Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, 2023-2024

From 23 October 2023, we will be recruiting exceptional young people with great academic and leadership experience who have overcome barriers to their education and are diligently committed to pursuing their studies to apply for an Online Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh.

Online studies are an excellent way to earn a qualification for those who would like to continue working and prefer to study in their local context (for example, to be closer to their families).

Online qualifications through the University of Edinburgh are equivalent to degrees taught on campus.

Applicants can apply for either:

• Online Masters (part-time over 3 years) OR
• Online Post-graduate Diploma (part-time over 2 years)

Online Masters

Masters programmes normally aim at those who have completed an undergraduate degree and want to develop more specialised knowledge in the same subject or similar career area.

Applicants who already have a postgraduate qualification are not able to apply for this scholarship. 

The Mastercard Foundation scholarship is designed to cover three years of part-time online study for the following programmes ONLY:

International Development (Masters route only)

Global Food Security and Nutrition (Masters or Diploma)

Global Challenges (Masters or Diploma)

Carbon Management (Masters route only)

One Health (Masters or Diploma)

Circular Economy (Masters or Diploma)

Sustainable Lands and Cities (Masters or Diploma)

Social Justice and Community Action (Masters or Diploma)

Online postgraduate diploma

Postgraduate diplomas are aimed at those who are considering a potential change in their careers and tend to be more vocational.

Candidates with either an undergraduate or Master’s degree from a Sub-Saharan African university are equally able to apply (provided they will graduate from either degree by September 2023 and provide their degree certificates and transcripts by 7 December. 

The scholarship is designed to cover two years of part-time online study for the following programmes ONLY:

• One Health

• Global Food Security and Nutrition 
• Global Challenges 
• Social Justice and Community Action
• Circular Economy
• Sustainable Land and Cities

• Table of Content
• About University of Edinburgh
• University of Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
• Aim and Benefits of University of Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
• Requirements for University of Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for University of Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About University of Edinburgh

From Nobel laureates and Olympic champions to space explorers and prime ministers, the University of Edinburgh has been influencing history since it opened the gates to its first students in 1583. Following the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century, the University was positioned at the forefront of academia and critical thinking. Due to the determination and perseverance of a group of Edinburgh intellectuals, established facts about the world were being boldly and consistently challenged. Amid this group was David Hume, philosopher, economist and essayist known for his philosophi... continue reading

University of Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Aim and Benefits of University of Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

• Covers full approved tuition fees: scholars will not pay for any part of the tuition fees.
• Academic stipend to allow for access to high-quality internet, and laptop.
• The opportunity to attend an in-person gathering.
• Participation in activities as part of the wider Scholars Program climate leadership programme at the University of Edinburgh, including regular online workshops, online coaching and support.
• A dedicated Online Coordinator
• Additional support is offered to scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs.

Requirements for University of Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Qualification

You must meet the eligibility criteria to apply:

• Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree programme listed. You will generally need to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher. Find out more about the postgraduate entry requirements for your country:

Postgraduate entry requirements

• Applicants will have faced  significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health related).
• Applicants must have graduated from an undergraduate study by September 2023 and must have a degree certificate and official final transcript to upload alongside their application by 7 December.
• Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in a Sub-Saharan African country.
• Applicants must have faced barriers to education and early career
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
• Applicants must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis
• Applicants must be 35 or under as of 1 September 2024
• Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or apply to enrol) at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship.
• If applying for the online Masters programme: Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or apply to enrol) at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship.
• If applying for the online Postgraduate Diploma: Applicants can either have an undergraduate or Master’s degree from a Sub-Saharan African university (provided they will graduate from either degree by 7th December 2023). If you have a Master’s degree, our admissions team will review your first degree (undergraduate) to meet the postgraduate diploma entry requirement. The Scholars Program will review your Master’s degree transcripts to confirm your university’s graduation date and location. 
• We particularly welcome applications from female scholars, scholars from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and scholars with disabilities (see FAQs below for further information) 

Interview date, Process and Venue for University of Edinburgh Global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The selection process for applications is based on the following criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate that qualifies for admissions to the University of Edinburgh 
• Track record as a transformative leader and service within their community
• Quality of application in line with the Scholars Program theme of climate justice.
• Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country.
• Applicants who have faced  significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health related).

Application timeline 2023/24

Application Deadline

How to Apply

You must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh. We require that applicants apply for this scholarship before applying to the University. 

The Scholars Program will not accept applications submitted outside the online application system.

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section, below, for further details.

If you have any queries regarding the Mastercard Foundation Scholarships, which are not answered in the FAQs, 

Apply for a postgraduate scholarship

For more details visit: University of Edinburgh website.