MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program

About This Scholarship

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the most transformative scholarship initiatives in Africa, having supported over 50,000 young Africans through secondary and tertiary education since 2012. Funded by the MasterCard Foundation with a commitment exceeding $500 million, the program was designed with a clear philosophy: that academically talented young Africans from low-income backgrounds, given access to quality education and leadership development, will return to their communities and drive continent-wide change.

Unlike many international scholarships that require African talent to relocate abroad, the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program operates predominantly through partner universities across Africa — including institutions in Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Senegal. This means Ghanaian scholars can pursue world-class education while maintaining deep roots in their home communities. The holistic development component — leadership training, career mentorship, community impact projects, and alumni network access — sets this program apart from purely financial scholarship awards.

The program's explicit focus on gender equity means that young women from underrepresented communities in Ghana are particularly encouraged to apply and will find a genuinely supportive application environment.

One of the largest scholarship programs in the world for Sub-Saharan African students.

Tips for Ghanaian and African Applicants

• Apply through partner universities, not the Foundation directly: Applications are made through the MasterCard Foundation's African partner institutions. Identify which partner university is relevant to your program of study and understand their specific application requirements and deadlines.
• Financial need is a genuine criterion: The selection committee assesses real economic disadvantage, not relative disadvantage. Be specific and honest about your family's financial circumstances and how access to education has been a challenge.
• The "giving back" commitment is assessed: The program explicitly selects scholars who demonstrate a clear intention to return to and contribute to their communities after graduation. Frame your career goals in terms of the impact you will have in Ghana or Africa.
• Leadership experience counts significantly: Community leadership, student government, entrepreneurship, volunteer work, or social enterprise experience all strengthen your application. These are the signals the committee uses to assess leadership potential.

African students with demonstrated financial need and strong academic record.