2025/2026 University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarships
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda is pleased to launch the call for application for Mastercard Foundation Scholarships at the University of Rwanda for the academic year 2025/2026.
This scholarship opportunity is open to African students of all gender and regions with limited access to opportunities.
The scholarship is one of the approaches for achieving Young Africa Works Strategy which aims to enable 30 million young people across Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, with a focus on young women, refugees and displaced persons, and people with disabilities.
The applicants to this scholarship will have applied for admission into first year’s UR academic programs for the academic year 2025/2026 which are also eligible for the scholarship by Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UR.
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.
Summary of the 2025/2026 University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarships
- Type: Undergraduate scholarship
- Country of study: Rwanda
- School to study: University of Rwanda
- Eligible Countries: African Countries
- Funding Type: Fully Funded
- Benefits: Full tuition fees, Paid on-campus accommodation, A laptop, Learning materials, Annual return ticket allowance, Full-year monthly stipend, Uniquely sourced internships and lots more
- Deadline: August 22nd, 2025
Eligibility Requirements for the 2025/2026 University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarships
- 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).
Perks of the 2025/2026 University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarships
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 for the 2025/2026 University of Rwanda Mastercard Scholarships
- 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.
- 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)
Deadline: August 22nd, 2025
