Few postgraduate scholarships combine full funding, a world-ranked university and a climate-focused leadership community. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh does all three, and it is aimed squarely at talented young Africans who have faced real barriers to education.
This guide walks you through what the scholarship covers, who qualifies, the programmes on offer, the exact application stages and the dates you need to check right now. Please read the deadline section carefully, because the process works differently from a standard scholarship form.
Time-sensitive: Edinburgh’s official timeline runs in stages. The main application closes on 19 November 2026 at 5pm UK time, but only for applicants who have already been invited and completed the earlier steps. Confirm your status on the official page before doing anything else.
What the Scholarship Actually Offers
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh funds postgraduate study for African students who show leadership potential and a commitment to addressing the climate crisis. Scholarships are available for both on-campus and online study, and all the programmes on offer connect to climate and sustainability themes.
It is not simply a tuition waiver. Every scholar joins the Climate Leadership Programme and the Climate Enterprise School, an intensive week of training in sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation. Scholars also receive transitions support, plus additional help for those with disabilities based on an assessment of needs.
On-Campus Scholarship
On-campus scholars complete a one-year, full-time taught master’s degree in Edinburgh. According to the official page, the award provides:
- Full approved tuition fees
- Accommodation
- Travel costs
- A living cost stipend
- Study materials
Online Scholarship
Online scholars study part-time from their own context, which suits people who want to keep working. The online award provides:
- Full approved tuition fees, so scholars pay no part of the tuition
- An academic stipend for a laptop and good internet access
- The opportunity to attend an in-person gathering
- Participation in online workshops, coaching and the Climate Enterprise School
- A dedicated Online Coordinator
Online students can pursue an online master’s (part-time, up to three years) or an online postgraduate diploma (part-time, up to two years). Because coverage can be updated each cycle, always read the individual award terms on the official pages before you plan your finances.
Who Can Apply
Edinburgh states that it cannot make exceptions to eligibility requirements, so check every point below honestly before you invest time in an application.
- You must be a resident and citizen of an African country, or hold refugee status in an African country.
- You must have faced significant barriers to education and early career progress. These can be social, financial, personal, practical or health-related.
- You must show a track record of leadership and service in your community.
- You must show experience, or at least a genuine ambition, in making a meaningful impact on the climate crisis.
- You must have completed an undergraduate degree and be able to upload your degree certificate and official final transcript by 19 November 2026.
- You generally need the equivalent of a UK Upper Second Class (2:1) bachelor’s degree or higher, and you must qualify academically for your chosen programme.
- You must be 35 or under in the year the programme starts. For 2027/28, that means being born on or after 1 January 1992.
- For master’s programmes, you must not already hold a postgraduate degree, and you cannot be enrolled at another university while on the scholarship.
The online postgraduate diploma has one flexibility: applicants can hold either an undergraduate or a master’s degree from an African university, provided they graduate by the deadline. Edinburgh also encourages applications from women, people from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and people with disabilities.
Programmes You Can Choose From
You can only apply for programmes on the approved lists, and Edinburgh warns that these may change, so check them regularly.
On-Campus Master’s Programmes
- MSc Food Security
- MSc Sustainable Energy Systems
- MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- MSc Data, Inequality and Society
- MSc Operational Research
- MSc Environmental Sustainability
- MSc Climate Change Finance and Investment
- MSc Environment and Development
- MSc International Development
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
Online Master’s and Diploma Programmes
- International Development (master’s only)
- Global Food Security and Nutrition
- Climate Change Management (master’s only)
- One Health
- Social Justice and Community Action
- Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem Health
- Global Health and Infectious Diseases
- Data-Driven Breeding and Genetics
- Digital Education
- Data Science Technologies (master’s only)
- Family Medicine (master’s only)
- Conservation Medicine
Unless marked as master’s only, the online programmes are available as either a master’s or a postgraduate diploma.
Key Dates You Should Not Miss
This cycle uses a staged, invitation-based process. Here is the official timeline for 2027/28 entry, all in UK time:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 15-24 September 2026 | Mandatory virtual information sessions (now fully booked and closed) |
| 20 October 2026 | Eligible attendees notified of invitations to apply |
| 26 October 2026, 5pm | Applicant Declaration Form closes (may close earlier; now past) |
| 19 November 2026, 5pm | Main Scholarship Application closes |
| Late November 2026 to January 2027 | University committees assess applications |
| Early February 2027 | Decisions announced; on-campus interviews begin to be scheduled |
| Mid-February to March 2027 | Interviews take place |
| End of March 2027 | Interview outcomes announced |
| September 2027 | Programmes begin |
A note on deadline confusion: some websites list a different date for the “initial stage.” The official Edinburgh pages give 26 October 2026 for the Applicant Declaration Form and 19 November 2026 for the main application. Edinburgh also says the timeline may change depending on application volume, so confirm the latest dates with the university.
How to Apply: The Step-by-Step Process
This is not a normal “open the portal and submit” scholarship. Edinburgh changed the process for 2027/28, and it only accepts applications submitted through its online system by invited applicants.
- Check your eligibility. Review the criteria before anything else.
- Explore the degree programmes. Decide whether you prefer on-campus or online study and which programme fits your goals.
- Attend a mandatory virtual information session. Attendance was required to access the application form, and registering involved a short eligibility questionnaire. Attending did not guarantee an invitation.
- Receive your invitation. Eligible attendees were notified on 20 October 2026 through SurveyMonkey Apply.
- Complete the Applicant Declaration Form. This first stage confirms your eligibility. Applicants who do not pass it are told and do not move on.
- Submit the Scholarship Main Application by 19 November 2026, 5pm UK time, with your degree certificate and official final transcript.
One detail surprises many applicants: at this stage you should apply for the scholarship only, not for your degree programme. If you win, you will be invited to apply for your programme through the standard admissions process, with the scholarship offer expected in March 2027. If you are also applying for other scholarships that need an active university application, you may apply to the university in parallel.
What If You Missed the Information Sessions?
Edinburgh states that applications from people who have not followed this process will not be accepted. If you did not attend a session or did not receive an invitation, you likely cannot apply this year. Email the team at mcfsp@ed.ac.uk to confirm your position, and use the time to prepare for the next cycle or explore other funding.
How Applications Are Selected
Selection weighs several factors together, so a high grade alone will not carry an application. The on-campus criteria are:
- Academic merit that qualifies you for admission to Edinburgh
- A track record as a transformative leader with service to your community
- Quality of your application in line with the Program’s theme of climate justice
- Potential impact on the development of your home country
- Having faced significant barriers to education
Online applicants are assessed on the same criteria, plus a strong interest in online learning and a clear understanding of what it involves. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed between February and March 2027.
Tips for a Stronger Application
Because the Program is built around climate justice, your story needs to connect your leadership, your barriers and your future impact. These practical steps help:
- Show real community leadership. Specific projects, outcomes and the people you served are more convincing than titles.
- Explain your barriers clearly. Be honest and specific about the obstacles you faced and how you responded to them.
- Link your plans to climate action. Even if your background is not in environmental work, describe how your chosen programme equips you to act.
- Prepare your documents early. Have your degree certificate and official final transcript scanned and ready, since missing documents can end an application.
- Know your programme. Read the programme pages and name specific courses or themes that match your goals.
- Prepare for interview. Practise explaining your leadership record and your plan to apply your learning at home.
Why This Scholarship Matters
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is built around a long-term idea: that young Africans who combine academic strength with service will return to strengthen their communities. Edinburgh’s version focuses that mission on the climate crisis, which affects food systems, health, energy and livelihoods across the continent.
For scholars, the benefit goes beyond the degree. You join a cohort of like-minded leaders, take part in climate leadership training and receive support from admission through to immigration. If your goal is to build a career in sustainability, development or public health, few awards offer this mix of funding and community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I apply for my degree at the same time as the scholarship?
No. If the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is the only Edinburgh scholarship you want, apply for the scholarship only. Successful scholars are then invited to apply for the degree.
Can I apply if I already have a master’s degree?
Not for a master’s programme. Master’s applicants must not have completed a postgraduate degree. The online postgraduate diploma is the exception, as applicants with a master’s from an African university may apply if they meet the diploma entry requirements.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. You must be 35 or under in the year the programme begins, so applicants for 2027/28 must be born on or after 1 January 1992.
Is the scholarship fully funded?
Edinburgh describes full approved tuition for both routes, with accommodation, travel, a living stipend and study materials for on-campus scholars. Online scholars receive tuition plus an academic stipend. Check the official award terms for exact coverage.
Can I apply for both the on-campus and online scholarships?
The official FAQ page addresses this question directly, so read the answer there before choosing. Selecting the study mode that fits your circumstances is part of the process.
Do I have to attend an information session to apply?
Yes. Attendance at a mandatory virtual session was required to access the application form, and the sessions ran from 15 to 24 September 2026. They are now closed, and attending did not guarantee an invitation. If you missed them, email mcfsp@ed.ac.uk to confirm your position.
Which documents do I need to upload?
You need your degree certificate and official final transcript, uploaded by 19 November 2026. Have both scanned and ready, because missing documents can end an application.
Do I need a first-class degree?
No, but you generally need the equivalent of a UK Upper Second Class (2:1) bachelor’s degree or higher, and you must qualify academically for your chosen programme.
Can I keep working while I study?
Online scholars study part-time from their own context, which suits people who want to keep working. On-campus scholars complete a one-year, full-time master’s in Edinburgh, so working alongside it is not the intended model.
When will I find out if I have won?
Decisions are expected in early February 2027, with interviews from mid-February to March 2027 and outcomes announced at the end of March 2027. Edinburgh says the timeline may change depending on application volume.
Where to Apply and Learn More
Always rely on the University of Edinburgh’s official pages for the latest dates and rules.
Disclaimer: Scholarship terms, dates and programme lists can change. Verify all details directly with the University of Edinburgh before applying.
About the Author
Damilare Abogunrin
Content Writer | FundedAbroad.com
Damilare Abogunrin writes about international career opportunities, scholarships, internships and visa-related jobs. Through his work at FundedAbroad.com, he helps readers discover opportunities abroad, understand application requirements and find official application channels.
He focuses on making opportunity listings clear, practical and easy to understand, so readers can assess eligibility and prepare stronger applications. He encourages applicants to verify job details and immigration requirements directly with employers and official sources.