The Mastercard Foundation Rwanda Scholarship at the University of Rwanda (UR) is currently accepting applications for its third cohort of postgraduate scholars for the 2026–2027 academic year. With applications closing on August 22, 2026, at 23:59 Central Africa Time (CAT), this represents one of the most comprehensive and urgent scholarship opportunities for African graduate students.

The program will recruit 30 scholars for eligible two-year Master’s degree programs, placing heavy emphasis on young women, certified refugees, displaced youth, and persons with disabilities entering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and health-related disciplines.

Program Benefits & Financial Support

• Financial Package: Full tuition coverage, monthly living stipends, a laptop, learning materials, and an annual return travel allowance.

• Holistic Mentorship: Structured academic tutoring, peer mentorship, leadership congresses, and global alumni network membership.

• Psychosocial Support: Dedicated mental health and wellness support designed to reduce isolation and postgraduate student attrition.

• Career Development: Customized industrial internships, career counseling, and transition-to-work enterprise support.

Quota Allocation & Priority Targets

Selection is structured around clear diversity targets:

• 70% reserved for qualified female candidates.

• 80% allocated to STEM and allied health science fields.

• 25% reserved for certified refugees (holding official UNHCR or MINEMA documentation).

• 10% allocated to persons with disabilities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Citizenship: Rwandan or African national (including certified refugees and displaced youth).

• Academic Background: A completed Bachelor’s degree relevant to the intended University of Rwanda Master’s program.

• Program Prerequisite: Must have applied for admission to a two-year Master’s program at the University of Rwanda for the September 2026 intake.

• Age Limits: Under 40 years for male applicants; under 45 years for female applicants at the time of application.

• Need & Impact: Demonstrated economic disadvantage, social hardship, or disability, alongside a proven track record of community leadership.

 

Why this matters

Rwanda has built one of the more credible health systems in the region on the strength of deliberate investment in health workforce training, and studying there gives an African health professional something a European degree does not: proximity to a health system that solved problems your own country still has. For Nigerian, Ghanaian and Kenyan applicants, that comparative perspective is the underrated value of studying in another African country.

 

How to Apply

Applicants must complete the online application via the official University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholars recruitment portal before the August 22 deadline. Ensure your academic transcripts, proof of UR program application, and financial need or disability/refugee documentation are prepared and scanned before starting the online form.