{"id":26150,"date":"2025-10-30T02:13:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T02:13:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opportunitiesforyouth.org\/?p=26150"},"modified":"2025-10-30T02:13:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T02:13:22","slug":"mastercard-foundation-scholars-program-at-uc-berkeley-for-young-africansfully-funded-scholarships-to-study-in-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/?p=26150","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0University of California, Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program for Young Africans(Fully Funded Scholarships to Study in USA)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"http:\/\/www.berkeley.edu\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">University of California, Berkeley <\/a>is one of two partner universities that offers professional Master&#8217;s degrees, along with undergraduate degrees. The\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/africa.berkeley.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">Center for African Studies<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/mastercardfdn.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">Mastercard Foundation <\/a>are engaged in a ten-year partnership to support 201 master\u2019s degree students from African countries who are academically talented and committed to transformative change on the continent. The Program recruits widely across Africa and encourages applications particularly from women, people with disabilities, and those who are refugees or displaced.<\/p>\n<p>Founded in 1868, UC Berkeley is one of the world\u2019s leading academic institutions and ranked as the premier public university. Widely known as &#8220;Cal,&#8221; the campus is renowned for the distinction of its faculty and students, the scope of its research and publications, and the size and quality of its libraries and laboratories. National rankings consistently place Berkeley\u2019s undergraduate and graduate programs among the very best in a variety of disciplines.<\/p>\n<p>For more details on what Berkeley has to offer, please explore our\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"http:\/\/vcro-vm-i004-dev05.berkeley.edu\/node\/13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">Undergraduate<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"http:\/\/vcro-vm-i004-dev05.berkeley.edu\/node\/14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">Graduate<\/a>\u00a0application pages.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Students with a Disability<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>UC Berkeley offers some of the most comprehensive services and assistance in higher education for students with disabilities. To learn more, visit the\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/dsp.berkeley.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-extlink=\"\">Disabled Students&#8217; Program website<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Deadline:<\/strong> Varies by course<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\u00a0Center for African Studies\u00a0and the\u00a0Mastercard Foundation\u00a0are engaged in a ten-year partnership to support 108 master\u2019s degree students from Sub-Saharan African countries who are academically talented and committed to transformative change on the continent. The Program recruits widely across Sub-Saharan Africa and encourages applications particularly from women, people with disabilities, and those who are refugees or displaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div class=\"panel-pane pane-node-content\">\n<div class=\"pane-content\">\n<article class=\"node node-openberkeley-content-page node-view--full clearfix\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Being a citizen of an African country:<\/strong>\u00a0This includes Africans who have been forcibly displaced or have refugee status within the African continent. Those with dual citizenship, asylee, refugee or permanent resident status in the US, Canada, UK or EU are not eligible.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Having academic talent:<\/strong>\u00a0All prospective Scholars must first be admitted to a UC Berkeley master&#8217;s degree program to be considered for the Scholarship. An important criteria for admission to the University is demonstrated academic excellence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Demonstrating leadership potential:<\/strong>\u00a0The Program seeks those committed to developing the skills and mindsets associated with transformative leadership, i.e, that which engages others in an ethical manner to generate positive and lasting change.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Experienced significant barriers to accessing higher education:\u00a0<\/strong>This Scholarship is designed for those extremely talented individuals who might have faced barriers to quality higher education, including social, financial, personal, practical or health related.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Having demonstrated the commitment to give back to your community, country, or continent:<\/strong>\u00a0We are looking for well-rounded students who are engaged in activities beyond the classroom. Some may be directly related to your field of study, but this may also include other issues (social, economic, political) that you are working on and passionate about. Applicants should elaborate on their achievements both in their application to UC Berkeley, and then later in the application for the Scholars Program.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Having expressed the desire and intention to return to your home country after completing your studies and post-graduation training:<\/strong>\u00a0We are looking for students who are engaged with and passionate about issues affecting their communities, and who will take advantage of their education at UC Berkeley to better equip themselves with the knowledge and training to address these issues upon return. While important work can be done from abroad, the intention of the Program is to enable Scholars to return home, after forming valuable professional connections through internships, academic training and job placements.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Other considerations<\/h2>\n<p>All other things being equal, we will give priority to candidates who:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Did their undergraduate degree at an African university.<\/li>\n<li>Do not already have a post-graduate degree (i.e., master&#8217;s or doctorate).<\/li>\n<li>Have not already benefited from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>Every year the mix of candidates varies. There are always more well-qualified and deserving candidates than there are spaces in the Scholars Program at UC Berkeley.<\/div>\n<p>Send questions on eligiblity to\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/mail\/?view=cm&amp;fs=1&amp;tf=1&amp;to=mcfs.programinfo@berkeley.edu&amp;su=Mastercard%20Foundation%20Scholars%20Program%20Eligibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">mcfs.programinfo@berkeley.edu<span class=\"mailto\"><span class=\"element-invisible\">(link sends e-mail)<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel-pane pane-fieldable-panels-pane pane-vuuid-aa341f26-b524-4704-9981-90e2acb4f3c6 openberkeley-theme-subtle-header-style pane-bundle-text clearfix\">\n<div class=\"pane-content\">\n<div class=\"fieldable-panels-pane\">\n<div class=\"field field-name-field-basic-text-text field-type-text-long field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Send questions on eligibility to <a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/mail\/?view=cm&amp;fs=1&amp;tf=1&amp;to=mcfs.programinfo@berkeley.edu&amp;su=Mastercard%20Foundation%20Scholars%20Program%20Eligibility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">mcfs.programinfo@berkeley.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>BENEFITS<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Mastercard Foundation Scholars receive a comprehensive scholarship equivalent to the costs associated with earning a master\u2019s degree, which includes travel, tuition, Berkeley student fees, visa and SEVIS fees, housing, food, living expenses, and cohort signature programs which will focus on leadership and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>APPLICATION<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Master&#8217;s degree applicants must first apply to an\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/mcfscholarsprogram.berkeley.edu\/graduate-application-process#EligiblePrograms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eligible master&#8217;s degree program<\/a>\u00a0before they can be nominated for the Mastercard Foundations Scholars Program. If a graduate program has multilple admission rounds with staggered deadlines, only those who submit applications in the first round can be considered for the Scholars Program.<\/p>\n<p>Each\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/grad.berkeley.edu\/programs\/list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">graduate degree program<\/a>\u00a0has specific requirements and deadlines. Applicants should carefully review these. The\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/grad.berkeley.edu\/admissions\/steps-to-apply\/apply\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">Graduate Division<\/a>\u00a0also provides detailed information on the admissions process. Direct questions regarding admission requirements should be made to the specific graduate program. We outline more details of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application process\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/mcfscholarsprogram.berkeley.edu\/graduate-application-process\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">for master&#8217;s program here<\/a>. We will recruit Mastercard Foundation Scholars through the fall of 2028.<\/p>\n<p>While the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley is not open to undergraduates, students at this level are welcome to apply to the University of California, Berkeley. More information on the undergraduate process is available on the\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/admissions.berkeley.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">Undergraduate Admissions site<\/a>. Other\u00a0<a class=\"openberkeley-theme-base-file-link-icons-processed\" href=\"https:\/\/mastercardfdn.org\/all\/scholars\/becoming-a-scholar\/apply-to-the-scholars-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-extlink=\"\">Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners<\/a>\u00a0are recruiting undergraduates.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mcfscholarsprogram.berkeley.edu\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>OFFICIAL LINK<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph {\"align\":\"center\"} -->\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mcfscholarsprogram.berkeley.edu\/apply-be-mastercard-foundation-scholar-uc-berkeley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">APPLY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0University of California, Berkeley is one of two partner universities that offers professional Master&#8217;s degrees, along with undergraduate degrees. The\u00a0Center for African Studies\u00a0and the\u00a0Mastercard Foundation are engaged in a ten-year partnership to support 201 master\u2019s degree students from African countries who are academically talented and committed to transformative change on the continent. The Program recruits&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65764,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,37,41],"tags":[93,106,112,107],"class_list":{"0":"post-26150","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-africa","8":"category-bachelor","9":"category-master","10":"tag-africa","11":"tag-deadline","12":"tag-masters","13":"tag-united-states","14":"article","15":"","17":"has-excerpt","18":"has-avatar","19":"has-author","20":"has-nickname","21":"has-date","22":"has-comment-count","23":"has-category-meta","24":"has-read-more","25":"has-title","26":"has-post-media","27":"thumbnail-","28":"has-tfm-share-icons"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26150"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26150\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/65764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}