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The right partner university for you depends on three things: your programme level (undergraduate vs. master's), your field of study, and where you want to study (Africa vs. abroad). Use the sections below to filter by what fits your situation, then check the individual partner pages for current eligibility, deadlines, and application instructions. Partner pages update seasonally — what's listed here reflects the most recent publicly available information.
International Partners
Highly Selective International Partners
Master's focus. These are the most competitive MCFSP partnerships globally.
UC Berkeley
Focus Areas
Technology, public health, development, energy
Notable Requirement
Apply for admission first, then complete MCFSP supplemental application. Africa-based internship required for 2-year programmes. Acceptance rate is approximately 0.5%–1%.
University of Cambridge
Focus Areas
Climate resilience, sustainability
Notable Requirement
Must write supplementary statement on climate and Africa. Integrated into standard Cambridge course application — no separate MCFSP portal.
University of Oxford (via AfOx)
Focus Areas
Broad development fields
Notable Requirement
Includes Ubuntu period of service — 4 to 6 months embedded in an African organisation in Year 2 of the programme.
University of Edinburgh
Focus Areas
Climate, environment, development, public policy
Notable Requirement
Online programme available for working professionals who cannot relocate. Apply for degree programme first, then MCFSP scholarship separately.
Sciences Po
Focus Areas
Public affairs, international affairs, development
Notable Requirement
Single integrated application — development-related study required. Minimum 3.0 GPA. Bank statements not accepted as financial need evidence.
McGill University
Focus Areas
Public health, nutrition, food security, water management, policy
Notable Requirement
MCFSP pre-screening must be completed BEFORE you submit your university admission application. Reverse order will disqualify you.
University of Toronto
Focus Areas
Health-related programmes
Application
Apply through the U of T MCFSP office; confirm current intake status before applying.
University of British Columbia (UBC)
Focus Areas
Development, policy, health
Application
Apply through UBC's MCFSP programme page.
Arizona State University (ASU)
Focus Areas
Sustainability, development
Application
Apply through ASU. Note Ashesi University students have a dedicated accelerated pathway to ASU master's programmes.
American University of Beirut (AUB)
Focus Areas
Broad, including doctoral programmes across faculties
Notable
AUB is one of the very few MCFSP partners that funds PhD studies. If doctoral study is your goal, check AUB specifically before assuming MCFSP doesn't cover your level.
African Partners
African Partner Universities
Undergraduate and Master's programmes across the continent. Generally higher annual scholar counts than Western partners, but still competitive.
Ashesi University
GhanaStrong leadership emphasis woven into all aspects of the programme. Five-year accelerated pathway to a master's at ASU for top performers.
KNUST
GhanaOne of the largest MCFSP cohorts. Covers full tuition, accommodation, a laptop, and a monthly stipend. Good option for strong students who want to stay in West Africa.
University of Cape Town (UCT)
South AfricaRenewable annually based on satisfactory academic progress. Strong and active alumni network on the continent.
University of Pretoria
South AfricaSustainability and development focus. Strong in agricultural sciences, engineering, and natural sciences.
University of Western Cape (UWC)
South AfricaStrong community engagement emphasis throughout the programme. Community service component is actively monitored.
Makerere University
Uganda190+ scholarships awarded in 2025/2026. Formally reserves at least 25% of places for refugees and displaced persons. Strong East Africa reach.
African Leadership University (ALU)
RwandaLeadership-first curriculum from day one. Designed to produce entrepreneurial graduates with cross-sector capabilities rather than narrow disciplinary training.
University of Rwanda
Rwanda1,400 scholars targeted for 2021–2031 cycle. Full coverage package includes laptop, accommodation, and a return ticket for scholars from outside Rwanda.
USIU-Africa
KenyaAge limit extended from 29 to 32 for refugees and displaced persons. Full coverage package. US-accredited curriculum on African soil.
CMU-Africa
RwandaCarnegie Mellon University Africa campus. Programmes in IT, ECE, and Engineering AI. Internationally benchmarked curriculum delivered in Rwanda. Strong tech sector placements.
AIMS — African Institute for Mathematical Sciences
MultipleCampuses in multiple African countries. Master's in mathematical sciences. Strong focus on including students from underrepresented communities. Refugee-friendly admissions process.
University of Gondar (with Queen's University)
EthiopiaPartnership with Queen's University (Canada). Financial need documentation requires official testimonials from local government administrators — standard bank documents are not sufficient here.
University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)
RwandaSpecialist master's in global health delivery. Built for people working in health systems who want to strengthen delivery capacity across Africa.
EARTH University
Costa RicaSpecialist undergraduate in ecological agriculture and environmental science. Not based in Africa — EARTH is in Costa Rica, but serves African scholars within the MCFSP framework.
African Leadership Academy
South AfricaSelective secondary-level programme preparing future African leaders. Entry at pre-university stage, not undergraduate or postgraduate.
Non-University Partners
NGO and Organisation Partners
Several MCFSP partners are not universities — they are development organisations working primarily at secondary and vocational education levels.
| Organisation | Location | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Camfed International | Multiple African countries | Secondary girls' education |
| Equity Group Foundation | Kenya | Secondary education |
| BRAC Uganda | Uganda | Vocational and secondary education |
| 2iE | Burkina Faso | Water and environmental engineering |
Decision Guide
Choosing the Right Partner
If you are applying for an undergraduate degree
Your main options are African partner universities. Berkeley, Cambridge, Oxford, and Sciences Po are master's-only within the MCFSP framework. Look at KNUST, UCT, Ashesi, ALU, University of Rwanda, USIU-Africa, and Makerere as your primary pool.
If you are targeting a specific field
Climate and sustainability — Cambridge, Edinburgh. Public health and nutrition — McGill, Toronto. Technology and engineering — CMU-Africa, Berkeley, ASU. International affairs and policy — Sciences Po, Edinburgh, Oxford. Agricultural science — EARTH University, McGill. Mathematical sciences — AIMS.
If you need to stay in Africa
KNUST, Makerere, UCT, University of Rwanda, CMU-Africa, ALU, Ashesi, AIMS, UGHE, and USIU-Africa all offer competitive, fully-funded programmes on the continent. CMU-Africa, in particular, delivers an internationally benchmarked master's curriculum in Rwanda — you get the Carnegie Mellon name without leaving Africa.
If you are a working professional
Edinburgh's online master's programme is designed for professionals who cannot relocate. The scholarship covers tuition, a laptop and internet stipend, and access to in-person gatherings. You keep your job while completing your degree.
If you are a refugee or displaced person
Makerere (25% quota), USIU-Africa (extended age limit to 32), University of Rwanda, and AIMS all specifically welcome displaced applicants. The residency-in-Africa requirement is waived across the programme for those with displacement backgrounds. Start with these partners and the UNHCR partnership pathway.
Reality Check
A Note on Selectivity
"Berkeley gets 6,000+ eligible applicants for about 35 spots. That's not a scholarship — that's a lottery for people who are already exceptional."
The Western international partners sit in a different category of competition from the African partners. Know which tier you're aiming at.
Berkeley gets 6,000+ eligible applicants for about 35 spots. Cambridge and Oxford have similar ratios. These are among the most competitive scholarships for Africans globally. Getting past the academic bar is necessary but nowhere near sufficient — leadership profile, essay quality, programme fit, and interview performance all matter.
African-based partners like KNUST and Makerere fund hundreds of scholars per year — still competitive, but not the same order of magnitude as the Western partners. A strong applicant who would not make the Berkeley cut might be an excellent fit for Makerere or UCT.
When choosing where to apply, be realistic about your profile relative to each institution's bar. Applying to five partners across different selectivity tiers is a reasonable strategy. There is no rule against applying to multiple MCFSP partners simultaneously — confirm this with each partner before you apply, but it is standard practice.
Ready to check your eligibility in detail?
The citizenship, financial need, and leadership requirements each have important nuances that catch applicants out.
Full Eligibility Guide →