The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge will provide fully-funded opportunities for 1,025 young people to complete interdisciplinary programmes with a focus on climate resilience and sustainability. This includes 500 in-person Master’s-level degrees and 25 Doctoral scholarships.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a decade-old initiative designed to support the higher education and leadership development of high-achieving students, largely from Africa, who face social and economic barriers to their learning yet share a strong commitment to service. The Program is intentional in reaching young women, forcibly displaced youth and young people with disabilities. Beyond enabling their academic pursuits, the Program provides Scholars with a platform to practice transformative leadership. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge is specifically designed to support young future leaders who intend to use their academic training to drive climate resilience and sustainability.

Addressing the climate crisis requires a range of expertise across both scientific/STEM disciplines and the arts, humanities and social sciences, so prospective Mastercard Foundation Scholars can apply to the majority of courses available at the University.

Professor Bhaskar Vira, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Cambridge, said “The Program trains these scholars in a range of academic disciplines – from the creative arts and writing, through the social sciences, to more scientific and technical disciplines, because a multidisciplinary response to the climate crisis is critical.

“We are looking to support students with academic talent and a commitment to giving back to their community, in particular a desire and commitment to contribute to climate-resilient and sustainable futures for Africa and the world. African women, refugees and internally displaced people, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.”

As part of the application process, prospective Scholars will be asked for a supplementary statement which indicates their personal commitment to contributing to climate-resilient and sustainable futures for Africa.

The first cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars started their courses in Cambridge in October 2022. Incoming students will join a global community of nearly 40,000 young people who are Scholars or Alumni of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.#

Find out more about the Mastercard Foundation scholarship at Cambridge.