Are you an African student who wants a master’s degree in the United States but keeps running into the cost? Bookmark this one. The University of California, Berkeley runs a fully funded scholarship for African students through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, and the 2026-2027 cohort is what we are looking at here.
It pays for a lot more than tuition. And the goal behind it is simple: talented young Africans who face real barriers to education should not be priced out of becoming leaders back home.
Here is what you need to know before you apply.
What is the UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholarship?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a partnership between the Foundation and a network of universities and non-profits around the world. UC Berkeley is one of those partners, and it uses the program to offer full funding to African students doing a master’s degree.
The money is the obvious draw. But the program is really about leadership. It looks for students who plan to go home after their studies and use what they learned to fix the problems their communities deal with. So far the Foundation has put more than $1.2 billion into education and leadership development, reaching over 40,000 young people.
It also sits inside the Foundation’s wider Young Africa Works strategy, which backs young people from secondary school through university and into work.
Quick facts:
- Host country: United States
- Host institution: University of California, Berkeley
- Funding: Fully funded
- Level: Master’s degree
- Academic year: 2026-2027
What the scholarship covers
This is a full ride, not a partial grant. As a scholar you can expect support for:
- Tuition fees
- Housing
- Daily living expenses
- Travel costs
- Health insurance
- A place at UC Berkeley, with strong programs and research opportunities
- Leadership development and mentorship
- Support throughout your time on the program
The costs that usually stop African students from studying abroad are taken care of.
Mastercard Foundation partner universities
The Scholars Program runs across a wide network, so UC Berkeley is one option among many. The full list of partner universities includes:
African Development University, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), African Leadership Academy, African Leadership University, American University of Beirut, Arizona State University, Ashesi University, CAMFED, Carnegie Mellon University Africa, EARTH University, International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Makerere University, McGill University, Sciences Po, United States International University Africa, University of Abomey-Calavi, University of British Columbia, University of Cape Town, University of Edinburgh, University of Gondar, University of Pretoria, and University of Toronto.
Who is eligible?
Read this part slowly. The rules are strict, and a few of them rule people out before they even start.
You may apply if you:
- Are a citizen of an African country. Displaced people and those with refugee status inside Africa are included too.
- Have gained admission to a UC Berkeley master’s program. Strong academic ability matters here.
- Are committed to ethical leadership and to driving lasting change.
- Have faced major barriers to quality higher education, whether social, financial, personal, practical, or health related.
- Plan to return to your home community after your studies and post-graduation training, and to use your skills and network there.
- Hold an undergraduate degree from an African university.
You are not eligible if you:
- Already hold a postgraduate degree, whether a master’s or a doctorate.
- Have been supported by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program before.
- Hold dual citizenship, or asylee, refugee, or permanent resident status in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or the European Union.
Documents you will need
Get these together early. Scrambling for paperwork near a deadline is how good applications fall apart.
- Official transcripts from every college or university you have attended, showing your coursework and grades.
- A short record of your education, work experience, skills, and achievements.
- An essay covering your academic and career goals, why you want to study at UC Berkeley, and how your chosen program fits those goals.
- English test scores such as TOEFL or IELTS if English is not your first language.
- A personal statement for the scholarship.
- Proof that you have faced significant financial barriers to higher education.
- Documents confirming your African citizenship.
- Anything you are asked for about your community activities, your plans to stay in Africa, and how you intend to contribute to its development.
How to apply
The process runs in two stages. First you apply to UC Berkeley as a student. Only after that does the scholarship application open to you.
- Choose an eligible UC Berkeley master’s program that fits your academic and career goals.
- Submit the official UC Berkeley online graduate application for that program.
- Gather and upload every document your graduate application asks for.
- If you meet the scholarship criteria and get admitted to a suitable program, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley will invite you to send a separate scholarship application.
- Fill out the dedicated Mastercard Foundation Scholarship application form.
Application deadline
Deadlines and the list of eligible programs change from year to year, so there is no single fixed date to rely on. Check the official UC Berkeley Graduate Division pages and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program website for the current deadlines and the qualifying programs for your intended start date.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholarship fully funded? Yes. It covers tuition, housing, living costs, travel, and health insurance, plus leadership development and support throughout the program.
Who can apply for this scholarship? African citizens, including displaced people and refugees within Africa, who hold an undergraduate degree from an African university, have been admitted to a UC Berkeley master’s program, and have faced real barriers to higher education.
Can I apply if I already have a master’s degree? No. The program is for students who do not yet hold a postgraduate degree.
Does it cover a PhD? This scholarship at UC Berkeley funds master’s level study.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL? If English is not your first language, you will likely be asked for a proficiency score such as TOEFL or IELTS.
When is the deadline? It varies by year and program. Confirm the current date on the official UC Berkeley Graduate Division and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program websites.
Final thoughts
A fully funded master’s at UC Berkeley can change the direction of a career, and the Mastercard Foundation built this program for the students who usually get left out. If you fit the profile, start early. Pick your program, sort out your documents, and apply to UC Berkeley first so the scholarship route can open for you.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
