One of Africa's most generous fully-funded scholarship programmes is now open for applications. The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Makerere University in Uganda covers everything — tuition, housing, meals, books, health insurance, a laptop, a monthly allowance, and even your return airfare. Applications are open to students from across Africa, and no IELTS score is required. The deadline is June 5, 2026.
🎓 Scholarship at a Glance
- Funder: Mastercard Foundation
- Host university: Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Study levels: Undergraduate and Master's (postgraduate)
- Who can apply: Students from any African country
- Programme duration: 2023–2034 (1,000 scholarships over 10 years)
- Language requirement: No IELTS required
- Coverage: Fully funded — tuition, housing, meals, books, laptop, health insurance, monthly allowance, and return airfare
- Application deadline: June 5, 2026
About the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Programme
The Mastercard Foundation is one of the world's largest private foundations, with a mission to advance learning and promote the dignity and prosperity of young people in Africa. Through its Scholars Program, the Foundation has partnered with leading African universities to provide transformative scholarship opportunities to young people who have demonstrated both academic talent and a genuine commitment to giving back to their communities.
Makerere University — Uganda's oldest and most prestigious university, founded in 1922 — is one of the Foundation's key partner institutions. The renewed partnership signed in 2023 and running through to 2034 commits to awarding 1,000 scholarships over a ten-year period at the main Kampala campus. This makes it one of the most sustained and substantial scholarship programmes available to African students anywhere on the continent.
The programme is not simply about financial support. It is designed to develop the next generation of African leaders — people who will return to their communities with the skills, networks, and values needed to drive meaningful change. Scholar selection therefore places heavy emphasis not just on academic performance, but on demonstrated leadership, community involvement, and a clear vision for contributing to Africa's development.
What the Scholarship Covers — Everything
This is a fully-funded scholarship in the truest sense. Unlike many partial scholarships that cover only tuition or only accommodation, the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Makerere University covers every major cost a student is likely to face.
In practical terms, this means a scholar from Rwanda — or any other African country — can travel to Kampala, study at Makerere University for the full duration of their undergraduate or master's programme, and return home without having spent a single franc or dollar of their own money on core educational or living expenses. This is genuinely rare, and it is what makes this scholarship so competitive and so valuable.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria
The scholarship is open to students from all African nations who meet the following criteria. Read these carefully before applying — partial eligibility will result in disqualification.
| Criteria | Undergraduate Applicants | Master's Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Academic background | Must have completed Advanced Level secondary education (or equivalent) in an African country | Must hold a Bachelor's degree obtained in an African country |
| University eligibility | Must meet Makerere University's entry requirements for the chosen programme | |
| Age limit (standard) | Under 28 years old | Under 35 years old |
| Age limit (refugees / persons with disabilities) | Under 32 years old | Under 40 years old |
| Leadership & community service | Must demonstrate a proven track record of community involvement and significant leadership potential | |
| Other scholarships | Must not be currently receiving any other scholarship | |
| Refugee applicants | Must provide official documentation (attestation of refugee status) | |
| IELTS / English test | Not required | |
Who This Scholarship Is For: The Mastercard Foundation Scholar Profile
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program does not select students purely on academic grades. The programme is specifically designed to support young Africans who combine academic achievement with a demonstrated commitment to their communities and a clear vision for how their education will benefit others.
The ideal applicant is someone who has already shown — through volunteer work, community leadership, student government, mentoring, or other forms of service — that they think beyond themselves and take initiative to address problems around them. They are academically strong, but what distinguishes them is not just their grades: it is their sense of purpose and their vision for contributing to Africa's future.
For Rwandan applicants specifically, this is an opportunity to study at one of East Africa's most renowned universities, build a pan-African network of fellow scholars, and return home equipped with qualifications and leadership experience that can be applied across Rwanda's public service, private sector, civil society, and beyond.
About Makerere University
Founded in 1922, Makerere University in Kampala is the oldest and most respected university in East and Central Africa. It has produced many of the region's most influential political leaders, scientists, writers, and public intellectuals. The university offers programmes across a wide range of disciplines including medicine, law, engineering, agriculture, social sciences, education, business, and the arts.
For Rwandan scholars, studying at Makerere offers several advantages beyond the academic content itself: the experience of living and learning in a different East African country, immersion in a large and diverse university community, and access to a network of alumni that spans the continent.
- Start early.The deadline is June 5, 2026, but strong applications take time to prepare. Do not wait until May to begin.
- Document your community service.Gather letters, certificates, photos, or other evidence of your community involvement before you start the application. This is one of the most important parts of your candidacy.
- Write a compelling personal statement.Be specific about what you have done in your community, why you chose your field of study, and what you plan to do with your education after you graduate. Vague or generic statements rarely succeed.
- Choose your programme carefully.Make sure the programme you apply for at Makerere is one you are both eligible for and genuinely passionate about — reviewers can tell the difference.
- Get your documents ready.Certified copies of certificates, transcripts, ID, and — for refugee applicants — official documentation should all be prepared in advance.
- Apply to only one scholarship at a time.You are not eligible for this scholarship if you are currently receiving another scholarship. Disclose any other applications honestly.
🎓 Ready to Apply?
Applications are submitted through the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program portal at Makerere University.
Deadline: June 5, 2026
Search for "Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Makerere University 2026" on Google to find the official application page, or visit the Makerere University website directly at mak.ac.ug.
⚠️ Always apply through the official university portal only. Ignore any third-party sites that claim to process applications on your behalf.
News Within regularly posts scholarship opportunities for Rwandan and African students at universities across the world. Follow our Scholarships section to stay updated on new opportunities as they open. Share this post with anyone in your network who is looking for a fully-funded scholarship opportunity in 2026. Contact us at newswithinblog@gmail.com.
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