Brief description:
The
vision of The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program is to educate and
develop academically qualified yet economically disadvantaged young
people in Africa who will contribute to the transformation of the
continent. This $500 million program will provide students in secondary
school and university with the knowledge and leadership skills needed to
contribute to economic and social progress across Africa.
Host Institution(s):
The
following universities/institutions were selected for their commitment
to academic excellence, nurturing environments, and programs relevant to
growth sectors in Africa, such as manufacturing, telecommunications,
banking, and agriculture:
- African Leadership Academy, South Africa
- Ashesi University, Ghana
- American University of Beirut, USA
- Arizona State University, USA
- Duke University, USA
- Earth University, Costa Rica
- Michigan State University, USA
- Stanford University, USA
- Wellesley College, USA
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
- Ashesi University, Ghana
- American University of Beirut, USA
- Arizona State University, USA
- Duke University, USA
- Earth University, Costa Rica
- Michigan State University, USA
- Stanford University, USA
- Wellesley College, USA
- University of California, Berkeley, USA
Field(s) of study:
Approved
fields of studies offered by participating Universities/Institutions.
See the MasterCard Foundation Scholarship pages of the
Universities/Institutions above.
Number of Scholarships:
The Scholarship Programs aims to give out $500 million worth of scholarships to 15,000 African students in 10 years.
Target group:
Citizens of Sub-Saharan Africans
Scholarship value/inclusions:
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program is designed to provide students with holistic support, including:
Comprehensive Scholarships: Students receive financial support for fees, uniforms, books and supplies, transportation, accommodation, and stipends.
21st Century Skill Building: Students
benefit from enrichment in skill areas relevant to employment success,
such as critical thinking, communications, and entrepreneurship.
Transition Support:
Students will receive support during their transition into secondary
school, university or the workforce with mentoring, career counseling,
internships, leadership development, and other life skills coaching.
Give-back Component: An
integral component of the Program is the commitment from the Scholars
to give back to their communities and countries of origin. Students will
demonstrate this commitment through volunteerism and community service,
as well as other forms of experiential learning.
Alumni Network: Graduates
of the Scholars Program will be connected through an alumni network
that offers information, resources, and opportunities to consult with
other graduates.
Eligibility:
Please check the specific eligibility criteria of the host institution/university you are interested in.
Application instructions:
Applications must be made directly to the participating university/institution of your choice. Deadline varies but is around February-July 2013 this year.
It
is important to visit the institution’s or university’s websites (see
above links) and the official website (link found below) for detailed
information on how to apply for this scholarship.
Website:
Official Scholarship Website: http://mastercardfdnscholars.org/
the
duration of their course, bearing in mind that fees and expenses are
likely to increase annually. Although it is increasingly possible for
international students to work part-time while studying in the UK,
(part-time earning levels are about £6 – £9 per hour, and this is
currently restricted to 20 hours per week by the UK Border Agency) they
should not rely on funding the studies through vacation or part-time
work since your earnings are likely to be low in relation to the
expenses. UEA offers up to five scholarships for students of developing
countries.