Rwanda has rapidly transformed into one of the safest, cleanest, and most tech-forward hubs in East Africa. The Mastercard Foundation heavily sponsors students to study at leading institutions here, most notably at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Rwanda and the African Leadership University (ALU) Kigali campus.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Bachelors, Masters
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology
- Seats Available
- Hundreds annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- No
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- No Min - 35
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- No
- TOEFL
- No
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- English
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- See Description
- Monthly Stipend
- RWF 0/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- Yes / Yes
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
Studying in Kigali is an incredibly unique experience. It is a highly organized, rapidly developing city with a booming startup ecosystem. The Mastercard Foundation covers your full tuition, accommodation, meals, health insurance, and provides a stipend.
It is a completely stress-free financial ride that allows you to network with some of the most innovative tech founders on the continent.
Application Process
You must apply for admission directly to the host institution (like AIMS or ALU) and navigate their specific Mastercard Foundation financial aid portals. For AIMS, the focus is entirely on extreme mathematical brilliance. For ALU, the focus is on entrepreneurial leadership.
How to Win This Scholarship
You must tailor your application to the host institution's philosophy. If applying to AIMS Rwanda, you need a flawless quantitative background and must demonstrate how you will use mathematical modeling to solve African problems (e.g., epidemiology, climate modeling). If applying to ALU Kigali, you must demonstrate a history of starting businesses or leading community projects.
Academic grades are secondary to your hustle and vision.
Benefits After Completing Study
Rwanda's government actively incentivizes foreign tech graduates to stay and build startups in Kigali's innovation hubs.
Kigali is a quiet, highly regulated city. If you are looking for a chaotic, vibrant nightlife, you will be disappointed. It is a place built for focused work and networking.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source