The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is specifically targeted towards young people whose access to higher education is impeded by economic and social barriers. The Program places a particular emphasis on reaching young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and persons with disabilities, who are encouraged to apply.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC supports academically talented youth from South Africa and other parts of the African continent. The aim of the Program is to equip youth with the necessary tools and education to drive transformative change which will positively impact their communities and countries. For the 2026 academic year, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC will provide fully-funded opportunities for young scholars to study for i) undergraduate qualifications or ii) master’s degree qualifications.
Sponsor: Mastercard
Degree Category: Undergraduates/Masters
Deadline: August 30, 2025
Eligibility Criteria
At the time of application, an applicant must satisfy the following five criteria:
For Undergraduate Studies:
- Be no older than 26 years for the undergraduate studies;
- Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za) and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2026;
- International applicants must apply for exemption through Universities South Africa (USAf) to determine if they meet South Africa’s minimum higher education admission requirements. (For exemption applications and additional information, please visit https://usaf.ac.za/facilitating-entry-to-sa-universities/).
- Be prepared to register for full-time undergraduate study in January 2026;
- Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
For Master’s Degree Studies:
- Be no older than 30 years for the master’s degree studies;
- Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za) and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2026;
- International applicants must ensure their qualifications meet the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requirements. For verification, visit https://www.saqa.org.za/;
- Be prepared to begin their first year of registration for full-time master’s degree study in January 2026;
- Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
Scholarship Benefits
- Pre-arrival support and an official on-boarding welcome programme;
- Housing in a UWC residence on campus;
- Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar has the best possible experience at UWC;
- A monthly stipend and meal allowance;
- Medical aid;
- Laptop;
- Study materials allowance, and
- Holistic wrap-around support programmes.
How to Apply
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria must read the full scholarship details on the official scholarship announcement page. To apply click the apply link below.