MasterCard Scholarship at UC Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley, established in 1868, is popularly known as UC Berkeley. This public research university is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, United States, and is considered one of the most prestigious in the country.

UC Berkeley Scholarship offers financial aid to International students, preferably of African origin, through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. For this reason, UC Berkeley’s program schedule, through 2028, is to provide financial support to over 108 master’s degree students.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is based in the Center for African Studies at UC Berkeley. It aims to develop a cohort of ethical, entrepreneurial, and energetic young leaders who will drive and lead socio-economic transformation in Africa.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees at the University of California, Berkeley, for the 2024–2025 academic year depend on the program. Undergraduate students will be required to pay $13,146. The cost of undertaking a graduate program is $12,762. Full-time MBA program tuition fees are $73,160 for California residents and $85,406 for non-residents.

Eligibility Criteria

Here are the general requirements you have to meet to be eligible for the program;

Being a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country

This includes Africans who are refugees or displaced within the African continent. This scholarship is not intended for citizens of North African countries. Those with dual citizenship, asylee, refugee, or permanent resident status in the US, Canada, UK, or EU are not eligible.

Having academic talent

All prospective Scholars must first be admitted to a UC Berkeley master’s degree program. Demonstrated academic excellence is an essential criterion for admission to the University.

Demonstrating leadership

Potential The Program seeks those committed to developing the skills and mindsets associated with transformative leadership.

Coming from a socio-economically disadvantaged background

This scholarship is designed for those highly talented individuals who might not otherwise have access to quality further education.

Having demonstrated the commitment to give back to your community, country, or continent

We are looking for well-rounded students who are engaged in activities beyond the classroom. Some may be directly related to your field of study, but this may also include other issues (social, economic, political) that you are working on and passionate about. Applicants should elaborate on their achievements both in their application to UC Berkeley and later in the Scholarship application.

Having expressed the desire and intention to return to your home country after completing your studies

We are looking for students who are engaged with and passionate about issues affecting their communities and will take advantage of their education at UC Berkeley to better equip themselves with the knowledge and training to address these issues upon return. While significant work can be done from abroad, the program intends to enable Scholars to return home after forming valuable professional connections through internships, academic training, and job placements.

Scholarship Benefits

This is a fully funded scholarship for Mastercard Foundation Scholars. They will receive a comprehensive scholarship equivalent to the costs associated with earning a master’s degree. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel, student fees, visa, and SEVIS fees. Additionally, housing, food, and living expenses will be taken care of, as will cohort signature programs that will focus on leadership and entrepreneurship.

MBA students must secure additional funding from the scholarship program at Haas Business School. This process requires meeting the Round One or Two application deadline.

Application Procedure

• Master’s degree applicants must first apply to an eligible master’s degree program before they can be nominated for the Mastercard Foundations Scholars Program.
• If a graduate program has multiple admission rounds with staggered deadlines, only those who submit applications in the first round can be considered for the Scholars Program.
• Each graduate degree program has specific requirements and deadlines, which applicants should carefully review. The Graduate Division also provides detailed information on the admissions process.
• Direct questions regarding admission requirements should be made to the specific graduate program. We outline more details of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application process for the master’s program here. We will recruit Mastercard Foundation Scholars through the fall of 2028.
• The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley is not open to undergraduates. However, bachelor’s students can apply to the University of California, Berkeley.

Deadline/Expiration: Varies by Program

Find other scholarship programs currently open for application