FAQ
Page reviewed Sep 25, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.