WUSC Student Refugee Program & Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
WUSC Student Refugee Program
A path to resettlement and higher education in Canada
The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) offers registered refugees a life-changing opportunity — resettlement in Canada to pursue post-secondary education. Through its Student Refugee Program, WUSC partners with Canadian universities and colleges to sponsor young refugees, providing them with a fresh start and access to quality education.
Eligible countries
Kenya · Uganda · Lebanon · Jordan
Age requirement
18 – 25 years old
Application window
Annually November – March
Requirements
Must be a registered refugee in an eligible country
Completed high school with strong grades — Kenya minimum: Boys B+, Girls B−
Watch for the annual “Call for Applications” — typically opens between November and March
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Full-cost scholarships for young Africans — undergraduate & postgraduate
How to Apply
Applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a unique process because the Foundation does not manage applications directly. Instead, it partners with specific universities that handle their own recruitment
You must apply directly through a university that is an official partner of the Mastercard Foundation.
- Note: Each partner has its own specific deadlines, geographic focus, and eligibility requirements.
Ashesi University · Accra, Ghana
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Ashesi University
Ashesi University has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation since 2012, making it one of nine pioneering institutions in the programme. The scholarship supports African undergraduate students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with a holistic package covering all costs, plus access to an accelerated master’s degree in collaboration with Arizona State University — completing both degrees in five years instead of six.
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship: Must be a citizen of an African country.
Academic Excellence: Must demonstrate an excellent academic record with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or equivalent. Applicants must be enrolled in or applying to a full-time undergraduate programme at Ashesi University.
Financial Need: Must demonstrate clear financial need, with household income falling below a qualifying threshold, and be financially dependent on family or guardians.
Leadership Potential: Must show demonstrated leadership potential through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or other community initiatives.
Community Service: Must show a commitment to community service through volunteer work, community projects, or other relevant initiatives.
Application Note: Applicants do not apply directly for the scholarship — selection is made automatically by the Admissions and Financial Aid Office based on the general scholarship application.
The Scholarship Covers Full Tuition, Room & Board, Learning Resources, Socio-economic Support, Leadership Development, Pan-African Alumni Network, Accelerated Master’s (ASU)
University of Pretoria · Pretoria, South Africa
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria (UP) has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation since January 2014, offering scholarships to high-achieving young Africans pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate (Honours and Master’s) degrees. The programme entered a Phase 2 agreement in December 2023 to support even more students. Community service, internships, and entrepreneurship are integral components of the programme.
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship: Must be a citizen of an African country. Kenyan students are eligible to apply for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Academic Achievement: Postgraduate applicants must be first-year Master’s students with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 70%. A consistently high academic average is required throughout the application.
Prior Admission Required: Applicants must first obtain provisional admission to the University of Pretoria. Only provisionally admitted students will be considered.
Financial Need: Must demonstrate financial need and come from an economically disadvantaged background. This scholarship is exclusively for students who cannot otherwise afford tertiary education.
Community Service & Leadership: Must have demonstrated experience in community service and leadership. Evidence of active contribution to community is required.
Target Groups: Special consideration is given to refugees/Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and persons with disabilities. SAQA qualification equivalence is required for applicants from outside South Africa.
Other Bursaries: Recipients may not hold other bursaries (with the exception of UP bursaries). Must have no close family relations working at the University of Pretoria.
African Leadership University · Kigali, Rwanda
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at African Leadership University (ALU)
The African Leadership University (ALU) partnered with the Mastercard Foundation in 2020 with an ambitious goal: develop and place 2 million young women and men into dignified, fulfilling jobs by 2030. ALU has enrolled over 768 Mastercard Foundation Scholars from 32 countries, with particular emphasis on young women (68% of scholars), refugees and displaced persons (19%), and persons with disabilities. The programme offers both undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships.
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship & Residency: Must be a resident and citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country. Applicants temporarily living outside Africa for study or work may still be eligible.
ALU Admissions Requirement: Must meet ALU’s minimum admissions requirements for the specific program of interest. Applicants must apply for academic admission first before the scholarship process begins.
Financial Need: Must demonstrate significant financial need and socio-economic disadvantage, verified through official supporting documents. Applicants must be otherwise unable to afford ALU tuition through any other form of aid.
Leadership & Community Commitment: Must show evidence of active community contribution and a clear commitment to leveraging the scholarship opportunity to give back. Community service experience is a core criterion.
Priority Groups: Young women, refugees, internally displaced persons, and persons with physical or learning disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply and receive priority consideration.
Application Process: Involves an initial scholarship eligibility form, a narrative submission (video and essays on selected themes), two referral letters from persons of good standing in the community, supporting documents, and an ALU Fit Challenge (an online assessment averaging 25 minutes).
What the Scholarship Covers
100% Full TuitionAccommodation SupportLeadership DevelopmentMentorshipCareer PlacementPan-African NetworkEntrepreneurship Support
Programme Highlights
80% of ALU graduates report job placement within 6 months of graduating, with an average salary of $12,000/year. ALU entrepreneur-alumni have collectively created over 20,000 jobs and raised over $3 million. Scholars are expected to return to their home countries and contribute to continental transformation.
EARTH University- Costa Rica
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH University in Costa Rica is a transformative initiative designed to empower young leaders from disadvantaged communities across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Eligibility and Application
The program seeks high-achieving young people who demonstrate a strong commitment to giving back to their communities. Key eligibility criteria often include:
- Residency: Must be a resident of a country in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, or the Caribbean.
- Financial Need: Demonstration of financial circumstances that would otherwise prevent university attendance.
- Leadership Potential: A proven track record of community involvement and leadership.
- Academic Excellence: Strong performance in secondary school.
The application process is managed directly by EARTH University. Interested candidates must first apply for admission to the university to be considered for the scholarship
Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda · East Africa
UG & Masters
- Open to academically talented young men and women from Sub-Saharan Africa facing financial hardship
- Undergraduate applicants must apply to prioritized degree programs at Makerere’s main campus
- Masters applicants must have completed their undergraduate degree in an African country, be under 35 years (under 40 for refugees/persons with disabilities), and not hold or have completed another master’s degree
- Demonstrated leadership potential and/or community service
- Refugee applicants must hold a valid Refugee Identity card or Family Attestation
- 1,000 scholarships offered over 10 years (partnership extended through 2034)
University of Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda · East Africa
Undergraduate
- Open to African students from all regions and genders with limited access to education
- Must have applied for admission into a first-year undergraduate program at University of Rwanda
- Priority given to young women, refugees, displaced persons, and persons with disabilities
- Supports the Young Africa Works Strategy (target: 30 million young people by 2030)
- Applications typically open annually — check the university’s official portal for deadlines
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, is a prestigious partnership designed to foster transformative leadership across the African continent.
Eligibility and “Giving Back”
The program is open to both Ghanaian and international African students who meet the university’s admission requirements. A core pillar of the scholarship is the “Go-Back, Give-Back” philosophy. Applicants must demonstrate:
- Significant Financial Need: Proof of coming from an economically disadvantaged background.
- Academic Excellence: High performance in secondary school (results must typically be no older than five years).
- Leadership Potential: A proven commitment to community service and volunteerism.
- Priority Groups: The program actively encourages applications from young women, persons with disabilities, and displaced persons (refugees or IDPs).
How to Apply
To be considered, candidates must first apply for admission to a degree program at KNUST. Once an application for admission is initiated, students can then apply for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship through the dedicated secretariat.