Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027/28: Fully Funded

The University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is now at the application stage for 2027/28, but only eligible applicants who attended a mandatory virtual information session in September 2026 and received an invitation can proceed. Invited applicants must complete the Applicant Declaration Form by 19 October 2026 at 5pm UK time; successful applicants at that stage must submit the main scholarship application by 19 November 2026 at 5pm UK time.

Official University of Edinburgh sources checked 15 October 2026. The declaration form may close earlier if the programme reaches its application limit.

Key details

University: University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Level: Postgraduate Master’s; selected online Master’s and Postgraduate Diploma routes

Funding: Fully funded on-campus scholarship; full tuition plus defined study support for online scholars

Who can apply now: Eligible African applicants who attended the required September information session and received an invitation

Applicant Declaration deadline: 19 October 2026, 5pm UK time

Main application deadline: 19 November 2026, 5pm UK time

Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027/28 fully funded postgraduate scholarship — ScholarshipHubNow information graphic for the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/28.

What the scholarship covers

For the on-campus postgraduate scholarship, the University states that support includes full approved tuition, accommodation, travel, a living-cost stipend and study materials. Scholars also take part in a Climate Leadership Programme.

For the online scholarship, the published package includes full approved tuition fees, an academic stipend intended to support access to a laptop and high-quality internet, an opportunity to attend an in-person gathering, and participation in the wider Climate Leadership Programme.

This distinction matters: applicants should not assume that the online route provides the same accommodation or living-cost package as the on-campus scholarship.

Who is eligible?

The University lists several core conditions for the 2027/28 cycle. Applicants must:

be academically eligible for a relevant University of Edinburgh postgraduate programme, normally at the equivalent of at least a UK upper-second-class bachelor’s degree;
have faced significant barriers in education or early career;
have completed undergraduate study and be able to upload a final degree certificate and official final transcript by 19 November 2026;
be a resident and citizen of an African country, or hold refugee status in an African country;
show leadership and service in their community;
show experience or ambition to make a meaningful contribution to addressing the climate crisis;
be aged 35 or younger in the year the programme starts. For 2027/28, the University accepts applicants born on or after 1 January 1992.

For a Master’s scholarship, applicants should not already have completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled, or applying to enrol, at another university while on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The online Postgraduate Diploma route has different prior-degree rules, so applicants should check the official eligibility page carefully.

The application process changed for 2027/28

This cycle has an important pre-screening requirement. Attending one of the University’s virtual information sessions held from 15 to 24 September 2026 was mandatory. Attendance alone did not guarantee access to the application; only attendees who also met the preliminary eligibility conditions received an invitation through SurveyMonkey Apply from 13 October.

If you did not attend one of those sessions, the University states that you cannot enter the 2027/28 scholarship application process. ScholarshipHubNow therefore does not recommend looking for an unofficial form or third-party application link.

How invited applicants should apply

Open the invitation received through SurveyMonkey Apply and confirm that it is for the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Complete the Applicant Declaration Form as early as possible. The formal deadline is 19 October 2026 at 5pm UK time, but the University warns that the form may close earlier if the application limit is reached.
If you pass the declaration stage, complete the Postgraduate Assessment and Scholarship Main Application.
Prepare your final official degree certificate and final official transcript. These documents must be available by the main application deadline.
Submit the main application by 19 November 2026 at 5pm UK time.
Keep the confirmation email showing that the submission was successfully completed.

Do you need to apply to the University first?

No, not if the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is the only Edinburgh scholarship you are pursuing. The University instructs applicants to apply for the scholarship first. If you receive a scholarship offer, the programme team will later support you through the University degree application. The University also states that the degree application fee will be waived for accepted Mastercard Foundation Scholars.

If you are applying for other Edinburgh scholarships that require an active degree application, you may submit the academic application in parallel.

Documents to prepare

The University’s FAQ specifically requires the final official university degree certificate and final official transcript for postgraduate applicants. These must be ready by 19 November 2026. Applicants should also keep their personal, academic and leadership evidence consistent with the information already supplied during preliminary screening.

References are not required at the initial application stage. The University says shortlisted applicants will later provide a referee’s name and contact details, and the programme will request the reference directly during the interview stage.

Selection timeline

The University expects application assessment from late November 2026 through January 2027. On-campus applicants are expected to hear about interview shortlisting in early February 2027, while online applicants are expected to hear around mid-February. Interviews run through February and March, with final scholarship outcomes expected by the end of March 2027.

Applicant-fit guidance

This scholarship is especially aligned with applicants who can show more than strong grades. The eligibility rules explicitly emphasize barriers overcome, community leadership and an intention to contribute to climate-related impact. In practice, applicants should prepare evidence showing what they did, who benefited, what changed and what they learned, rather than relying on broad statements such as “I am passionate about leadership.”

Because the declaration stage may close early, invited applicants should treat 19 October as the absolute latest date rather than a target submission date. Before submitting the main application, compare each answer against the published eligibility criteria and remove claims that cannot be supported by documents or concrete examples.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship fully funded?

For on-campus scholars, yes. The University lists full approved tuition, accommodation, travel, a living-cost stipend and study materials. Online scholars receive full tuition and defined academic support, but the package is structured differently.

Can I still apply if I missed the September information sessions?

No. For the 2027/28 cycle, attendance at one of the mandatory virtual information sessions was required before an applicant could be considered for an invitation.

What is the first deadline?

Invited applicants must complete the Applicant Declaration Form by 19 October 2026 at 5pm UK time. The University warns that it can close earlier once the application limit is reached.

What is the main scholarship deadline?

The main Postgraduate Assessment and Scholarship Application closes on 19 November 2026 at 5pm UK time.

Can someone who already has a Master’s degree apply?

Applicants to the Master’s scholarship should not already have completed a postgraduate degree. The online Postgraduate Diploma route has a separate rule and may accept applicants with a Master’s degree from an African university.

Official Application Instructions

Official sources

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ScholarshipHubNow is an independent information platform. Final eligibility, selection and funding decisions are made by the University of Edinburgh and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.