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Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Pan-Atlantic University 2026 — Fully Funded

Peace Maduka1 day agoLast Updated: June 30, 2026

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Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Pan-Atlantic University | Fully Funded - ScholarWaka

The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Pan-Atlantic University is open for the 2026 intake, with a deadline of 22 May 2026. The scholarship covers your tuition, accommodation, and living expenses throughout your undergraduate programme. In this application cycle, Pan-Atlantic University will admit 70 scholars—more than in previous years—as part of its ten-year commitment to support a total of 650 Mastercard Foundation Scholars. PAU is the first Nigerian university to partner with the Mastercard Foundation on this programme, which means this is a Nigeria-based opportunity, not a study-abroad scholarship — you would complete your degree at Pan-Atlantic University’s campus in Lagos.

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This scholarship specifically supports students who face genuine financial barriers to higher education, with a deliberate focus on three underrepresented groups: young women pursuing STEM degrees, internally displaced youth, and persons living with disabilities. Financial need is a formal requirement here, not a secondary consideration — you must demonstrate it alongside your academic record. If you do not fall into one of those three priority categories, this scholarship is unlikely to apply to you, regardless of academic strength, so confirm your eligibility against that criterion before investing time in the rest of the application.

The path to this scholarship runs through two separate academic checkpoints that you need to plan for in sequence: your O’Level results and your JAMB UTME score. You need at least five credits in your O’Level results, including English and Mathematics, achieved in no more than two sittings, and a minimum UTME score of 220. If you have not yet sat your UTME at the time you discover this scholarship, you can still register interest through the Application Interest Form while you prepare.

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Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Pan-Atlantic University Summary

Scholarship Name ⇒	Mastercard Foundation at Pan-Atlantic University
Host Country ⇒	Nigeria
Study Level ⇒	Undergraduate
Benefits ⇒	Fully Funded — Tuition, Accommodation, Living Expenses, Mentorship, Internship Support
Funded By ⇒	Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Eligible Countries ⇒	Nigerian students, with priority for young women in STEM, internally displaced youth, and persons living with disabilities
Application Deadline ⇒	22 May 2026

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About the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

Pan-Atlantic University is a private university based in Lagos, Nigeria, known for its programmes in management, media, and the humanities, alongside a growing range of undergraduate disciplines. In 2026, PAU became the first Nigerian university to partner with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, a global initiative that funds the education of young Africans facing significant financial and social barriers to accessing higher education.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program operates differently from a standard merit scholarship. It is structured around developing scholars holistically — academically, professionally, and as leaders — rather than simply covering tuition costs. Scholars receive ongoing mentorship, structured professional development training, and internship placements throughout their degree, with the explicit goal of producing graduates who return to contribute meaningfully to their communities and to Nigeria more broadly.

PAU has committed to supporting 650 scholars over the next ten years through this partnership. For the current cycle, the university has expanded its intake to 70 scholars, a noticeably larger number than in prior application seasons. This expansion reflects the scale the partnership is building toward over its ten-year horizon, and it means this cycle offers a meaningfully larger number of places than may be available in future, more competitive years as the programme matures.

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What the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Covers

The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Pan-Atlantic University provides full support for the duration of your undergraduate degree:

Full tuition for your entire undergraduate programme at Pan-Atlantic University
Accommodation and living expenses, covering your housing and day-to-day costs throughout your studies
Mentorship and leadership training are provided as a structured part of the scholar experience, not a one-off orientation activity
Internship and career support, giving scholars hands-on professional experience during their degree
Networking opportunities with industry professionals and fellow scholars across the broader Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program network

This is a genuinely comprehensive award. Unlike many partial scholarships that cover tuition alone and leave students to fund accommodation and living costs separately, this scholarship removes financial barriers across the full cost of attending university, reflecting its mission to support students with limited resources.

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Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Pan-Atlantic University, you must meet all of the following:

You must show strong academic performance
You must demonstrate leadership potential and a genuine drive to make a difference in your community
You must demonstrate financial need — this is assessed as a core eligibility factor, not a tiebreaker
You must belong to one of the following priority groups:
- A young woman pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) course
- An internally displaced young person
- A young person living with a disability
You must be committed to community service and giving back
You must have passed WAEC, NECO, GCE, or NABTEB with at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, plus three other relevant subjects (from Arts, Sciences, or Social Sciences), achieved in no more than two sittings
You must have a minimum UTME score of 220, with required subjects including English Language and any three Social Science, Arts, or Science subjects relevant to your intended course

All criteria must be met. The combination of academic performance, demonstrated financial need, and membership in one of the three named priority groups defines who this scholarship is designed for — meeting only some of these criteria is unlikely to result in selection.

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Required Documents

To complete your application, prepare the following:

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O’Level result — WAEC, NECO, GCE, or NABTEB, showing the required five credits including English and Mathematics
UTME result, if available at the time of your application — if not yet available, you can still register interest while you prepare to sit the exam
Personal statement or essay, explaining your background and your goals — this is your opportunity to demonstrate leadership potential and your reason for pursuing higher education despite financial barriers
Contact details and basic background information
Supporting documents showing your achievements or leadership roles — certificates, letters, or records of community involvement, volunteer work, or extracurricular leadership

Your personal statement carries real weight in this application, since the scholarship assesses character, leadership potential, and commitment to community impact alongside academic results. Write specifically about your own experiences — avoid generic statements about wanting to make a difference, and instead describe what you have actually done and what you hope to achieve.

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How to Apply

Confirm your academic eligibility — verify that you have at least five O’Level credits, including Mathematics and English, achieved in no more than two sittings
Fill out the Application Interest Form if you do not yet have your current UTME results — this allows you to register your interest in the programme while you prepare to sit the exam
Take the JAMB UTME, aiming for a minimum score of 220 — this score is required before you can move forward with the full application
Complete the full application online once you have your current-year UTME results and meet the academic requirements, including your personal details, academic history, and all required documents
Wait for screening — your application will be reviewed against the goals and priorities of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Attend an interview if shortlisted — interviews may be conducted online or in person
Receive your offer — successful candidates are admitted to Pan-Atlantic University and awarded the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship together, as a single combined outcome

This process is sequential. You cannot complete the full scholarship application without a current UTME score, so plan your JAMB registration and exam date with enough time to still meet the 22 May 2026 deadline for the full application.

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Application Deadline

22 May 2026

No specific time is published on the official listing. Apply well ahead of the deadline given the multi-step process — particularly if you have not yet sat your UTME, since exam scheduling and result processing both take time you need to account for before the final application deadline.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at Pan-Atlantic University fully funded?

Yes. It covers full tuition, accommodation, and living expenses for your entire undergraduate programme, alongside mentorship, leadership training, and internship support throughout your studies.

Who is eligible for this scholarship?

Nigerian students who demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership potential, and financial need, and who belong to one of three priority groups: young women pursuing STEM courses, internally displaced youth, or persons living with disabilities.

What UTME score do I need?

A minimum UTME score of 220, with required subjects including English Language and any three Social Science, Arts, or Science subjects relevant to your intended course of study.

Can I apply if I haven’t taken the UTME yet?

Yes. You can fill out the Application Interest Form to register your interest while you prepare for and sit the JAMB UTME. You will need your current-year UTME results to complete the full application before the deadline.

How many scholars will be admitted this cycle?

Pan-Atlantic University has expanded this cycle’s intake to 70 scholars, as part of its broader ten-year commitment to support 650 Mastercard Foundation Scholars in total.

What happens after I am shortlisted?

Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview, conducted either online or in person. Successful candidates after the interview stage receive a combined offer of admission to Pan-Atlantic University and the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship.

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Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official Pan-Atlantic University Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly from the official source before submitting your application.

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