Application Deadline: Varying by Course
The University of California, Berkeley has partnered with The MasterCard Foundation in a collaborative, global network of education institutions and non-profit organizations that believe education is a catalyst for social and economic advancement. The Program aims to benefit 15,000 young people over 10 years, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Prospective undergraduate students from Sub-Saharan African countries are welcome to apply to the University of California, Berkeley. Information on the process can be found on the Admissions site and below. However, The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley will not be soliciting applications for undergraduate scholarships for fall 2017 or beyond.
As an eight year program from 2012 to 2020, the undergraduate recruitment phase has ended. The UC Berkeley MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program will continue to recruit Graduate Scholars for two-year degree programs that begin in Fall 2017 and Fall 2018.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Being a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country – If you have refugee status, are stateless, or have other questions regarding your citizenship, you may still be eligible. Please contact us directly to clarify. This scholarship is not intended for citizens of North African countries.
- Excelling academically – All prospective Scholars must first be admitted to UC Berkeley to be considered for the Scholarship. An important criteria for admission to the University is demonstrated academic excellence.
- Coming from an economically disadvantaged background – We aim to admit those from the bottom two income quintiles per country. This Scholarship is designed for those extremely talented individuals who have no other means of acquiring the further education required to help realize their dreams and ambitions.
- Having demonstrated the will to give back to your community, country, or continent – We 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 on the Scholarship application.
- Having expressed the desire and intention to return to your home country after completing your studies – We 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 this Program is to enable Scholars to return home, after forming valuable professional connections through internship and job placements.
Master’s Degree programs:
**Please note that PhD and doctoral programs do not qualify for the Scholarship.
UC Berkeley offers the following Master’s programs
- Architecture (M.Arch) – For Fall 2018 admissions, only the two year, not three year program, is eligible for the MCF Scholarship
- Art (MFA)
- Business Administration (MBA)*
- City & Regional Planning (MCP)
- Development Practice (MDP)
- Education (DMS, EMST, or MUSE)
- Energy & Resources (ERG)
- Engineering (M.Eng, MS)
- Folklore (MA)
- Journalism (MJ)
- Information Management & Systems (MIMS)
- Public Health (MPH), various concentrations
- Public Policy (MPP)
- Social Welfare (MSW)
*MBA students need to secure additional funding from Haas Business School through obtaining Haas scholarships, which requires meeting the Round One or Two application deadline. We encourage you to contact us if you are interested to learn more details about this unique process.
Application Sequence
- Master’s degree prospective applicants must first apply to the University through the regular admissions process before they will be considered for the MasterCard Foundations Program Scholarship.
- After the graduate degree program admissions process is underway, the UCB MCF Scholars Program will invite prospective candidates to apply for the Scholarship.
For More Information: