Mastercard Foundation Scholars
Mastercard Foundation is a private foundation based in Toronto, Canada with a vision to create the opportunity for all to learn and prosper. In collaboration with a global network of educational institutions and non-governmental organizations, the Foundation promotes financial inclusion and prosperity for people living in poverty. The Foundation believes the future of Africa will be shaped by its young people, including those with academic talent and a commitment to giving back to their countries.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Toronto (U of T) is a fully funded scholarship program for graduate studies at Canada’s leading institution of learning, discovery, and knowledge creation. U of T is proud to be one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, driven to invent and innovate.
Prospective scholars will develop their capacity and networks to engage in diverse healthcare professions and healthcare ecosystems in Africa. Upon completion of the program, it’s expected that Scholars will return to their home countries and engage in self-employment or work in a range of health-related professions to advance the health outcomes within their countries upon completion.
Scholarship Benefits
Scholars in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at U of T are provided with full financial assistance for tuition, travel expenses to Canada (including obtaining a passport, visa application fees), housing, course materials, health insurance, laptop, food, books, and other expenses for the duration of their graduate degrees.
Apply
We are pleased to announce the start of the 2023-2024 Mastercard Foundation graduate scholarship recruitment at the University of Toronto. To learn more about the scholarship and eligibility, please register to attend one of our information sessions.
Areas of STudy
In 2023/2024, we will be accepting applications to one of the following areas:
- Master of Health Informatics
- Master of Health Administration
- Master of Occupational and Environmental Health
- Master of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences
- Master of Health Administration
- Master of Financial Insurance
- Master of Engineering (Biomedical)
- Master of Biotechnology
The University of Toronto (U of T) is collaborating with eight leading African universities to support their efforts to train and prepare young professionals for the meaningful work of growing African health sectors, with an emphasis on employment opportunities for women.
The African Higher Education Health Collaborative partners include:
- Addis Ababa University
- Ashesi University
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences
- African Leadership University
- Amref International University/Amref Health Africa
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- Moi University
- University of Cape Town
About the University of Toronto
Established in 1827, the University of Toronto has one of the strongest research and teaching faculties in North America and consistently ranks among the top universities in the world. U of T attracts top faculty and students, providing an intellectual environment that is unmatched in depth and breadth by any other Canadian campus.
To learn more about U of T, visit the Future U of T website.
Mentoring, Orientation, and Transition Programs
MCF Scholars are provided with a variety of mentoring and transition assistance programs. This includes an extended orientation prior to, and, upon arrival to become familiar with the University’s academic requirements and practices and will also introduce students to various social, co-curricular and professional opportunities.
Advisors and Administrators
Advisors and administrators within the departments, faculties, and Centre for International Experience, regularly interact with MCF Scholars and help students navigate through university life. Student mentors also provide peer support. These resources will help with transitioning to U of T and to support academic and personal success
Student Stories
Lesley Sikapa | Cameroon
Undergraduate Scholar
My name is Lesley Sikapa from Cameroun (Cameroon) and I am completing a BSc. in Global Health with a double minor in Psychology and Biology.
The MCF program at U of T has been a life-changing journey that made me realize and unlock my full potential. From the supportive staff who are always there to provide academic, career, and personal advice to the inspiring scholars and friends I made at U of T and other partner institutions, I have been surrounded by a community that helped me with my personal and professional development.
As an MCF scholar, several opportunities have come my way, and the most remarkable one was getting awarded the MCF Social Research Fund. Receiving this grant allowed me to design a research study where I will be interviewing African researchers with disabilities on their experiences related to employment in the field of research. With this study, I hope to come up with recommendations that will bring about structural changes to make the research space in Africa more inclusive and accessible.
My main take away from the MCF program at U of T has been the importance of self-care in Leadership. As scholars there is so much we want to do for our communities and the world, but sometimes it is important to take a step back, listen to your body and give it the break it needs.
As next steps, I intend to pursue a Master’s in Public Health where I hope to address barriers to health equity in the African continent by leveraging on community members’ knowledge and expertise.
Providence Mapingire | Zimbabwe
Undergraduate Scholar
Providence hails from Gweru, Zimbabwe and is pursuing a Specialist at Rotman Commerce. During his time at UofT, he has explored a catholicity of activities including the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Council where he is the incumbent Scholars Representative. Providence is also an Analyst at Toronto Student Investment Counsel and an ardent member of Blacks at Rotman Commerce society. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has been zenithal to Providence’s academic and career aspirations. He highly appreciates how supportive the program managers have been through all facets of college life, and how the program has enamored him with autonomy over his academic and career goals. The Scholars Program has opened many doors for Providence that he and his peers could not on their own. Providence aspires to advance a career in securities. Working toward this goal, he has completed internships and externships with leading firms in the U.S. and Canada. Some highlights of Providence’s time at UofT include the McLuhan Seminar in Creativity, a tightknit course with which he travelled to Silicon Valley as a freshman. Providence is an esteemed BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Lime Connect Scholarship recipient. His other interests are alternative and country & folk music, pool, and commercial aviation (planes).
Ahmed Lugya | Uganda
Graduate Scholar
My name is Ahmed Lugya, and I am from Uganda. As an emerging Business Analyst and a determined Optimist, I’m passionate about helping organizations use data to deliver solutions that are of great importance to stakeholders.
I’m currently in my final year of a Master’s in Information with a concentration in Human-Centred Data Science. The Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto is extraordinarily reputed for its multidisciplinary programs and known worldwide for being among the best Information schools. The intellectual and diverse environment at the University of Toronto has pushed and challenged me. I’ve received many good opportunities, and the one I’m most proud of is when I participated and emerged among the top 5 groups out of 56 hackers from all over Canada at the Royal Bank of Canada’s Amphacks 2020 Hackathon.
For all my time as a MasterCard Scholar, I have witnessed people around me perform sharing and leading acts. The MasterCard team at UofT has invested a lot of time making sure I get the best out of my education. Through them and others in my community, I feel I have acquired the values and the burning desire to benefit others to form the foundation for a great life. As I step out of school, I hope to take on work as a Business Analyst. With the experiences and skills I have gained, finding solutions to some of the pressing challenges in my community is something I must give to be satisfied with my life.