Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for Africans at KNUST, Ghana 2025 | Fully Funded

The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for Africans 2025 at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana is open to academically strong but financially disadvantaged students from African countries who want to study an undergraduate degree at KNUST. The deadline for the 2025 cycle was 30 May 2025. If you are preparing for the next cycle, use this post to get ready. The scholarship covers full tuition, on-campus accommodation, learning materials, transportation, and a monthly stipend. You must apply to KNUST for undergraduate admission separately — the scholarship application and the KNUST admission application are two different processes and both are required.

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About the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for Africans at KNUST

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST is run jointly by the Mastercard Foundation — a Canadian private foundation with an endowment of over CAD $40 billion — and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana’s leading science and technology university, established in 1952 and located in Kumasi.

The program is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s broader Scholars Program, which operates across more than 20 partner universities in Africa, North America, and Europe. The KNUST partnership specifically focuses on undergraduate education and is one of the few Mastercard Foundation programs based entirely on the African continent, meaning scholars study in Ghana rather than abroad.

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The program goes beyond tuition coverage. Scholars are placed in a structured support system that includes academic mentoring, career development, leadership training, community service, and internship placement with industry partners. The Go-Back Give-Back model is central to the program’s selection philosophy — the Foundation selects candidates who have a demonstrated commitment to returning to and contributing to their communities after graduation.

What the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for Africans at KNUST Covers

The scholarship covers the following:

• Full tuition fees for your undergraduate degree at KNUST — paid directly to the university
• Fully paid on-campus accommodation at KNUST for the duration of your studies
• Learning materials — textbooks and academic resources required for your programme
• Transportation costs
• A monthly stipend paid directly to you throughout your studies
• Counselling and personal support services

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• Career development services including industrial mentorship, career guidance, professional development, and enterprise development training
• Internship placements with industry partners, sourced specifically for scholars
• Access to leadership congresses and community service activities
• Membership of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni network and the global scholars community

The monthly stipend amount and exact material allowances are confirmed in the official program documentation — verify the current figures on the official KNUST Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page before applying.

Eligibility Requirements for the Scholarship

You must meet all of the following to apply:

• You must be a citizen of an African country
• You must hold a valid WASSCE, GBCE, ABCE, GCE O Level and A Level, or equivalent results from a recognised institution — your results must not be more than five years old at the time of application
• You must have credits (grades A1–C6) in the following core subjects: English Language, Mathematics, and Integrated Science, plus three elective subjects relevant to your intended area of study
• You must meet KNUST’s undergraduate admission requirements for your chosen programme
• You must demonstrate critical financial need — evidence of your parents’ or guardians’ income is required
• You must have a proven record of leadership and community engagement
• You must NOT currently be enrolled in any tertiary institution
• You must be committed to the Go-Back Give-Back model — returning to and contributing to your community after graduation

Priority is given to female applicants, certified refugees and internally displaced persons, and persons living with a disability.

Key disqualifier: awaiting-results candidates are not processed under any circumstances. Your results must be final and available at the time of application.

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Required Documents for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for Africans at KNUST

You must apply to KNUST for undergraduate admission before or alongside your scholarship application. Completing the scholarship form does not constitute a KNUST admission application — they are separate.

Prepare the following for your scholarship application:

• Completed Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form — downloaded from the official KNUST MCF scholarship page
• Printout of your KNUST undergraduate admission application (if already submitted)
• Original or certified copies of your WASSCE, GBCE, ABCE, GCE O Level and A Level, or equivalent results — NECO results are accepted for Nigerian applicants
• Three recommendation letters, each signed and sealed independently by three separate referees of high repute. Referees can be academic (your head of school or a teacher), religious (pastor, priest, or imam), community (chief or community leader), or another relevant category such as a mentor
• Evidence of your parents’ or guardians’ estimated income — payslips, bank statements, or a written statement of estimated monthly income
• Copy of your birth certificate
• Bio-data page of a valid passport, or a national ID if you do not have a passport
• Any additional supporting documents you believe will strengthen your application

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International applicants: your scholarship application must be scanned into a single PDF and submitted by email to [email protected]. Do not send it by post.

Ghanaian applicants: your completed application and all supporting documents must be sent by courier only (EMS or DHL) — not by email and not by hand delivery — to the address below.

One practical warning: your three recommendation letters must be signed and sealed independently by each referee. They cannot be collected by you and submitted unsealed. Arrange your referees early — waiting until the week before the deadline to contact them is a common reason applications are incomplete at submission.

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How to Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship for Africans at KNUST

Both the KNUST admission application and the scholarship application must be submitted. Complete them in this order:

1. Apply for KNUST undergraduate admission at apps.knust.edu.gh/Admissions/apply for your chosen programme. Keep a printout of your admission application.
2. Download the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form from the official KNUST MCF scholarship page.
3. Complete the application form in full. Do not leave any section blank.
4. Gather all required documents — results, three sealed recommendation letters, income evidence, birth certificate, and ID.

For international applicants (non-Ghanaians):

5. Scan your completed application form and all attachments into a single PDF document.
6. Email the PDF to [email protected] before 30 May 2025.

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For Ghanaian applicants:

5. Place your completed application form and all supporting documents in an envelope.
6. Send by courier (EMS or DHL only) to:

The Program Manager
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST
No. 1 Africa Hall Road, Impact Building
PMB, UPO, KNUST, Kumasi
AK 315 4897, Ghana

Shortlisted candidates are contacted for an interview held at the KNUST Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Secretariat. Interviews are conducted by an independent panel appointed by the Vice Chancellor of KNUST. Before final admission is approved, KNUST verifies all examination results and carries out community visits to confirm the information provided in shortlisted applications.

Application Deadline

The 2025 cycle closed on 30 May 2025. The next cycle’s deadline has not yet been announced. Monitor the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST page for the opening date of the next intake.

Late submissions are not considered under any circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at KNUST fully funded?
Yes. It covers full tuition, on-campus accommodation, learning materials, transportation, and a monthly stipend. It also includes career development support, internship placement, and access to the global Mastercard Foundation Scholars alumni network. There are no programme costs the scholar is expected to cover.

Can Nigerian students apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at KNUST?
Yes. Nigerian citizens are eligible to apply. NECO results are accepted as equivalent qualifications. Nigerian applicants submit their applications by email as a single PDF to [email protected] — not by post. You will need a valid passport if your application is successful, as you will need to travel to Ghana.

Do I need to apply to KNUST separately from the scholarship?
Yes. The scholarship application and the KNUST undergraduate admission application are two separate processes. Submitting the scholarship form does not register you for admission at KNUST. Apply for KNUST admission at apps.knust.edu.gh/Admissions/apply first, then complete the scholarship application.

Can I apply if I am currently enrolled in a university?
No. Applicants who are currently enrolled in any tertiary institution are not eligible. You must be applying to KNUST as a new undergraduate student.

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What happens after I submit my application?
Only shortlisted candidates are contacted for an interview. The interview is held at the KNUST MCF Secretariat in Kumasi, Ghana, and is conducted by an independent panel. Before final admission is confirmed, KNUST verifies your examination results and carries out community visits to the homes of successful candidates.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST website. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.

Official Application Portal