The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is an implementing partner of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Initiated in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative designed to develop the next generation of transformative leaders by enabling highly talented, service-oriented young people, primarily young Africans, to pursue their higher education and cultivate their leadership potential.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is specifically targeted towards young people whose access to higher education is impeded by economic and social barriers.
The Program places a particular emphasis on reaching young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and persons with disabilities, who are encouraged to apply.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC supports academically talented youth from South Africa and other parts of the African continent. The aim of the Program is to equip youth with the necessary tools and education to drive transformative change which will positively impact their communities and countries. For the 2026 academic year, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC will provide fully-funded opportunities for young scholars to study for i) undergraduate qualifications or ii) master’s degree qualifications.
About the Scholarship
The University of the Western Cape invites applications for a limited number of undergraduate and master’s degree scholarships from qualifying candidates from South Africa and the African continent who are prepared to register for full-time study in 2026.
Applications are restricted to the following disciplines/fields of study:
Undergraduate Qualifications:
- Arts and Humanities (History, Linguistics, Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies)
- Economic & Management Sciences (Economics, Information Sciences and Public Administration)
- Education (Mathematics and Science, Foundation Phase)
- Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences)
Post Graduate qualifications: Master’s DegreeÂ
- Art & Humanities (Applied Linguistics, History, Gender Justice, Migration Studies, Sociology for Development)
- Community & Health Sciences (Public Health)
- Economic & Management Sciences (Development Studies, Information Sciences)
- Law (Governance and Human Rights)
- Natural Sciences (Biological, Computational, Mathematical and Physical Sciences)
Eligibility:
How To ApplyÂ
Step 1: Apply for admission to study at UWC
- Applicants intending to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC must first submit an academic application to study at UWC for the 2026 academic year.
- Only applicants who have successfully submitted their academic application and obtained a UWC application number are eligible to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC, as a UWC application number is required to complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form.
Step 2: Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC
Once you have successfully submitted your application to study at UWC, apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by completing the online application available
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF AWARD
In addition to providing support for tuition fees, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC provides a range of specialised resources to support Mastercard Foundation Scholars to facilitate their transition into dignified and fulfilling work. In particular, Mastercard Foundation Scholars will be provided with:
- Â Pre-arrival support and an official on-boarding welcome programme;
- Â Housing in a UWC residence on campus;
- Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar has the best possible experience at UWC;
- A monthly stipend and meal allowance
- Medical aid
- Laptop
- Study materials allowance; and
- Holistic wrap around support programmes.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars are required to sign a scholarship agreement once they are accepted and enrolled onto the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars are expected to meet the required academic standards of the University to retain their scholarships.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC provides support to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars for the duration of their registered qualification at the University.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars are expected to comply with the rules and regulations of the University of the Western Cape as stipulated in the University calendar.
