The University of California, Berkeley has partnered with The MasterCard Foundation
in a collaborative, global network of education institutions and non-profit
organizations that believe education is a catalyst for social and economic
advancement. The Program aims to benefit 15,000 young people over 10 years,
mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
At UC Berkeley, the Program will provide support to at least 113 students
from 2012 to 2020, and is open to both undergraduate and professional Master’s
students. Students seeking doctoral degrees are not eligible for this Program.
To be considered for the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, both
undergraduate and graduate degree seekers must first be admitted to the
university through the regular admissions process. Once students apply for
University admission, the Program will invite them to apply for the Scholarship
if they meet eligibility requirements.
Eligibility
The five main eligibility
criteria are:
Being a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country - If you have refugee status, are stateless, or have
other questions regarding your citizenship, you may still be eligible.
Please contact us directly to clarify. This scholarship is not intended
for citizens of North African countries.
Excelling academically - All prospective Scholars must first be admitted
to UC Berkeley to be considered for the Scholarship. An important criteria
for admission to the University is demonstrated academic excellence.
Coming from an economically disadvantaged background - We aim to admit those from the bottom two income
quintiles per country. This Scholarship is designed for those extremely
talented individuals who have no other means of acquiring the further
education required to help realize their dreams and ambitions.
Having demonstrated the will to give back to your
community, country, or continent -
We are looking for well-rounded students who are engaged in activities
beyond the classroom. Some may be directly related to your field of study,
but this may also include other issues (social, economic, political) that
you are working on and passionate about. Applicants should elaborate on
their achievements both in their application to UC Berkeley, and then
later on the Scholarship application.
Having expressed the desire and intention to return to
your home country after completing your studies - We are looking for students who are engaged with and
passionate about issues affecting their communities, and who will take
advantage of their education at UC Berkeley to better equip themselves
with the knowledge and training to address these issues upon return. While
important work can be done from abroad, the intention of this Program is
to enable Scholars to return home, after forming valuable professional
connections through internship and job placements.
How to Apply
Both undergraduate and graduate
degree seekers must first be admitted to the university through the regular
admissions process before they will be considered for the MasterCard
Foundations Program Scholarship. The Office
of Undergraduate Admissions and the Graduate
Division provide detailed information on the admissions process for
international students.
Please refer to the Apply
page for more information on the application process.
