Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Starting Spring 2027
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at The American University of Cairo (AUC) provides full scholarships and comprehensive support to talented young people from across Africa, enabling them to pursue higher education while developing their leadership potential and capacity to create positive impact.
As part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Mastercard Foundation Scholars participate in leadership development activities, workshops and fieldwork experiences that equip them to become agents of meaningful change in their communities, countries, and across the continent.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nationality and Residency: Must be a citizen of one or more African countries (including North Africa) and currently reside in an African country.
- Major: Any
- High school graduates in the academic year 2025-2026. Transfer students are not eligible.
- Meet AUC's admission requirements.
- Demonstrate high academic achievement.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Demonstrate active involvement in extracurricular activities.
- Must pass either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum band score of 5.5 and writing score of 5.5 or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum total score of 62 (4-new scale) and writing score of 17 (4.5-new scale) or the Duolingo test with a minimum score of 115.
Scholarship Coverage
- Full tuition and fees
- Stipend during the fall and spring semesters
- Housing in a standard double room at the AUC student residences (except for students who reside in Cairo and Giza)
- One laptop is provided
- Medical services and health insurance
- AUC bus subscription (or travel allowance)
- Intensive English language training for select students
- One roundtrip airfare annually for students not residing in Egypt
- Specialized software subscriptions or IT purchases for students with disabilities
How to Apply
- If you already submitted the AUC admission application prior to September 23, 2026, you will receive an email with a link to the Spring 2027 AUC scholarship application. If you do not receive an email, contact enrolauc@aucegypt.edu.
- If you have not yet submitted an AUC admission application, do the following:
- Complete the AUC admission application and be sure to check yes to the question “Are you interested in applying for a scholarship?” under the scholarship section.
- If you do not check the box, you will not be considered for AUC scholarships - including the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program - there will not be another opportunity later on to apply for scholarships for Spring 2027/Fall 2027.
- Once you submit the AUC admission application, you will receive an email with a link to the AUC scholarship application. If you do not receive an email, contact enrolauc@aucegypt.edu.
- Complete the AUC admission application and be sure to check yes to the question “Are you interested in applying for a scholarship?” under the scholarship section.
- For All Applicants:
- On the first page of the AUC scholarship application, you must check the box in order to be considered for scholarships.
- If you do not check the box, you will not be considered for any scholarships at AUC - including the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program - and there will not be another opportunity later on to apply for scholarships for Spring 2027/Fall 2027.
- On the first page of the AUC scholarship application, you must check the box in order to be considered for scholarships.
- After you submit the AUC scholarship application, you will receive an email with a link to complete the scholarship financial assessment application. If you do not receive an email, contact scholarships@aucegypt.edu.
- Submission of the scholarship financial assessment application is mandatory.
For inquiries regarding the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, send an email to mastercardfdn@aucegypt.edu.