Applications are now open for the 2025/2026 University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The University of Rwanda, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is implementing a 10-year Scholars Program (2021–2031) designed to expand access to quality higher education for 1,400 talented young Africans with limited access to opportunities. The initiative specifically focuses on females pursuing Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), young people with disabilities, refugees and displaced youth. The Program aims to strengthen the University of Rwanda’s institutional capacity and foster inclusive, supportive pathways toward dignified work.
The program is recruiting scholars in selected undergraduate programs for the academic year 2025. Interested applicants will undertake their academic training at the University of Rwanda in the following 7 Colleges (College of Science and Technology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences, College of Business and Economics, College of Education, College of Arts and Social Sciences, and College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences) operating on 5 Campuses NYARUGENGE, HUYE, RUKARA, BUSOGO and NYAGATARE.
Requirements
- Be a citizen of Rwanda to benefit from the national scholarship quota.
- Be a citizen of any African country, a refugee, or displaced youth in Africa.
- Academically qualified, with limited access to opportunities.
- Not above 28 years at the time of application, and not above 30 years for those with certified proof
of protracted life condition (refugees, single mothers, in child-headed family, etc). - Meeting admission criteria to eligible programs at the University of Rwanda.
- Must have generated a UR Reference number and has submitted an application for admission to
UR in one of the earmarked programs (refer to the list of Eligible Programs in section 2 above). - Must demonstrate commitment to leadership and proof of community engagement (give back)
and/or transformation initiatives. - Refugees and those with disabilities are expected to provide legal proofs of their status (From
UNHCR or NCPD respectively, or any other duly recognized organization).
Benefits
The scholarship will cover:
- Comprehensive financial support (full tuition fees, fully paid on-campus accommodation, a laptop, learning materials, annual return ticket allowance, and a full-year monthly stipend.
- Psycho-social Support Services.
- Uniquely sourced internships with industry for professional development.
- Continued academic support through academic mentorship, virtual learning, and tutoring.
- Career Development Services (including Industrial Mentorship, Career Guidance, Professional
Development, and Enterprise Development, among others) - Regular group meetings with other scholars that focus on personal and professional development opportunities and activities tailored to build societal relationships and scholars’ capacity.
- Opportunities to participate in leadership congresses, community services and mentoring (Goback Give- Back),
- The prestige of becoming part of the growing family of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni and networking with the Global Scholars Community.
Application Process:
- A general application form must be filled online using the following link: https://mcfsprecruitment.ur.ac.rw/
- Refugee applicants are requested to complete the form available in the online application portal.
- Before completing the online application form, please read through all instructions, and required information. The link to access the empty form will be seen after opening the application link above.
- Applicants can fill the online application form in more than one session, however, it is recommended that you start the application when you have all the supporting documents in place.
- The application will be considered only after submission and all steps below are completed: The application form and processes are fully completed
- All required documents are attached (Please make sure you name each document attached with your names and reference number during the initial application to UR, then ensure that the documents are saved in PDF format (with size less than 250 kb) Click Submit at the end of the online application, only when all the fields and attachments have been fully completed Youth with disabilities, Refugees and/or displaced youth are required to fill in the online application portal.
- All applicants are required to upload all supporting documents as required, prior to final submission (Note that once the application is submitted, all application fields are closed and cannot be repeated)
For More Information:
