The Four Models
The Four Application Models
Every MCF partner falls into one of these four categories. Identifying which model your target partner uses is the first step before you do anything else.
Apply to University First, Then MCFSP Supplemental
Partners: UC Berkeley, University of Edinburgh
Who it suits: Students confident in their admissions candidacy at a highly selective institution. You invest in the university application first — the scholarship selection comes after you are in the pool.
Berkeley specifics: Approximately 35 to 50 scholars from 6,000+ eligible applicants. SEVIS and visa fees are covered. Berkeley also covers round-trip airfare and a living stipend for the Africa-based internship in 2+ year programmes.
MCFSP Application Opens Before or Precedes University Admission
Partners: McGill University
Who it suits: Students who want to assess scholarship eligibility before committing to the full application process. McGill's pre-screening removes the upfront cost of applying — you only proceed with the full graduate application if you have been pre-screened as a scholarship candidate.
Integrated Single Application
Partners: Sciences Po, University of Cambridge
Cambridge
The MCFSP application is embedded in the standard course application. You select a funding option, write a supplementary statement on climate and Africa commitment, and submit with your regular application. Deadlines: December 4 or January 7 depending on your course.
Sciences Po
One international admissions application covers both admission and scholarship simultaneously. Deadline: January 4. Results: early May.
Who it suits: Students who prefer not to manage two separate processes. The efficiency is real, but it comes with one cost: you have less time and space to tailor a standalone scholarship application. Your scholarship materials are submitted alongside everything else.
Direct Application to University MCFSP Portal
Partners: KNUST, Makerere, University of Rwanda, USIU-Africa, CMU-Africa, UCT, Ashesi, AUB, and most African partners
Who it suits: Students applying to African partner universities. The process is more integrated with the university's standard admissions and generally more accessible in terms of timeline and process complexity.
Calendar
Key Timelines
Deadlines change every cycle. Treat the dates below as structural guidance, not a definitive calendar. Always verify on the partner university's current MCFSP page.
International Partners
Cambridge, Edinburgh, Berkeley, McGill, Sciences Po
Study typically starts in September or October following award.
African Partner Universities
KNUST, Makerere, University of Rwanda, USIU-Africa
Special Cases
Oxford (via AfOx): Oxford admissions deadlines fall in January; the AfOx MCFSP process runs alongside standard admissions. Check AfOx's current page for the specific cycle.
AUB: Runs its own cycle. Check AUB's MCFSP page directly — do not assume timing matches either group above.
Scam Alert — This Is Real and Widespread
The Mastercard Foundation has issued repeated official scam alerts. A fake scholarship purporting to be from "Manchester University" and fake MCF portals charging application fees have been widely circulated on WhatsApp and email across African networks.
The Foundation never charges application fees. Never.
Applications go exclusively through official partner university portals — domains ending in .edu, .ac.uk, .ox.ac.uk, or the specific partner's official domain. If you are on a website that is not an official partner domain and it is asking for money, close the tab immediately.
Documents
Required Documents — Baseline Across All Partners
These are the documents required across the MCF partner network. Specific requirements vary — treat this as the baseline and verify each partner's current application page for what is mandatory, optional, or excluded.
University application form
Or the integrated MCF application, depending on the partner model. This is the foundation of everything else.
Academic transcripts
From all previous institutions. Unofficial transcripts are often accepted initially; official certified copies are typically required upon award.
Proof of academic qualifications / degree certificates
Actual certificates, not just transcripts. Both are usually required.
CV or resume
Academic and professional history. Keep it factual. The essays are where narrative goes — the CV is for facts and dates.
Two or three letters of recommendation
Academic and/or professional. Not character references. Referees should know your specific work. Brief your referees — do not send an email request with no context.
Personal statement / motivation letter
The core written component. See the Writing Essays page for specific guidance on this.
Evidence of financial need
Tax returns, payslips, income statements, previous grant or bursary letters. The goal is to document your situation specifically, not just describe it.
Bank statements (where accepted)
Sciences Po explicitly does NOT accept bank statements as evidence of financial need. Check your specific partner before preparing these.
Proof of African citizenship
Valid passport or national identity document. This is non-negotiable — MCF is for African citizens only.
Additional essays or supplementary statements
Each partner has its own prompts. Cambridge asks for a statement on climate and Africa. Berkeley has its own set. Do not submit generic essays — they are spotted immediately.
GMAT / GRE scores (where required)
Sciences Po and some US partners may require these. Check the specific programme requirements — not all partners need standardised test scores.
English language proficiency scores
Required by Cambridge, Oxford, and Edinburgh for non-native English applicants. IELTS or TOEFL typically. Check minimum score requirements — they vary by programme within each university.
After Submission
After You Apply
Processing and Tracking
Processing time depends entirely on the partner university. There is no central tracking system. If your specific partner has not communicated a timeline, it is reasonable to email their MCFSP coordinator after four weeks.
Interview Invitations
Invitations are sent to shortlisted candidates only. Silence is not an official rejection at most partners — but you should check whether your partner publishes a clear "no interview = unsuccessful" policy.
Feedback Policy
Most partners do not provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants. This is a consistently reported frustration. The practical implication: if you are not selected, you will need to assess your application yourself or get external feedback before reapplying.
Results Timeline
Six to twelve weeks after submission at most international partners. Often faster at African partners. Re-application in future cycles is permitted at most partners. There is no stated penalty for previous unsuccessful applications.