StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po gives young people from Sub-Saharan Africa access to one of Europe’s leading social-sciences institutions. Selected Scholars receive comprehensive support for the full two years of a master’s at Sciences Po in Paris — covering tuition, living expenses, travel, a laptop and accommodation — plus financial, academic, social and post-graduation guidance. The programme aims to train a new generation of African change-makers in public policy and major societal transitions.
Eligible applicants also receive an application fee waiver for the Sciences Po admissions process.
Eligibility
- Hold citizenship of an African country — candidates with a second citizenship outside Africa are not eligible.
- Be under 35 when the master’s programme begins.
- Not already hold, or be studying for, a master’s degree; and be applying to the programme for the first time.
- Applying to an eligible two-year master’s at Sciences Po’s graduate schools — dual degrees and one-year master’s are excluded.
- Have completed or be enrolled in a bachelor’s at one of Sciences Po’s institutions of reference, or in a training/mentoring programme of a Mastercard Foundation bridging-partner organisation.
- Demonstrate genuine financial need (financial documentation required; bank statements are not accepted) and a commitment to achieving change in Africa, particularly in public policy and major transitions.
- Meet Sciences Po’s minimum academic requirements for admission, which vary by country of origin. Young women, refugees and displaced persons receive particular consideration.
Benefits
- Full tuition and academic fees for both years of the master’s.
- Living-expense support, accommodation, travel costs and a laptop.
- Application fee waiver for eligible scholarship applicants.
- Ongoing academic, financial and social support plus post-graduation guidance throughout the programme.
Documents required
- Master’s application on the Sciences Po admissions platform with standard admission documents.
- Eligibility request on the dedicated Mastercard Foundation Scholars platform.
- Documents proving financial need (bank statements not accepted).
- Evidence of citizenship and commitment to change in Africa.
How to apply
- Request the eligibility checkApply on the dedicated Mastercard Foundation Scholars platform for the eligibility determination — and do this at the same time as step 2.
- Apply to a Sciences Po master’sCreate your master’s application on the Sciences Po admissions platform. Skipping this step at this stage forfeits the fee waiver.
- Submit before your deadlineFile both tracks by 23 November 2026 (early; admission decision by 11 Feb 2027) or 14 December 2026 (regular; decision by 1 Apr 2027). Scholarship results arrive in April 2027. Start gathering documents now — the post-eligibility submission window is short.
FAQs
The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with Sciences Po (Paris School of Political Science / Paris Institute of Political Studies).
No — the Sciences Po track is for a two-year master’s. You must not already hold a master’s and must be applying for the first time.
No. Candidates with a second citizenship from outside Africa are excluded.
Yes — tuition, living expenses, accommodation, travel and a laptop, plus ongoing support through both years.
Scholarship results come out in April 2027 either way, after the master’s admission decisions.
Verified 21 Oct 2026 via opportunitylab (updated 2 days prior: 23 Nov 2026 / 14 Dec 2026 deadlines; 2-yr master’s coverage; African citizenship incl. dual-citizenship exclusion; under 35; fee waiver) + YouthExpat + scholarsworld.ng (eligibility criteria, benefits, 14 Dec 2026) + fundsdigest (timeline structure). No fact stated from fewer than two agreeing sources.
