Fully Funded Mastercard Foundation Scholarships for Masters
Programs, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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
2024 scholarship opportunities for Master’s study programmes are available for
students who intend to commence with their first year of registration for full-time
postgraduate Master’s study programmes.
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
study programmes.
Application
procedure
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 at 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 2024 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.
Part
1
Step
1: Academic application
In
preparing an academic application to UCT, it is essential that applicants refer
to various resources for guidance. UCT’s postgraduate prospectus provides information on
courses at UCT, how to apply to the university, as well as support structures
available for postgraduate students at the university.
Detailed
information on course offerings and academic pre-requisites is available on the
UCT website in the respective 2024 faculty handbooks. For any further enquiries on
how to apply to UCT please contact the relevant faculty postgraduate
/ admissions office. Contact details of faculty postgraduate / Admissions Officers
can be found in UCT’s postgraduate prospectus.
Step
2: Collate the necessary supporting documents to strengthen your academic
application
Applicants
are encouraged to refer to the relevant postgraduate faculty handbook for more information and
should ensure that when submitting these documents online, each document is
scanned and uploaded as a single document. Documents must be legible and clear.
UCT
reserves the right to cancel the application if all the necessary certified
supporting documents are not submitted on time. Upon arrival and registration
at UCT, successful applicants will be asked to provide original documentation
of the certified copies submitted during the application for funding from this
initiative.
Step
3: Apply online for academic study and placement
Apply online for academic study and placement at UCT.
Once
the application is submitted it cannot be amended by the applicant. In the
event that an applicant would like to change the programme choice and
biographical information and/or add documentation, only the Admissions Office
can facilitate this. Applicants may monitor their application status online
by logging in to the site. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars
Program Office at the University of Cape Town does not process academic
applications.
Applications
for student accommodation in a UCT residence are managed by UCT Student Housing
Admissions and Advocacy Services. Applications for student accommodation must
be received by 31 July 2023.The application is part of the online academic
application process. Read more about the UCT student accommodation.
Additional
Information for International Applicants
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).
The
onus is on visa applicants to check with the South African embassy or High
Commission that these are the only requirements for the application as the
relevant authorities have the discretion to ask for additional documents. For
more information on the South African High Commission or embassy located
nearest to you please access: (www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/sa_abroad/sai.htm).
Accepted international scholars must ensure that a study visa – valid for
studies at UCT – is issued prior to departure for South Africa. International
applicants will not be permitted to pre-register or register at UCT without a
visa valid for studies at UCT.
Step
4: Await the outcome of your academic application
Part
2
Step
1: Visit the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape
Town website
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 available at www.uct.ac.za/mcfsp. 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
study programmes applicants, prior to completing the scholarship application
form.
Alternatively,
request information on how to apply for a Mastercard Foundation scholarship
from The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Program Coordinator at [email protected] (telephone
number +27 (0) 21 650 3601). Applicants are advised to work
closely with The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Program Coordinator
whilst preparing and submitting an application for a Mastercard Foundation
scholarship.
Step
2: Create a profile on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program site
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’
Step
3: Complete the eligibility quiz
To
access the postgraduate application form for a Mastercard Foundation
scholarship, applicants will need to complete the eligibility quiz of The
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the online scholarship application
website available at this link: .
Step
4: Complete the Mastercard Foundation Masters Scholarship application form
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. These two
witnesses may not be members of your immediate family. You are required to give
clear and true responses to the questions below. These answers must be given by
you under oath and witnessed by the two witnesses previously mentioned. All
answers must be initialled by the applicant, as well as by the two witnesses.
The Commissioner of Oaths’ signature must be accompanied by his/her official
stamp.
Step
5: Upload certified copies of identity document, passport or refugee papers,
proof of address, current and previous post-secondary transcripts as well as
proof for complete/current degree, curriculum vitae, essay, declaration and
signatures and affidavit declaration
The
affidavit declaration must be downloaded from the online application site,
completed by hand, signed and stamped by commissioner of oaths, and uploaded
back on to the site with your application.
Click
‘Upload Files’ and upload the abovementioned supporting documentation. Once the
scholarship application is uploaded it can be amended by the applicant prior to
the official scholarship closing date. Only complete applications for a Mastercard
Foundation scholarship uploaded onto the online scholarship application site
will be considered. NO documents will be accepted by e-mail, hard copy or other
methods.
Step
6: Identify two recommenders
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. Applicants will not be able to review the
contents of recommendations received.
Please
ensure that all application forms and supporting documentation are legible.
Fill out as much detail as possible and provide supporting documents as requested
in the online scholarship application form to substantiate the application. Do
not hesitate to contact The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Program
Coordinator with queries or requests for assistance to complete the scholarship
application form at [email protected] (telephone
number +27 (0) 21 650 3601). The scholarship application should
reach us no later than 31 July 2023. Applications will be accepted up to
and including 23:59 (SAST) on 31 July 2023.
The
University of Cape Town and The Mastercard Foundation reserve the right to
cancel incomplete and/or late applications, to effect changes to the conditions
of the scholarships or to make no awards at all.
We
would like to wish all applicants success with their application. Let the
leadership opportunity begin