About the programme
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po supports students from the African continent on two-year Master's programmes at Sciences Po. Selected Scholars receive coverage of their full financial needs and comprehensive support across both years. Applicants must first be admitted to an eligible Sciences Po Master's programme and separately verify eligibility on a dedicated platform, then be selected by the programme's committee after a review and online interview.
Duration: Two years
Eligibility
- Hold citizenship of an African country; applicants with dual citizenship including a non-African country are not eligible
- Currently completing or already holding a Bachelor's degree from a listed institution, or a Bachelor's plus a recognised bridge or mentoring programme from an approved organisation, or UNHCR refugee status with a Bachelor's
- Be under 35 years of age on 1 September of the year the application is submitted
- Do not already hold or be pursuing a Master's degree
- Applying to the Scholars Program for the first time
- Admitted to a eligible two-year Master's programme at Sciences Po (dual degree, one-year Master's, Master of Journalism and joint Journalism programmes are not eligible)
- Meet Sciences Po's minimum academic requirements for the home university country
- Not currently enrolled at Sciences Po or enrolled in/graduated from a French higher education institution
- Sign in to check these against your background.
What they look for
- Demonstrated significant barriers to accessing education
- Commitment to Africa's development and changemaker aspiration, especially in public policy and transitions
- Potential for transformative leadership with measurable impact
- Priority consideration for young women, refugees and displaced persons, and persons with disabilities
Needs a third party. Applicants must be admitted to a Sciences Po Master's programme; scholarship eligibility is conditional on admission.
AI-written applications are not allowed. The use of artificial intelligence is contrary to the purpose of the written assignments and may result in a lower evaluation.
What you receive
- Coverage of full financial needs for two years of Master's study at Sciences Po
- Comprehensive support throughout the two years, including onboarding and integration sessions
What you will need
- Proof of identity
- Bachelor's degree certificate or proof of current studies
- Sciences Po Master's application with transcripts, language results and letters of recommendation
- Written scholarship application
- Online interview
How to apply
- Verify eligibility on the dedicated Scholars Program platform and create a Sciences Po Master's application at the same time to get the application fee waiver
- Complete and submit the Master's application when instructed by the Admissions Office email
- Admission to a Sciences Po Master's programme
- Selection by the Scholars Program committee, including review of written application and an online Zoom interview of about 25 minutes
- Scholarship decision communicated in April 2027; offer must be accepted
Applications are submitted on Sciences Po (in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation)’s own site. Open Doors helps you prepare; it is not the official application portal.
From people who applied
No notes yet.
Source and verification
- Official source
- Sciences Po (in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation) · Application
- Last checked
- 13 Nov 2026, read automatically from the official page
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