Hey future leaders and changemakers! 🚀 Are you a talented young African dreaming of a quality higher education but facing financial hurdles? Well, get ready because the **University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Bursary 2025** is here to turn those dreams into reality! This isn’t just any bursary; it’s a fully-funded, incredible opportunity designed to empower you through education and set you on a path to make a real difference.
This fantastic program is a long-term partnership between the University of Rwanda and the Mastercard Foundation. Running for a decade (from 2021 to 2031), its mission is super clear: to give 1,400 brilliant young Africans access to top-notch higher education. They’re especially looking to support young women pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, as well as young people with disabilities, refugees, and displaced youth. The ultimate goal? To help you gain the skills and knowledge you need for dignified work and to boost the University of Rwanda’s capacity to offer inclusive, supportive learning environments.
You’ll be undertaking your academic journey at one of the University of Rwanda’s seven Colleges across five campuses (Nyarugenge, Huye, Rukara, Busogo, and Nyagatare), diving into selected undergraduate programs for the 2025 academic year.
Who Can Apply?
Think this sounds like you? Here’s a quick rundown of who qualifies for this life-changing bursary:
- You must be a citizen of Rwanda (for the national scholarship quota) OR a citizen of any other African country, a refugee, or displaced youth in Africa.
- You need to be academically strong but have limited access to opportunities.
- You should not be older than 28 years at the time of application. If you have certified proof of protracted life conditions (like being a refugee, a single mother, or in a child-headed family), this age limit extends to 30 years.
- You must meet the admission criteria for eligible programs at the University of Rwanda.
- It’s crucial to have already generated a University of Rwanda (UR) Reference number and submitted an application for admission to UR in one of the earmarked programs.
- You need to show a strong commitment to leadership and have proof of community engagement (giving back!) and/or transformation initiatives.
- If you are a refugee or have a disability, you’ll need to provide legal proof of your status from UNHCR, NCPD, or another recognized organization.
What Does It Cover?
This bursary is truly comprehensive, taking care of almost everything so you can focus on your studies and future! Here’s what you can expect:
- Full Financial Support: This includes full tuition fees, completely paid on-campus accommodation, a brand-new laptop, all your essential learning materials, an annual return ticket allowance, and a generous full-year monthly stipend to cover your living costs.
- Psycho-social Support Services: Because your well-being matters!
- Internship Opportunities: Gain valuable professional experience with unique internships sourced from top industries.
- Ongoing Academic Support: Benefit from academic mentorship, virtual learning resources, and tutoring sessions to help you excel.
- Career Development Services: Get ready for your career with industrial mentorship, expert career guidance, professional development workshops, and even enterprise development support to help you launch your own ventures.
- Community & Leadership Building: Participate in regular group meetings with fellow scholars, leadership congresses, community service, and mentoring activities designed to build societal relationships and boost your capacity as a leader.
- Global Network: Become part of the prestigious and growing Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni family, connecting with a global community of inspiring individuals.
How to Apply?
Ready to jump into this amazing opportunity? Follow these steps carefully to submit your application:
- First things first: you need to fill out the general application form online. Head over to this link: https://mcfsprecruitment.ur.ac.rw/
- If you are a refugee applicant, make sure to complete the specific form available within the online application portal.
- Before you start filling out the form, take your time to read through all the instructions and review the required information. The link to access the empty form will appear once you open the main application link.
- You can fill out the online application form in multiple sessions, but we highly recommend you only start when you have all your supporting documents ready to go!
- Your application will only be considered after it’s fully submitted and all these steps are completed:
- The application form and processes are fully completed.
- All required documents are attached. Important: Name each document with your full names and the reference number you received during your initial application to the University of Rwanda. Also, ensure all documents are saved in PDF format and are smaller than 250 KB in size.
- Only click “Submit” at the very end of the online application process, and only when you are absolutely sure all fields are complete and all attachments have been uploaded correctly.
- Youth with disabilities, refugees, and/or displaced youth are specifically required to complete their applications through this online portal.
- Remember: you must upload all supporting documents as required before your final submission. Once you hit submit, the application fields will close, and you won’t be able to make any further changes or add documents.
For more detailed information, you can always visit the official webpage of the University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Visit the Official Webpage here!
If this incredible fully-funded opportunity sounds like your dream come true, don’t hesitate – apply for the University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Bursary 2025 now and kickstart your journey to a brighter future! This is your moment to shine, grow, and become a leader in your community and beyond. Good luck, and explore more amazing bursaries on Bursaries Room!
