The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is specifically targeted towards young people whose access to higher education is impeded by economic and social barriers. The Program places a particular emphasis on reaching young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and young people living with disabilities, who are encouraged to apply.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC supports academically talented youth from South Africa and other parts of the African continent. For the 2025 Academic Year, the Program at UWC will provide fully-funded opportunities for young Mastercard Foundation Scholars to study for undergraduate qualifications or master’s degree qualifications.
The University of the Western Cape invites applications for a limited number of undergraduate and master’s degree awards from qualifying candidates from South Africa and the African continent who are prepared to register for full-time study in 2025.
Fields of Study
Masters Studies
Arts & Humanities (Applied Linguistics, History, Gender Justice, Migration Studies, Sociology for Development);
Community & Health Sciences (Public Health);
Economic & Management Sciences (Development Studies, Information Sciences and Migration Studies);
Law (Governance and Human Rights);
Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences).
Undergraduate Studies
Arts & Humanities (History, Linguistics, Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies);
Economic & Management Sciences (Economics, Information Sciences and Public Administration);
Education (Mathematics and Science, Foundation Phase);
Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
Scholarship
In addition to providing support for tuition fees, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC provides a range of specialized resources to support Mastercard Foundation Scholars to facilitate their transition into dignified and fulfilling work. In particular, Mastercard Foundation Scholars will be provided with:
Pre-arrival support and an official onboarding welcome program;
Housing in a UWC residence on campus;
Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar has the best possible experience at UWC;
A monthly stipend and meal allowance;
Medical aid;
Laptop;
Study materials allowance; and
Holistic wrap around support programs.
Eligibility
Masters
Be no older than 30 years for the master’s degree studies;
Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2025;
Be prepared to begin their first year of registration for full-time master’s degree study in January 2025;
Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
Undergraduate
Be no older than 26 years for the undergraduate studies;
Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2025;
Be prepared to register for full-time undergraduate study in January 2025;
Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
Application Process
Step 1: Apply for admission to study at UWC
Applicants intending to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC must first submit an academic application to study at UWC for the 2025 academic year. Take note of the application closing dates for the desired program/discipline.
Only applicants who have successfully submitted their academic application and obtained a UWC application number are eligible to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC, as a UWC application number is required to complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form.
Step 2: Apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Once you have successfully submitted your application to study at UWC, apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by completing the online application.
