The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda is one of the most complete scholarships open to young Africans right now, and for the 2026–2027 academic year it is recruiting its third cohort of postgraduate scholars into two-year Master’s programmes. It’s delivered through a ten-year partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and the University of Rwanda, running from 2021 to 2031, with the goal of putting talented but economically disadvantaged young Africans through higher education and into meaningful work.
What makes this one genuinely worth your time is that it’s fully funded in the real sense of the phrase. It covers tuition, accommodation, a stipend, a laptop, learning materials and travel, and wraps all of that in mentorship, internships and leadership training. Unlike many “fully funded” listings that turn out to be partial, this one holds up.
It is also unapologetically targeted. The programme exists for scholars facing the highest social and economic barriers, and it gives explicit priority to women pursuing STEM, young people with disabilities, and refugees or displaced youth. If that describes you and you have the academic record and leadership story to match, you are exactly who this was designed for. The selection scoring reflects it: economic disadvantage carries more weight than academic talent.
Scholarship benefits
- Full tuition and registration fees for your two-year Master’s programme.
- Paid on-campus accommodation for the duration of the programme.
- A monthly living stipend.
- A laptop and learning materials, provided by the programme.
- A return travel allowance where applicable.
- Psychosocial support, including counselling and wellbeing services.
- Academic mentorship, tutoring and virtual learning support.
- Industry internships and career development, including career guidance and professional and enterprise development.
- Leadership development training and “Go Back and Give Back” community activities.
- Membership of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars alumni network and the global Scholars community.
One practical note the programme itself raises: you’re encouraged to have a smartphone to support the blended learning process before you receive the programme laptop, and international scholars should budget for the study-visa steps described below, which the scholarship documentation treats separately.
Eligibility checklist
✔ You are a citizen of Rwanda or any other African country, or a refugee or displaced young person in Africa. Rwandan citizens are considered under the national quota; other African and international applicants are considered based on availability.
✔ You have already applied for admission to a two-year University of Rwanda Master’s programme for the September 2026 intake, and you have generated a UR reference number. Pre-selection is conditional on admission.
✔ You hold a completed Bachelor’s degree relevant to the Master’s you’re applying for.
✔ You are no older than 40 (male applicants) or 45 (female applicants) at the time of application.
✔ You can demonstrate critical social and/or economic need, and/or a disability. This is central, not incidental — economic disadvantage is the single most heavily weighted selection factor.
✔ You have a proven record of leadership and community engagement, and you’re willing to commit to giving back to your community after graduation.
✔ You are applying to one of the earmarked eligible programmes. Not every UR Master’s qualifies, so check the eligible-programmes list before you apply.
✔ You are not a continuing student; continuing students are not eligible for this scholarship.
✔ If you are a refugee or a person with a disability, you can provide legal proof of your status for example, from UNHCR, MINEMA or the NCPD, or another duly recognised organisation.
Application tips for African students
- Apply for UR admission first. The scholarship depends on it. You must have applied for admission to an eligible two-year Master’s and generated your UR reference number before your scholarship application can be considered. Do the admission step immediately, because the scholarship window is short.
- Work to the real deadline: the intake closes 22 August 2026. The postgraduate recruitment for 2026–2027 opened on 23 July 2026 and closes on 22 August 2026. That’s a tight, roughly one-month window, so don’t wait for the last week.
- Make your economic-need case the centre of your application, not an afterthought. The scoring weights Economic Disadvantage at 45%, ahead of Academic Talent at 30% and Leadership Potential at 25%. Be specific and honest about the barriers you’ve faced; this is where the scholarship is won or lost.
- Gather your documents before you open the form. You’ll need a digital passport photo on a white background, your National ID showing date of birth (scanned), and where they apply, a scanned passport for international applicants, refugee ID or supporting documents, a disability certificate, and any leadership certificates. Prepare them first so you can complete the seven sections in one flow.
- International applicants: sort your equivalence early. If your qualifications are from outside Rwanda, you must obtain an equivalence from Rwanda’s Higher Education Council (HEC) and the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA). This is an extra step that takes time, so start it as soon as you decide to apply.
- Evidence your leadership concretely. Vague statements about being a leader won’t score. Name the initiative, your role, and what changed. Upload leadership certificates if you have them.
- Save and track as you go. The portal lets you create an account, save your progress across sessions, and track your status from a dashboard. Register early, complete it in stages if you need to, and submit with time to spare before the 22 August close.
How to apply
Applications for the 2026–2027 postgraduate intake are open now, from 23 July 2026 to 22 August 2026, and are submitted through the University of Rwanda’s online recruitment portal. Follow these steps:
- Step 1 — Apply for UR admission. Submit an application for admission to an eligible two-year Master’s programme for the September 2026 intake and generate your UR reference number. The scholarship pre-selection is conditional on this.
- Step 2 — Prepare your documents. Have your passport photo, scanned National ID, and any passport, refugee, disability or leadership documents ready in the required formats before you begin.
- Step 3 — Create your account. Register on the recruitment portal with your email address so you can save progress and return before the deadline.
- Step 4 — Complete the seven-section form. Fill in your identification, education, family, socio-economic and leadership information across the seven short sections.
- Step 5 — Submit and track. Review your answers, submit, and follow your application status from your dashboard.
Applications are assessed on a standard weighting of Academic Talent (30%), Economic Disadvantage (45%) and Leadership Potential (25%). Full instructions and the application form are on the official University of Rwanda MCFSP recruitment portal. Note that legitimate applications are free. You should never be asked to pay a fee to apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is this scholarship fully funded?
Yes. It covers full tuition and registration fees, paid on-campus accommodation, a monthly living stipend, a laptop and learning materials, and a return travel allowance where applicable, along with mentorship, internships, psychosocial support and leadership training. This is a genuinely comprehensive package.
Who can apply for the 2026–2027 postgraduate cohort?
Citizens of Rwanda or any African country, and refugees or displaced youth in Africa, who have already applied for admission to an eligible two-year UR Master’s for September 2026, hold a relevant completed Bachelor’s degree, and are no older than 40 (male) or 45 (female). Applicants must show critical social or economic need and/or disability, plus a record of leadership and community engagement.
When is the deadline?
The 2026–2027 postgraduate intake opened on 23 July 2026 and closes on 22 August 2026. It’s a short window of roughly one month, so apply early.
Do I apply for the scholarship or for admission first?
Admission first. You must have applied for admission to an eligible two-year Master’s programme and generated a UR reference number before your scholarship application can be pre-selected. The two steps are linked.
How are applications scored?
On a standard weighting scale: Economic Disadvantage counts for 45%, Academic Talent for 30%, and Leadership Potential for 25%. Demonstrating genuine economic need carries the most weight.
I studied outside Rwanda. Is there an extra step?
Yes. Applicants with foreign academic qualifications must obtain an equivalence from Rwanda’s Higher Education Council (HEC) and the National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA). International students also apply for a study visa within 15 days of arrival in Rwanda, providing a police clearance and valid passport; an entry visa is granted on arrival at Kigali International Airport.
Can continuing students apply?
No. The scholarship is for newly admitted students, and continuing students are not eligible.