About the Mastercard AfOx Scholarship
The Mastercard AfOx Scholarship Program supports passionate, locally rooted, and globally minded young Africans in pursuing graduate studies at the University of Oxford.
The University of Oxford Mastercard Scholarship covers all course fees and provides a £19,237 grant for living expenses. It also includes tailored training programs, networking opportunities, and additional support.
Mastercard AfOx Scholarship Details
The University of Oxford and the Mastercard Foundation have formed an innovative partnership through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx).
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This partnership aims to offer 400 young African scholars a fully-funded opportunity to pursue master’s degrees in programs related to pandemic preparedness and recovery at the University of Oxford.
The Mastercard AfOx Scholarship Program reflects the shared values of collegiality, empathy, commitment, inclusion, and community held by the Mastercard Foundation and AfOx.
The scholarship funds a rigorous one-year taught Master’s course at Oxford, designed to equip scholars with essential technical, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills while connecting them to leading resources in their fields.
Key Elements of the Scholarship
The scholarship program includes comprehensive support and preparation for students starting their studies, a strong focus on life skills beyond academics, and support for building a lifelong alumni network.
University of Oxford Mastercard Scholarship Requirements
To be eligible for the 2025 University of Oxford Mastercard Scholarship:
— You must be of African nationality.
— Submit your application to the University of Oxford through the graduate admissions portal by the deadline for your chosen course of study, and indicate that you are applying for AfOx funding.
— Special residence considerations will be provided for students from refugee or displaced backgrounds.
— The scholarship prioritizes historically underrepresented groups, including but not limited to female scholars, individuals from refugee or displaced backgrounds, and disabled scholars.
— Please review the Application Guide thoroughly before applying.
— It is strongly recommended that you submit your application form and all supporting documents at least one week before the earliest deadline for your course.
Mastercard AfOx Scholarship Duration and Benefits
The Mastercard AfOx Scholarship is a full-cost award for master’s students, covering tuition fees and living expenses for international students.
The scholarship also includes logistical support, such as an economy return flight, visa and Immigration Health Surcharge fees, a settling-in allowance, and access to a Thrive Fund for emergencies.
In the first year, the scholarship covers a rigorous academic master’s course at Oxford and participation in a Leadership and Impact Program.
This program helps scholars develop collaborative leadership skills necessary for creating cross-sector, interdisciplinary solutions to complex social and environmental challenges.
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After completing their master’s program, scholars will receive support for a 4-6 month placement in leading organizations based in Africa as part of their Ubuntu Period of Service.
Scholars will benefit from a customized Leadership and Impact Program provided in partnership with the Skoll Centre for Social Enterprise, as well as tailored academic and social support throughout their studies.
How to Apply for the 2025 Mastercard AfOx Scholarship
To apply for the Mastercard AfOx Scholarship at the University of Oxford, interested and qualified applicants should:
Click the button below to visit the scholarship webpage.
Apply for a graduate degree at the University of Oxford and indicate that you wish to be considered for AfOx funding.
The £75 application fee for Oxford University’s Master’s programs may be waived upon request for many low-income countries; see the application fee waiver section for details.
Prospective applicants can also apply to the Afrisoc Mentoring program for assistance with Oxford applications and potential fee waivers for countries not eligible for the standard fee waiver.
If you have any concerns about the application fee, please email afox@ndm.ox.ac.uk before submitting your application through the Applicant Portal.
Candidates who receive a conditional offer will then be invited to apply for the AfOx Graduate Scholarship Program.
All invited candidates must complete the AfOx Graduate Scholarship questionnaire during the application process.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed virtually, and the interview timeline will be provided at that stage.
Deadline: January 5, 2025
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