Fully Funded Mastercard Scholarships for Sub-Saharan Africans at Sciences Po in France

The Sciences Po and the Mastercard Foundation is inviting applications for up to 120 Mastercard Scholars to study at Sciences Po. Full scholarships are available to students from sub-saharan African countries.

This exceptional scholarship program aims to recruit talented students who aspire to shape the future of the African continent and help them develop their full potential.

Sciences Po is an international research university, both selective and open onto the world, ranking among the finest institutions in the fields of humanities and social sciences.

Scholarship Description

• Applications Deadline: Deadlines to apply are January 15, 2019 for the Master’s scholarship, January 31, 2019 for the Bachelor’s scholarship and February 18, 2019 for the Summer School scholarship.
• Course Level: Scholarships are available to study undergraduate, graduate and summer programs.
• Study Subject: Scholarships are awarded to study any of the chosen subjects.
• Scholarship Award:

1. Undergraduate Candidates: Five full scholarships are offered for 2019 to cover all tuition fees and living costs.
2. Graduate Candidates: 8 full scholarships are offered for 2019 to cover all tuition fees and living costs.
3. Summer School Candidates: 12 full scholarships are offered for 2019 to cover all tuition fees and living costs. These scholarships are reserved for Mastercard Foundation Scholars studying at another of the Foundation’s partner universities (undergraduate or graduate level).

• Nationality: Applicants from Sub-Saharan African countries are eligible to apply.
• Number of Scholarships: In 2019, 5 scholarships at the Bachelor’s level, 8 scholarships at the Master’s level and 12 scholarships for the Summer School will be awarded.
• Scholarship can be taken in France

Eligibility for the Scholarship

Eligible Countries: Applicants from Sub-Saharan African countries are eligible to apply:

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Republic), Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Entrance Requirements: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Candidates must apply online on the dedicated website. There are two steps to the application:

• First, candidates provide personal information and a letter of recommendation from the Sciences Po partner institution which is supporting their application through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
• After this first step to assess eligibility, applicants receive an email inviting them to complete the rest of the application: information on their financial situation, their educational background and extra-curricular experiences, and their plans for the future.

Eligibility for the scholarship is determined in light of candidates’ academic record and socio-economic situation.

Undergraduate Candidates

Eligible applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• You must be a resident and citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country
• You must be in your final year of high school and not yet have started a post-secondary education
• You must have a very good level of French and English – minimum level B2 (see language requirements)
• You must study in one of the institutions partnered with Sciences Po for the programme and provide a letter of recommendation from this institution (see list of registered partners below)
• You must demonstrate a track record of leadership and/or service within your community
• You must be able to show that you lack financial means to pursue higher education

Graduate Candidates:

Eligible applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• You must be a resident and citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country
• You must have completed your undergraduate studies at a foreign higher education institution and have at least a Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum C1 level in English or French depending on the programme you are applying to (see language requirements)
• You must study in one of the institutions partnered with Sciences Po for the programme and provide a letter of recommendation from this institution (see list of registered partners below)
• You must demonstrate a track record of leadership and/or service within your community
• You must be able to show that you lack financial means to pursue higher education

Summer School Candidates:

Eligible applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• You must be a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country
• You must currently be a Mastercard Foundation scholar at a Mastercard Foundation partner institution
• You must be supported by an institution partnered with Sciences Po under the programme (see list of authorised partners below)
• You must demonstrate a track record of leadership and/or service within your community

English Language Requirements: The language requirements depend on the programme you are applying to. When needed, test results must be attached directly to the online application. For Undergraduate programs:  You must have a very good level of French and English – minimum level B2 (see language requirements) and for Graduate Candidate: Minimum C1 level in English or French depending on the programme you are applying to (see language requirements).

Application Procedure

How to Apply: Candidates who are eligible for the scholarship must then apply to Sciences Po