University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Online Learning Scholars Program 2025/2026 (Fully Funded)

Application Deadline: 8 November 2024 at 5.00 pm UK time. 

Applications are now open for the 2025/2026 University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The University of Edinburgh invite exceptional young people with great academic and leadership experience who have overcome barriers to their education and are diligently committed to pursuing their studies to apply for an Online Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh.

Online studies are an excellent way to earn a qualification for those who would like to continue working and prefer to study in their local context.

Online qualifications through the University of Edinburgh are equivalent to degrees taught on campus.

Applicants can apply for either:

• Online Masters (part-time over 3 years) OR
• Online Post-graduate Diploma (part-time over 2 years)

Online Masters

Masters programmes normally aim at those who have completed an undergraduate degree and want to develop more specialised knowledge in the same subject or similar career area.

Applicants who already have a postgraduate qualification are not able to apply for the online Masters.

Online postgraduate diploma

Postgraduate diplomas are aimed at those who are considering a potential change in their careers and tend to be more vocational.

Candidates with either an undergraduate or Master’s degree from a Sub-Saharan African university are equally able to apply (provided they will graduate from either degree and provide their degree certificates and transcripts by the application deadline)

• International Development (Masters route only)
• Global Food Security and Nutrition (Masters or Diploma)
• Global Challenges (Masters or Diploma)
• Carbon Management (Masters route only)
• One Health (Masters or Diploma)
• Circular Economy (Masters or Diploma)
• Sustainable Lands and Cities (Masters or Diploma)
• Social Justice and Community Action (Masters or Diploma)

Eligibility Requirements

ou must meet the eligibility criteria to apply:

• Applicants must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh for a relevant degree programme listed. You will generally need to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Second Class (Upper) Bachelor’s (Hons) degree or higher. Find out more about the postgraduate entry requirements for your country:

Postgraduate entry requirements

• Applicants will have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related).
• Applicants must have graduated from an undergraduate study and must have a degree certificate and official final transcript to upload alongside their application by 8 November 2024.
• Applicants must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in a Sub-Saharan African country.
• Applicants must have faced barriers to education and early career
• Applicants must demonstrate a track record of leadership and service within their community.
• Applicants must demonstrate experience, or at least ambition, in making a meaningful impact in addressing the climate crisis.
• Applicants must be 35 or under the year the programme commences. Therefore, for the 2025/26 academic year, we accept applications from those born on or after 1 January 1990. Anyone born in 1989 and prior is not eligible.
• If applying for the online Masters programme: Applicants should not have previously completed a postgraduate degree and should not be enrolled (or applying to enrol) at a separate university.
• If applying for the online Postgraduate Diploma: Applicants can either have an undergraduate or Masters degree from a Sub-Saharan African university (provided they will graduate from either degree by 8 November 2024). If you have a Masters degree, our admissions team will review your first degree (undergraduate) to meet the postgraduate diploma entry requirement. The Program will review your Masters degree transcripts to confirm your university’s graduation date and location.
• We particularly welcome applications from female Scholars, Scholars from refugee and displaced backgrounds, and Scholars with disabilities (see FAQs below for further information) 

Benefits:

• Covers full approved tuition fees: scholars will not pay for any part of the tuition fees.
• Academic stipend to allow for access to high-quality internet, and laptop.
• The opportunity to attend an in-person gathering.
• Participation in activities as part of the wider Climate Leadership Programme at the University of Edinburgh, including regular online workshops, online coaching and support.
• A dedicated Online Coordinator
• Additional support is offered to Scholars with disabilities based on an assessment of needs.

Selection process

The selection process for applications is based on the following criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate that qualifies for admissions to the University of Edinburgh
• Track record as a transformative leader and service within their community
• Quality of application in line with the Program’s theme of climate justice.
• Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country.
• Applicants who have faced  significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health related).

How to apply

You must qualify academically for admission to the University of Edinburgh. The program require that applicants apply for this Program before applying to the University.

If you have any queries regarding the Mastercard Foundation Scholarships, which are not answered in the FAQs, please contact us at: mcfsp@ed.ac.uk

Applications Timeline 2025/26

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program