University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2026: Fully Funded

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The University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2026 is now open for applications. It is a fully funded postgraduate scholarship for African students who want to complete a master’s degree in Rwanda. The university will select 30 Mastercard Foundation Scholars for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The scholarship is available for selected two-year master’s programmes at the University of Rwanda. It covers full tuition fees, accommodation support, a laptop, learning materials, a monthly stipend, and travel costs. Applications are open until 22 August 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Africa Time.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports academically talented students who face financial and social barriers to higher education. Priority is given to women, refugees, displaced young people, students with disabilities, and applicants studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects.

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Quick Overview of University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2026

Host country: Rwanda
Host university: University of Rwanda
Scholarship provider: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Study level: Master’s degree
Number of scholarships: 30
Programme duration: Two years
Eligible applicants: Rwandan and other African students
Application deadline: 22 August 2026
Funding type: Fully funded

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About the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda is part of a 10-year partnership running from 2021 to 2031. The programme supports academically talented African students who face economic and social barriers to university education.

The partnership plans to support 1,200 students during the programme period. Its main target groups include women, refugees, displaced young people, and persons with disabilities. The programme also places strong attention on students entering STEM fields.

Scholarship recipients receive financial support and take part in leadership development, career preparation, community service, mentorship, internships, and networking activities.

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University of Rwanda Scholarship Benefits

The University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholarship provides financial, academic, and personal support throughout the study period.

The scholarship package includes:

Full university tuition fees
Registration and other academic costs
A laptop
Learning materials
Monthly living stipend
Accommodation support
Annual return travel ticket, where applicable
Academic mentoring and tutoring
Psychosocial support
Career development services
Professional development training
Internship opportunities
Entrepreneurship and leadership training
Networking with Mastercard Foundation Scholars and alumni

The programme also helps students prepare for employment, entrepreneurship, further education, and community leadership after graduation.

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Available Master’s Programmes

Applicants must apply for admission to an eligible postgraduate programme at the University of Rwanda. The current list published by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program includes programmes in gender studies, education, business, economics, data science, engineering, health, and technology.

College of Arts and Social Sciences

Master in Gender and Development

College of Education

Master of Education in Biology Education
Master of Education in Chemistry Education
Master of Education in Physics Education

College of Business and Economics

Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Economics
MSc in Data Science in Biostatistics
MSc in Data Science in Data Mining

College of Science and Technology

Master of Science in IoT Embedded Computing Systems
Master of Science in IoT Wireless Intelligent Sensor Networking
MSc in Electrical Power Systems
MSc in Biomedical Engineering

College of Medicine and Health Sciences

MSc in Health Supply Chain Management

Applicants should confirm that their selected programme is included in the 2026 scholarship call before submitting an application.

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University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements to apply for the University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2026:

Be a citizen of Rwanda or another African country
Have applied for admission to an eligible University of Rwanda master’s programme for the September 2026 intake
Meet the admission requirements of the selected master’s programme
Hold a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the intended master’s programme
Have completed the bachelor’s degree at a recognised institution
Demonstrate strong academic performance
Show financial and social need
Demonstrate leadership potential
Show involvement in community service or community development
Be willing to give back to the applicant’s community
Not be enrolled in another university programme
Not hold another tertiary qualification beyond the bachelor’s degree

Male applicants must not be older than 40 years, while female applicants must not be older than 45 years at the time of application.

The programme gives priority to qualified women, refugees, displaced youth, applicants with disabilities, and students applying for STEM programmes.

Continuing students who have already started their studies at the University of Rwanda are not eligible. The scholarship is intended for newly admitted students.

Scholarship Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed according to three main areas:

Economic disadvantage: 45%
Academic talent: 30%
Leadership potential: 25%

Applicants may also be invited for an interview or home visit as part of the selection process. Providing incorrect or misleading information can result in disqualification.

The university states that 70% of the available scholarships will be allocated to female applicants. It also gives preference to applicants entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programmes.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the following documents before beginning the online application:

Recent digital passport-size photograph with a white background
National identity card showing the applicant’s date of birth
Scanned national identity card
Valid passport for international applicants
Refugee identity card or supporting refugee document, where applicable
Disability certificate for applicants applying under the disability category
Leadership or community service certificates, where available
Academic records and supporting education documents
University of Rwanda admission information
Any additional documents requested in the application form

Documents should be clear and uploaded in the required PDF format where instructed. The online form allows applicants to save their progress and return before the deadline.

Admission Requirement Before Applying

Applicants must first apply for admission to the University of Rwanda. Scholarship consideration is conditional on receiving admission to an eligible postgraduate programme.
After completing the university admission application, candidates should use their University of Rwanda student number to create an account on the Mastercard Foundation scholarship portal.
Applicants with qualifications obtained outside Rwanda may be required to obtain academic equivalence from the relevant Rwandan education authorities. The recruitment portal refers international applicants to the Higher Education Council and the National Examination and School Inspection Authority for equivalence requirements.

How to Apply for the University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

The application process has two main stages.

Step 1: Apply for University of Rwanda Admission

Visit the University of Rwanda admissions portal and apply for an eligible postgraduate programme for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Complete the admission form and obtain the student number or application information required for the scholarship application.

Step 2: Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

Visit the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars recruitment portal.

Create an account using an active email address and complete all sections of the application form. The form requests information about:

Personal identification
Educational history
Family background
Financial and social circumstances
Leadership experience
Community involvement
Supporting documents

Review all information before submitting the form. Applicants can monitor their application status through the online dashboard after submission.

Important Information for International Applicants

International applicants must have a valid passport. Those selected for the scholarship may also need a police clearance certificate when applying for a study visa.

The recruitment portal states that citizens of all countries can receive an entry visa upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. International students must then apply for the appropriate study permit within the required period after arrival.

Applicants should confirm current immigration and visa requirements with the relevant Rwandan authorities before travelling.

University of Rwanda Scholarship Deadline

The application deadline for the University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship is:

22 August 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Africa Time

The official recruitment portal opened on 23 July 2026. The related University of Rwanda postgraduate admission period runs from 24 July to 22 August 2026. Applicants should complete both the admission and scholarship applications before the relevant deadlines.