What the funding covers
- Full support for a Berkeley master's degree, including tuition and living costs.
- Leadership development, mentoring and career support through the programme.
- A cohort and alumni network across Africa.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition, Berkeley student fees, housing, food and living expenses | The scholarship |
| Travel, visa and SEVIS fees | The scholarship |
| Graduate application fee ($155 for international applicants) | You, as Berkeley's graduate fee waivers are not open to international applicants |
| TOEFL or IELTS test, if you need one | You |
Who can apply
- Citizens of African countries applying to an eligible Berkeley master's programme.
- The programme recruits widely across Africa and especially encourages women, applicants with disabilities and refugees.
- Demonstrated financial need and commitment to giving back.
Which nationalities can apply
Only citizens of African countries can apply.
See all 54
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Documents you will need
- Your application to an eligible Berkeley master's programme through the Graduate Division, in the programme's first admission round
- An English test if your undergraduate degree was not taught in English: at least TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS Academic 7
- The statements, transcripts and recommendation letters your department asks for
- Evidence of what the scholarship selects for: leadership, the barriers you have overcome, and your plan to return home and give back
How to apply
- Choose an eligible Berkeley master's programme and check its departmental admission deadline.
- Apply to the programme through Berkeley's graduate application and indicate your interest in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
- Each programme sets its own deadline, so check yours on the Graduate Division's programme list.
- Follow the programme website for its own additional steps and information sessions.
Before you apply: things to know
- Your deadline is your department's, not a single programme date.
- Only some Berkeley master's programmes are eligible; check the list first.
- Berkeley's graduate application fee may apply; check whether the programme offers a waiver.
Common questions
Is there a separate scholarship application?
No. You apply to an eligible master's programme, and admitted applicants can be nominated for the Scholars Program. If your programme has several admission rounds, apply in the first round; later rounds are not considered.
Do I have to return to Africa?
That is the aim. Scholars are expected to return home after graduating and after any optional practical training their visa allows; some go on to work in another African country in their field.
How long will Berkeley keep recruiting?
The programme says it will recruit Mastercard Foundation Scholars through the fall of 2028.