Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UGHE 2026 | Fully Funded

The University of Global Health Equity’s (UGHE) fully funded MSc in Health Professions Education, delivered through the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program, closed applications on November 30, 2025. It’s an 18-month, blended-learning track for experienced African health educators who want to shape curriculum, policy, and institutional leadership across the continent’s health professions training. This post covers what the programme actually involves, who qualified, and what to prepare if a new cohort opens.

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UGHE built this track to fill a real gap: it’s the first university in Rwanda, and in the wider region, to offer a full Health Professions Education curriculum. Rather than training more clinicians, it trains the people who train clinicians — future program directors, deans, quality assurance leads, and curriculum designers who can reform how health education itself works across African institutions. The blended format matters here specifically: intensive in-person sessions at UGHE’s campus are combined with online coursework, built around the reality that most applicants are already working professionals, not full-time students starting from scratch.

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UGHE Summary

What the Program Consists Of

Before anything else, know what you’re committing to: this Direct Entry track locks you into the full 18 months. You cannot exit early with a postgraduate certificate or diploma — the MSc-HPE itself, awarded on successful completion, is the only exit qualification available. Across the three semesters, you’d work through 12 modules totaling 180 credits:

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• Principles of Curriculum and Course Design (10 credits)
• Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods (10 credits)
• Assessment in HPE (20 credits)
• Clinical Teaching (10 credits)
• Principles of Global Health Equity (10 credits)
• Program Evaluation and Faculty Appraisal (10 credits)
• Quality Assurance and Accreditation in HPE (10 credits)
• Educational Leadership and Management (10 credits)
• Educational Leadership Practicum (30 credits)
• Theories of Teaching and Learning (10 credits)
• Educational Research and Scholarship (20 credits)
• A final Practicum in HPE or Thesis in HPE (30 credits)

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UGHE: Do You Qualify?

You are needed to:

• Be 35 or younger at the time of application, with exceptions available for applicants with disabilities
• Be a resident, citizen, or hold refugee status in an African country
• Hold a completed Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field, with transcripts and a degree certificate as proof
• Show professional experience in teaching, supervision, or educational leadership in health-related higher education — or, for early-career applicants, clear evidence of teaching potential

One disqualifying rule catches experienced applicants specifically: if you already hold a Master’s degree, you’re not eligible for this Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program pathway, regardless of how strong your other qualifications are.

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If you were currently employed at the time of application, you also needed a signed and stamped recommendation letter from your institution, confirming both its support for your application and that you’d be given dedicated time to attend online and in-person sessions.

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UGHE Benefits

Successful applicants receive full financial and academic support throughout their studies, including:

• Full tuition coverage for the entire master’s program.
• Free housing and meals on campus.
• Monthly living allowance to cover basic expenses.
• Health insurance during the study period.
• Economy return airfare to and from Rwanda.
• Pre-arrival and orientation program to help students settle in.
• Entrepreneurial Fund to support innovation and student-led projects.
• Leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation training.
• Internship placement and career mentorship with leading organisations across Africa.
• Lifetime membership in the Mastercard Foundation and UGHE Alumni networks.

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Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UGHE: Documents You’d Need

• Passport, National ID, or Refugee ID
• Academic transcripts
• Degree certificate
• An employer recommendation letter, if you were currently employed

Process of Applying for the Scholarship

1. Complete the online application, which combines your general programme application with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application in one form — personal, academic, and demographic information, plus the scholarship-specific sections.
2. Upload every supporting document — your identification, transcripts, degree certificate, and employer recommendation letter if applicable.
3. Submit one complete application. UGHE is explicit that incomplete submissions and multiple applications from the same candidate are not considered.

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Who UGHE Prioritises

UGHE specifically named three groups it was looking for beyond the baseline eligibility criteria: young women, refugees and displaced persons, and persons with disabilities. If you fall into one of these groups and a future cohort opens, it’s worth highlighting this directly in your application materials.

Application Timelines

• Applications opened: October 22, 2025
• Applications closed: November 30, 2025, 11:59 PM CAT
• Admissions interviews: December 2025
• Final decisions: January 2026

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No information is available on when a new cohort will open. If you’re interested, reach out directly using the contacts below rather than waiting on a specific announced date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still apply for this cohort?

No. Applications closed November 30, 2025, and the page doesn’t describe a late submission process.

Can I apply if I already have a Master’s degree?

No. Holding a Master’s degree specifically disqualifies you from this Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program pathway, even if you meet every other eligibility requirement.

Is this scholarship open to refugees, not just citizens of African countries?

Yes. Eligibility explicitly includes residents, citizens, or holders of refugee status in an African country, and refugees and displaced persons are named as one of the groups UGHE is specifically looking to support.

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Can I exit the program early with a shorter qualification if I need to?

No. This Direct Entry track requires a full 18-month commitment, and the only exit award is the MSc-HPE itself upon completion — there’s no postgraduate certificate or diploma exit option available on this pathway.

Is there an application fee for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UGHE?

No. UGHE and the Mastercard Foundation explicitly state they do not charge fees to apply. If you encounter anyone requesting payment to apply or to secure a place, report it to UGHE directly at [email protected].

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official University of Global Health Equity website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the University of Global Health Equity or the Mastercard Foundation.

Official Application Portal