🎓 UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships for African Students
🎓 UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships for African Students. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley offers a major opportunity for talented students from African countries who are academically strong, economically disadvantaged and committed to creating positive change on the African continent.
The program provides comprehensive financial, academic and social support to selected master’s students. Support includes tuition, travel, Berkeley student fees, visa and SEVIS fees, housing, food and living expenses, as well as leadership and entrepreneurship programming.
The program is designed not simply to fund graduate education, but to develop a network of ethical, entrepreneurial and energetic young leaders who can contribute to Africa’s social and economic transformation.
🎓 UC BERKELEY MASTERCARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The University of California, Berkeley has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation as part of a global network focused on using education as a catalyst for social and economic advancement.
At Berkeley, the program is administered through the Center for African Studies and supports master’s degree students from African countries. The current partnership is expected to support more than 200 master’s students through 2030, with recruitment continuing through fall 2028.
The program particularly encourages applications from women, people with disabilities, and refugees or displaced students.
🌍 What Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global education initiative designed to provide talented young people who face significant financial barriers with access to quality education and leadership development.
The program’s broader vision is connected to the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, which focuses on helping young people in Africa, particularly young women, access dignified and fulfilling employment.
At UC Berkeley, Scholars receive more than financial assistance. The program combines graduate education with leadership development, entrepreneurship training, professional networks and opportunities to engage with African innovation ecosystems.
💰 FULLY FUNDED MASTER’S SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
One of the most attractive features of the Berkeley program is its comprehensive financial support.
According to UC Berkeley, Mastercard Foundation Scholars receive support equivalent to the costs associated with earning a master’s degree.
The scholarship covers:
- Tuition
- Berkeley student fees
- Travel
- Visa fees
- SEVIS fees
- Housing
- Food
- Living expenses
- Leadership and entrepreneurship programs
This comprehensive support is intended to allow Scholars to concentrate on their academic work and leadership development without the financial burden normally associated with studying at a leading U.S. university.
🎓 WHICH MASTER’S PROGRAMS ARE ELIGIBLE?
🎓 UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships for African Students
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley is specifically for eligible master’s degree programs.
Bachelor’s and doctoral programs do not qualify for this Berkeley Scholars Program. Berkeley also states that awards are made only for master’s programs that take two years or less; concurrent and dual-degree programs that exceed two years are not eligible.
Eligible programs currently include master’s degrees across several Berkeley schools and departments.
Examples include:
Haas School of Business
- MBA
School of Education
- MA in Education
College of Engineering
- M.Eng.
- MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering
- MS in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
- MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- MS in Mechanical Engineering
- M.DevEng in Development Engineering
- M.Des in Design
- MTM in Translational Medicine
College of Environmental Design
- MArch in Architecture
- MCP in City & Regional Planning
- M.Des in Design
- MLA in Environmental Planning
- MLA in Landscape Architecture
School of Information
- MIMS in Information Management and Systems
Graduate School of Journalism
- MJ in Journalism
School of Law
- LLM
- MFA
- MA in Computational Social Science
- MA in Global Studies
- MA in Folklore
College of Natural Resources
- Energy & Resources
- Climate Solutions
- Forestry
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
School of Public Health
- MPH and MS programs in areas including public health, epidemiology, biostatistics and environmental health
Goldman School of Public Policy
- MDP in Development Practice
- MPP in Public Policy
School of Social Welfare
- MSW in Social Welfare
Applicants should always check the official program page because eligibility and admissions requirements can vary by degree program.
🌍 WHO CAN APPLY?
The program is designed for students from African countries who are interested in pursuing eligible master’s degrees at UC Berkeley.
The program looks for students who demonstrate strong academic potential as well as a commitment to contributing to the social and economic transformation of Africa.
Applicants should carefully consider whether their:
- Academic background
- Career goals
- Proposed field of study
- Leadership experience
- Commitment to Africa
- Personal circumstances
align with the goals of the Scholars Program.
The program also particularly encourages applications from women, people with disabilities, refugees and displaced people.
🎯 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP
The scholarship is not simply based on academic achievement.
The Berkeley program aims to develop future leaders who can contribute to Africa through innovation, entrepreneurship, research, policy, business, public service and other forms of social and economic transformation.
This means applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how their education and career plans can contribute to meaningful change.
A strong application should therefore go beyond explaining why the applicant wants a master’s degree. It should clearly communicate:
- What problem the applicant wants to address
- Why the chosen field is important
- How Berkeley will help develop the applicant’s expertise
- What the applicant plans to accomplish after graduation
- How their work could contribute to Africa
🚀 LEADERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT
🎓 UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships for African Students
Selected Scholars receive specialized training in leadership and entrepreneurship.
The program also seeks to connect Scholars with innovation ecosystems in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.
These experiences are intended to complement the academic component of the scholarship and help students develop the skills, networks and perspectives needed to create impact beyond the classroom.
🌍 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA
Another distinctive feature of the program is its connection to Africa.
Scholars enrolled in master’s programs longer than two semesters are required, subject to review and approval, to undertake an internship in Africa during their studies.
UC Berkeley staff and faculty assist Scholars in identifying appropriate opportunities.
The program states that it will provide round-trip airfare to Africa for the internship and a stipend to help cover living expenses.
This component allows Scholars to apply knowledge gained at Berkeley while gaining practical experience in African organizations, institutions and communities.
🌍 A NETWORK OF AFRICAN LEADERS
Mastercard Foundation Scholars become part of a wider network of Scholars and alumni.
At Berkeley, this network connects students with peers and alumni while creating opportunities for professional and social engagement.
The program has already supported students from numerous African countries. Berkeley reports that since 2012, the program has graduated 201 Scholars from 30 African countries.
The network can provide opportunities for:
- Professional networking
- Mentorship
- Career development
- Collaboration
- Entrepreneurship
- Leadership
- Knowledge sharing
💼 CAREER SUPPORT AFTER GRADUATION
The program is designed with long-term impact in mind.
Scholars have access to the Africa Careers Network, which provides resources and opportunities related to employment on the African continent.
Berkeley also works with Scholars to help them identify employment opportunities in Africa during and after their studies.
The broader goal is for graduates to use their education and experience to contribute to Africa’s development.
📚 HOW TO APPLY
One of the most important things prospective applicants should understand is that there is not a separate initial application to the Scholars Program.
Master’s applicants must first apply to an eligible UC Berkeley master’s degree program through the university’s regular graduate admissions process.
If a graduate program has multiple admission rounds, only applicants who submit during the first round before January can be considered for the Scholars Program.
The general sequence is:
Step 1: Choose an eligible master’s program
Review the list of master’s programs eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Step 2: Review the degree’s requirements
Each Berkeley graduate program has its own admission requirements and deadline.
Step 3: Apply to UC Berkeley
Submit your graduate application through the regular UC Berkeley admissions process.
Step 4: Complete the required information
African applicants seeking consideration for an application fee waiver should complete the basic demographic information and provide the names of at least two recommenders in the graduate application by November 15, according to the current Scholars Program process.
Step 5: Wait for nomination
Graduate degree programs nominate candidates for consideration by the Scholars Program.
Step 6: Complete the supplemental application
Candidates nominated by graduate programs are invited by the Scholars Program to complete a supplemental application.
Step 7: Attend an interview
Selected candidates are invited to an online interview.
Step 8: Receive the final decision
The program currently indicates that final decisions are communicated in late March or early April.
📅 APPLICATION DEADLINE
There is no single universal Berkeley deadline for all applicants because graduate application deadlines vary by master’s program.
The current Scholars Program application sequence runs from approximately September through early January, with most graduate applications due in December. Applicants must meet the first-round deadline of their chosen graduate program to be considered for the Scholars Program.
Important: Always check the deadline for your specific UC Berkeley master’s program before applying.
📝 APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Requirements vary according to the master’s program selected.
Applicants should therefore review both:
- The requirements of their chosen UC Berkeley graduate program.
- The eligibility and selection criteria of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Academic programs may request materials such as:
- Academic transcripts
- CV or résumé
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation
- Test scores where applicable
- Evidence of academic preparation
- Program-specific supplemental materials
Do not send resumes or transcripts directly to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program office. Berkeley specifically states that its program office does not process these documents directly.
🌍 WHY STUDY AT UC BERKELEY?
UC Berkeley is one of the world’s leading public research universities and offers graduate programs across a wide range of disciplines.
For Mastercard Foundation Scholars, the Berkeley experience goes beyond classroom learning.
Students can benefit from:
- World-class academic programs
- Research opportunities
- Innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems
- Leadership development
- Professional networks
- Connections to African institutions
- Career development
- Access to a global Scholars network
The program is particularly focused on connecting Berkeley’s innovation and entrepreneurial environment with opportunities and challenges across Africa.
⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR APPLICANTS
🎓 UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships for African Students
Prospective applicants should be careful when searching for information about fully funded scholarships online.
Do not pay anyone who claims they can guarantee selection for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
UC Berkeley states that applicants should use its official program resources and should not contact individual staff or faculty members about the Scholars Program. Program-related questions should be directed to the official program contact.
Applicants should also remember that being eligible for the scholarship does not automatically mean they will receive an award. Admission to an eligible master’s program and selection for the Scholars Program are competitive processes.
❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is the UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholarship fully funded?
The program provides comprehensive scholarship support covering travel, tuition, Berkeley student fees, visa and SEVIS fees, housing, food, living expenses and leadership/entrepreneurship programs.
Can undergraduate students apply?
No. The UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is currently for eligible master’s degree applicants. Undergraduate and doctoral programs do not qualify for this Berkeley program.
Can students from African countries apply?
Yes. The program supports master’s students from African countries and recruits widely across Africa.
Can students with disabilities apply?
Yes. UC Berkeley particularly encourages applications from people with disabilities, as well as women and refugees or displaced applicants.
Do I apply directly to the Mastercard Foundation first?
No. Prospective master’s students must first apply to an eligible UC Berkeley master’s degree program through the regular admissions process. Candidates may then be nominated for consideration by their graduate program.
What master’s programs are eligible?
Eligible programs span business, education, engineering, design, information, journalism, law, natural resources, public health, public policy and social welfare, among other areas.
Do I need to return to Africa after graduation?
The program was created with the aim of having Scholars return home after graduating and completing any optional practical training permitted under visa rules. Scholars may also work in other African countries in areas related to their training, subject to applicable immigration rules.
Does the program provide internship support?
Yes. Scholars in master’s programs longer than two semesters are expected, subject to review and approval, to undertake an internship in Africa. The program provides round-trip airfare and a stipend for living expenses for the internship.
📢 APPLY FOR THE UC BERKELEY MASTERCARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
If you are an academically talented student from Africa with a strong commitment to creating positive change, the UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program could provide an exceptional pathway to graduate education in the United States.
The key is to begin with the eligible UC Berkeley master’s degree application rather than waiting for a separate scholarship application.
Research your preferred degree, check its first-round deadline, prepare your application carefully and make sure your academic and career goals demonstrate how your education can contribute to positive transformation in Africa.
📱 STAY UPDATED WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Looking for more fully funded scholarships, international fellowships, internships, jobs and other opportunities for African students and graduates?
Join the VacancyBridge WhatsApp channel for regular opportunity updates.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vakee9aHFxOyCIBPJA0o
APPLY ON THIS OFFICIAL PAGE
🌍 FINAL THOUGHTS
🎓 UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships for African Students
🎓 UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships for African Students. The UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program represents more than a traditional scholarship.
It combines graduate education with comprehensive financial support, leadership development, entrepreneurship training, professional networking and practical experiences connected to Africa.
For talented African students who face financial barriers to studying at a world-class university, the program can provide the resources and support needed to pursue advanced education while preparing for meaningful impact.
However, applicants should remember that the process begins with admission to an eligible UC Berkeley master’s program. Because graduate deadlines and requirements differ by department, prospective Scholars should start preparing early and carefully follow the requirements of their chosen program.
With the right academic preparation, a clear sense of purpose and a strong commitment to Africa’s future, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley can be an important opportunity for the next generation of African leaders.
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