About this opportunity
The University of Cape Town, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, provides scholarships and comprehensive support to academically talented young people who face significant social and economic barriers to accessing higher education. The programme is framed as more than a scholarship, it is described as a community that enables young people to pursue a world-class education, develop their leadership potential and build the skills needed to succeed in the world of work and make a meaningful contribution to their communities.
The offer is aimed at people who want to lead change back home. The programme page opens with the question of whether you are an innovative thinker who is committed to leading positive social and economic change in Africa, and states that the Scholarships Program provides scholarships to academically talented young Africans to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Cape Town, with enrolled scholars receiving support and developmental opportunities including mentoring and leadership development.
Two routes sit inside one application, so read the sequence carefully. The programme is available to students applying for their first bachelor's degree, or for an eligible postgraduate diploma, honours degree or master's degree at UCT.
Applicants who have already applied for an undergraduate bachelor's degree at UCT may apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program if they meet all
Eligibility
, but only applicants who receive an offer of admission to UCT will be eligible for the programme. The current status is explicit on the page: applications for undergraduate are now closed, and applications for postgraduate close 31 October 2026.
That makes this a taught master's, honours or eligible postgraduate diploma round, and the postgraduate diploma route offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences through the Africa Health Collaborative is named among the eligible programmes. The programme also states an inclusion commitment that widens the net for applicants whose path has been interrupted.
It encourages applications from young women, people living with disabilities, refugees, forcibly displaced youth and all young people whose access to opportunity has been impeded by social and economic barriers.
What you receive
- Scholarship support for an eligible postgraduate diploma, honours degree or master's degree at UCT
- Comprehensive support beyond tuition for scholars facing social and economic barriers
- Mentoring and leadership development inside the Scholars Program community
- Access to a continental cohort of young African leaders in the programme network
Who can apply
- Be a citizen of an African country, including South Africa
- Be applying for your first bachelor's degree or an eligible taught postgraduate programme at UCT, including a postgraduate diploma offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences via the Africa Health Collaborative
- Meet the programme eligibility requirements alongside your academic application
- Hold an offer of admission to UCT, because only applicants who receive an offer of admission become eligible for the programme
- The programme actively encourages applications from young women, people living with disabilities, refugees, forcibly displaced youth and young people whose access to opportunity has been impeded by social and economic barriers
Who should not apply
- Undergraduate applications for the current round are closed, so this round is postgraduate only
- Meeting the scholarship criteria alone is not enough, an offer of admission to UCT is required
- Applicants already enrolled and not seeking a first degree or an eligible taught postgraduate programme fall outside the stated routes
Documents to prepare
- Your UCT application for study, started through the university applicants route
- Academic records for the programme you are applying to
- The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form answers
How to apply
- Review study options on the UCT applicants pages and choose an eligible taught postgraduate programme
- Apply to UCT for that programme, since only applicants who receive an offer of admission become eligible
- Open the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application from the programme page
- Complete the Scholars Program application form and submit before 31 October 2026
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Can a Nigerian citizen apply?
Yes. The stated eligibility requirement is to be a citizen of an African country, including South Africa, so Nigerian and other African citizens qualify provided they also hold an offer of admission to UCT.
Is the undergraduate round still open?
No. The programme page states that applications for undergraduate are now closed, and that applications for postgraduate close 31 October 2026.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
