Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2025/2026 for Africans at the University of Gondar | Fully Funded
The Mastercard Foundation Graduate Scholarship Program at the University of Gondar is open to nationals of Somalia, Djibouti, South Sudan, and Eritrea who hold a bachelor’s degree earned in the past five years and want to pursue a full-time graduate degree in Ethiopia. The application opens 10 March 2025 and closes 30 June 2025.
The scholarship covers full tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend, and additional programme-related expenses, alongside structured leadership, mentoring, and career development support. You must have earned a pass mark on the Graduate Admission Test administered by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, and you must not currently be enrolled in any graduate programme at the University of Gondar.
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Summary of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program at University of Gondar
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — Graduate Scholarship |
| Host Country ⇒ | Ethiopia |
| Study Level ⇒ | Postgraduate Scholarships | Master’s Scholarships |
| Benefits ⇒ | Fully Funded — Tuition, Accommodation, Monthly Stipend, Books, Mentoring and Leadership Support |
| Funded By ⇒ | Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with University of Gondar |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Somalia, Djibouti, South Sudan, Eritrea |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 30 June 2025 |
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About the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program at University of Gondar
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Gondar began in the 2018/19 academic year and is set to award a total of 160 graduate scholarships across eight years. The programme is funded by the Mastercard Foundation and delivered through the University of Gondar, a public university with five campuses in northern Ethiopia.
The graduate programme specifically targets academically talented but economically disadvantaged youth from five East African countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and South Sudan. Beyond financial support, the programme is built around developing scholars into transformational leaders, with structured non-academic support including mentoring, career counselling, life skills coaching, internships, and access to an alumni network spanning previous cohorts of Mastercard Foundation Scholars.
The University of Gondar provides academic and non-academic support throughout a scholar’s studies, including library services across nine libraries, ICT facilities with free internet access, guidance and counselling services, and a dedicated Center for Disability Studies that works alongside the Center for Community Based Rehabilitation to support full integration of students with disabilities into university life.
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What the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program Covers
The scholarship covers the following:
- Full tuition fees for your graduate programme at the University of Gondar
- Accommodation and boarding for the duration of your studies
- A monthly stipend
- Additional programme-related expenses, including books
- Academic, financial, and social support designed to help you develop leadership capacity
- Mentoring, career counselling, and life skills coaching
- Access to experiential activities including summer camps and internships
- Membership in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars alumni network
The scholarship does not cover personal travel, family allowances, or treatment for advanced medical or chronic conditions. Confirm what falls under “advanced medical conditions” with the programme office if you have an existing health condition that may require ongoing treatment during your studies.
Eligible Graduate Programs at University of Gondar
The scholarship is available for the following graduate programmes:
- Accounting
- Development and Environmental Management Studies
- Economics
- Gender and Development Studies
- Law
- Logistics
- Management
- Marketing
- Nursing
- Optometry
- Physiotherapy
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Special Needs and Inclusive Education
- Tourism
You must already be in or applying to one of these programmes to be eligible. Applicants are advised to visit the University of Gondar website for programme-specific academic and non-academic entry requirements before applying.
Eligibility Requirements for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program
You must meet all of the following to apply:
- You must have earned a bachelor’s degree in a discipline relevant to your proposed graduate programme, from a recognised university using English as the medium of instruction, within the past five years
- You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent) at graduation
- You must be a citizen and permanent resident of Somalia, Eritrea, South Sudan, or Djibouti, and must have resided in your respective country for at least five years at the time of application
- You must have earned a pass mark on the Graduate Admission Test (GAT) administered by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education
- You must demonstrate financial need, community give-back experience, and leadership capacity or experience
Priority is given to youth applicants with disabilities and female applicants with financial difficulty in financing their graduate education. Applicants without a physical disability may still apply, but must clearly demonstrate financial need, community contribution, and leadership potential.
Key disqualifier: if you are currently enrolled in any graduate study programme at the University of Gondar, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. Only new applicants who are not currently enrolled are eligible.
Required Documents for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program
- Completed and signed Scholarship Application Form
- A medical paper signed by a Health or Hospital Board attesting to your disability type and degree, if you have been assessed by a health professional
- A detailed resume covering your academic, non-academic, and volunteer work
- All elementary, high school, and university transcripts or student copies
- Two letters of recommendation from previous universities
- National or resident identification card, or passport
- Testimonial regarding your economic disadvantage, signed by a Kebele or Woreda Administrator
- Letter from your District Police Office regarding your criminal record
- Testimonial about your voluntary community give-back and leadership experience
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One practical warning: several of these documents — the police clearance letter, the Kebele or Woreda economic disadvantage testimonial, and the medical disability assessment — require visits to local government or health offices and can take time to process. Begin gathering these as soon as the application window opens on 10 March 2025, rather than waiting until closer to the 30 June deadline.
How to Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program
There is no application fee for this scholarship. You can apply in one of the following ways:
- Apply online by completing the application form directly on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program website.
- Download the paper application form in English here: https://uogqueensmcf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Application_Form_Graduate_Program_International_Applicants_2025.pdf
- Complete the form and submit it using one of the three methods below:
By mail: University of Gondar, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Office, P.O. Box 1082, Gondar, Ethiopia
By email: [email protected] — scan and email all required materials along with your signed application form
In person: Drop off your documents at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Office, College of Medicine and Health Science Campuses, University of Gondar, Gondar
If submitting by mail, also send copies of your credentials and testimonials along with your application.
Selection Process for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Scholarships are awarded based on your demonstrated academic ability, financial need, disability status, community give-back, and leadership potential. Letters of reference from a teacher, previous universities, and a Kebele or district manager or administrator are reviewed as part of the selection process. The rules and regulations of the Ethiopian Ministry of Education and the University of Gondar Senate Legislation apply to recruitment and selection.
Application Deadline
30 June 2025.
Submit your completed application and all supporting documents before this date, as late applications are not accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at University of Gondar fully funded?
Yes. It covers full tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend, books, and additional programme expenses, along with mentoring, career counselling, and leadership development support. It does not cover personal travel, family allowances, or treatment for advanced medical conditions.
Can all Africans apply for this scholarship?
No. The graduate scholarship is open only to citizens and residents of four East African countries: Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and South Sudan. Nationals of other African countries, including Nigeria, are not eligible for this specific scholarship cycle.
Do I need to take a specific test to apply?
Yes. You must earn a pass mark on the Graduate Admission Test (GAT), which is administered by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education. This is a mandatory requirement alongside your academic qualifications.
Is there a fee to apply?
No. There is no fee to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program graduate scholarship.
Can I apply if I am already studying a graduate programme at University of Gondar?
No. Only students who are not currently enrolled in any graduate study programme at the University of Gondar are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
What support is available to scholars beyond financial coverage?
Scholars receive mentoring, career counselling, life skills coaching, and the opportunity to participate in experiential activities and internships. Scholars also gain access to an alumni network and build core competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration with diverse groups.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at University of Gondar website as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.
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