Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Africa)

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program commits $500 million to transform the educational trajectory of 15,000 young Africans, funding studies at leading universities worldwide with a focus on leadership and community impact. Each scholar receives full tuition, accommodation, and up to $5,000 annually for living expenses, making it cheaper than the typical international scholarship package. This initiative prioritizes refugees, displaced youth, and women from disadvantaged backgrounds, with over 70% of alumni reporting direct contributions to continental development within two years of graduation. It lags behind #9 QuestBridge in graduation rates but surpasses it in breadth of global reach.