Mastercard Foundation 2026 Scholars Programme at Sciences Po
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Sciences Po, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, supports African students with an outstanding academic record and strong leadership potential who face financial barriers to give them access to a world-class social sciences education.
Graduates of the Program are driven by a desire to make a real and lasting impact on the foremost issues facing the African continent.
Benefits Of The Mastercard Foundation 2026 Scholars Programme at Sciences Po
Full Scholarship Covered in this program:
- Application fees
- Tuition
- Monthly stipend (e.g. food allowance)
- Housing
- Health insurance
- Mentoring or psycho-social support
- Travel costs to the third country
- Visa
- Settling in
Eligibility Criteria For The Mastercard Foundation 2026 Scholars Programme at Sciences Po
You must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program:
- Hold citizenship in a country within Africa. Candidates who hold a second citizenship from a country outside the African continent are not eligible.
- Have completed or are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree programme at one of Sciences Po’s institutions of reference (see the list of institutions).
- Or have completed or are currently enrolled in a training foundation or mentoring programme offered by a bridging programme organisation partnering with the Mastercard Foundation (see the list of institutions).
- Be in genuine need of funding for your higher education (please note: documents proving your financial situation will be required for your application).
- Show a commitment to achieving change in Africa, particularly in the areas of public policy and major political, environmental and societal transitions.
- Be under 35 when you begin your Master’s programme.
- Not already holding a Master’s degree.
- Be applying for a two-year Master’s programme at one of Sciences Po’s Graduate Schools. Applicants for one-year Master’s, dual degrees or joint Master’s programmes and the Master’s programmes of the School of Journalism are not eligible for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Selection Process
Application platform opens: early October 2025
Application deadline for Master’s programmes and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: 4th January 2026
Sciences Po admissions decisions released: mid-December 2025, mid-February 2026, early April 2026, depending on the application date.
Scholarship allocation decisions released: early May 2026
Master’s programmes begin: end of August 2026
Application Documents
If you want to apply to both Sciences Po and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program,
You are strongly advised to start preparing and assembling the supporting documents you need for your application well in advance, as it will certainly take a long time to obtain some of them
- All supporting documents required for international graduate admissions to Sciences Po.
- Valid photo ID.
- Proof of income (or lack thereof), demonstrating your financial circumstances
- tax documents, and/or income statements
- scholarship certificates, or any other legal document attesting to your financial situation. You must submit at least one document with your application.
- Bank statements will not be accepted. If you are currently receiving a scholarship (from the Mastercard Foundation or another funding body), or have received one in the past, please also attach the scholarship certificate.
- Proof of current or past enrolment at one of Sciences Po’s institutions of reference.
How To Apply
- To be selected for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, you must first be accepted onto a Master’s programme at one of Science s Po’s Graduate Schools.
- You will need to apply for your chosen Master’s programme and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program via the international graduate admissions procedure.
Have a question about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po?
Read our FAQ page (PDF).
If you can’t find an answer on our FAQ page, reach out to us directly at the following address: info.mcfsp@sciencespo.fr.
Application Deadline
The application deadline is September 30, 2025.