Fully Funded Masters Scholarships for African Students 2027: Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars (Open Now) + Beit Trust

Kashan Ajmeri October 23, 2026

Introduction and Background

For African students targeting a fully funded master's degree in 2027, two heavyweight opportunities stand out — and both were verified open or officially announced today, 23 October 2026. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge has announced that applications for the 2027/28 academic year are now open, and the Beit Trust has officially announced that its 2027 postgraduate scholarships open on 1 December 2026 with a 12 February 2027 deadline.

Everything below is written from the official program pages — nothing copied from aggregators. Two programs that circulate on aggregator sites are honestly excluded here: Sciences Po's Mastercard Foundation Scholars 2027 timeline has not been published on the official Sciences Po pages yet, Chevening closed on 6 October 2026, and the CyprusAid and UKUDLA November deadlines fall within the 3-week cutoff. What remains is verified, current, and usable.

1. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — University of Cambridge 2027/28 (Open Now)

The official announcement page states: "We're pleased to announce that applications for the 2027/2028 academic year are now open." This is the Mastercard Foundation's flagship scholarship at Cambridge — a full-cost award for talented African students committed to climate resilience and sustainability, delivered with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

There is no single scholarship deadline: the scholarship application is built into your Cambridge postgraduate course application, and your deadline is the funding deadline of the course you choose — generally early December 2026 or early January 2027 depending on the course. Confirm the exact date on your individual course page in the Cambridge Postgraduate Study Course Directory, and treat the earlier band as your personal deadline.

Deadline: The funding deadline of your chosen Cambridge course — generally early December 2026 or early January 2027. The portal is accepting applications now.

Benefits: Full course fees; monthly living allowance; return economy flight; student visa and Immigration Health Surcharge; a laptop; plus orientation, mentoring, leadership development, and support for a 3–6 month Africa placement.

Eligibility (official):

  • Citizen of an African country and resident in Africa (temporary absence for study or work is acceptable; refugees and internally displaced people are eligible)
  • A bachelor's degree, meeting the academic entry requirements of the chosen course
  • Full-time one-year master's courses only — MBA, MCL, MFIN and MACC are excluded
  • Commitment to contributing to sustainable futures in Africa (program themes: climate resilience and sustainability)
  • Women, refugees, IDPs, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply

How to apply: Choose an eligible course in the Cambridge Postgraduate Study Course Directory (www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk), apply online, and complete the scholarship application built into the course application — including the scholarship statement covering your career and education history, leadership potential, goals, and contribution to sustainable futures in Africa. Apply well before your course's funding deadline. Your Cambridge course application itself costs £85 per application (£20 for doctoral courses), paid online through the Applicant Portal before you can submit. Fee waivers are available if you meet the eligibility criteria — check the waiver rules on the same page before you pay.

2. Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships 2027 — Opens 1 December 2026

The Beit Trust's official page is unambiguous: "Open: 1 December 2026. Close: 12 February 2027. No applications can be processed after this date." The portal is not open today — this is officially announced and opening soon, so prepare your documents now and submit the moment applications open. The University of Edinburgh confirms the same dates: applications open Tuesday 1 December 2026, deadline 17:00 (CAT) 12 February 2027.

The Beit Trust funds postgraduate study for UK partner universities (academic year starting September 2027) and South African partners (academic year starting January 2028). Partner universities include Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, St Andrews (Computer Science only), and Strathclyde (Engineering only) in the UK, plus Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Rhodes, and Pretoria in South Africa. In 2026, around 19 awards were made.

Deadline: 12 February 2027 (applications open 1 December 2026).

Benefits: Full tuition and academic fees paid to the university; living allowance; UK visa, health surcharge, TB test and biometric costs; arrival, laptop, and departure allowances; economy flights. Note: no spouse or dependant support is provided.

Eligibility:

  • Nationals of Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Malawi who are permanent residents living there (or intending to return home after study)
  • You must not already have begun the course; a university offer (conditional is fine) is needed before submitting the Beit application
  • MBA programs are not supported

How to apply: One application covering up to 4 courses. Prepare: a 300-word personal statement on how your studies will benefit your home country, three references (academic, character, employer), your CV, transcripts, and your passport. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in person in Lusaka, Harare, and Blantyre, usually in April. The application portal link goes live on the official Beit Trust scholarships page on 1 December 2026. The Beit Trust charges no application fee — you apply free via its online form. Applications for 2027/28 open 1 December 2026 and close 12 February 2027. Note: partner universities may charge their own admission fees — tell them you are a Beit applicant, as the Trust notes these have been waived for Beit applicants in the past (e.g. Glasgow/Edinburgh).

Which One Should You Target?

The honest answer depends on your nationality and timing:

  • If you are African (any country) and ready now: apply to the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program immediately — the December 2026/January 2027 funding deadlines are the binding dates, and competition is fierce. Choose your course carefully and submit early.
  • If you are Zambian, Zimbabwean, or Malawian: the Beit Trust is your strongest bet, with a generous 10-week application window opening 1 December 2026. Use November to secure your university offer and references.
  • You can apply to both if you meet both sets of eligibility — they are independent programs.

Important Dates

  • 11 September 2026: Cambridge Mastercard 2027/28 applications announced open
  • Early December 2026 / early January 2027: Cambridge course funding deadlines (check your course page)
  • 1 December 2026: Beit Trust 2027 applications open
  • 12 February 2027: Beit Trust deadline (17:00 CAT) — no applications processed after this date
  • April 2027 (approx.): Beit Trust in-person interviews in Lusaka, Harare, Blantyre
  • September 2027: Program starts (UK); January 2028: South African partners

Official Links

Conclusion

Two genuinely verified routes to a fully funded master's in 2027 for African students: the Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, open now with course funding deadlines in December 2026 and January 2027, and the Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships, opening 1 December 2026 and closing 12 February 2027 for Zambian, Zimbabwean, and Malawian nationals. Apply to Cambridge now if you qualify, and use November to prepare a flawless Beit Trust application. Trust the official pages — not the aggregators — for your dates.

Kashan Ajmeri

Posted by Kashan Ajmeri

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