The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Oxford represents a landmark partnership between one of the world's leading educational institutions and the Mastercard Foundation. This program is a cornerstone of the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx), designed to empower young African leaders through comprehensive educational opportunities. The program aims to provide 400 young African scholars with fully-funded scholarships to pursue taught Master’s degrees at the University of Oxford.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Oxford funds a rigorous one-year taught Master’s course at Oxford aimed at equipping the Scholars with relevant technical, entrepreneurial and leadership skills and connecting them to world-leading resources in their respective sectors. Key elements of the scholarship programme include adequate support and preparation for students to take up their studies, intensive emphasis on life skills beyond academia and support for a lifelong network of alumni. Each Scholar will benefit from the highest calibre training in specific disciplines critical to solving pressing problems, including food systems, health sciences, sustainable water and energy systems, governance and public policy, and entrepreneurship, among others
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Benefits
1). Finances
The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship is fully funded scholarship that covers below aspects:
Full tuition fees waiver
Living allowance to cover living expenses
Logistics support, including an economy return flight, visa and Immigration fees
Health Surcharge fees
Settling down allowance, and access to a Thrive Fund for emergencies.
2). Professional Development
The first year includes a rigorous academic Master’s course at Oxford and a Leadership and Impact Programme, which support the scholars in developing collaborative leadership qualities needed to build cross-sector, interdisciplinary solutions to address complex social and environmental problems.
An important and innovative aspect of the program is the “Ubuntu period of service” undertaken upon completion of the Master’s degree. During this second year of the Program, the Scholars will be supported and encouraged to design and deliver impactful projects based on African organisations, which could include launching start-ups and working in multinational development agencies, governments, NGOs or research institutions.
Eligible Study Programs
The partnership is set to provide 400 young African scholars with a fully-funded opportunity to pursue taught Masters degrees in programs related to pandemic preparedness and recovery at the University of Oxford.
Eligibility
• Nationality: Students from all African countries are eligible.
• Residency: Applicants must be ordinarily resident in African countries.
• Admission: Eligibility is contingent upon receiving a conditional offer from the University of Oxford.
Application procedure
1). To be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Oxford, submit your application for graduate study to the University of Oxford via the graduate admissions portal by the main December/January funding deadline for your chosen course of study.
➢ This Application guide will help you walk through the application process at University of Oxford
2). Eligible candidates who receive a conditional offer from their course will be then invited to apply for the AfOx Graduate Scholarship Program. All invited candidates will be expected to fill in the AfOx Graduate Scholarship questionnaire during the application process.
3). Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed virtually before decisions are made, and the timelines will be communicated at the interview stage.
➢ The University of Oxford has an extensive database of frequently asked questions and it is highly recommended that you look there in the first instance. Click here for the FAQs.
Application Deadlines: Most programs at Oxford university that are eligible for this scholarship have a November - January deadlines, you need to apply before that period to be considered for the AfOx Graduate Scholarship Program.
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