Mastercard Foundation Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships at Makerere University

Makerere University Management and the Mastercard Foundation renewed their partnership for the second phase of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program from 2023 to 2034.

The second phase of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University’s main campus in Kampala, Uganda will provide 1000 scholarships for 10 years at both the undergraduate (Bachelor’s degree) and graduate (Master’s degree) academic program levels. The scholarships are awarded to academically talented young men and women from Sub-Saharan Africa facing financial constraints to pursue their academic studies.

Makerere University is pleased to announce the first Cohort of 95 undergraduate and 05 Master’s scholarship opportunities to nationals, refugees, internally displaced youth, and international students joining Makerere University in the Academic Year 2024/2025 under the Private Sponsorship Scheme of Makerere University.

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University’s main campus in the Academic Year 2024/2025, the following conditions must be met:

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: APPLICANTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES

To be eligible to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, the following conditions must be met:

1. The applicant must be qualifying for admission at Makerere University’s main campus under the Private Sponsorship Scheme. Therefore, all applicants should apply for admission at Makerere University, main campus under the Private Sponsorship Scheme (when advertised). Once admitted to Makerere University’s main campus, then your application for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship at Makerere University shall be considered for the due selection processes.
2. The Applicant must have completed the Advanced level education (or its equivalent) in an African country.
3. The Applicant should provide evidence of significant financial hardship.
4. The Applicant should not be a holder of any other scholarship, including the Government Scholarship.
5. The Applicant should not have completed any undergraduate studies.
6. The Applicant must have served as a leader and with a record of community service.
7. The Applicant should be at the age of 28 years or younger at the time of the deadline of the application.
8. Applicants under the categories of Refugees, IDPs, and Students with Disabilities should be 32 years of age or younger at the time of the deadline of the application.

A refugee applicant must be a recognized and registered refugee with proof of refugee attestation.

Additional Consideration: The prioritized degree programmes are those aligned to the NDP III Strategic Development Areas of Agriculture, Tourism, Mineral Development, Infrastructure, and Human Capital Development (please refer to the application form for a list of programmes).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIP FOR MASTER’S ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

1. The applicant must qualify for admission at Makerere University’s main campus for the Master’s degree programme. Therefore, all applicants should apply for admission at Makerere University’s main campus under the Private Sponsorship Scheme (when advertised).
2. Once admitted to Makerere University’s main campus, then your application for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University shall be considered for the due selection processes.
3. The Applicant must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in an African country.
4. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships are restricted to individuals facing significant financial hardship.
5. Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential and a record of community service.
6. Applicants should not be holders of any other scholarship.
7. Applicants should not have registered for or completed any other Master’s degree.
8. The Applicant should not be over 35 years of age at the time of applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
9. Applicants under the category of Refugees and Students with Disabilities should not be over 40 years of age at the time of the deadline for the application for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
10. A refugee applicant must be a recognized and registered refugee with proof (refugee attestation) attached to the application form.

Additional Considerations for Applying for Master’s Studies

The Applicant shall submit a motivation statement indicating the incentive/driver for applying for a given academic programme. The statement should articulate how the pursuance of the preferred degree programme shall enable the applicant to contribute to innovatively solving a given societal challenge— (Max. 500 words)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Prospective applicants for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship can obtain and fill out the Scholarship Application Form AT NO COST through the following avenues:

• a) Physical/hard copy forms from the office of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, located at Plot 144, Pool Road, Makerere University (opposite the College of Computing and Information Sciences).
• b) Download the application forms from the website of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University at: https://mcfsp.mak.ac.ug
• c) Direct Online Application Portal: https://apply.mcfsp.mak.ac.ug/scholarships

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FORMS

Please submit your application form in one of the following avenues:

1. Hard copy application forms and all required attachments should be submitted to the office of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, located at Plot 144, Pool Road by 5:00 pm on Friday 14^th June 2024 for Applicants to join Academic Year 2024/25. For every application submitted, the applicant shall sign in the “Applications Received Book.”
2. Online submissions:
   • a) Filling the Online Application Form and attach copies of all required documents via https://apply.mcfsp.mak.ac.ug/scholarship
   • b) Submit via email as an attachment – The filled application form and scanned copies of all requirement documents and send via email: makscholarsapplication@gmail.com

Note: For inquiries or clarifications please call our office mob line at +256 700-716-128

When submitting your application form please attach all the listed in the application form.

Please note the following:

1. 70% of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships are reserved for young women.
2. 25% of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships are reserved for Youth with Refugee status
3. 10% of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships are reserved for Youth with Disabilities
4. Dishonesty and influence peddling will lead to automatic disqualification.
5. Falsification of documents or giving false information will lead to disqualification and/or prosecution.
6. Beware of fraudsters selling the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship forms as the APPLICATION FORM IS FREE.
7. Only successful applicants will be notified.

Note: Applications shall remain open for Persons with Disabilities, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons for the Academic Year 2025/26, for applicants who may not be in position to meet the deadline for Academic Year 2024/25.