UGHE Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027: Who Qualifies, What It Covers and How to Apply

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda is one scholarship with two master’s routes, and the two routes run on different calendars. The Master of Science in Health Professions Education (HPE) route opened on 6 October 2026 and closes at 11:59 PM Central Africa Time (CAT) on Sunday 25 October 2026. The Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD) route is not open yet: it opens on Monday 14 December 2026 and closes at 5:00 PM CAT on Sunday 31 January 2027.

This guide is for young Africans considering the scholarship who want to know which route fits their degree and working life, whether they meet the published eligibility rules, what UGHE says the scholarship covers, and what to do now if they are aiming at the HPE deadline. If you are on the HPE route, read the rules, the document list and the plan to submit by Thursday 22 October first. The guide joins up UGHE’s pages, which do not agree on every detail, and says where they differ. It does not replace them.

By Derrick Ochieng for Scholarship Tally. Checked on 8 October 2026 against UGHE’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page, the HPE and MGHD scholarship admission pages (including the scholarship frequently asked questions (FAQ)), the MGHD programme page, the HPE programme page, the general MGHD admission page and the Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid page. UGHE’s site records the scholarship page as last updated on 1 October 2026 and the HPE scholarship page on 6 October 2026. Scholarship Tally is not part of UGHE or the Mastercard Foundation, and we do not take applications.

Editorial note: A human editor used artificial intelligence (AI) to help organise the official UGHE pages into an initial draft, then checked every date, rule and listed benefit against those pages. Advice that is our own, rather than an official rule, is labelled as Scholarship Tally’s view.

UGHE Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at a glance

UGHE’s HPE and MGHD scholarship admission pages and its programme pages give the route details below:

One scholarship, two master’s routes

UGHE and the Mastercard Foundation have a 10-year partnership under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. UGHE says it aims to give 500 young African scholars “a fully-funded opportunity to pursue Master’s degree programs” in Global Health Delivery and Health Professions Education over those 10 years. UGHE does not publish how many awards are made in each cycle.

The programme is aimed at young Africans “facing the highest social and economic barriers”, and UGHE names three priority groups: young women, refugees and displaced young people, and persons with disabilities. The scholarship FAQ adds that male applicants are welcome to apply, while the programme prioritises underrepresented groups.

You do not apply to the Mastercard Foundation separately. On both routes the scholarship application sits inside UGHE’s online admission form, and you must be admitted to UGHE to be considered. Admission does not guarantee the award: UGHE calls the scholarships “highly competitive and based on merit, equity, and available slots.”

Beyond the money, UGHE lists a pre-arrival online orientation, a leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation skills programme, personalised academic and social support, peer support from the Scholar Community, mentorship and career guidance from the UGHE Innovation Center, and membership of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni and the UGHE Alumni Network. After the master’s, UGHE says scholars will be supported in securing internship placements at leading organisations working on initiatives in Africa, with mentorship. Scholars are expected to return to their home countries or communities after graduation.

What UGHE says the scholarship covers

UGHE uses the words “fully funded”, “fully-funded” and “full-cost scholarship” for this programme, and the HPE page describes “the pathway fully funded by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.” That is UGHE’s description. UGHE describes what it covers in three places, and the wording differs:

• The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page says the scholarship covers tuition fees and living expenses, and that it covers school fees, including tuition, housing and meals, and a monthly allowance for living expenses.
• The scholarship FAQ lists tuition and academic fees, accommodation and meals on campus, study materials and health insurance.
• The scholarship FAQ also lists a monthly stipend for personal expenses and transport.
• The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page lists an economy return flight and fees; the FAQ adds flights and visa support for international students.
• The scholarship FAQ says that after graduation, scholars with an entrepreneurial initiative can apply for the Foundation’s entrepreneurship fund.

UGHE describes the on-campus accommodation as safe, inclusive and disability-adapted, and the FAQ says nursing mothers with children under the age of two will receive accommodation.

What UGHE does not publish, as checked on 8 October 2026:

• No amounts. There is no published tuition figure, monthly allowance or stipend amount, or flight budget. Do not plan around figures you see elsewhere.
• “Fees” is not explained. The phrase “an economy return flight and fees” does not say which fees.
• Equivalence fee. Whether the scholarship pays for the Rwanda Higher Education Council (HEC) equivalence certificate is not stated.
• Laptop. Not listed on the Mastercard Foundation pages. The general MGHD admission page and the fees page mention a laptop for UGHE students, but neither says whether this applies to Mastercard Foundation scholars.
• Family. The general MGHD page says UGHE does not provide family housing on campus and that students handle family visas, housing and transport themselves. The nursing-mother accommodation above is the only family support the scholarship pages mention.
• HPE online phases. The coverage lists do not say how the allowance or insurance works for an HPE student who studies online from home between in-person sessions.

Scholarship Tally’s view: if one of these gaps decides whether you can accept, ask [email protected] before you rely on it.

Do not confuse this programme with UGHE’s other awards on the Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid page. The UGHE Named Scholarships cover full MGHD tuition only, and that page says they do not cover flights, a monthly stipend, equivalence application fees or student visa costs. The Need-Based Scholarship is assessed on financial need, and a separate scholarship listed there is for online study, with partial coverage. None of them has the Mastercard Foundation coverage.

Who qualifies: the rules on each route

UGHE’s rules are pass or stop. Scholarship Tally’s view: check each one before you spend time on documents, because a strong application cannot fix a failed rule.

Rules that apply to both routes

UGHE’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page, HPE scholarship page, MGHD scholarship admission page and scholarship FAQ give these rules:

• Age: 35 or under, subject to the wording differences in the age section below; the HPE and MGHD admission pages say exceptions apply to applicants with disabilities.
• Nationality and residence: the admission pages say applicants “must be residents and citizens or hold refugee status in an African country”. The scholarship page says a citizen of an African country, including refugees within the African continent, and the FAQ says “Rwandan or African nationals”. The scholarship page adds that people with dual citizenship, or with asylum seeker, refugee or permanent resident status in a country outside the African continent, are not eligible. Scholarship Tally’s view: if you are a citizen but not a resident, or a resident but not a citizen, email [email protected] before you apply.
• Degree: the scholarship page and both admission pages require a completed bachelor’s degree, with official transcripts and a degree certificate as proof.
• No master’s degree: the HPE and MGHD scholarship admission pages say applicants who already hold a master’s degree are not eligible.
• Admission: the scholarship page says you must be admitted to UGHE on one of the two master’s programmes to be considered.
• Profile: the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page says UGHE looks for leadership potential, significant barriers to quality higher education (social, financial, personal, practical or health related) and a demonstrated commitment to community service and health equity beyond the classroom.

HPE route: open now, closes 25 October 2026

The HPE scholarship page sets these rules:

• Your bachelor’s degree must be in a health-related field.
• Professional experience in teaching, supervision or educational leadership within health-related higher education institutions is preferable. Early-career applicants can instead show clear evidence of teaching potential.
• If you are currently employed, you need a signed and stamped letter from your institution confirming its support and dedicated time for you to attend the online and in-person sessions.
• You commit to the whole 18-month programme. There is no exit with a postgraduate certificate or diploma; the only award is the master’s degree.

MGHD route: opens 14 December 2026, closes 31 January 2027

The MGHD scholarship admission page and the MGHD programme page set these rules:

• Your bachelor’s degree can be from any discipline with a meaningful connection to health and well-being. UGHE gives public policy, economics, social sciences, engineering, environmental studies, education and technology as examples.
• You need an interest in problem-based learning, analytical skills for biostatistics, epidemiology and accounting, and English good enough to follow the materials and communicate in speech and writing. No English test or score is published.
• Only four MGHD options are eligible for the scholarship: Global Surgery, Health Management, One Health, and Social and Community Medicine. The Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health option is taught fully online and is not eligible.
• The programme is full time. Semester one (August to December) is online; semesters two and three (January to December) are in person at UGHE’s Butaro Campus in Rwanda’s Northern Province.

Age: check the exact wording if you are close to 35

UGHE uses three wordings. The scholarship page says “under or at 35 years of age at the time of admission.” Both admission pages say “35 or under the year at the time of application (exceptions apply to applicants with disabilities).” The FAQ says the scholarship is open to young people “under 35 at the time of application” and gives special consideration to people with disabilities, “as many have experienced educational delays.” If you are 35, or turn 35 or 36 around the application or admission date, email [email protected] before you apply rather than choosing the wording that suits you.

Refugees and displaced applicants

The admission pages accept refugee status in an African country, and the scholarship page says asylum seeker, refugee or permanent resident status in a country outside the African continent is not eligible. The scholarship FAQ says refugee scholars receive support with legal documentation, resettlement advice, psychosocial support and identity protection, and the document lists include a Refugee ID or official refugee or asylum documentation.

The equivalence certificate is not a reason to wait

If your bachelor’s degree is a foreign degree (obtained inside or outside Rwanda), you will need the Rwanda HEC equivalence certificate. UGHE says you cannot apply for it until you have been admitted, because the admission letter is one of the required documents. So it is a step after admission, not a document you need before you apply.

Which route fits you

The two routes are built for different study and work situations. Scholarship Tally’s view of the fit, based on UGHE’s descriptions:

• Choose HPE if you already teach, supervise or lead training in a health-related college or university, or can show teaching potential early in your career, and your employer will sign a letter giving you time for the sessions. UGHE says the programme prepares educators, curriculum leaders, faculty developers, quality assurance champions and educational researchers. Modules include curriculum and course design, teaching and learning methods, assessment, clinical teaching, programme evaluation, quality assurance and accreditation, educational leadership with a practicum, and a final practicum or thesis.
• Choose MGHD if you want a full-time degree in health care delivery, your background is in health or a field connected to it, and you can live at a rural campus in northern Rwanda for a calendar year. UGHE describes it as its flagship programme, modelled after a similar programme at Harvard Medical School, with problem-based learning and a group practicum. The general MGHD page says students spend 12 weeks on site with a partner organisation for the practicum, which may be outside Rwanda.
• Keeping your job: the HPE route is designed for working professionals. On the MGHD route, UGHE says students are not encouraged to seek employment, especially during the in-person semesters, and that local jobs are limited near the rural campus.
• Family: MGHD students stay in furnished studios on the Butaro campus, and UGHE says there are limited housing options in Butaro for anyone bringing family. If you plan to bring family, read the family point in the coverage section first.

If neither description fits, or you already hold a master’s degree, this is not your scholarship.

Key dates for each route

HPE route

The HPE scholarship page gives these dates:

• Application opens: Tuesday 6 October 2026.
• Application closes: Sunday 25 October 2026 at 11:59 PM CAT.
• Admissions interviews: November 2026.
• Final decision: December 2026.
• Programme start: not published. The online form is titled for the 2027-2028 academic year.

MGHD route

UGHE’s MGHD admission pages give these dates:

• Application opens: Monday 14 December 2026.
• Application closes: Sunday 31 January 2027 at 5:00 PM CAT.
• Admissions exam: early April 2027.
• Admissions interviews: 15 to 30 April 2027.
• Final decision: June 2027 (the scholarship admission page shows “June 2026”, which we treat as a typo; see the conflicts section).
• Programme start: not published for this cohort. The MGHD programme page says the first semester runs August to December each year.

Converting the deadlines

Rwanda uses CAT, two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). By our conversion, the HPE close of 11:59 PM CAT on 25 October 2026 is 21:59 UTC. The MGHD close of 5:00 PM CAT on 31 January 2027 is 15:00 UTC. Outside Rwanda, convert from UTC.

How to apply

The steps, in order

Steps 1 to 3 are Scholarship Tally’s order of work; steps 4 to 7 follow UGHE’s scholarship admission pages and FAQ.

1. Pick the route that matches your degree and your working life, and check that its window is open. Only the HPE route is open before 14 December 2026.
2. Run the eligibility rules above. Scholarship Tally’s view: if your age or status is borderline, email [email protected] first.
3. Gather the documents for your route (next section).
4. Open UGHE’s online application from the scholarship admission page for your route. On the HPE page it is the “online application” link; the MGHD page had no form link when we checked on 8 October 2026.
5. Complete the whole form, including the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program section, which asks for personal, academic and demographic information and scholarship-specific information.
6. Upload every supporting document and submit one complete application. UGHE says incomplete submissions or multiple applications will not be considered.
7. Look for the automatic reply. If none arrives, email [email protected] to confirm your application was received.

Documents by route

The pages give three slightly different lists:

• HPE admission page: passport, National ID or Refugee ID, academic transcripts, degree certificate, and an employer recommendation letter if applicable.
• MGHD admission page: passport, National ID or Refugee ID, academic transcripts, degree certificate, and two recommendation letters.
• Scholarship FAQ (both routes): a valid passport for non-Rwandans, a national ID for Rwandans, or official refugee or asylum documentation; the official undergraduate transcript and degree certificate; a recommendation letter; and a brief curriculum vitae (CV) as a PDF highlighting your accomplishments.

Scholarship Tally’s view: prepare the larger set for your route. On HPE that means the employer letter if you are employed plus a brief CV in PDF. On MGHD it means two recommendation letters plus the CV. The general MGHD admission page also says transcripts and diplomas that are not in English need notarised translations plus copies in the original language, and that all of them are verified by an international transcript verification body. The HPE page does not repeat that rule, so if your documents are not in English, ask [email protected] early.

Showing leadership, barriers and commitment

UGHE does not publish the scholarship questions or word limits outside the online form. What UGHE does publish is what it reviews: academic excellence and potential, leadership and community engagement, interest in global health, and alignment with the Mastercard Foundation’s values and mission. Scholarship Tally’s view on using that:

• Leadership: name a real role, such as leading a ward team, coordinating clinical students or running a community health activity, and say what changed because you did it. UGHE describes the leadership it wants as engaging others in an ethical manner to generate positive and lasting change.
• Barriers: UGHE’s categories are social, financial, personal, practical or health related. Describe the barrier that actually limited your access to quality higher education, briefly and honestly.
• Commitment: connect past service to health equity and to the expectation that scholars return to their communities.
• Fit with the route: on HPE, show the teaching, supervision or educational leadership you have done or could do. On MGHD, show why health care delivery, and your chosen option, is the next step.

A plan to submit the HPE application by Thursday 22 October

This is Scholarship Tally’s planning aid, not an official timetable. It assumes you start today, 8 October, and work around a job.

• Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 October: check every rule above. Email [email protected] if your age or status is borderline.
• By Monday 12 October: request your official transcripts and degree certificate, and start any notarised translation you may need.
• By Tuesday 13 October: if you are employed, ask your institution for the signed and stamped letter confirming support and dedicated time for online and in-person sessions. Give them the close date.
• 13 to 18 October: write a brief CV as a PDF, scan your passport, national ID or refugee documents, and draft notes on your leadership, barriers and community work.
• 19 to 21 October: complete the form, including the scholarship section, and upload every file.
• Thursday 22 October: submit. Check for the automatic reply, and if it has not arrived by Friday 23 October, email [email protected] then, not on the deadline day.
• Sunday 25 October, 11:59 PM CAT: the official close.

Preparing for the MGHD window before 14 December

You cannot submit an MGHD application until 14 December 2026, but you can prepare. Scholarship Tally’s view: before the window opens, choose one of the four eligible options, ask two referees and confirm they can write in December or January, request transcripts and your degree certificate (with notarised translations if needed), check that your passport or refugee documents are valid, and write a brief CV as a PDF. Then watch the MGHD scholarship page for the online form link, which was not there on 8 October 2026, and submit well before 5:00 PM CAT on 31 January 2027.

Selection and what happens after you apply

UGHE’s FAQ says shortlisted applicants are invited to a written test and an interview, although the HPE timeline lists no exam, only interviews. The dates for each route are in the key dates section above. UGHE does not publish the test format, interview length, acceptance rates or how many scholars are chosen in each cycle.

If you are admitted and selected:

• Deferral: UGHE says deferral is only considered in extreme medical or health cases with proper documentation.
• Support: the FAQ lists disability adjustments on request (with confidential documentation), peer mentorship and faculty advising, academic writing and English bridge courses, counselling, and safe spaces for women, refugees and persons with disabilities. It also says one failure does not end your scholarship.

Where UGHE’s pages differ

These are the inconsistencies we found on 8 October 2026. None of them changes the HPE deadline.

• HPE length: the HPE scholarship page says 18 months (3 semesters); the HPE programme page says direct-entry students and Mastercard Foundation Scholars commit to “the entire two-year program.” We use 18 months, from the scholarship page.
• Age, nationality, documents and coverage: the differences are detailed in the sections above. No amounts are published on any of these pages.
• Medical background: the FAQ says applicants do not need a medical background, but the HPE route requires a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field. The FAQ line fits the MGHD route.
• MGHD decision date: “June 2026” on the MGHD scholarship page and June 2027 on the general MGHD admission page. June 2027 is the only date that follows interviews in April 2027.
• MGHD banner: both MGHD admission pages say “Applications for the MGHD program class of 2027 are closed” while showing the 14 December 2026 opening. We read the MGHD route as not open yet, opening on 14 December 2026.
• Broken link: on the scholarship page, the text link “Health Professions Education Program” returned a page-not-found error on 8 October 2026. The “here” link beside it opens the working HPE scholarship page.
• Old dates: UGHE’s June 2025 launch announcement mentions an application opening in November 2025. That was the previous cycle.
• Retired page: a page titled “Master of Science HPE (RETIRED)” describes a progression track for students finishing UGHE’s postgraduate diploma. It is not the scholarship route.

Frequently asked questions

Is the UGHE Mastercard Foundation Scholarship fully funded?

UGHE calls it “fully funded” and a “full-cost scholarship.” The items it lists are tuition and academic fees, accommodation and meals on campus, study materials, health insurance, a monthly allowance, an economy return flight, and visa support for international students. No amounts are published.

Which route is open now?

Only the HPE route, from 6 October 2026 until 11:59 PM CAT on Sunday 25 October 2026. The MGHD route opens on 14 December 2026 and closes at 5:00 PM CAT on 31 January 2027.

I am 35. Can I apply?

Possibly. UGHE’s pages use three different age wordings (see the age section above), and one of them says “under 35.” The admission pages say exceptions apply to applicants with disabilities, and the FAQ gives them special consideration, but no page says how far above the age line they may be. Email [email protected] before you apply if your age is borderline.

Can I apply if I already have a master’s degree?

No. Holding any master’s degree already rules you out of this scholarship, on both routes.

Do I need a medical or health degree?

For HPE, yes: a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field. For MGHD, no: any discipline with a meaningful connection to health and well-being can qualify.

Can I apply to both routes?

UGHE says to submit a single, fully completed application and that multiple applications will not be considered. The pages do not say whether someone who applies to HPE in October can also apply to MGHD in December, so ask [email protected] before you plan on two applications.

Do I need an English test score?

UGHE’s scholarship pages publish no English test or score. The MGHD scholarship admission page asks for English proficiency good enough to follow the materials and communicate; the HPE scholarship page lists no English requirement.

Is there an application fee?

No. UGHE’s HPE and MGHD scholarship admission pages say UGHE and the Mastercard Foundation do not charge fees to apply. Report suspected fraud to [email protected].

Will I have to go back home after the degree?

UGHE’s FAQ answers yes: scholars are expected to return to their home countries or communities to apply their knowledge and skills.

Official sources

• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UGHE (partnership, coverage, eligibility and links to both admission pages)
• Master of Science in HPE, Mastercard Foundation Scholars (the open HPE call: dates, eligibility, documents and the online application link)
• Admission for the MGHD Program, Mastercard Foundation Scholars (MGHD dates, eligibility, documents and the scholarship FAQ)
• Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD structure, options and the online-only option)
• Health Professions Education programme (HPE programme structure and the direct-entry commitment)
• Admission for the MGHD Program (general MGHD rules: translations, campus life, work and family housing)
• Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid (UGHE’s other scholarships, with different coverage)
• UGHE partners with the Mastercard Foundation (June 2025 launch announcement; its opening date is from the previous cycle)

Facts in this guide were checked on 8 October 2026. Dates and rules can change; if this guide and UGHE’s pages disagree, follow UGHE.