Sciences Po France Mastercard Scholarship

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po is designed for students from the African continent who wish to pursue a two-year Master’s degree at Sciences Po. The Program “covers the full financial needs of selected Scholars” and provides comprehensive support throughout the two years of study at Sciences Po.

Applicants must meet Sciences Po academic requirements and the Program eligibility criteria, and they must apply to and be admitted to a two-year Master’s programme at Sciences Po. Dual degree programmes and one-year Master’s programmes are not eligible. Selection is made by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Selection Committee.

Selection uses an application review against criteria including having faced significant barriers to accessing education, commitment to advancing the development of the African continent and aspiration to become a changemaker, and strong potential for transformative leadership with measurable impact. Particular consideration is given throughout the selection process to applications from young women, refugees and displaced.

Support is provided throughout the two years of study at Sciences Po, with the Program covering full financial needs. The page also describes an application fee waiver process tied to Program eligibility, and it states that several months may elapse between an admission offer and a scholarship decision.

• Citizenship: Applicants must hold the citizenship of an African country.
• Dual citizenship rule: Applicants holding dual citizenship that includes citizenship of a country outside the African continent are not eligible.
• Bachelor’s status: Applicants must be currently completing, or already hold, a Bachelor’s degree from one of the universities on the listed partner institutions.
• Alternative route 1: Applicants may be currently completing, or already hold, a Bachelor’s degree and have participated in a recognised bridge programme or mentoring programme offered by an approved organisation (see list of institutions).
• Alternative route 2: Applicants may be currently completing, or already hold, a Bachelor’s degree and currently hold, or have previously held, UNHCR refugee status.
• Age: Applicants must be under 35 years of age on 1 September of the year in which the scholarship application is submitted.
• Master’s restriction: Applicants must not already hold, or currently be pursuing, a Master’s degree.
• First-time application: Applicants must apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program for the first time.
• Exclusions: Students currently enrolled at Sciences Po are not eligible.
• Exclusions: Students currently enrolled in, or graduated from, a French higher education institution are not eligible.
• Degree programme eligibility: Applicants must apply to and be admitted to a two-year Master’s programme at Sciences Po; dual degree programmes and one-year Master’s programmes are not eligible.
• Academic requirements: Applicants must meet Sciences Po academic requirements (minimum academic results by country of the home university are referenced).
• Selection: Applicants must be selected by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Selection Committee.

• Full financial needs coverage for selected Scholars throughout the two years of study at Sciences Po.
• Comprehensive support throughout the two years of study at Sciences Po.
• Application fee waiver: If eligibility criteria are met, applicants can request an application fee waiver for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program according to the procedures published on the page.

1. Review the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program eligibility criteria and verify eligibility.
2. If eligible, apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and request an application fee waiver following the procedures published on the page.
3. Prepare for the Master’s programme application at Sciences Po alongside the scholarship application.
4. Apply using the International Graduate Admissions Procedure, which is the only admissions pathway to a two-year Master’s programme at Sciences Po that allows applicants to be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
5. Ensure the application is complete before submission; the page states that missing or non-compliant supporting documents render the application incomplete and therefore ineligible.
6. After admission to a Sciences Po Master’s programme and being declared eligible for the Program, the application is considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by the Program selection steps.

• A valid identity document (passport, national identity card, or travel document).
• Proof of Bachelor’s degree status using one of the following options:
  • Transcript, diploma, or certificate showing the Bachelor’s degree completed or currently being completed at one of the recognised partner universities.
  • Transcript, diploma, or certificate showing the Bachelor’s degree completed or currently being completed at one of the recognised partner universities, plus a certificate confirming successful completion of a recognised bridge programme.
  • Transcript, diploma, or certificate showing the Bachelor’s degree completed or currently being completed, plus proof of UNHCR refugee status (UNHCR registration card).