Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program at Edinburgh 2024 (online scholarship)

Applications are open for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. Mastercard Foundation is 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 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
Global Food Security and Nutrition
Global Challenges
Carbon Management
One Health
Circular Economy
Sustainable Lands and Cities
Social Justice and Community Action

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

If you are only applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship please apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program first, only once you have received a scholarship offer should you apply to any of the above programmes through the University of Edinburgh admissions process. Only in the case of applying for other scholarships should you consider applying to the university first.

Benefits

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship comes with the following benefits:

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.
All Mastercard Foundation Scholars at the University of Edinburgh will participate in a Climate Leadership Programme.

Eligibility Requirements

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:
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, the 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.
They particularly welcome applications from female scholars, scholars from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and scholars with disabilities

Selection Process

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).

Deadline: 7 December 2023 (5pm UK time)

Apply here

For more details, visit Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Programme website

FAQS

Can I apply for a degree programme which varies from the subject of my BA degree?

It is possible for applicants to apply for programmes which vary from their bachelor’s field. We advise that you take the opportunity in your application to demonstrate genuine interest in the programme and how it links to your current and future goals.

What is involved in the application process?

In the first stage you will be asked a series of questions to determine whether you meet all the eligibility criteria for the scholarship. If you do not, you will not proceed to the next stage.If you do meet the eligibility criteria you will be invited to answer a series of short essay questions outlining your personal story, your academic and leadership experience and your future ambition. These responses will then be submitted for review by the Scholarship Application Review team to short list applications for a university admissions review and then a scholarship interview.

I have applied for other Mastercard Foundation scholarship programs, can I submit the same application for all?

All Mastercard Foundation scholarship programs have similar, although not identical eligibility criteria. Take your time to tailor your application to each individual institution and think carefully about why you would like to study at each institution you are applying to and shape your responses accordingly.You are, therefore, most welcome to apply if you meet all required eligibility conditions.

Do I need to take an English language test?

English Language Test results are not a requirement when applying for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship.

However, depending on where you did your undergraduate studies you may be required to undertake an English language test as part of the admissions process to the University of Edinburgh, unless you already have a valid English language test that meets the University’s minimum. The English test assesses applicants on reading, writing, speaking and listening. Some of the test providers are IELTS and TOEFL.

Should I apply to the scholarship or for admission to the degree first?

If the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is the only scholarship you are interested to apply for in the University of Edinburgh, please apply for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship only first. If you receive a scholarship offer from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program then you can apply for the academic programme.

If you are also applying for other scholarships at the University of Edinburgh, please apply directly for the degree programme of your choice as well as the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship application.

If you have already secured a place on an eligible degree programme, please indicate in your Mastercard Foundation Scholarship application form that you have already secured a place on the degree programme.More information on how to apply can be found on each individual degree programme web page, which can be found on the University degree finder

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Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program at Edinburgh 2024 (online scholarship)