Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po 2027 (Fully Funded)

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po is designed for students from the African continent who wish to pursue a two-year Master's degree at Sciences Po. The Program covers the full financial needs of selected Scholars and provides comprehensive support throughout their two years of study at Sciences Po.

• Table of Content
• About MasterCard Foundation
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
• Aim and Benefits of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
• Requirements for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About MasterCard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is an international non-governmental organization established by Mastercard in 2006. The organization, which is based in Toronto, Ontario, has supported work in 49 countries.In 2018, Mastercard Foundation shifted to a specific focus on Africa, through its Young Africa Works strategy. The foundation develops programs primarily focused on reducing gender and economic inequality, expanding access to quality education, increasing the opportunities for decent work, and supporting overall economic growth.Funding is primaril... continue reading

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Application Deadline	Not Specified
Country to study	France
School to study	Sciences Po University
Type	Masters
Sponsor	MasterCard Foundation
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po is designed for students from the African continent who wish to pursue a two-year Master's degree at Sciences Po. The Program covers the full financial needs of selected Scholars and provides comprehensive support throughout their two years of study at Sciences Po.

Requirements for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Qualification

To be part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Meet Sciences Po's academic requirements (please consult the table of minimum academic results required according to the country of your home university).
• Meet the eligibility criteria for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
• Apply to and be admitted to a two-year Master's programme at Sciences Po (dual degree programmes and one-year Master's programmes are not eligible).
• Be selected by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Selection Committee.

To be eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Hold the citizenship of an African country. Applicants holding dual citizenship that includes citizenship of a country outside the African continent are not eligible.
• Be currently completing, or already hold, a Bachelor's degree from one of the universities on this list of institutions.
  • Or, be currently completing, or already hold, a Bachelor's degree and have participated in a recognised bridge programme or mentoring programme offered by one of the approved organisations (see the list of institutions).
  • Or, be currently completing, or already hold, a Bachelor's degree and currently hold, or have previously held, UNHCR refugee status.
• Be under 35 years of age on 1 September of the year in which the scholarship application is submitted.
• Not already hold, or currently pursuing, a Master's degree.
• Be applying to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program for the first time.

The following are not eligible:

• Students currently enrolled at Sciences Po.
• Students currently enrolled in, or graduated from, a French higher education institution.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

In both your written scholarship application and during the interview, you will be expected to:

• Demonstrate a clear alignment between your chosen Master's programme at Sciences Po, your personal and academic background, and your future career goals.
• Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical insight into the major contemporary political, economic, and societal challenges facing Africa and the world.
• Demonstrate ambition, originality, and perseverance through entrepreneurial initiatives or public service projects that have the potential to contribute to Africa's socio-economic transformation.

Applicants are encouraged to write authentically and to draw on concrete personal experiences to explain how joining the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will enable them to become changemakers.

Documents Required for Application

Highly recommended that you begin preparing them now, along with the documents required for your Sciences Po Master's application.

List of supporting documents will be required at this stage :

• A valid identity document (passport, national identity card, or travel document).
• Proof that you have completed, or are currently completing, a Bachelor's degree (transcript, diploma, or certificate) at one of the recognised partner universities (see the list of partner institutions).
  • Or, proof that you have completed, or are currently completing, a Bachelor's degree (transcript, diploma, or certificate), and a certificate confirming successful completion of a recognised bridge programme (see the list of partner institutions).
  • Or, proof that you have completed, or are currently completing, a Bachelor's degree (transcript, diploma, or certificate), and proof of your refugee status (UNHCR registration card).

Check also:
Commonwealth Master's Scholarship to Study in UK 2027/2028
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Africans 2027 (Fully Funded to USA)

Application Deadline

Not Specified

How to Apply

If you meet the eligibility criteria described above, you will be able to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and request an application fee waiver.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will receive a message explaining the steps you need to follow to complete and submit your application on the Sciences Po application platform, with your application fee waived.

Admission to a Sciences Po Master's Programme

The International Graduate Admissions Procedure is the only admissions pathway to a two-year Master's programme at Sciences Po that allows applicants to be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Important: 

• Before starting your application, you must consult the table of minimum academic requirements. Applicants who do not meet this mandatory academic threshold will automatically be deemed ineligible.
• Your application will only be reviewed if it is complete. Any missing or non-compliant supporting document (such as missing transcripts or language test results, academic recommendations submitted from a personal email address, etc.) will render your application incomplete and therefore ineligible. You are strongly encouraged to prepare all required documents as early as possible and submit a complete application.
• Particular attention should be paid to the required letters of recommendation, as obtaining them may take time.

For further questions about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po, please check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

If you cannot find the answer to your question in the FAQ, you may contact us at: [email protected].

You can also follow the LinkedIn page to stay informed about the latest news and updates from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po.

For further questions about the graduate international admissions, please contact us.

For more Information, visit Sciences Po Mastercard Foundation Scholar Program webpage