Fully funded

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC

University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Scholarship overview

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC is part of the Mastercard Foundation's global scholarship initiative, started in 2012, with the University of the Western Cape as an implementing partner. It funds higher education for talented, service-oriented young people, mainly in Africa, who face economic and social barriers to study, with particular emphasis on young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and persons with disabilities.

UWC offered a limited number of undergraduate and master's scholarships for 2026 study. Undergraduate fields included Arts and Humanities, Economic and Management Sciences, Education (Mathematics and Science, Foundation Phase) and Natural Sciences. Master's fields included Arts and Humanities, Community and Health Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Law and Natural Sciences.

The programme is currently not accepting applications until further notice; the last stated closing date was 31 August 2025.

Award Information

  • Undergraduate applicants no older than 26; master's applicants no older than 30.
  • Meet UWC minimum admission requirements and have applied for admission for 2026.
  • International undergraduate applicants must obtain exemption through Universities South Africa (USAf); international master's applicants' qualifications must meet SAQA requirements.
  • Prepared to register full-time in January 2026.
  • Evidence that access to university study is impeded by social and economic barriers.
  • Candidates registering for a second undergraduate or master's degree are ineligible.
  • Restricted to listed fields (e.g. undergraduate: selected Arts and Humanities, EMS, Education, Natural Sciences; master's: e.g. Public Health, Development Studies, Governance and Human Rights, Natural Sciences).
  • Tuition support.
  • Pre-arrival support and an onboarding programme.
  • UWC residence accommodation.
  • Monthly stipend and meal allowance.
  • Medical aid.
  • Laptop.
  • Study materials allowance.
  • Wraparound support for scholars.

Scholars sign a scholarship agreement, must meet academic standards to keep the award and must follow university rules.

The 2026-intake closing date was Sunday 31 August 2025. Applications are currently closed until further notice. Applicants who have not heard from the university by mid-December should consider the application unsuccessful.

  1. Submit an academic application to UWC for admission and obtain a UWC application number.
  2. Complete the online Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application when open (see the programme page). It has six sections: Personal Information, Academic Information, Family Information, Short Narratives, Community Engagement and Certification.
  3. Submit one complete application only; incomplete and duplicate applications are rejected.
  4. Problems: undergraduate [email protected], postgraduate [email protected]. Do not email individual staff.

Official links

Documents you will need

  • Proof of parental income (payslips, social grant letters, or financial aid office letters if previously NSFAS-funded).
  • If there is no income: letter of unemployment from the Department of Labour.
  • Refugee or internally displaced documentation, where applicable.
  • Documents must be in English.

How selection works

The programme looks for academically talented, service-oriented applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

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