Apply: Edinburgh scholarship for African students

Edinburgh Mastercard Scholarship 2027/28: University Opens Postgraduate Opportunities for African Students
Date checked: 4 November 2026
African students seeking postgraduate education opportunities in the United Kingdom have an opportunity to apply for the 2027/28 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
The programme offers scholarships for eligible African students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and a commitment to improving their communities. It is designed particularly for talented young people who have experienced significant barriers to accessing education and professional opportunities.
The Edinburgh Mastercard scholarship covers postgraduate on-campus Master's programmes and online Master's and postgraduate diploma programmes for the 2027/28 academic year.
According to the University's official application portal, applications opened on 20 October 2026. However, the scholarship is open to invited applicants only. This means that interested students must have attended one of the compulsory virtual information sessions and met the programme's eligibility requirements before receiving an invitation to apply.
## Who can apply for the Edinburgh Mastercard scholarship?
The African students scholarship targets individuals from African countries who have demonstrated academic ability, leadership qualities and a desire to make a meaningful contribution to society.
According to the University of Edinburgh's official eligibility guidelines, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
1. African nationality and residency
Applicants must be citizens and residents of an African country or hold refugee status in an African country.
2. Age requirement
Applicants must be 35 years old or younger when their programme begins in 2027. For the 2027/28 academic year, eligible candidates must have been born on or after 1 January 1992.
3. Academic qualifications
Candidates must have completed an undergraduate degree and meet the academic admission requirements for their selected programme. Generally, applicants need qualifications equivalent to at least a UK Upper Second-Class Honours degree.
They must also provide their undergraduate degree certificate and official final transcript.
4. Educational and financial barriers
The programme considers applicants who have experienced significant barriers to education or early-career development. These may include financial, social, personal, practical or health-related challenges.
5. Leadership and community service
Applicants must demonstrate a record of leadership and service within their communities. The University is interested in candidates who have shown a willingness to contribute positively to society.
6. Commitment to climate action
Candidates must demonstrate previous experience or an ambition to make a meaningful contribution towards addressing climate change.
For Master's applicants, previous completion of a postgraduate degree is generally not permitted. Applicants for the online postgraduate diploma have separate academic eligibility arrangements.
The University particularly encourages applications from women, refugees, displaced people and people living with disabilities.
## Key dates and 2027/28 scholarship deadline
Applicants should pay close attention to the application schedule because the scholarship has several stages, and missing an early deadline could prevent them from proceeding.
The following dates are published on the University of Edinburgh's official scholarship pages:
20 October 2026 Scholarship applications opened for invited applicants
13 November 2026, 5pm GMT Applicant Declaration deadline stated on the application portal
19 November 2026, 5pm GMT Final deadline for the main scholarship application
Late November 2026–January 2027 Assessment of applications
Early February 2027 Initial scholarship admission decisions
February–March 2027 Interviews for shortlisted candidates
End of March 2027 Interview outcomes expected
September 2027 Academic programmes begin
Important deadline clarification: The application portal currently gives 13 November 2026 as the deadline for the Applicant Declaration and 19 November 2026 as the final main application deadline. However, the University's detailed application instructions still display an earlier Applicant Declaration deadline of 26 October. Applicants should contact the scholarship team to confirm the applicable first-stage deadline. The main application deadline is 19 November 2026 at 5pm GMT.

## How to apply for the Edinburgh Mastercard scholarship
The University has introduced a new application process for the 2027/28 academic year. Interested African students are expected to follow the official steps.
Step 1: Check the eligibility requirements.
Visit the University's official scholarship page and carefully review the academic, age, nationality, residency, leadership and other requirements.
Applicants should confirm that they qualify before proceeding.
Step 2: Explore available postgraduate programmes.
The University provides opportunities for both on-campus and online studies.
Interested candidates should review the available Master's and postgraduate diploma programmes and identify the study option that matches their academic qualifications and career ambitions.
Step 3: Attend a mandatory virtual information session.
Attendance at an information session between 15 and 24 September 2026 was compulsory.
During registration, prospective applicants completed a questionnaire to help the University assess their preliminary eligibility.
The information sessions have now ended, and registration is closed. Attendance alone did not guarantee an invitation to apply.
Step 4: Receive an invitation to apply.
On 20 October 2026, eligible information-session attendees were expected to receive notifications about whether they could proceed.
Invited applicants receive their application invitation through the SurveyMonkey Apply platform.
Step 5: Complete the Applicant Declaration.
Invited candidates must complete the Applicant Declaration Form and Postgraduate Eligibility Assessment.
This stage allows the University to obtain additional information and confirm that applicants meet the programme's requirements.
Step 6: Complete the main scholarship application.
Applicants who successfully complete the first stage are invited to submit the main scholarship application.
They should provide accurate personal and academic information and upload the required supporting documents, including their undergraduate degree certificate and official final transcript.
The main application must be submitted through the official online application portal by 19 November 2026 at 5pm GMT.
Importantly, applicants should initially apply for the scholarship rather than separately applying for their chosen University degree programme. Successful scholarship candidates will receive further instructions about the University's admission process.
## Why this scholarship matters to African students
Access to quality postgraduate education remains a challenge for many talented young Africans, particularly those who lack the financial resources to study internationally.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offers an opportunity to address some of these challenges by supporting students with academic potential, leadership experience and a commitment to community development.
Beyond academic qualifications, the programme seeks to develop individuals who can contribute to addressing important challenges across Africa, including unemployment, educational inequality, environmental sustainability and economic development.
Through mentorship, leadership development and work-based placements, successful scholars can gain valuable experience that supports their future careers.
For Nigeria and other African countries, opportunities of this nature can help develop a generation of professionals, educators, entrepreneurs and community leaders with international exposure and relevant skills.
## Where to apply
Interested applicants should use the University's official platforms to obtain accurate information and complete the application process.
Application portal: https://mcfspedinburgh.smapply.io/⁠
University of Edinburgh scholarship information: https://edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/⁠
Enquiries: mcfsp@ed.ac.uk
African students who attended the compulsory information sessions and received invitations should check their application accounts and prepare their documents ahead of the deadline.
The 2027 2028 scholarship deadline of 19 November 2026 is approaching. Eligible invited candidates should ensure that they complete every required stage before the closing date.
The Edinburgh Mastercard scholarship represents an important educational opportunity for eligible African students who want to advance their education, strengthen their leadership abilities and contribute to the development of their communities.