Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley 2026-2027 – YOA

Deadline: Vary by Programme

Applications are open for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley 2026-2027. The University of California, Berkeley has partnered with The Mastercard Foundation in a collaborative, world community of training establishments and non-revenue organizations that imagine training is a catalyst for social and financial development. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program goals to develop a cohort of moral, entrepreneurial, and energetic younger leaders who will drive and lead socio-financial transformation in Africa. The Program is a rising dedication, and, so far, the Program has dedicated over USD $1.2 billion to supporting the training and management growth of greater than 40,000 younger folks.

The way forward for Africa will probably be formed by its younger folks, together with these gifted, but economically deprived college students who face vital boundaries to accessing high quality training. The Mastercard Foundation’s technique, Young Africa Works, goals to allow 30 million younger folks, significantly younger girls, to safe dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. To harness the potential affect of this era, The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program gives subsequent-era leaders who’re dedicated to the social and financial transformation of their continent with entry to high quality training by delivering complete monetary, social, and educational assist all through their secondary and college training and helps their transition to additional study or to the workforce.

Scholarship

• Mastercard Foundation Scholars obtain a complete scholarship equal to the prices related to incomes a grasp’s diploma, which incorporates journey, tuition, Berkeley pupil charges, visa and SEVIS charges, housing, meals, dwelling bills, and cohort signature packages which is able to deal with management and entrepreneurship.   

Eligibility

• Being a citizen of an African nation: This consists of Africans who’ve been forcibly displaced or have refugee standing throughout the African continent. Those with twin citizenship, asylee, refugee or everlasting resident standing within the US, Canada, UK or EU are usually not eligible.
• Having educational expertise: All potential Scholars should first be admitted to a UC Berkeley grasp’s diploma program to be thought of for the Scholarship. An essential criterion for admission to the University is demonstrated educational excellence.
• Demonstrating management potential: The Program seeks these dedicated to growing the abilities and mindsets related to transformative management, i.e, that which engages others in an moral method to generate constructive and lasting change.
• Experienced vital boundaries to accessing increased training: This Scholarship is designed for these extraordinarily gifted people who may need confronted boundaries to high quality increased training, together with social, monetary, private, sensible or well being associated.
• Having demonstrated the dedication to present again to your neighborhood, nation, or continent: They are searching for nicely-rounded college students who’re engaged in actions past the classroom. Some could also be instantly associated to your subject of study, however this may occasionally additionally embrace different points (social, financial, political) that you’re engaged on and keen about. Applicants ought to elaborate on their achievements each of their application to UC Berkeley, after which later within the application for the Scholars Program.
• Having expressed the need and intention to return to your home nation after finishing your research and put up-commencement coaching: They are searching for college students who’re engaged with and keen about points affecting their communities, and who will reap the benefits of their training at UC Berkeley to raised equip themselves with the information and coaching to handle these points upon return. While essential work may be performed from overseas, the intention of the Program is to allow Scholars to return home, after forming useful skilled connections via internships, educational coaching and job placements.

Application

• September via early January: Master’s diploma program potential candidates should first apply to the University of California, Berkeley via the common admissions course of. Admission application deadlines differ from September to early January with most in December. If a graduate program has multilple admission rounds with staggered deadlines, solely those that submit functions within the first spherical (earlier than January) may be thought of for the Scholars Program.
• November 15: The Scholars Program and a few graduate diploma packages are capable of present a restricted variety of admission application price waivers. Applicants from African nations who full the fundamental demographic data and supply the names of at least two recommenders within the UC Berkeley graduate admission on-line application by November 15 will obtain an invite by e-mail to apply for admission application price waivers. Applicants will probably be knowledgeable of price waiver selections earlier than December 1.
• February: The Scholars Program at UC Berkeley will invite candidates nominated by the graduate diploma packages to finish a supplemental application.
• March: The Scholars Program will invite chosen candidates for an internet interview.
• Late March/early April: The Scholars Program will talk ultimate selections.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to MCFSP at UC Berkeley.