Deadline: 30 April 2022
The Mastercard Foundation has partnered with the University of Cape Town (UCT) to oversee the implementation of financial, academic, social and post-graduation support to awarded candidates under the scholarship titled The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town. The vision of the Program is to transition promising young people from beneficiaries to benefactors, preparing them with the necessary values, knowledge, skills, and leadership to fuel economic and social progress across Africa. The Program targets academically qualified undergraduate and postgraduate candidates who are economically disadvantaged young people with leadership potential from Africa.
The Program will provide scholarships to academically talented young Africans to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies at UCT. Students enrolled on the Program will receive mentoring, leadership development, academic and life skills support. Academic support will include tutoring, language training, writing circles and guidance counselling.
In 2022 27 scholarship opportunities - Masters by Research only are available for students who intend to commence with their first year of registration for full- time postgraduate Masters by Research studies.
To be eligible to apply for The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town, applicants must meet the stated criteria as recorded in the Terms of Reference and Conditions of Award document for Masters by Research applicants.
Academic programs in Engineering and the Built Environment, Commerce, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, or Sciences faculties are eligible for this scholarship.
Value of the Scholarship
The scholarships will cover for the following:
Reimbursement of costs incurred for visa application processing
An economy class air ticket to Cape Town South Africa for awardees who are citizens and/or residents of an African country other than South Africa or residing in South Africa but outside of Cape Town
Full tuition fees and international student fees
Accommodation in a student residence managed by the UCT Student Housing Admissions and Advocacy Services at UCT
Meals through the student housing system at UCT
Medical cover with a recommended medical aid service provider
A living stipend; to be used to cover ad hoc expenses pertaining to awardees’ studies
A book allowance to purchase the prescribed textbooks required for the degree programme
Costs related to community activities as prescribed by The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town
Access to an internship opportunity, career development and job placement assistance
An economy class air ticket home upon completion of studies
Eligibility
To be eligible for consideration for The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be a citizen of an African country
Be admitted to a postgraduate Masters programme (Research only) and preparing to commence with their first year of registration in the Engineering and the Built Environment, Commerce, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, or Sciences faculties at UCT
Be from an economically disadvantaged background, demonstrate financial need, and leadership potential
Applicants who intend to register for a second Masters postgraduate degree at the same level are ineligible to apply for this scholarship
Applicants who have previously registered for Masters postgraduate degree at any higher learning institution are ineligible to apply for this scholarship
Selection Criteria
Applicants must have applied and received a firm offer to study at UCT (for the second semester of the 2022 academic year)
Applicants must come from an economically disadvantaged background
Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential and must have acted in a leadership capacity
Applicants must meet the set academic criteria
No applications for undergraduate, honours or masters by coursework and dissertation will be accepted or considered for the 2022 Scholar intake to the Program
HOW TO APPLY
In order to apply for The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, applicants must first apply to the University of Cape Town for academic study and placement. Only applicants, who have applied for academic study and placement to UCT, can submit an application for a Mastercard Foundation scholarship. The admission requirements for postgraduate study vary from one programme to another. Consult the faculty concerned directly in order to find out what is required for the course or degree that you want to take. Please refer to the 2022 Directions for Postgraduate Applicants and faculties for the relevant closing dates and information on courses at UCT, how to apply to the University, as well as support structures available for postgraduate students at the University.
Applying to the University of Cape Town
International applicants who receive an offer of admission to UCT are required to obtain a study visa to enter the Republic of South Africa and for purposes of registering at UCT. To apply for a study visa, applicants will need the following:
An official passport which must be valid for at least 30 days after the end of the proposed stay in South Africa, otherwise the permit will only be granted for the period of up to 30 days before the expiry date. It should also have at least one unused page left when arriving in South Africa. Passports should not be endorsed or extended;
A Department of Home Affairs application form (BI-1738);
An official letter from UCT confirming acceptance at the institution for the duration of the course. This is a letter from the relevant faculty offering a place to
In the event of persons under the age of 21, UCT will appoint guardian’s and proof of consent in liaison with the parents of such applicants;
A police clearance certificate (less than 6 months old);
A medical and radiological reports (less than 6 months old);
A relevant certificate if married, widowed, divorced or separated;
A yellow fever vaccination certificate if travelling from or through yellow fever endemic area;
Proof of medical cover (which will be arranged by The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program staff members at UCT for successful applicants);
Proof of accommodation (which will be arranged by The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program staff members at UCT for successful scholarship applicants).
Proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees, maintenance and incidental costs (this will be confirmed in the letter of award to successful scholarship applicants).
Applying for the scholarship
To apply for a Mastercard Foundation scholarship at the University of Cape Town, applicants will need to visit The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at The University of Cape Town website. On the home page, click the ‘APPLY’ button image which will direct the applicant to The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at The University of Cape Town online scholarship application form.
Carefully refer to the Terms of Reference and Conditions of Award document for Masters by Research applicants, prior to completing the scholarship application form.
Only applicants who have applied for a Mastercard Foundation scholarship using the scholarship application website will be considered. Applicants will need to login to SM Apply (uctmcf.smapply.io/) using a unique email address and password. Click on ‘View Programs’ and Select ‘Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town’
Complete the scholarship application form, in full, online. Download the AFFIDAVIT section of the form which must be completed in full by the applicant, and witnessed by a COMMISSIONER OF OATHS and by one further witness, and uploaded back on to the site with your application.
Insert the details of two (2) academics, who have taught or supervised the applicant during secondary and/or tertiary level of study, to support the scholarship application. The reference must be provided directly by the recommenders who have agreed to provide references
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