CMU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation have partnered to support students whose talent and promise exceed their financial resources. The graduate students complete their Master of Science degrees in Information Technology, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Engineering Artificial Intelligence. Upon completion of the program, the Scholars go on to lead changes in their communities and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent.
CMU-Africa is part of a global network of 33 Scholars Program partners, comprised of institutions committed to developing Africa’s young leaders.The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program was established at CMU-Africa in 2016. The program provides generous financial, social, and academic support for students whose talent and promise exceed their financial resources. With a vision that education is a catalyst for social and economic change, the program focuses on developing leaders who are transformative, encouraging them to be active contributors in their communities.
About Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools, the university became the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1912 and began granting four-year degrees. In 1967, the Carnegie Institute of Technology merged with the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research to form Carnegie Mellon University.... continue reading
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Africa Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Aim and Benefits of Africa Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The program focuses on:
- Holistic support: The scholarship covers application preparation support, orientation, tuition and fees, health insurance, travel and basic living expenses, project, and entrepreneurship support. Scholars also have access to a range of resources that support their well-being and academic success.
- Career preparation: Scholars benefit from tailored activities to prepare them for the workplace. Throughout their studies, they participate in professional development activities including, but not limited to, internship and career fairs, networking opportunities with industry leaders, one-on-one career coaching that prepare them to pursue their goals upon graduation.
- Leadership development: Scholars develop leadership skills through participation in student clubs, community service, and a variety of programs that equip students to become change-makers. During their time at CMU-Africa, the Scholars take a series of leadership training sessions tailored to their needs to ensure they are equipped with cutting-edge leadership skills that will enable them to lead with distinction.
- Giving back: Scholars live out the give-back ethos of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by leading and participating in community service activities, developing, and implementing projects that make a difference in the lives of others. They collaborate with the members of the CMU-Africa community to push their give-back agenda.
Requirements for Africa Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Qualification
Scholars face social and economic barriers and have demonstrated the following attributes:
- Academic talent: Scholars value learning and have the drive to complete their education.
- Commitment to giving back: Scholars have demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities.
- Potential to lead: Scholars will become role models, mentors, and change-makers.
Interview date, Process and Venue for Africa Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Important dates for applying to CMU-Africa and understanding the admissions decision process
- October 1: All program applications open. Begin your application to the MSIT, MSECE, MSEAI programs
- December 15: Early admission deadline. Submit your application by the early admission deadline of December 15 for CMU-Africa to cover your competency test fees. Learn more about test fees
- January 15: Final application deadline. Any application received after the early admission deadline will only be considered if submitted with valid DET/IELTS/TOEFL.
- January-April: Applications are reviewed. After the final application deadline, all components of applications are reviewed
- April-May: Admissions decisions are shared with applicants. You will receive email communications from the admissions team on the status of your application at every stage. You can also view the status of your application through your application portal.
- July-August: The New Student Foundation Program is held for admitted students. This program supports new students in a successful transition to CMU-Africa
- September: The semester begins for admitted students. The Academic Calendar serves as Carnegie Mellon University's information source and planning document for students, faculty, staff, and departments, as well as outside organizations. The calendar includes registration dates, class start dates, add/drop deadlines, exam dates, and more. View CMU-Africa's academic calendar
Documents Required for Application
You will need these documents to fill out our written application:
- Unofficial transcript
- Essay or statement of purpose
- An up-to-date CV
- Recommendations
Application Deadline
December 15, 2023
How to Apply
In order to be considered for the Scholars Program, students must first be admitted to one of CMU-Africa's degree programs. Learn more about tuition and financial aid and how to apply to CMU-Africa.
There are two steps to apply to CMU-Africa:
- Submit an online application
- Complete competency tests
Important requirement: In response to the current global COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be accepting GRE scores this admissions cycle.
For more details, visit CMU website
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