Updated: August 25, 2026 | Reading time: 6 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of California, Berkeley is open for its next master’s-degree cohort. Since 2020, Berkeley’s Center for African Studies and the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship UC Berkeley have run a long-term partnership to fund over 200 master’s students from Sub-Saharan Africa, and the university expects to keep recruiting new Scholars through fall 2028.
One correction worth making upfront: this program is master’s-degree only at Berkeley. It is not open to undergraduate or PhD applicants here — even though the wider Mastercard Foundation Scholars network does fund undergraduates at some of its other partner universities. If a Berkeley bachelor’s-level scholarship is what you’re after, this isn’t it. This guide covers who actually qualifies, what’s covered, the real application timeline, and how to apply.
Quick Facts
- Program: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- Host Institution: University of California, Berkeley
- Degree Level: Master’s programs of two years or less only (no bachelor’s or PhD at Berkeley)
- Eligible Nationality: Citizens of Sub-Saharan African countries (refugees, stateless, and displaced applicants also eligible)
- Coverage: Full tuition, Berkeley campus fees, travel, visa/SEVIS costs, housing, food, living stipend, leadership programming
- Recruiting Scholars Through: Fall 2028
- Berkeley Admissions Window: September – early January (most department deadlines fall in December)
- Scholars Program Demographic/Recommender Info Due: November 15
- Supplemental Scholars Application: Typically opens in February, after nomination
About the Program
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative that has committed more than USD $1.2 billion to the education and leadership development of over 40,000 young people across its partner universities and organizations. At Berkeley specifically, the program builds on a partnership that began in 2012; the current phase, running through 2030, targets more than 200 master’s Scholars, with a new cohort entering each year until 2028.
The program’s goal isn’t just to fund a degree — it’s built around students who intend to return to Africa after graduating and apply what they’ve learned there. Scholars enrolled in programs longer than two semesters also complete an approved internship in Africa, with the program covering round-trip airfare and a living stipend for that placement.
What the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship UC Berkeley Covers
Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Berkeley receive a comprehensive package that includes:
- Full tuition and mandatory Berkeley campus fees
- International travel to and from the US
- Visa and SEVIS fees
- Housing and food
- A living expenses stipend
- Participation in cohort leadership and entrepreneurship programming
- For eligible longer programs: a funded internship placement in Africa, including airfare and stipend
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country — applicants who are refugees, stateless, or otherwise displaced within the continent may still qualify
- Be academically talented and gain admission to an eligible Berkeley master’s program (2 years or less in length — check Berkeley’s published eligible-programs list, since not every master’s degree qualifies)
- Demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to transformative change in their community, country, or continent
- Come from an economically disadvantaged background with limited means to otherwise fund further study
- Express a genuine intention to return to their home country or region after completing their studies
- Not have previously benefited from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Bachelor’s and doctoral programs are explicitly excluded from eligibility at Berkeley, regardless of an applicant’s country of origin or financial need.
Application Timeline: What “Deadline” Actually Means Here
There’s no single Mastercard Foundation Scholarship UC Berkeley deadline — eligibility runs through Berkeley’s regular graduate admissions cycle, plus a separate Scholars Program nomination step. In order:
- September – early January: Apply to an eligible Berkeley master’s program through the regular graduate admissions process. Deadlines vary by department, with most falling in December — but only Round 1 applicants (submitted before January) are considered for the Scholars Program, even if a department accepts later rounds.
- By November 15: Complete the basic demographic section and list at least two recommenders on your Berkeley graduate application — this is required to be considered for an application fee waiver.
- February: If your graduate program nominates you, the Scholars Program invites you to complete a supplemental application covering leadership, your “give-back” plans, and past challenges. (In the 2025 cycle this supplemental deadline was February 25 — treat that as a guide, not a guarantee, and confirm the current date once nominated.)
- March: Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online interview.
- Late March / early April: The Scholars Program communicates final decisions.
How to Apply
- Pick an eligible master’s program. Check Berkeley’s published list of Mastercard Foundation-eligible master’s programs before you apply — not every department qualifies.
- Apply to Berkeley through the regular graduate admissions process, in Round 1, well before the January cutoff.
- Complete your demographic info and list two recommenders by November 15 for fee-waiver consideration.
- Wait for your department’s nomination. Only applicants nominated by their graduate program move forward to the Scholars Program’s supplemental application in February.
- Submit the supplemental application, including essays on leadership, community impact, and your plan to return home after graduating.
- Attend the interview, if selected, in March, and await final decisions in late March or early April.
Tips for a Competitive Application
- Apply to your Berkeley program as early as possible within Round 1 — late Round 1 submissions are still eligible, but don’t wait until the final week.
- Be specific about your return-to-Africa plan; reviewers are explicitly screening for this, not just checking a box.
- Choose recommenders who can speak to leadership and community involvement, not only academic performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can undergraduate students apply through this program at Berkeley?
No. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley currently funds master’s degrees only. Undergraduates can still apply to Berkeley itself, just not through this scholarship.
Is there one fixed application deadline?
No. It’s a multi-step timeline: apply to Berkeley in Round 1 (Sept–early Jan), complete demographic info by November 15, then — if nominated — submit a supplemental Scholars application, typically in February.
Can refugees or stateless applicants from Africa apply?
Yes. The program explicitly states that applicants who are refugees, stateless, or otherwise displaced within Africa may still be eligible.
Does the scholarship cover the full cost of the degree?
Yes, for eligible programs. It covers tuition, Berkeley fees, travel, visa costs, housing, food, and a living stipend, plus internship travel support for longer programs.
“For a complete list of funded programs, explore our guide on corporate academic research opportunities for African students.”
Official Resources
Program details and the eligible-programs list: mcfscholarsprogram.berkeley.edu
Berkeley graduate admissions: gradapp.berkeley.edu