University of Western Cape Mastercard Scholarship 2025
University of the Western Cape MasterCard Scholarship is a global initiative designed to develop the next generation of transformative leaders by enabling highly talented, service-oriented young people, primarily young Africans, to pursue their higher education and cultivate their leadership potential.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC supports academically talented youth from South Africa and other parts of the African continent.
For the 2025/26 Academic Year, the Scholars Program at UWC will provide fully-funded opportunities for young scholars to study for i) undergraduate qualifications or ii) master’s degree qualifications.
Synopsis of the University of Western Cape Mastercard Scholarship 2025
- Type: Undergraduate, Masters Scholarships
- Country to study: South Africa
- School to study: University of Western Cape
- Sponsored by: MasterCard Foundation + University of the Western Cape
- Eligible Countries: All African Countries
- Benefits: Full Scholarship, Accommodation, Monthly Stipends, Laptop, Travel Costs… and lots more
- Deadline: August 30, 2025
Eligibility Criterias for the University of Western Cape Mastercard Scholarship 2025
For Undergraduates:
At the time of application, an applicant must satisfy the following criterias:
- Be no older than 26 years for the undergraduate studies.
- Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za) and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2025.
- Be prepared to register for full-time undergraduate study in January 2025.
- Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
Candidates who intend to register for a second master’s degree are ineligible to apply for this scholarship.
For Masters:
At the time of application, an applicant must satisfy the following criterias:
- Be no older than 30 years for the master’s degree studies.
- Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za) and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2025.
- Be prepared to begin their first year of registration for full-time master’s degree study in January 2025.
- Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
Candidates who intend to register for a second master’s degree are ineligible to apply for this scholarship.
The Program places a particular emphasis on reaching young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and young people living with disabilities, who are encouraged to apply.
Perks of the University of Western Cape Mastercard Scholarship 2025
The Scholarship includes;
- Comprehensive financial support (full tuition, fully paid on-campus accommodation, laptop and learning materials, transportation and monthly stipend).
- Regular group meetings with other scholars that focus on personal and professional development opportunities and activities tailored to build societal relationships and scholars’ capacity.
- Continued academic support through academic mentoring, virtual learning, life and career coaching, and tutoring.
- Opportunities to participate in leadership congresses, community services and mentoring (Go-back Give- Back), and uniquely sourced internships.
- An academic environment where faculty and students engage with global issues.
- The prestige of becoming part of the growing family of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni and the Global Scholars Community.
Available Courses for University of Western Cape Mastercard Scholarship 2025
Undergraduate Fields of Study
- Arts & Humanities (History, Linguistics, Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies)
- Economic & Management Sciences (Economics, Information Sciences and Public Administration)
- Education (Mathematics and Science, Foundation Phase)
- Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
Postgraduate Qualification: Master’s Degree – Disciplines/fields of study:
- Humanities & Arts (Applied Linguistics, History, Gender Justice, Migration Studies, Sociology for Development).
- Community & Health Sciences (Public Health).
- Economic & Management Sciences (Development Studies, Information Sciences and Migration Studies).
- Law (Governance and Human Rights).
- Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
To apply for the University of the Western Cape Mastercard Scholarship, interested and qualified applicants should;
- Apply for undergraduate or master’s study to the University for 2025 (admission-and-financial-aid/apply, take note of application closing dates)
- Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by completing the online application (preferred method).
- Click here to apply online (Masters).
- Click here to apply online (Undergraduate).
- If you are unable to apply online you may download the application form and email the completed form and supporting documentation to [email protected] (the completed form and supporting documents must be submitted as one email).
The preferred method of application is via the online form submission.
Please note that no duplicate applications will be accepted and applications received via both routes (that is online and via downloadable form submission) will be automatically disqualified.
Deadline: August 30, 2025
