France

2024/2025 Fully Funded Sciences Po Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme for Graduate Study.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is founded on three pivotal strategic objectives. First, it provides tailored support to students, ensuring they receive the guidance and resources necessary to succeed academically. Second, the program focuses on nurturing essential soft skills outside the classroom, helping students develop into well-rounded and capable individuals. Finally, it emphasizes the creation of a robust alumni network, fostering connections among former scholars to facilitate ongoing learning and collaboration. Through these objectives, the program is building a cadre of young leaders who will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Africa, driving progress and positive change throughout the continent.

The Mastercard Foundation, in alignment with its Young Africa Works strategy, is deeply committed to expanding access to high-quality education for young people in Sub-Saharan Africa. This ambitious strategy sets a goal of empowering 30 million African youth with the skills and opportunities they need to secure meaningful employment or engage in entrepreneurship by the year 2030. The Foundation’s partnership with institutions like Sciences Po exemplifies its dedication to achieving this mission, focusing on providing young Africans with access to top-tier education.

The heart of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a commitment to promoting academic excellence and nurturing the leadership potential of students who might otherwise face financial barriers to pursuing higher education. These scholarships are a beacon of hope for young individuals with the talent and ambition to drive substantial change in their communities and across the continent. The program, particularly in collaboration with esteemed institutions like Sciences Po, aims to equip these scholars with the knowledge and skills needed to address pressing challenges, ranging from public policy issues to the profound transformations taking place in politics, the environment, and society.

Fully Funded 2024/2025 Sciences Po Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme for Graduate Study in France.

Eligibility Criteria For The Sciences Po Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme.

To be eligible for the Mastercard Foundation scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be a citizen of a country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Show a willingness to commit to bringing about change in Africa and making a genuine impact on the region in the areas of public policy and major political, environmental and societal transitions.
  • Have a demonstrable need for higher education funding (please note that proof of your financial circumstances will be required as part of your application).
  • Provide a recommendation from your university.
  • Have obtained a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) by the following academic year. 
  • Be applying for a two-year Master’s programme at one of Sciences Po’s seven Graduate Schools. Applicants to one-year Master’s programmes, dual degree programmes or joint Master’s programmes are not eligible for the scholarship.
  • Have attained a minimum of C1 level in French or English, depending on the programme you are applying for (see the language requirements for each programme). Please note that programmes are either taught entirely in French, entirely in English, or in both languages.
  • Not have obtained or be working towards a prior Master’s degree.
  • Be under 35 at the start of the graduate academic year.

Benefits

FINANCIAL AID

Scholarships cover the full cost of tuition and living expenses in France throughout the period of study at Sciences Po.

SPECIALISED SUPPORT

In addition to funding scholars’ studies, Sciences Po provides a range of specialised resources to support them during the process, and to facilitate their transition into the working world. In particular, scholarship students have access to:

  • Support in the run-up to their departure, specialist support on arrival and an official welcome programme.
  • Housing in Paris reserved for scholarship holders.
  • Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every student has the best possible experience at Sciences Po.
  • Careers support: guidance to help students identify their professional aspirations; a careers fair focusing on employment and internship opportunities in Africa; access to the university’s business incubator (FR) and its network of employers and alumni working in Africa; careers support workshops; participation in conferences, etc.
  • A mentoring programme co-run with the Africa Division of Sciences Po Alumni.
  • Access to the wide range of general resources that Sciences Po provides to guide students through every step of their studies.

Timeline:

  • Applications open: mid-October 2023
  • Deadline for requesting eligibility for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship: 23:59 (Paris time) on 26 November 2023
  • Deadline for applying to Sciences Po: 3 December 2023
  • Admissions outcome released: between the 10 and 22 February 2024
  • Scholarship allocation outcome released: from 8 March 2024

Method of Application

Application Deadline: 26 November 2023.

For More Information,

Visit the Official Website

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