The Berkeley Center for African Studies(link is external) and the Mastercard Foundation(link is external) are engaged in a ten-year partnership to support 108 master’s degree students from Sub-Saharan African countries who are academically talented and committed to transformative change on the continent. The Program recruits widely across Sub-Saharan Africa and encourages applications particularly from women, people with disabilities, and those who are refugees or displaced.
To be eligible for the University of California Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, applicants must: be a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country (This includes Africans who are refugees or displaced within the African continent. This scholarship is not intended for citizens of North African countries. Those with dual citizenship, asylee, refugee or permanent resident status in the US, Canada, UK or EU are not eligible.); be pursuing master's degrees; demonstrate leadership potential; demonstrate financial need; demonstrate the commitment to give back to their community, country or continent; and express the desire and intention to return to their home country after completing their studies.
Master's degree applicants must first apply to a graduate program before they will be considered for the Mastercard Foundations Scholars Program (see the website for eligible studies). After the graduate degree program admissions process is underway, the UCB Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will invite prospective candidates to apply for the Scholarship. Graduate application deadlines vary by program. Dollar amounts will also vary.
