Administered out of the Center for African Studies, the program at the University of California, Berkeley is supported by a broad cross-section of functional and disciplinary units on campus including the Division of Student Affairs, the Graduate Division, the Berkeley International Office, and the International House.
University of California, Berkeley Information
Founded in 1868, University of California, Berkeley is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large town of Berkeley (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), California. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is a very large (uniRank enrollment range: 40,000-44,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as 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 151 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 10-20% making this US higher education organization a most selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.
Eligibility Criteria
The five main eligibility criteria are:
- Being a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country – If you have refugee status, are stateless, or have other questions regarding your citizenship, you may still be eligible. Please contact us directly to clarify. This scholarship is not intended for citizens of North African countries.
- Excelling academically – All prospective Scholars must first be admitted to UC Berkeley to be considered for the Scholarship. An important criteria for admission to the University is demonstrated academic excellence.
- Coming from an economically disadvantaged background – We aim to admit those from the bottom two income quintiles per country. This Scholarship is designed for those extremely talented individuals who have no other means of acquiring the further education required to help realize their dreams and ambitions.
- Having demonstrated the will to give back to your community, country, or continent – We are looking for well-rounded students who are engaged in activities beyond the classroom. Some may be directly related to your field of study, but this may also include other issues (social, economic, political) that you are working on and passionate about. Applicants should elaborate on their achievements both in their application to UC Berkeley, and then later on the Scholarship application.
- Having expressed the desire and intention to return to your home country after completing your studies – We are looking for students who are engaged with and passionate about issues affecting their communities, and who will take advantage of their education at UC Berkeley to better equip themselves with the knowledge and training to address these issues upon return. While important work can be done from abroad, the intention of this Program is to enable Scholars to return home, after forming valuable professional connections through internship and job placements.
Offered Benefits
Fully-funded scholarship
*MBA students need to secure additional funding from Haas Business School through obtaining Haas scholarships, which requires meeting the Round One or Two application deadline. We encourage you to contact us if you are interested to learn more details about this unique process.
Application Process
Go to Mastercard Foundation on mcfscholarsprogram.berkeley.edu to apply
Note:
- Master's degree applicants must first apply to a graduate progam before they will be considered for the Mastercard Foundations Scholars Program. Not all degree programs are eligible. Here is a list of Master's Degree programs.
- Each eligible graduate degree program(link is external) has specific requirements and applicants should carefully review those. The Graduate Division(link is external) also provides detailed information on the admissions process for international students. Direct questions regarding admission requirements should be made to the specific graduate program. We outline more details of the Scholars Program application process for master's program here. We will accept applications through the fall of 2028.
- While the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley is not open to undergraduates, students at this level are welcome to apply to the University of California, Berkeley. More information on the undergraduate process is available on the Undergraduate Admissions site(link is external). Other Scholars Program partners(link is external) are recruiting undergraduates.
Founded in 1868, University of California, Berkeley is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large town of Berkeley (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), California. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is a very large (uniRank enrollment range: 40,000-44,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as 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 151 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 10-20% making this US higher education organization a most selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.