We’re delighted to announce that 92 outstanding African students have been selected to become Mastercard Foundation Scholars and will begin their master’s programmes in Cambridge this October.
Selected applicants come from 23 different African countries, including two not previously represented on the programme; Togo and Sierra Leone.
The fifth cohort will be the largest yet, with numbers growing steadily since the first cohort of 16 scholars in 2022.
"Congratulations to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars of 2026/2027 – we can’t wait to welcome you all to Cambridge.
We’re excited to be supporting even more students in the coming year, and especially proud of this cohort’s diversity. You’ll be studying 37 different courses, taking on the complex challenges of climate resilience and sustainability from all angles.
Selection gets more competitive each year. With such a high volume of strong applications received, we’re incredibly grateful to departments across the University and our programme management board for supporting us in making these difficult decisions." Programme Manager, Awah Azah
Students will arrive in September and get to know their fellow Mastercard Foundation Scholars and spend time with mentors from the preceding cohort during a week-long orientation before term starts.
Applications re-open in September
The application process for the 2027/2028 academic year opens in September, with a series of webinars starting in June to give potential applicants an introduction to the programme and how to apply. More information and registration link coming soon.
