Full Program Details
At the University of Cape Town, the Jammie Steps climb up to Sarah Baartman Hall, with Devil's Peak rising behind the campus. Every year a group of young Africans who could never pay UCT fees walk those steps on a scholarship that covers almost everything. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT pays for honours and coursework master's degrees, and the postgraduate window for 2027 closes on 31 October 2026.
The scholarship pays your tuition, campus accommodation, living expenses, medical aid, a laptop, a study visa where needed and annual travel to and from UCT, for the full length of your programme.
Details at a glance:
- Host: University of Cape Town, with the Mastercard Foundation
- Level: honours degrees, coursework master's degrees and Health Sciences postgraduate diplomas
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
- Postgraduate deadline: 31 October 2026
- Undergraduate round: closed on 30 September 2026
Eligibility note: only citizens of African countries, including South Africa, can apply. The programme is aimed at students who face real financial and social barriers to university.
What the Scholarship Covers
- Tuition fees for your programme
- Accommodation on UCT's campuses
- Living expenses
- Medical aid
- A laptop
- A study visa, where applicable
- Annual travel to and from UCT
Support lasts for the full period of your UCT programme. Renewal each year depends on good academic results, personal conduct and taking part in the programme's leadership and career activities.
Who Can Apply
- Citizens of any African country, including South Africa
- Applicants to an eligible taught postgraduate programme at UCT: an honours degree in any of UCT's six faculties, a coursework master's in any faculty, or a postgraduate diploma in the Faculty of Health Sciences
- Students who show academic talent and face significant social and economic barriers to higher education
- People with leadership potential and a record of serving their communities
The scholarship does not fund part-time study or research-only degrees. That means a master's by dissertation and a PhD are not covered.
How to Apply
You need two applications, one for your place at UCT and one for the scholarship. Only applicants who receive an offer of admission from UCT can become scholars.
- Choose an eligible honours, coursework master's or Health Sciences postgraduate diploma programme and check its entry requirements with the faculty.
- Apply to UCT for the programme through the university's online application portal.
- Complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form on UCT's scholarship website.
- Submit both before 31 October 2026. Check your faculty's own programme deadline too, since some close earlier.
GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: Bright African graduates from low-income backgrounds who want a one or two year taught master's or honours degree at one of the continent's best-known universities, without taking on debt.
Who should pause: PhD applicants, anyone planning a research-only master's, and applicants from families who can comfortably pay. Financial need is central to selection.
One tip to stand out: Do the UCT academic application first and early. The scholarship only goes to people UCT admits, so a late or incomplete course application can sink a strong scholarship file.
Read the full rules and start your application on the official UCT Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page.
