The Mastercard Foundation Scholars
Program at the University of Rwanda
Charity & Philanthropy
Call for Application for Postgraduate
Scholarships – 3rd Cohort
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Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
at the University of Rwanda
for Academic year 2026 – 2027
July 2026
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Call for Application for 3rd
Cohort-Postgraduate scholarships under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars
Program at the University of Rwanda
Study Grants & Scholarships
Academic Year 2026 – 2027
- BACKGROUND
The University of Rwanda in partnership
with Mastercard Foundation is implementing a 10-year Scholars Program
(MCF-SP@UR) aimed at enabling higher education access
to qualified young Africans, yet economically disadvantaged and/or coming from
conflict and post-conflict affected areas with a focus on women pursuing Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), young people with disabilities,
and refugee and displaced youth and strengthen the UR capability for inclusive
and supportive tertiary education pathways to dignified work.
The program is committed to developing
Africa’s next generation of ethical and transformative leaders who would
influence positive forward-looking changes in their respective home countries
specifically, and on the African Continent. It aims to drive and support
transformation at three levels: individual (Scholars), institutional (the
University), and system (higher education ecosystem and beyond).
Study Grants & Scholarships
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
at the University of Rwanda informs the prospective applicants that the online
Program application portal for receiving applications for Postgraduate Academic
Programs (Masters) for Academic year 2026-2027 will be open from
24/07/2026 to 22/08/2026.
Charity & Philanthropy
- AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS
- For the academic year 2026-2027, the Mastercard Foundation
Scholars Program at UR is recruiting the 3rd Cohort of 30 scholars in
UR Postgraduate Programs (Programs with 2 years duration).
- The program provides comprehensive scholarships for access to
quality postgraduate university education at the University of Rwanda to
qualified and academically talented, yet economically disadvantaged young
Rwandans with leadership potentials, as well as other disadvantaged
Africans, especially those in conflict and post-conflict areas.
- Priority shall be accorded to: Females, Certified
Refugees, and Persons with Disability.
- ELIGIBILITY
- Applicants must have applied for admission to the University of
Rwanda for the September 2026 intake in programs with a duration of two
years. Pre-selection will be conditional to admission into UR Masters
Programs for the September intake.
- Priority will be given to candidates enrolled in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs, with 80% of the
selected candidates to be from STEM fields.
- Priority shall also be accorded to Qualified Females (70%),
Certified Refugees (25%), and Persons with Disabilities (10%), who are
academically talented, yet economically disadvantaged and with leadership
potential.
- Continuing students are NOT eligible.
- SELECTION CRITERIA
- To apply for the scholarship, one must have successfully
completed his/her bachelor’s degree in fields of study related to the UR
Masters program s/he is applying for.
- Be Rwandan or African citizen (Refugees must be certified by
UNHCR, MINEMA, or another related legal agency).
- Not above 40 years of age for male, and not
above 45 years for female at the time of application.
- The applicant must demonstrate their critical social and/or
economic needs and/or disability.
- The applicant must have proven records of leadership and
community engagement(s).
- The applicant must have a strong commitment to community
engagement and be prepared to Go-Back and/or Give-Back to his/her
community.
- 70% of all scholarships shall
be accorded to Female and 80% of all scholarships shall
be given to students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) programs.
- The applicant must not be enrolled in any other tertiary
institution.
- APPLICATION PROCESS
- A general application form must be completed online using the
following link: https://mcfsprecruitment.ur.ac.rw/
- All applicants are required to upload supporting documents as
required.
- Applicant can complete the online application form in more than
one session. However, it is recommended that you start the application
when you have all the supporting documents in place, but the application
will be considered only after formal submission steps below:
- Through the application process, there are different documents
to be attached. Please make sure you name each document you will attach
with your names and ensure they are saved in PDF format (with size less
than 250 KB).
- Click Submit at the end of the
online application, only when all the fields and attachments have been
fully completed.
- APPLICATION DEADLINE & SUPPORT TEAM CONTACT DETAILS
- Eligible candidates can start the online application for the
scholarships while gathering supporting documents.
- The deadline for the application for the scholarships: 22nd
August 2026 at 11.59 P.M (CENTRAL AFRICA TIME).
During the application period, the
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UR Scholarship application support
team will be available to provide any needed information. The following are
contact details of application support team:
Charity & Philanthropy
|
Contact |
Details |
|
Mr.
Emmanuel Kamanzi |
UR
admission and Registration Specialist-UR — Tel: +250 788736530 — Email: e.kamanzi@ur.ac.rw |
|
Dr.
Odette Uwizeye |
Registrar
– University of Rwanda — Tel: +250 788 304 39 — Email: registrar@ur.ac.rw |
|
Mr.
Jean Baptiste MUGIRANEZA |
Data
Analytics and IT – Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UR — Tel: +250
722016900 — Email: j.b.mugiraneza@ur.ac.rw |
|
Mr.
Oscar MUVANDIMWE |
Monitoring
and Evaluation Specialist, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UR —
Tel: +250 788488272 — Email: o.muvandimwe@ur.ac.rw |
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Telephone numbers and email addresses provided by applicants
should always be active to receive critical information on their
application.
- The application for the scholarship is an ongoing process,
until the application deadline.
- There will be a pre-selection step and those successful will be
invited for an oral interview by independent panels and at each stage,
unsuccessful candidates would be notified.
- There would be unannounced on-site validation visits to the
homes of selected students.
- There are absolutely No Charges/ Fees/ Facilitation/
Agents or Intermediaries Required at any stage of the application
and selection processes.
- Applicants who will be discovered to have falsified information
or attempt to influence the process at any stage (application or home
visit) in order to gain advantage of the scholarship, shall be
disqualified.
- The decisions of the Scholars Recruitment Committee (SRC) are
Final.
- Any misconduct (breaching university rules, regulations and
policies including participation in riotous acts, involvement in
subversive activities, illicit financial activities, terrorism, or denial
of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi) on the part of the successful
applicants (scholars) shall lead to automatic disqualification and loss of
the scholarship.
- All scholarships will be on a rolling basis, implying that
annual renewal of funding is subject to satisfactory academic performance.
- Successful applicants will be expected to become champions and
transformative leaders, entrepreneurs and change makers at various levels,
and shall remain in close communication with the University of Rwanda for
at least 5 years after completing their studies.
- DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PACKAGE
This is a comprehensive scholarship that
will be managed by the University of Rwanda. The program also offers an
opportunity for the scholars to receive holistic training that empowers them
and leads them to the academic success, community engagement, and transition to
employment opportunities, which will equip the scholars to be global citizens.
Study Grants & Scholarships
The scholarship will cover:
- Comprehensive financial support (full tuition fees, a laptop,
learning materials, annual return ticket allowance, and a full-year
monthly stipend).
- Psycho-social Support Services.
- Uniquely sourced internships with industry for professional
development.
- Continued academic support through academic mentorship, virtual
learning, and tutoring.
- Career Development Services (including Industrial Mentorship,
Career Guidance, Professional Development, and Enterprise Development,
among others)
- Regular group meetings with other scholars that focus on
personal and professional development opportunities and activities
tailored to build societal relationships and scholars’ capacity.
- Opportunities to participate in leadership congresses,
community services and mentoring (Go-back Give-Back),
- The prestige of becoming part of the growing family of the
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni and networking with the Global
Scholars Community.
- Considering the level of investment, successful applicants will
be required to become high achievers, highly engaging and focused
scholars, able to give back and make changes in their respective
communities and Africa in general.
- EVALUATIVE INTERVIEWS
- Among the applicants, 30 scholars will be selected by the
Scholars Recruitment Committee (SRC) based on the established selection
criteria.
- Interviews will be scheduled and conducted using a predefined
interview guide aligned with the expectations of the program and the
vision of the institution.
- Applicants shall receive equal treatment especially concerning
the questions being asked. Thus, the member of SRC shall discuss and agree
on the questions to be asked and their distribution among panel members
ahead of interviews.
- An interview report shall be presented by the SRC in
collaboration with the PIT office summarizing the interview processes and
the interview results per academic program.
- The interview report shall be shared electronically with panel
members for their inputs and agreement
- The Chair of SRC shall submit the interview and home visit
report to VC approval of results.
- DECLARATION OF RESULTS
- The approved list of selected candidates for the scholarship
will be published on the UR website.
- The Scholarship award letters will be issued to successful
candidates.
- Award letters will be issued by the VC Office.
- CONFIRMATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD BY CANDIDATES
- Successful candidates shall receive a scholarship award letter
together with a scholarship acceptance form that must be completed and
signed by the candidate to confirm acceptance of the scholarship.
- Duly completed and signed forms shall be returned via the
program email within five workdays after reception of the scholarship
award letter.
- In case a candidate declines the offer for any reason, the next
in line of performance in the same program shall be awarded the
scholarship.
- A scholarship offer cannot at any time be differed.
Done in Kigali, 23/07/2026
Geographic Reference
Assoc. Prof. KAYIHURA Muganga Didas
Ag. Vice Chancellor, University of Rwanda
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