Cambridge Scholarships for Africans 2027/28: Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Gates Cambridge Funding

African graduates applying to the University of Cambridge for 2027/28 can target two Cambridge scholarships for Africans that sit inside the same course application: the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, for master’s degrees and reserved for Africans, and Gates Cambridge, for master’s and PhD study from any country outside the UK. For non-US applicants the course funding deadline is 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the course.

Who they are and why it matters

The Mastercard Foundation programme at Cambridge supports outstanding African students through a master’s degree. Gates Cambridge offers around 70 full-cost scholarships a year, about two-thirds of them to PhD students.

The opportunity

Both are applied for through the Cambridge postgraduate application: you opt in for funding and write a scholarship statement. Mastercard Foundation covers any full-time master’s except the MBA, Master of Finance, Master of Accountancy and Master of Corporate Law. Its guidance says the funding deadline is usually early December or January depending on the course.

Who is eligible

Mastercard Foundation: you must hold a bachelor’s degree, meet your course’s entry standard (a UK first or upper second equivalent), be from and live in an African country (temporary study or work abroad is allowed), and show commitment to giving back and to sustainability and climate resilience. Gates Cambridge: citizens of any country outside the UK applying for full-time postgraduate study. Part-time courses are not eligible for either.

What it is worth

Gates Cambridge covers the university fee, a maintenance allowance of GBP 23,152 for 12 months at the 2026-27 rate, economy airfare at the start and end of the course, and visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs. The Mastercard Foundation pages we read do not itemise the award; see the programme’s What we offer page.

Deadline

Deadline: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, by course  28 days remaining as of 10 November 2026.

Verification note: The two dated deadlines are published on the Gates Cambridge timeline. The Mastercard Foundation page gives only early December or January by course, so check your course’s funding deadline in the directory and work to the earlier date.

How to apply for Cambridge scholarships for Africans

1. Find your course in the Cambridge postgraduate directory and note its funding deadline.
2. Start the course application, opt in for funding and tick the schemes you are eligible for.
3. If your country is not on Cambridge’s automatic fee-waiver list, submit the application fee waiver form by 20 November 2026.
4. Write the scholarship statements and submit by your course’s funding deadline; this digest works to the earlier date, 8 December 2026.

What a strong application looks like: Both schemes select on leadership and commitment to others as well as grades. Tie a specific health problem you have worked on to the exact course and to a concrete plan for giving back.

Re-checked on 10 November.

HealthCoach insight: One application, two full scholarships: more chances for the same effort.

Official application link: Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Cambridge: how to apply (Gates Cambridge timeline in sources)

HealthCoach publishes this opportunities column every week. Subscribe at healthcoachafrica.com/subscribe.