 |
| MasterCard at University of Western Cape |
Fully-Funded MasterCard Foundation Scholarships at the University of the Western Cape for Master's and Undergraduate Students
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, in partnership with the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is currently offering fully funded scholarships to both undergraduate and master's students who wish to study at the University of the Western Cape starting in January 2026. The scholarship targets students from all African Countries who meet the eligibility criteria.
About the MasterCard Foundation
The foundation was initiated in the year 2012 to help develop the next generation of transformative young African leaders who are highly talented and are service-oriented to pursue higher education and cultivate their leadership spirits. The foundation aims to support young Africans who have limited access to higher education as a result of economic and social barriers, with much emphasis placed on young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and people living with disabilities.
- Pre-arrival support and an official on-boarding welcome programme;
- Housing in a UWC residence on campus;
- Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar has the best possible experience at UWC
- A monthly stipend and meal allowance
- A laptop
- Medical aid
- Study materials allowance, and
- Holistic wrap-around support programmes.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are expected to meet the following criteria to be eligible :
A) For Undergraduate Studies:
- The applicant must be prepared to register for full-time undergraduate study in January 2026.
- You should provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
- You must not be older than 26 years for undergraduate studies.
- All applicants must meet the University's minimum admissions requirements and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2026. (For program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za)
- International applicants must apply for exemption through Universities South Africa (USAf) to determine if they meet South Africa's minimum higher education admission requirements. (For exemption applications and additional information, please visit https://usaf.ac.za/facilitating-entry-to-sa-universities/).
B) For Master’s Degree Studies:
- You must not be older than 30 years for the master’s degree studies
- You must meet the University's minimum admissions requirements ( and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2026. For program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za
Application Process for the MasterCard Foundation Scholarship at the University Western Cape
Step 1: First, apply for admission to study at UWC
- Applicants intending to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC must first submit an academic application to study at UWC for the 2026 academic year. To apply for admissions, please use this link: admission-and-financial-aid/apply. Remember to take note of the application closing dates for the desired programme.
- Applicants who have successfully submitted their admissions application and obtained a UWC application number are eligible to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC, since a UWC application number is required to complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form.
Step 2: Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC
Upon submitting your admission application and getting a UWC application number, you can then apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by completing the online application by Clicking Here
Undergraduate Studies disciplines/fields of study:
The MasterCard Scholars Program only supports undergraduate applicants applying to the following fields of study:
- Education (Mathematics and Science, Foundation Phase)
- Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences)
- Arts and Humanities (History, Linguistics, Sociology, and Women’s and Gender Studies)
- Economic & Management Sciences (Economics, Information Sciences, and Public Administration)
Recommended: Fully Funded Portugal Government International Students Scholarships 2026 for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD Students
Postgraduate Studies disciplines/fields of study:
The MasterCard Scholars Program only supports postgraduate applicants applying to the following fields of study:
- Law (Governance and Human Rights)
- Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences)
- Art & Humanities (Applied Linguistics, History, Gender Justice, Migration Studies, Sociology for Development)
- Community & Health Sciences (Public Health)
- Economic & Management Sciences (Development Studies, Information Sciences)
Documents Required for the MasterCard Scholarship Application
When applying for the scholarship, the following documents are required to complete the application:
- A copy of refugee or internally displaced documentation (where applicable).
- Proof of parental income (e.g., payslips, social grant letters, letters from the financial aid office if previously funded by NSFAS).
- If no proof of income is available or if unemployed, a letter of unemployment from the Department of Labour or the relevant department in your country must be provided.
Sections of the Application Form:
- Family Information
- Short Narratives
- Personal Information
- Academic Information
- Community Engagement
- Certification
Application Deadline:
The deadline for the application of the MasterCard Foundation scholarships at the University of Western Cape is Sunday, 31 August 2025.
It is expected that applicants who do not hear from the university by mid-December should consider their applications unsuccessful.
Note: Applicants are strongly advised to submit only ONE complete application. Incomplete and duplicate applications will be rejected.