Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program as a catalyst for change at the University of Edinburgh

Since 2016, the University has worked in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to deliver a transformative initiative centred on creating opportunities for talented young people from across Africa, in line with our civic mission strategic theme.  

Going beyond traditional scholarships, which focus on financial support and access to education, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh has supported students with personal development, leadership skills, entrepreneurship and community engagement. With programmes of study centred around climate and sustainability, Mastercard Foundation Scholars are leading change with integrity and advocating for social and economic growth in their communities.

• The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh has empowered over 200 young scholars from 26 African countries since 2016.
• The eligible Masters programmes centre around sustainability, climate and global challenges.
• In Phase 2 of the project, online programmes are now offered in addition to on-campus study.
• Our graduates join a community of more than 20,000 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni from over 40 partner institutions worldwide, over 70% of whom are young women. 

As well as facilitating transformation at the individual level – the scholars – and local level – their communities – the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has provided transformation at an institutional and sector level through its innovative approach.

For example, the creation of the Foundations for All Toolkit provides guidance on effectively facilitating access to and future success in higher education for displaced and refugee young people in resource-poor environments through contextualised blended bridging programs. This resource builds knowledge and helps fuel developments across the sector. 

Mastercard Foundation Scholars have advocated for Afro-centric curricula in classroom settings, prompting adaptations in programs such as the MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems. This Masters programme has become increasingly popular with Mastercard Foundation Scholars, since some graduates have already made significant impact in their careers, and course content has been adapted to better suit African contexts. For example, tidal power generation has limited relevance in African context, so courses now incorporate adjacent technologies such as river hydro to create a more globally-focuses programme for all.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has driven changes within the University of Edinburgh by developing practices and processes that benefit the organisation and beyond.

The project has pioneered developments around entry requirements and application processes at the University to facilitate access. For example, the Admissions and Qualifications Group adopted the online Oxford ELLT test for Mastercard Foundation Scholars, ensuring accessibility for those lacking in-person test facilities. Additionally, the program has refined entry requirements by incorporating feedback and adding partner universities in Africa to their list of institutions exempt from English language proficiency evidence, with five universities added in 2024/25.

The University has developed dedicated programmes of support for on-campus and online Mastercard Foundation Scholars, including intentional use of peer-support where appropriate. For example, the Scholars’ Network was initiated by the program and now supports students from 14 different scholarship programmes at the University.

By collaborating with other higher education institutions, the Mastercard Foundation and technical partners have multiplied their impact. For example, the partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and Edinburgh Innovation brings together online and on-campus scholars for in-person entrepreneurial training, empowering them to lead on sustainability challenges across Africa.

Recognising that barriers to education are intersectional – not just financial, but also social, cultural and structural – the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has influenced policy and helped create support systems that have wide-reaching impact. For example, the Digital Education Practitioners Network (DEPN), is establishing practitioner networks and building digital capacity for universities in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly to support greater inclusion of those traditionally underrepresented in higher education. 

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program developed an open-access toolkit to share knowledge on educational transitions, based on students’ lived experiences. The project deepened understanding of transition from schools and universities in the Global South to higher education institutions in the Global North, and developed support systems, particularly mentoring, to aid international students’ transition and academic success. 

This values-led approach has opened the door for subsequent programmes. New initiatives are now able to build on the knowledge, improvements and innovative practices that the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program established. It has demonstrated that meaningful change is not only possible, but is deeply successful. 

While Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program originally addressed the lack of diversity at Edinburgh by supporting talented students from Africa, now in its second phase it has further refined its focus to encourage applications from women, young people from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and young people living with disabilities.

Education Beyond Borders followed in those footsteps, providing more than financial scholarship. It has built a holistic programme of support and education for displaced scholars who have experienced the impacts of conflict, war, violence, and environmental disasters. While both initiatives reflect the University’s commitment to addressing access to education, Education Beyond Borders was able to draw on the depth of experience established by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh. In doing so, it has strengthened Edinburgh’s position to address global challenges such as equity and climate change through education. 

Both programmes contribute to UNHCR’s ‘15by30’ target to achieve 15% of refugee learners in higher education by 2030. Currently, 7% of refugees have access compared to only 1% in 2019.

As the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program continues to evolve, it leaves a lasting impact on the University of Edinburgh and beyond. By prioritising values over prestige or profit, it demonstrates how universities can be powerful forces for global change.  

The delivery of equitable education and leadership development has transformed individual lives, shaped institutional policy, and our global communities. This values-led approach has paved the way for initiatives like Education Beyond Borders, is empowering young leaders to address global challenges, and reaffirms the University’s commitment to fostering a culture of inclusivity and sustainable global development.