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Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Announcement for 2024/2025

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12 months ago

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Some of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars that graduated during the 74th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University pose for the camera. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Some of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars that graduated during the 74th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University pose for the camera.

Makerere University Management and the Mastercard Foundation renewed their partnership for the second phase of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program from 2023 to 2034.

The second phase of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University’s main campus in Kampala, Uganda will provide 1000 scholarships for 10 years at both the undergraduate (Bachelor’s degree) and graduate (Master’s degree) academic program levels. The scholarships are awarded to academically talented young men and women from Sub-Saharan Africa facing financial constraints to pursue their academic studies.

Makerere University is pleased to announce the first Cohort of 95 undergraduate and 05 Master’s scholarship opportunities to nationals, refugees, internally displaced youth, and international students joining Makerere University in the Academic Year 2024/2025 under the Private Sponsorship Scheme of Makerere University.

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University’s main campus in the Academic Year 2024/2025, the following conditions must be met:

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: APPLICANTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES

To be eligible to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, the following conditions must be met:

  1. The applicant must be qualifying for admission at Makerere University’s main campus under the Private Sponsorship Scheme. Therefore, all applicants should apply for admission at Makerere University, main campus under the Private Sponsorship Scheme (when advertised). Once admitted to Makerere University’s main campus, then your application for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship at Makerere University shall be considered for the due selection processes.
  2. The Applicant must have completed the Advanced level education (or its equivalent) in an African country.
  3. The Applicant should provide evidence of significant financial hardship.
  4. The Applicant should not be a holder of any other scholarship, including the Government Scholarship.
  5. The Applicant should not have completed any undergraduate studies.
  6. The Applicant must have served as a leader and with a record of community service.
  7. The Applicant should be at the age of 28 years or younger at the time of the deadline of the application.
  8. Applicants under the categories of Refugees, IDPs, and Students with Disabilities should be 32 years of age or younger at the time of the deadline of the application.

A refugee applicant must be a recognized and registered refugee with proof of refugee attestation.

Additional Consideration: The prioritized degree programmes are those aligned to the NDP III Strategic Development Areas of Agriculture, Tourism, Mineral Development, Infrastructure, and Human Capital Development (please refer to the application form for a list of programmes).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIP FOR MASTER’S ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

  1. The applicant must qualify for admission at Makerere University’s main campus for the Master’s degree programme. Therefore, all applicants should apply for admission at Makerere University’s main campus under the Private Sponsorship Scheme (when advertised).
  2. Once admitted to Makerere University’s main campus, then your application for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University shall be considered for the due selection processes.
  3. The Applicant must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in an African country.
  4. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships are restricted to individuals facing significant financial hardship.
  5. Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential and a record of community service.
  6. Applicants should not be holders of any other scholarship.
  7. Applicants should not have registered for or completed any other Master’s degree.
  8. The Applicant should not be over 35 years of age at the time of applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
  9. Applicants under the category of Refugees and Students with Disabilities should not be over 40 years of age at the time of the deadline for the application for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship.
  10. A refugee applicant must be a recognized and registered refugee with proof (refugee attestation) attached to the application form.

Additional Considerations for Applying for Master’s Studies

The Applicant shall submit a motivation statement indicating the incentive/driver for applying for a given academic programme. The statement should articulate how the pursuance of the preferred degree programme shall enable the applicant to contribute to innovatively solving a given societal challenge— (Max. 500 words)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Prospective applicants for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship can obtain and fill out the Scholarship Application Form AT NO COST through the following avenues:

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FORMS

Please submit your application form in one of the following avenues:

  1. Hard copy application forms and all required attachments should be submitted to the office of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, located at Plot 144, Pool Road by 5:00 pm on Friday 14th June 2024 for Applicants to join Academic Year 2024/25. For every application submitted, the applicant shall sign in the “Applications Received Book.”
  2. Online submissions:
    • a) Filling the Online Application Form and attach copies of all required documents via https://apply.mcfsp.mak.ac.ug/scholarship
    • b) Submit via email as an attachment – The filled application form and scanned copies of all requirement documents and send via email: makscholarsapplication@gmail.com

Note: For inquiries or clarifications please call our office mob line at +256 700-716-128

When submitting your application form please attach all the listed in the application form.

Please note the following:

  1. 70% of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships are reserved for young women.
  2. 25% of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships are reserved for Youth with Refugee status
  3. 10% of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships are reserved for Youth with Disabilities
  4. Dishonesty and influence peddling will lead to automatic disqualification.
  5. Falsification of documents or giving false information will lead to disqualification and/or prosecution.
  6. Beware of fraudsters selling the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship forms as the APPLICATION FORM IS FREE.
  7. Only successful applicants will be notified.

Note: Applications shall remain open for Persons with Disabilities, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons for the Academic Year 2025/26, for applicants who may not be in position to meet the deadline for Academic Year 2024/25.

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Admission Lists for Diploma Holders under Government Sponsorship for 2025/2026 AY

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1 day ago

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April 24, 2025

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One of the First Class Graduands Shafik Senkubuge (2nd Right) in a group photo with part of the BEHS Class of 2024. 74th Graduation Ceremony, Day 1, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences (CHS), 29th January 2024, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released lists of Diploma holders admitted under the Government Sponsorship Scheme for the Academic Year 2025/2026.

Under the Diploma Holders Government Sponsorship Scheme admission does not exceed 5% of the intake capacity to the respective Degree Programme.

The list can be accessed by following the link below:

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Call For Applications: AlphaFold Workshop Uganda 2025

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2 days ago

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April 23, 2025

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Are you a researcher or student working in protein-related research, structural biology, or bioinformatics?

The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data Intensive Sciences (ACE) Uganda with support from Google DeepMind, invites researchers and students seeking to integrate AlphaFold into their work to apply for the AlphaFold Workshop to be held at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University-Kampala, Uganda from 16th to 20th June 2025.

Deadline: 30th April 2025

Apply here: AlphaFold Workshop – Uganda 2025

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Makerere Alumnus Named 2025–2026 Schwarzman Scholar

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2 days ago

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April 23, 2025

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Emmanuel Akandwanaho, BSLE’22 Alumnus, to attend a master’s program at Tsinghua University, China Asia. College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

Emmanuel Akandwanaho, a Bachelor of Science in Land Economics (BSLE) graduate from Makerere University’s Class of 2022, has been selected to join the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2026. He will pursue a fully funded, one-year Master’s degree in Global Affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China.

Emmanuel makes history as the first undergraduate alumnus from Makerere University and the second Ugandan to be awarded the Schwarzman Scholarship, one of the world’s most competitive and globally renowned graduate fellowships. The Schwarzman Scholars Program was founded in 2015 by Stephen A. Schwarzman, Co-founder and CEO of Blackstone, to equip the next generation of leaders with a deep understanding of China’s role in global trends. Each year, 150 exceptional young leaders from across the world are selected for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to building a better future.

About Emmanuel Akandwanaho

Emmanuel studied Land Economics from 2017 to 2022 and graduated with Second Class Upper Honours. Throughout his time at Makerere, he was deeply involved in student leadership and campus initiatives that shaped his personal and professional growth. He served as Class Representative for five consecutive years, Speaker of the Makerere Association of Surveying Students, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT), and Student Representative on the 31st Governing Council of the Institution of Surveyors of Uganda.

Recognizing a gap in communication and personal development on campus, Emmanuel founded the Makerere Gavel Club in 2019, an affiliate of Toastmasters International to improve student’s public speaking skills. The club has since helped students build confidence, become effective communicators, and develop leadership skills. The club continues to thrive as a leading platform for personal and professional development, nurturing confident communicators and emerging leaders. Today, the club is one of the most active student-led platforms on campus, having trained over 200 students since its inception.

Emmanuel Akandwanaho, BSLE’22 Alumnus, to attend a master’s program at Tsinghua University, China Asia. College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
Emmanuel Akandwanaho, BSLE’22 Alumnus.

Outside leadership, Emmanuel’s curiosity led him into entrepreneurship. He co-founded a startup aimed at improving student access to accommodation by helping them search and book hostels online. The project won Best Student Project at the 2019 International Engineering Students’ Conference at the University of Nairobi, and later received regional recognition, winning Best East African PropTech Startup at the 2021 Africa PropTech Competition.

Reflecting on his journey, Emmanuel shares:

“I saw my time at Makerere as more than just academics—it was an opportunity to grow, lead, and solve real-world problems. From my first year, I threw myself into leadership roles that stretched me and helped me discover what I was capable of. These experiences laid the foundation for my Schwarzman Scholarship journey.”

After graduating, Emmanuel explored a range of professional interests. He worked with a microfinance institution, volunteered with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction on land governance projects, and served as Partnerships and Community Lead at Hindsight Ventures, supporting African tech startups. He also authored a policy paper on the role of public venture funds in financing startups.

“I’ve never seen myself as just one thing. My education in Land Economics was foundational, but I’ve always asked myself: what problems do I want to solve? That question has guided me into new spaces—policy, entrepreneurship, technology—all connected by a deep desire to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s future.”

Now preparing for Schwarzman College, Emmanuel is eager to explore China-Africa policy relations, understand China’s urbanization and infrastructure development, and experience Mandarin language immersion and cultural exchange. He is especially interested in exploring how China has managed its rapid urbanization and lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty—areas that resonate with Uganda’s own developmental challenges.

“What excites me most about Schwarzman is its holistic approach. You don’t just study; you engage. You travel across China, study Mandarin, explore cities, and collaborate with some of the most brilliant minds from over 40 countries. It’s the perfect place for someone like me—curious, ambitious, and eager to make sense of the world.”

He also sees this experience as an opportunity to build a truly global network.

“You live and study with 149 other scholars; engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, diplomats, all passionate about changing the world in different ways. These are the people I’ll learn from, collaborate with, and build lifelong friendships with. That, to me, is priceless.”

Emmanuel encourages other Makerere students to consider applying:

“If you’re a final-year student or recent graduate and you’re curious about the world, the Schwarzman Scholars program is worth exploring. My leadership experience at Makerere played a crucial role in my application. Applications for the next cohort are already open, and I would love to see more Ugandans and Makerereans apply. We need more African voices in global conversations.”

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