University of the Western Cape (UWC) is an implementing partner of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Initiated in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative designed to develop the next generation of transformative leaders by enabling highly talented, service-oriented young people, primarily young Africans, to pursue their higher education and cultivate their leadership potential.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is specifically targeted towards young people whose access to higher education is impeded by economic and social barriers. The Program places a particular emphasis on reaching young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and persons with disabilities, who are encouraged to apply.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC supports academically talented youth from South Africa and other parts of the African continent. The aim of the Program is to equip youth with the necessary tools and education to drive transformative change which will positively impact their communities and countries. For the 2026 academic year, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC will provide fully-funded opportunities for young scholars to study for i) undergraduate qualifications or ii) master’s degree qualifications.
Applications are restricted to the following disciplines/fields of study:
Undergraduate Qualification
- Arts and Humanities (History, Linguistics, Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies)
- Economic & Management Sciences (Economics, Information Sciences and Public Administration)
- Education (Mathematics and Science, Foundation Phase)
- Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences)
Postgraduate Qualification: Master’s Degree
- Art & Humanities (Applied Linguistics, History, Gender Justice, Migration Studies, Sociology for Development)
- Community & Health Sciences (Public Health)
- Economic & Management Sciences (Development Studies, Information Sciences)
- Law (Governance and Human Rights)
- Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences)
Eligibility Requirements
Undergraduate Studies:
- Be no older than 26 years for the undergraduate studies;
- Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information, visit www.uwc.ac.za) and must have applied for academic admission to the University for 2026;
- International applicants must apply for exemption through Universities South Africa (USAf) to determine if they meet South Africa’s minimum higher education admission requirements. (For exemption applications and additional information, please visit https://usaf.ac.za/facilitating-entry-to-sa-universities/).
- Be prepared to register for full-time undergraduate study in January 2026;
- Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
Master’s Degree Studies:
- Be no older than 30 years for the master’s degree studies;
- Meet the University’s minimum admissions requirements (for program/discipline-specific information
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- Be prepared to begin their first year of registration for full-time master’s degree study in January 2026;
- Provide evidence that access to university studies is impeded by social and economic barriers.
Benefits
- In addition to providing support for tuition fees, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC provides a range of specialised resources to support Mastercard Foundation Scholars to facilitate their transition into dignified and fulfilling work. In particular, Mastercard Foundation Scholars will be provided with:
      o Pre-arrival support and an official on-boarding welcome programme;
      o Housing in a UWC residence on campus;
      o Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar has the best possible experience at UWC;
      o A monthly stipend and meal allowance;
      o Medical aid;
      o Laptop;
      o Study materials allowance; and
      o Holistic wrap around support programmes.
