Deadline: October 19, 2026.

They invite exceptional young people with great academic and leadership experience who have overcome barriers to their education and are diligently committed to pursuing their studies to apply for an Online Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh.

Online studies are an excellent way to earn a qualification for those who would like to continue working and prefer to study in their local context. Online qualifications through the University of Edinburgh are equivalent to degrees taught on campus.

Applicants can apply for either:

• online Masters (part-time up to three years OR
• online postgraduate diploma (part-time up to two years)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree programme listed. You will generally need to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher.
2. Applicants will have faced significant barriers to education and in their early career (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related).
3. Applicants must have graduated from an undergraduate study and must have a degree certificate and official final transcript to upload alongside their application by 19 November 2026.
4. Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in an African country.
5. Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
6. Applicants must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis
7. Applicants must be 35 or under the year the programme commences. Therefore, for the 2027/28 academic year, we accept applications from those born on or after 1 January 1992. Anyone born in 1991 and prior is not eligible.
8. If applying for a Masters programme: Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or applying to enrol) at a separate university whilst on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
9. If applying for the online Postgraduate Diploma: Applicants can either have an undergraduate or Masters degree from an African university (provided they will graduate from either degree by 19th November 2026). If you have a Masters degree, our admissions team will review your first degree (undergraduate) to meet the postgraduate diploma entry requirement. The Program will review your Masters degree transcripts to confirm your university’s graduation date and location.
10. They encourage applications from women, people from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and people with disabilities.

BENEFITS

The online scholarship provides:

• full approved tuition fees; scholars will not pay for any part of the tuition fees
• an academic stipend to allow for access to a laptop and high-quality internet
• the opportunity to attend an in-person gathering
• participation in activities as part of the wider Climate Leadership Programme at the University of Edinburgh, including regular online workshops, online coaching and support
• participation in the Climate Enterprise School, an intensive week-long programme of training in sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation
• a dedicated Online Coordinator
• additional support for Scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs
• transitions support

SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection process for applications is based on the following criteria:

• academic merit of the candidate that qualifies for admissions to the University of Edinburgh 
• strong interest in Online learning and demonstrated understanding of what Online learning entails
• track record as a transformative leader and service within their community
• quality of application in line with the Program’s theme of climate justice
• potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country
• applicants who have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related)

Find more information on the OFFICIAL WEBSITE