Applications are now open for the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027, offering talented African students the opportunity to pursue a fully funded master’s degree at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Cambridge provides comprehensive financial support, including full course fees, living expenses, visa costs, the UK immigration health surcharge, international travel and a laptop. The programme is specifically designed for students from Africa who demonstrate academic ability, leadership potential and a commitment to contributing to sustainable development across the continent.
Students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries can apply for the 2027/2028 academic year, provided they meet the scholarship and admission requirements of their chosen Cambridge Master’s programme.
Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 Overview
Here are the key details:
- Host University: University of Cambridge
- Country: United Kingdom
- Study Level: Master’s
- Funding: Fully funded
- Eligible Nationalities: Citizens of African countries
- Study Mode: Full-time
- Programme Duration: Generally 9–12 months
- Academic Year: 2027/2028
- Applications Opened: September 2026
- Funding Deadlines: December 8, 2026, or January 6, 2027, depending on the course
- Application Fee Waiver Request Deadline: November 18, 2026, where applicable
Applicants must pay particular attention to the funding deadline for their chosen course, as there is no single deadline that applies to every Cambridge Master’s programme.
What Does the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Cover?
The University of Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program aims to provide scholars with the financial resources they need to complete their studies successfully.
The scholarship covers:
- Full university course fees
- Maintenance and living allowance
- Visa costs
- UK immigration health surcharge
- International travel, including flights
- Transport from the airport to Cambridge
- A laptop
This extensive funding package makes the programme one of the major fully funded master’s scholarships for African students who wish to study in the United Kingdom.
Successful applicants also join the wider Mastercard Foundation Scholars community, with opportunities for leadership development, networking and professional growth.
Who can apply for the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship in 2027?
Applicants must satisfy several important conditions.
To qualify, you must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree.
- Meet the academic entry requirements of your selected Cambridge course.
- Be a citizen of an African country.
- Normally reside in an African country.
- Apply for an eligible full-time master’s programme.
- Demonstrate commitment to giving back to your community, country or Africa.
- Show alignment with sustainability and climate resilience.
Applicants temporarily living outside Africa because of work or study can still be eligible.
The programme also particularly encourages applications from women, refugees, internally displaced individuals and people with disabilities.
Can Cameroonian, Nigerian and Ghanaian Students Apply?
Yes.
The scholarship is specifically intended for African students. Therefore, eligible applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and other African countries can apply.
Applicants do not need to belong to a small list of selected African nationalities. However, they must meet the residency and academic requirements of their chosen Cambridge programme.
There is also no upper age limit for the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Therefore, being an older applicant does not automatically make someone ineligible.
Eligible Master’s Programmes at Cambridge
One major advantage of the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 is the wide range of eligible programmes.
Applicants can apply for most full-time master’s programmes at the University of Cambridge. Eligible programmes typically last between 9 and 12 months.
However, four programmes are specifically excluded:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Finance (MFin)
- Master of Corporate Law (MCL)
- Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
Students should first identify a suitable programme in Cambridge’s postgraduate course directory and carefully verify its academic, English-language and funding requirements.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Cambridge does not currently fund undergraduate or PhD studies. It is specifically for master’s students.
Academic Requirements
There is no single academic grade that applies to all eligible Cambridge Master’s programmes.
Requirements depend on the course.
Some programmes require qualifications equivalent to a UK First-Class Honours degree, while others accept those equivalent to a strong Upper Second-Class Honours degree.
Consequently, applicants should not assume that being eligible for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship automatically makes them academically eligible for Cambridge.
Your previous university qualification must meet the specific requirements of the programme you have selected.
Can You Apply Without IELTS?
Yes.
Applicants can submit their Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship application without already having IELTS results.
If Cambridge makes a conditional admission offer, an applicant who needs to demonstrate English proficiency can provide the required English-language evidence later.
Many Cambridge postgraduate programmes require an overall IELTS score of either 7.0 or 7.5, although requirements vary between courses.
Successful applicants with outstanding documents will normally need to satisfy their remaining admission conditions by the university’s specified deadline.
Therefore, students should check their individual programme rather than assume that one English-language score applies throughout Cambridge.
How to Apply for the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027
One important feature of this scholarship is that applicants do not submit an entirely separate application to the Mastercard Foundation.
The scholarship application is integrated into the University of Cambridge postgraduate course application.
Step 1: Find an Eligible Cambridge Master’s Programme
Start by identifying the master’s programme you wish to study.
Check:
- Academic requirements
- Required qualifications
- English-language requirements
- Supporting documents
- Course-specific requirements
- Funding deadline
Most importantly, please confirm that the programme is eligible for Mastercard Foundation funding.
Step 2: Start Your Cambridge Application
Open the profile of your selected course and begin your postgraduate application through Cambridge’s Applicant Portal.
You can create an account, save your progress and return to the application before submission.
Step 3: Request an Application Fee Waiver
Eligible Mastercard Foundation applicants can receive an application fee waiver for one course application.
Applicants from certain African countries receive the waiver automatically.
Students from African countries not included on Cambridge’s automatic waiver list can submit a fee-waiver request with the required supporting documents.
Where a separate fee-waiver request is required, applicants should submit it as early as possible and no later than:
November 18, 2026
This is particularly important for applicants from countries such as Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana, where a request may be necessary rather than assuming the fee will automatically be waived.
Step 4: Select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
During the Cambridge application, applicants should opt in for funding.
Eligible funding opportunities will then become available based on the course and applicant information.
Applicants who satisfy the relevant requirements can select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
You will then complete the scholarship component as part of the Cambridge application.
Scholarship Statement and Selection Criteria
The scholarship statement is an important part of the selection process.
Applicants are expected to address areas including:
- Their educational and career history
- Leadership potential
- How the scholarship will support their goals
- Future aspirations
- Commitment to their community and Africa
- How they hope to contribute to sustainable futures in Africa
The programme places particular emphasis on sustainability and climate resilience.
However, the requirement does not mean applicants must come exclusively from environmental science backgrounds. Cambridge recognises that addressing sustainability and climate challenges requires expertise from a range of disciplines.
Documents Required
The exact documentation required will depend on the master’s programme you choose. Applicants should generally expect to prepare materials such as:
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificates or evidence of qualifications
- References
- CV or résumé
- Course-specific statement or supporting information
- Mastercard Foundation scholarship statement
- Passport or identification documents where required
- English-language evidence where applicable
- Any additional documents requested by the chosen department
Some programmes may require additional materials, so applicants should check their course requirements before submitting.
Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 Deadline
There is an important distinction between the normal course deadline and the funding deadline.
Applicants seeking the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship must submit their complete application by their course’s funding deadline.
For the 2027/2028 entry, Cambridge’s two main university funding deadlines are:
December 8, 2026
or
January 6, 2027
Your exact deadline will depend on your chosen master’s programme.
Do not wait for the later standard course application deadline if your programme has one. An application submitted after the relevant funding deadline may still be considered for admission but not for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship.
Applicants should therefore check the funding deadline displayed for their chosen course before beginning the application.
What Happens After You Apply?
Cambridge departments assess applications and make academic admission decisions.
Departmental selection generally takes place between December and February.
Applicants must first be academically competitive for their chosen programme. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program subsequently considers eligible candidates who receive offers.
Scholarship selection generally takes place around late February and early March, with scholarship offers expected around March or April 2027.
This means admission to Cambridge and selection for Mastercard Foundation funding are related but separate stages of the process.
How Competitive Is the Cambridge Mastercard Scholarship?
The scholarship is competitive because Cambridge receives applications from talented students across Africa.
The programme has nevertheless grown substantially since its first cohort.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, Cambridge announced a large cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars representing numerous African countries and studying across a wide range of academic programmes.
Applicants should therefore focus on demonstrating both strong academic preparation and the leadership, community impact and Africa-focused ambitions expected by the Scholars Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 fully funded?
Yes. It provides comprehensive funding, including course fees, living expenses, visa and health surcharge costs, travel and a laptop.
Can Cameroonians apply?
Yes. Eligible students from Cameroon can apply.
Can Nigerians and Ghanaians apply?
Yes. Nigerian and Ghanaian applicants can apply alongside eligible students from other African countries.
Is the scholarship available for undergraduate students?
No. The Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is currently for master’s students.
Can PhD students apply?
No. The programme does not fund PhD studies at Cambridge through this scholarship.
Can I apply without IELTS?
Yes. You can apply without having your IELTS result at the application stage. If English-language evidence is required, successful applicants may receive a conditional offer and satisfy the requirement later.
Is there an age limit?
No. Cambridge states that there is no upper age limit for the programme.
Do I submit a separate Mastercard Foundation application?
No separate standalone scholarship application is required. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application is incorporated into the Cambridge postgraduate course application.
When is the scholarship deadline?
The deadline depends on your master’s programme. The main Cambridge funding deadlines for 2027/2028 are December 8, 2026, and January 6, 2027. Applicants must check which deadline applies to their selected course.
Final Thoughts
The Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 is an exceptional opportunity for African students seeking a fully funded master’s degree at the University of Cambridge.
Beyond covering full course fees, the programme provides a maintenance allowance, visa and health surcharge costs, international travel, local transport and a laptop. It also places strong emphasis on leadership, community impact, sustainability and Africa’s future.
Students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries can apply, provided they hold a bachelor’s degree, normally reside in Africa, meet the requirements of an eligible Cambridge master’s programme and demonstrate the qualities sought by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Applications are already open for the 2027/2028 academic year. Since the applicable funding deadline can be as early as December 8, 2026, prospective applicants should identify their programme and begin preparing their documents well in advance.
Official Links
University of Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program:
https://www.mastercardfoundation.fund.cam.ac.uk/
University of Cambridge: How to Apply
https://www.mastercardfoundation.fund.cam.ac.uk/apply/how-apply
