Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Call for Applications for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of the Western Cape – Academic Year 2025

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is an implementing partner of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Initiated in 2012, the Program is a global initiative designed to develop the next generation of transformative leaders by enabling highly talented, service-oriented young people, primarily young Africans, to pursue their higher education and cultivate their leadership potential.

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 i) undergraduate qualifications or ii) 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.

1. Call for Applications

The University of the Western Cape invites applications for a limited number of undergraduate and master’s degree scholarships from qualifying candidates from South Africa and the African continent who are prepared to register for full-time study in 2025.

Applications are restricted to the following disciplines/fields of study:

Postgraduate Qualification: Master’s Degree

Undergraduate Qualifications

1. Fields of Study

• 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).

2. Eligibility

At the time of application, an applicant must satisfy the following four criteria:

• Be no older than 26 years for the undergraduate studies;
• Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za) 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.

Candidates who intend to register for a second undergraduate degree are ineligible to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

3. 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. To apply, please use the following link: admission-and-financial-aid/apply. Take note of the application closing dates for the desired programme /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 available via study/partnerships/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program.

Should you experience challenges in submitting your application you may e-mail: qmhlauli@uwc.ac.za

There are six main sections that will need to be completed in the application form:

• Personal Information
• Academic Information
• Family Information
• Short Narratives
• Community Engagement
• Certification

Please note that no  duplicate applications will be accepted and applications received in duplicate will be automatically disqualified.

The closing date for all applications is Friday, 30 August 2024. Due to the large volumes of applications received, we are unable to give personalized  feedback to applicants. If you do not hear from the university by Friday, 15 November 2024, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Applicants are strongly advised to submit only ONE complete application. Incomplete and duplicate applications will be rejected.

General conditions of award:

• In addition to providing support for tuition fees, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC provides a range of specialised 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 on-boarding welcome programme;
• 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 programmes.
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars are required to sign a scholarship agreement once they are accepted and enrolled onto the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
• The Program will only fund Mastercard Foundation Scholars taking up full time studies at UWC – for 2 years – masters degrees,– undergraduate degrees, for the minimum duration of study.
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars will not be permitted to hold another UWC scholarship / internal bursary concurrently with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. If you are the recipient of an external partial bursary the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will complement the scholarship where deemed necessary.  A Mastercard Foundation Scholar cannot hold the Mastercard Foundation award in addition to another full cost bursary/scholarship.  
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars participate in wrap around support programmes (WASP) that are geared towards personal, academic and professional development including community – engaged learning, leadership development and entrepreneurship training to prepare Mastercard Foundation Scholars for the world of work. Participation in WASP, is compulsory for all Mastercard Foundation Scholars. 
• Masters degree Mastercard Foundation Scholars who intend to take up a work-study program in the university are only allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours per month.

Please note:

• The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC will communicate with applicants through email (preferred) and phone contact. Applicants should ensure that the phone numbers and email addresses provided are accurate and active in order to receive important information and feedback.
• After the selection process, successful applicants will be invited for a virtual or in-person interview conducted by independent panels.
• Applicants who are found to have provided false information during any stage of the application and selection process will be disqualified. Any attempt to influence the selection process will lead to automatic disqualification.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR THE MASTERCARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM AT UWC