Honours

Selection Criteria  

• Candidates must have received a firm offer to study at UCT
• Candidates must come from an economically disadvantaged background
• Candidates must demonstrate leadership capability and must have acted in a leadership capacity
• Candidates must meet the set academic criteria (see no.3 below)
• A condition of the award is that graduates return to their home country and invest their gained skills and knowledge into the social and economic growth of their country

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration for The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Target Group  

• Be a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country
• Be Honours study applicants
• Be admitted to an Honours programme and commence with their first year of registration in any of the faculties at UCT
• Be from an economically disadvantaged background and demonstrate financial need
• Candidates who intend to register for a second postgraduate Honours degree are ineligible to apply for this scholarship

Academic Criteria

• Only candidates who have applied to the relevant academic department at the University of Cape Town are eligible to apply for The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town awards. Although each academic department has its own academic criteria, a minimum of 60% for undergraduate or an equivalent degree is the general academic criterion required for entry into the Honours programmes.
• Successful candidates will be required to produce the original academic transcripts on registration at UCT.

Value of the Scholarships

The scholarships are considered to be full-cost and will include full cover for the following:

• Visa costs
• Transport costs to and from South Africa
• Full tuition and international student fees
• Full accommodation, subsistence and living expenses
• Research costs as approved or recommended by UCT and the Foundation
• Access to internship opportunities and cover of related costs
• Medical aid

Application Procedure

1. In order to apply for The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, applicants must first apply to the UCT for academic study and placement.
2. At the point of selection, the applicant should have a conditional/firm offer from the University of Cape Town
3. The following required supporting documents must be attached/uploaded to the undergraduate scholarship application form:
   • Certified copy of Identity Document, Passport or Refugee Papers
   • Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) of no more than two (2) A4 pages using the following points as context:
     • Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities
     • Skills and Interests
     • Academic and/or Professional Experience
   • Certified copies of all Secondary education transcripts
   • Applicants will be required to produce translated copies of all academic transcripts where English is not the primary language
   • 2 Academic Referee Reports
   • Academic referee reports must be presented in the English language
   • Referees may attach additional pages or documentation in support of the recommendation on the official institutional letterhead with original signature, stamp and date in support of the applicant
   • Applicants’ are required to submit an essay of no more than 2000 words using the following points as context:
     • In which ways do you envisage contributing to the economic growth and social development of your country and Africa on completion of your studies, using your education as leverage?
     • Explain any community service activities you have been involved in.
     • List the qualities that, for you, define leadership and elaborate on leadership initiatives that you have undertaken.
4. Shortlisted applicants will be notified and will be required to submit documentary evidence of the information provided on the scholarship application form
5. The submission of incomplete and / or late scholarship applications will not be accepted and will be cancelled. Such applicants will not be considered for selection of scholarships.
6. To apply for a MasterCard Foundation scholarship, please refer to the full guidelines for undergraduate applicants.
7. Alternatively, request information on how to apply for a MasterCard Foundation scholarship from The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program: Recruitment and Peer Mentor Officer at info_mcfsp@uct.ac.za (telephone number +27 (0)21 650 5923 / 3601).

Postgraduates

Application Procedure

1. In order to apply for The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, applicants must first apply to UCT for academic study and placement
2. At the point of selection, the applicant should have a conditional/firm offer from the University of Cape Town
3. The following required supporting documents must be attached/uploaded to the postgraduate Master’s scholarship application form:
   • Certified copy of Identity Document, Passport or Refugee Papers
   • Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae (CV) of no more than two (2) A4 pages using the following points as context:
     • Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities
     • Skills and Interests
     • Academic and/or Professional Experience
   • Proof of Registration for the current degree (if currently registered)
   • Certified copies of all Secondary education transcripts
   • Applicants will be required to produce translated copies of all academic transcripts where English is not the primary language
   • 2 Academic Referee Reports
   • Academic referee reports must be presented in the English language
   • Referees may attach additional pages or documentation in support of the recommendation on the official institutional letterhead with original signature, stamp and date in support of the applicant
   • Certified copies of all current and previous Tertiary education transcripts
   • Applicants’ are required to submit an essay of no more than 2000 words using the following points as context:
     • In which ways do you envisage contributing to the economic growth and social development of your country and Africa on completion of your studies, using your education as leverage?
     • Explain any community service activities you have been involved in.
     • List the qualities that, for you, define leadership and elaborate on leadership initiatives that you have undertaken.
4. Shortlisted applicants will be notified and will be required to submit documentary evidence of the information provided on the scholarship application form
5. The submission of incomplete and / or late scholarship applications will not be accepted and will be cancelled. Such applicants will not be considered for selection of scholarships.
6. To apply for a MasterCard Foundation scholarship, please refer to the full guidelines for postgraduate applicants.
7. Alternatively, request information on how to apply for a MasterCard Foundation scholarship from The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program: Recruitment and Peer Mentor Officer at info_mcfsp@uct.ac.za (telephone number +27 (0)21 650 5923 / 3601).