Applications are open for the Edinburgh Online Mastercard Scholarship 2027 at the University of Edinburgh in the UK.
The scholarship supports talented young people from Sub-Saharan Africa who have faced significant barriers to education and demonstrate leadership, community service, and a commitment to addressing the climate crisis. It provides fully funded, part-time online postgraduate study.
Edinburgh Online Mastercard Scholarship Summary
- Country: United Kingdom
- Host: University of Edinburgh
- Duration: 3 years
- Benefit: Fully Funded
- Eligible Countries: Sub-Saharan African countries
- Deadline: 19 November 2026
Edinburgh Online Mastercard Scholarship Details
The University of Edinburgh Online Mastercard Scholarship is part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. It is designed for exceptional young Africans who have overcome barriers to education and want to develop their skills while continuing to live and work in their local communities.
The scholarship covers three years of part-time online Master’s study in selected programmes. It also provides academic and personal support, climate leadership training, and opportunities to participate in the wider Scholars Program.
Benefits
- Full payment of approved tuition fees
- Academic stipend to support access to high-quality internet
- Laptop support
- Opportunity to attend an in-person gathering
- Participation in the University of Edinburgh’s climate leadership programme
- Online workshops, coaching, and support
- Dedicated Online Coordinator
- Additional support for scholars with disabilities based on assessed needs
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a citizen and resident of, or hold refugee status in, a Sub-Saharan African country.
- Be 35 years old or younger as of 1 September 2027.
- Have faced significant barriers to education, including social, financial, personal, practical, or other challenges.
- Demonstrate a record of leadership and service within your community.
- Demonstrate experience or ambition to make a meaningful contribution to addressing the climate crisis.
- Meet the academic requirements for admission to an eligible University of Edinburgh postgraduate programme.
- Generally hold the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Have graduated from an undergraduate programme by September 2027.
- Have a degree certificate and official final transcript available for submission.
- For the online Master’s scholarship, applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree.
- Applicants should not be enrolled at, or applying to, another university while receiving the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship.
- Female applicants, refugees and displaced persons, and applicants with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
- Check the eligible online Master’s programmes at the University of Edinburgh.
- Attend a mandatory information session between 15 and 24 September 2026.
- Eligible attendees will be notified on 13 October 2026 if they are invited to apply.
- If invited, complete the Applicant Declaration Form through SurveyMonkey Apply by 19 October 2026 at 5pm UK time.
- Applicants who successfully complete the declaration stage will be invited to submit the main scholarship application.
- Complete and submit the Scholarship Main Application by 19 November 2026 at 5pm UK time.
- Ensure all required supporting documents are submitted within the specified deadlines.
- Apply through the official University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application page.
📋 Required Documents
- Official final academic transcript
- Academic information required for admission
- Scholarship application materials
- Undergraduate degree certificate
- Supporting information demonstrating leadership, community service, barriers to education, and commitment to addressing the climate crisis