The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program strives to provide access to quality and inclusive education to young people from Sub-Saharan Africa. By 2030, as part of an ambitious new strategy (Young Africa Works), the Foundation aims to enable 30 million young Africans to secure dignified and fulfilling employment.
Since 2017, Sciences Po is the only institution in continental Europe to partner with the Mastercard Foundation. Since then, it has been an instrumental member of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, offering a world-class education in the humanities and social sciences that pairs rigorous academic standards with proven expertise in preparing students for the globalised job market.
For its second strategic phase (2024 – 2034), the goal of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po is to support 1,450 students and young professionals who demonstrate academic excellence, strong leadership potential and a commitment to achieving change in Africa, but who face significant financial barriers to higher education.
Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris Information
Founded in 1872, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Paris Institute of Political Studies) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Paris (population range of over 5,000,000 inhabitants), Ile-de-France. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Nancy, Poitiers, Menton, Dijon, Havre. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation, France (Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, France), Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) is a medium-sized (uniRank enrollment range: 9,000-9,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 147 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 0-10% making this French higher education organization a most selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.
Offered Benefits
In addition to funding tuition, Sciences Po provides Scholars with a range of tailored resources to support their studies and facilitate their transition into employment. Specifically, Scholars have access to:
- Support in the run-up to leaving for France, tailored support when they arrive, and an official welcome programme to help them integrate in their first few weeks.
- Housing in Paris reserved for Mastercard Foundation Scholars.
- Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring every student has the best possible experience at Sciences Po.
- Careers support: guidance to help students identify their professional aspirations; a careers fair focusing on employment and internship opportunities in Africa; access to the university’s business incubator (FR) and its network of employers and alumni working in Africa; opportunities to attend careers support workshops, conferences, etc.
- A mentoring programme co-run with the Africa Division of Sciences Po Alumni.
- Access to the wide range of general resources Sciences Po provides to guide students through every step of their studies.
Application Process
Go to Mastercard Foundation on sciencespo.smapply.io to apply
You can apply to any of the Master’s degree programmes offered at Sciences Po’s seven Graduate Schools.