The University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded postgraduate opportunity for talented young people from Africa who want to study in the United Kingdom or complete an eligible University of Edinburgh degree online.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh supports students who have demonstrated academic ability, leadership and community service while overcoming significant barriers to education. For on-campus scholars, the scholarship covers full approved tuition fees, accommodation, travel, a living-cost stipend and study materials.
Applications for the 2027/28 academic year follow a new process. Prospective applicants must first attend a mandatory online information session between 15 and 24 September 2026. Eligible attendees can then be invited to apply, with the final scholarship application deadline set for 19 November 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time.
University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Host Country | United Kingdom |
| University | University of Edinburgh |
| Scholarship | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program |
| Academic Year | 2027/28 |
| Study Level | Postgraduate |
| On-Campus Study | Master’s |
| Online Study | Master’s / Postgraduate Diploma |
| Funding | Fully Funded |
| Tuition Fees | Full Approved Tuition |
| Accommodation | Covered for On-Campus Scholars |
| Living Costs | Stipend Provided |
| Travel | Covered for On-Campus Scholars |
| Target Group | Eligible African applicants |
| Information Sessions | 15–24 September 2026 |
| Applications Open | 13 October 2026 |
| Main Deadline | 19 November 2026 |
| Study Begins | September 2027 |
The scholarship is part of the wider Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which works with universities and organizations to support talented, service-oriented young people and develop future transformative leaders.
What Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh?
The University of Edinburgh is one of the partner institutions participating in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
The current phase of the Edinburgh partnership focuses strongly on developing skilled, entrepreneurial and justice-oriented climate leaders from across Africa.
The scholarship is therefore more than financial assistance.
Successful scholars become part of a wider development program that includes leadership training, climate-focused activities, entrepreneurship opportunities and support for their transition after completing their studies.
University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Benefits
The benefits differ slightly depending on whether you choose the on-campus or online scholarship.
On-Campus Scholarship Benefits
Students selected for an on-campus Master’s scholarship receive:
- Full approved tuition fees
- Accommodation
- Living-cost stipend
- Travel costs
- Study materials
- Climate Leadership Programme
- Climate Enterprise School
- Transition support
- Additional disability support based on assessed needs
The on-campus award supports a one-year, full-time postgraduate taught Master’s degree at the University of Edinburgh.
This makes it a genuinely comprehensive funding opportunity for eligible international students.
Online Scholarship Benefits
The University also offers Mastercard Foundation Scholarships for selected online postgraduate degrees.
Online scholars receive:
- Full approved tuition fees
- Academic stipend
- Support for a laptop
- Support for high-quality internet
- Opportunity to attend an in-person gathering
- Climate Leadership Programme activities
- Climate Enterprise School
- Dedicated Online Coordinator
- Disability support where required
- Transition support
Online scholars do not pay any part of the approved tuition fees.
This route can be particularly useful for students who want to remain in their home country, continue working or cannot relocate to the UK.
Who Can Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027?
The scholarship has specific eligibility requirements.
Applicants must meet both the scholarship criteria and the academic requirements for one of the eligible University of Edinburgh postgraduate programs.
Academic Requirement
Applicants must academically qualify for admission to an eligible University of Edinburgh degree.
Generally, candidates need the equivalent of a UK Upper Second-Class Bachelor’s Honours degree (2:1) or higher.
Country-specific academic equivalencies may differ, so applicants should check the University’s postgraduate entry requirements for their country.
African Citizenship and Residence
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of an African country and reside there, or
- Hold refugee status in an African country.
This means students can apply from their home countries in Africa. They do not need to already be living in the United Kingdom.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be 35 years old or younger in the year the program begins.
For the 2027/28 academic year, eligible applicants must have been born on or after:
1 January 1992
Anyone born in 1991 or earlier does not meet the stated age requirement for this cycle.
Other Important Eligibility Requirements
Academic performance alone is not enough.
Applicants must also demonstrate:
- Significant barriers faced in education or early career
- Leadership experience
- Community service
- Potential to create meaningful impact
- Experience or ambition related to addressing the climate crisis
Applicants must also have completed their undergraduate studies and have their final degree certificate and official final transcript available by 19 November 2026.
The University particularly encourages applications from women, refugees and displaced people, and people with disabilities.
Eligible Master’s Programs
The scholarship cannot be used for every Master’s degree offered by the University of Edinburgh.
For 2027/28, the University currently lists the following eligible on-campus postgraduate programs:
- Africa and International Development
- Climate Change Finance and Investment
- Data, Inequality and Society
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Food Security
- Environment and Development
- Environmental Sustainability
- Operational Research
- Planetary Health
- Sustainable Energy Systems
For Operational Research, the scholarship covers the general Operational Research MSc, rather than the specialist routes listed by the University.
The University notes that the eligible program list can change, so applicants should verify their chosen course before proceeding.
Eligible Online Programs
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program also supports several online degrees.
For 2027/28, eligible online programs currently include:
- Climate Change Management – Master’s only
- International Development – Master’s only
- Global Food Security and Nutrition – Master’s or Diploma
- One Health – Master’s or Diploma
- Social Justice and Community Action – Master’s or Diploma
- Global Health and Infectious Diseases – Master’s or Diploma
- Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health – Master’s or Diploma
- Data-Driven Breeding and Genetics – Master’s or Diploma
- Digital Education – Master’s or Diploma
- Data Science Technologies – Master’s only
Online Master’s degrees can normally be completed part-time over up to three years, while online postgraduate diplomas can take up to two years.
NEW Application Process for 2027/28
This is the section I would particularly emphasize in the GlobalGleaning article because the University changed the application process for 2027/28.
Students following old Mastercard Foundation Scholarship guides could easily miss an essential step.
Mandatory Information Session
Before you can access the scholarship application, you must attend a virtual information session.
Sessions will take place from:
15–24 September 2026
Attendance is mandatory.
The University specifically states that these sessions will not be recorded, and attending one is the only route to being considered for an invitation to apply in the 2027/28 cycle.
When registering, applicants complete a short questionnaire that is used to assess preliminary eligibility.
Importantly:
Attending a session does not automatically guarantee that you will receive an application invitation.
Only attendees who also meet the scholarship eligibility requirements will be invited to proceed.
Information Session Dates
On-Campus Applicants
The currently listed sessions are:
15 September 2026 — 3:00 PM UK time
21 September 2026 — 11:00 AM UK time
23 September 2026 — 4:00 PM UK time
There is an important current update: the University says the listed on-campus sessions are fully booked. It is exploring whether another session can be added and advises applicants to check the page again on 15 September 2026 for updates.
Online Applicants
Online scholarship sessions are scheduled for:
17 September 2026 — 4:00 PM UK time
22 September 2026 — 11:00 AM UK time
24 September 2026 — 3:00 PM UK time
Applicants interested in the online route should therefore register early rather than waiting until the application officially opens.
How to Apply for University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027
The application process has several stages.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
First, carefully review the scholarship criteria.
Confirm that you meet the:
- Academic requirement
- African citizenship/residence requirement
- Age requirement
- Previous degree requirement
- Leadership and community criteria
You should also identify an eligible degree that matches your academic background and career goals.
Step 2: Register for the Mandatory Information Session
Register for the appropriate on-campus or online virtual information session.
This is not optional.
Without attending an information session, you cannot proceed to the 2027/28 scholarship application.
Step 3: Attend the Information Session
Attend your selected session between 15 and 24 September 2026.
Your preliminary eligibility information will be reviewed.
Step 4: Receive an Invitation
Eligible attendees will be informed on 13 October 2026 whether they have been invited to apply.
Successful applicants will receive access through SurveyMonkey Apply.
Step 5: Complete the Applicant Declaration Form
Invited applicants must first complete the Applicant Declaration Form.
Deadline:
19 October 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time
There is another reason to act quickly.
The University states that it may close this form earlier if it reaches the application limit.
Applicants should therefore not wait until 19 October.
Step 6: Complete the Main Scholarship Application
Applicants who successfully pass the declaration stage will be invited to complete the main scholarship application.
The final deadline is:
19 November 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time
Selection Criteria
The selection process looks beyond academic grades.
The University highlights factors including:
Academic merit — whether you are academically qualified for your chosen Edinburgh program.
Leadership and service — evidence that you have already contributed to your community.
Barriers to education — social, financial, personal, practical or health-related challenges that have affected your educational journey.
Climate impact — your experience or ambition to contribute meaningfully to addressing the climate crisis.
Future potential — how your education and leadership could contribute to your community and home country.
Applicants should therefore provide specific examples rather than making general claims about leadership.
University of Edinburgh Mastercard Scholarship Deadline 2027
There is not just one date applicants need to remember.
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Mandatory Information Sessions | 15–24 September 2026 |
| Invitations to Apply | 13 October 2026 |
| Applicant Declaration Deadline | 19 October 2026, 5 PM UK time |
| Main Application Deadline | 19 November 2026, 5 PM UK time |
| Application Assessment | Nov 2026–Jan 2027 |
| Interview Shortlisting | February 2027 |
| Interviews | February–March 2027 |
| Final Outcomes | End of March 2027 |
| Study Begins | September 2027 |
For practical purposes, students should consider September 2026 their real starting deadline, because missing the mandatory information session means they cannot enter the normal scholarship application process.
Official Application Page
Applicants should follow the University of Edinburgh’s current instructions because the 2027/28 process has changed:
University of Edinburgh – How to Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship
Check the full eligibility requirements here:
University of Edinburgh – Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Eligibility
You can also verify the program through the Foundation:
Mastercard Foundation – University of Edinburgh
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. For on-campus scholars, the award provides full approved tuition, accommodation, travel, a living-cost stipend and study materials, along with leadership and transition support.
Yes, but the scholarship has a specific geographic focus. Applicants must be citizens and residents of an African country or hold refugee status in an African country.
Applicants must be 35 or younger in the year the program starts. For 2027/28, applicants born on or after 1 January 1992 are eligible under the age criterion.
The main scholarship application closes on 19 November 2026 at 5 PM UK time. However, you must first attend a mandatory information session between 15 and 24 September 2026.
No. For 2027/28, attendance at a virtual information session is mandatory and is the only route to being considered for an application invitation.
No. Applicants must choose either the online route or the on-campus route, not both.
Final Thoughts
The University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 is one of the strongest postgraduate funding opportunities for eligible young African students. The on-campus award covers full approved tuition, accommodation, travel, living costs and study materials, while fully funded online study options are also available for selected programs.
The biggest change for 2027/28 is the application process. Students should not wait for the November deadline. They must first register for and attend a mandatory virtual information session between 15 and 24 September 2026. Missing this stage means they will not be able to proceed through the normal scholarship application route.
For that reason, I would publish this article now, rather than waiting until applications formally open in October. It gives readers useful advance notice about the new September requirement, which is exactly the kind of fresh information that can make the article more valuable than older scholarship guides.