The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is an implementing partner of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Initiated in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars 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 persons 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. The aim of the Program is to equip youth with the necessary tools and education to drive transformative change, which will positively impact their communities and countries. For the 2026 academic year, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC will provide fully funded opportunities for young scholars to study for i) undergraduate qualifications or ii) master’s degree qualifications.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: August 31, 2025
2. Country to Study: South Africa
3. School to Study: University of the Western Cape
4. Type: Masters
5. Course to Study: Governance and Human Rights, Information Science, Law, Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Migration Studies, Public Health, Sociology
6. Sponsor: Mastercard Foundation
7. Gender: Men and Women

Eligibility Criteria for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026 at the University of the Western Cape

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

1. Be no older than 30 years for the master’s degree studies;
2. 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 2026;
3. International applicants must ensure their qualifications meet the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requirements. For verification, visit https://www.saqa.org.za/;
4. Be prepared to begin their first year of registration for full-time master’s degree study in January 2026;
5. Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.

Documents Required for Application

1. Proof of parental income (e.g., payslips, social grant letters, letters from the financial aid office if previously funded by NSFAS).
2. If no proof of income is available or if unemployed, a letter of unemployment from the Department of Labour must be provided.
3. A copy of refugee or internally displaced documentation (where applicable).

Should you experience challenges in submitting your application, you may e-mail:

ssganda@uwc.ac.za – postgraduate applicants and qmhlauli@uwc.ac.za – undergraduate applicants.

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

1. Personal Information
2. Academic Information
3. Family Information
4. Short Narratives
5. Community Engagement
6. Certification

Benefits of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026 at the University of the Western Cape

Mastercard Foundation Scholars will be provided with:

1. Tuition fee
2. Pre-arrival support and an official onboarding welcome programme
3. Housing in a UWC residence on campus
4. Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar has the best possible experience at UWC
5. A monthly stipend and meal allowance
6. Medical aid
7. Laptop
8. Study materials allowance and
9. Holistic wrap-around support programmes.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to MasterCard Foundation on student.uwc.ac.za to apply

Step 1: Apply for admission to study at UWC

1. Applicants intending to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC must first submit an academic application to study at UWC for the 2026 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.
2. 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 for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC

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.

For more details, visit Mastercard Foundation Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

August 31, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026 at the University of the Western Cape