The University of the Western Cape (UWC) administers the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. This global initiative, initiated in 2012, strives to nurture the future generation of change-makers. It accomplishes this by providing opportunities for exceptionally talented and service-driven young individuals, with a special focus on young Africans, to pursue higher education and cultivate their leadership potential.
This program primarily targets young individuals who face obstacles in accessing higher education due to financial and social challenges. The program places a strong emphasis on outreach efforts to engage young women, refugees, forcibly displaced adolescents, and young individuals with disabilities, all of whom are encouraged to submit their applications.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC extends its support to academically gifted individuals hailing from South Africa and various regions across the African continent. In the upcoming 2024 Academic Year, this program at UWC will offer comprehensive funding opportunities for young scholars to pursue either i) undergraduate degrees or ii) master’s degrees.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Eligibility Criteria
For Master’s Degree
Areas of Study:
- Humanities & Arts (Including Applied Linguistics, History, Gender Justice, Migration Studies, and Sociology for Development).
- Community & Health Sciences (With a focus on Public Health).
- Economic & Management Sciences (Encompassing Development Studies, Information Sciences, and Migration Studies).
- Law (Specializing in Governance and Human Rights).
- Natural Sciences (Covering Biological, Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences).
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When applying, candidates must meet the following four criteria:
- Be under the age of 30 for master’s degree studies.
- Fulfill the University’s minimum admission requirements (for program/discipline-specific details, visit www.uwc.ac.za) and have applied for academic admission to the University for the year 2024.
- Be ready to commence their first year of full-time master’s degree studies in January 2024.
- Submit evidence demonstrating that their access to university education is hindered by social and economic obstacles.
For Undergraduate:
Areas of Study
1. Humanities & Arts (Including History, Linguistics, Sociology, and Women’s and Gender Studies).
2. Economic & Management Sciences (Covering Economics, Information Sciences, and Public Administration).
3. Education (Focusing on Mathematics and Science, Foundation Phase).
4. Natural Sciences (Encompassing Biological, Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences).
When applying, applicants must meet these four criteria:
- Be younger than 26 years old for undergraduate studies.
- Meet the University’s minimum admission requirements (for program/discipline-specific details, please visit www.uwc.ac.za) and have applied for academic admission to the University for the year 2024.
- Be ready to enroll in full-time undergraduate studies in January 2024.
- Submit evidence demonstrating that their access to university education is hindered by social and economic obstacles.
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APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply:
- Submit your application for admission to the University for the year 2024 by visiting admission-and-financial-aid/apply. Be sure to take note of the application closing dates.
- Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by using the online application method, which is the preferred option. Click here to access the online application.
- If you encounter difficulties with the online application, you have the option to download an application form by clicking here. After completing the form, please email it along with the required supporting documentation to mcfsp-applications@uwc.ac.za. Ensure that the completed form and all supporting documents are submitted as a single email.
Application Deadline: October 13, 2023.
Apply here
