The University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarship is open for undergraduate Cohort 5 in 2026/2027. The live recruitment portal invites applications for bachelor’s study through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. This guide covers the undergraduate call, rather than the already closed postgraduate intake.
The programme supports talented young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Its published package includes tuition, campus accommodation and other study support. Applicants must meet University of Rwanda admission requirements as well as the Scholars Program’s eligibility rules.
University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarship Details
The Scholars Program combines financial support with preparation for leadership and service. It prioritises eligible young people whose circumstances create barriers to higher education. The official eligibility page includes applicants from Rwanda and other African countries, as well as qualifying refugees or displaced people in Africa.
The active recruitment portal separates undergraduate and postgraduate applications. Undergraduate Cohort 5 is open, while the 2026/2027 postgraduate window ran from 23 July to 25 August 2026 and is closed. Use the undergraduate route for this current call.
Host | University of Rwanda |
|---|---|
Programme | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program |
Current call | 2026/2027 undergraduate Cohort 5 |
Study level | Bachelor’s degree |
Funding | Full scholarship with published study and living support |
Deadline | 12 October 2026, 23:59 Kigali time |
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University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarship Benefits
The official coverage page lists full tuition and on-campus accommodation. It also includes a laptop and study materials, a monthly stipend throughout the year and the published annual return-airfare support. No stipend amount is stated, so a numerical monthly payment is not invented.
The programme also describes psychosocial support, mentoring, leadership development, internships and career preparation. These elements accompany academic study and community engagement. Applicants should check the current award conditions for how individual support is delivered.
For other African-focused routes, compare the ASU Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, a graduate-level Mastercard Foundation Scholars opportunity, and the Yale Young African Scholars programme for African secondary school students.
University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarship Eligibility
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the published academic and University of Rwanda admission conditions. The programme targets eligible African applicants with financial need and includes refugees, displaced young people and applicants with disabilities under its stated rules. Evidence of leadership and community service is important.
The general undergraduate age limit is 28. The official page permits up to age 30 in certified protracted life circumstances. Applicants seeking consideration under refugee or disability provisions should prepare the legal or other proof requested by the programme.
Requirements and Documents
Prepare academic qualification evidence and the information needed for University of Rwanda admission. The scholarship assessment also requires an accurate account of financial circumstances, leadership and community engagement. Supporting evidence must match the applicant’s actual situation.
Where relevant, gather the programme’s required proof of refugee or disability status. Use the active application form to confirm its exact document categories and upload limits. The general programme summary does not replace the intake-specific form instructions.
How to Apply
Use the portal’s continue-application option if you need to return to an unfinished submission. Review all entries and documents before submitting, and keep the application number or confirmation. The portal also provides an application or results tracking route.
Application Deadline
Undergraduate Cohort 5 applications close on 12 October 2026 at 23:59 Kigali time. This date and time are displayed on the live official recruitment portal. The postgraduate intake is closed and is not included as an available application route.
Submit a complete undergraduate application before the cutoff. Check the portal and programme contact if an intake-specific instruction is unclear. Use your full name and application number when contacting the programme about an existing submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
The current open route is undergraduate Cohort 5. Applicants should distinguish it from the closed postgraduate call and from general programme information.
The following answers use the recruitment portal and official eligibility and coverage pages. The intake-specific application form remains the source for exact uploads.
Is the postgraduate call still open?
No. The official portal marks the 2026/2027 postgraduate intake closed. Its window ended on 25 August 2026.
Is a monthly stipend amount confirmed?
The official coverage page confirms a monthly stipend but does not state its amount. This guide therefore does not invent a figure.
What is the undergraduate age rule?
The general limit is 28, with up to 30 allowed for certified protracted life circumstances under the published eligibility rules.
Conclusion
The University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarship offers full undergraduate support alongside leadership and career preparation. Eligible applicants should connect their academic readiness with the programme’s financial-need and community-service criteria.
Apply through the official Cohort 5 undergraduate route by 12 October 2026. Prepare truthful evidence, check the applicable age rules and retain your application details for follow-up.
