Deadline: 7th December 2023
Applications are now open for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship recipients at the University of Edinburgh 2023/2024 The Mastercard Foundation Fellowship Program aims to make a significant impact in addressing the climate crisis. The program is dedicated to nurturing a community of talented, entrepreneurial, and compassionate leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa.
They empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to drive sustainable transitions, offering a range of exceptional postgraduate opportunities focused on sustainability through the University of Edinburgh Scholarship Programme.
Candidates can apply for:
- Online Master's degree (part-time, longer than 3 years) OR
- Online postgraduate diploma (part-time, longer than 2 years)
Online Masters
Master's programs are typically aimed at those who have completed an undergraduate degree and wish to develop more specialized knowledge in the same discipline or a similar professional area. The Mastercard Foundation scholarship is designed to cover three years of part-time online study ONLY for the following programs:
- International Development (Masters route only)
- Global Food and Nutritional Security (Master's or Diploma)
- Global Challenges (Master's or Diploma)
- Carbon Management (Masters route only)
- One Health (Master's or Diploma)
- Circular Economy (Master's or Diploma)
- Sustainable Lands and Cities (Master's or Diploma)
- Social Justice and Community Action (Master's Degree or Diploma)
Online postgraduate diploma
Postgraduate diplomas are intended for those considering a potential career change and tend to be more vocational. The scholarship is designed to cover two years of part-time online study ONLY for the following programs:
- Health
- Global Food and Nutritional Security
- Global Challenges
- Social Justice and Community Action
- Circular economy
- Sustainable Lands and Cities
Scholarships
- It covers all approved tuition fees: scholarship recipients will not pay any part of the tuition fees.
- Academic grant to enable access to high-quality internet and a laptop.
- The opportunity to participate in an in-person meeting.
- Participation in activities as part of the broader climate leadership program of the Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh, including regular online workshops, training, and online support.
- A dedicated online coordinator
- Additional support is offered to students with disabilities based on a needs assessment.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be academically qualified for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree program. Generally, you will need to have obtained the equivalent of a second-class (upper) bachelor's degree (Hons) in the UK or higher.
- Candidates will have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical, or health-related).
- Applicants must have graduated from an undergraduate course by September 2023 and must have an official graduation certificate and final academic transcript to upload along with their application by December 7th.
- Applicants must be residents and citizens of, or hold refugee status in, a sub-Saharan African country.
- Candidates should have faced barriers in education and at the beginning of their careers.
- Candidates must demonstrate a record of leadership and service in their community.
- Candidates must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a significant impact on addressing the climate crisis.
- Candidates must be 35 years of age or younger on September 1, 2024.
- Applicants must not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and must not be enrolled (or applying for enrollment) at a separate university while on the Mastercard Foundation fellowship.
- If you enroll in the online master's program: Applicants must not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and must not be enrolled (or applying for enrollment) at a separate university while on the Mastercard Foundation fellowship.
- If you apply for the online Postgraduate Diploma Candidates may hold an undergraduate or master's degree from a university in Sub-Saharan Africa (provided they graduate from either course by December 7, 2023). If you hold a master's degree, the admissions team will review your undergraduate degree to ensure it meets the entry requirements for the postgraduate degree. The Scholarship Program will review your master's degree transcript to confirm your university graduation date and location.
- They particularly welcome applications from female academics, academics of refugee and displaced origin, and academics with disabilities.
Selection criteria
The candidate selection process is based on the following criteria:
- Academic merit of the candidate qualified for admission to the University of Edinburgh.
- A history as a transformative leader and service in his community.
- Application quality aligned with the theme of the Climate Justice Scholarship Program.
- Potential impact on the development of the candidate's country of origin.
- Candidates who have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical, or health-related).
Application
You must be academically qualified for admission to the University of Edinburgh. They require applicants to apply for this scholarship before applying to the University. The Scholarship Programme will not accept applications submitted outside of the online application system.
For more information, visit Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Programme
