The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po funds young Africans to study a two-year master’s degree in Paris, France. The final application deadline is 14 December 2026.
Who can apply
- You must hold the citizenship of an African country, which includes Nigeria.
- You cannot apply if you also hold a citizenship from outside Africa.
- You must be under 35 on 1 September 2026.
- You must be completing, or already hold, a bachelor’s degree. You must not hold or be studying for a master’s.
- You must not have studied at a French higher education institution, and this must be your first application to the programme.
Eligible programmes
Two-year master’s programmes at Sciences Po only. One-year master’s, dual degrees and the journalism master’s are not eligible.
What it covers
The programme covers the full financial needs of each scholar for the two years of study, with support throughout the programme.
Deadlines
- 23 November 2026: for an admission decision by 11 February 2027.
- 14 December 2026: for an admission decision by 1 April 2027.
Scholarship results come out in April 2027.
How to apply
- Submit an eligibility request on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program platform.
- At the same time, start a master’s application on the Sciences Po admissions platform. If you skip this step, you lose the application fee waiver.
- If you are found eligible, you will get an email with a short deadline to finish your master’s application.
Official Sciences Po scholarship page
Last checked: 10 November 2026.