Call for FAWE Uganda, Mastercard Foundation funded bursaries for 2026/2027
The Phase II program is a scale-up of the Higher Education Access Program (HEAP) in Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in Ethiopia and Rwanda. It aims to support academically talented young women and men from underrepresented communities to access higher education and successfully transition to the world of work.
Some of the lucky winners of the scholarship in the 2025/2026 academic year. (Courtesy)
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Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE Uganda), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is calling for applications for 600 bursaries for the 2026/2027 academic year aimed at supporting underrepresented youth to access higher education and technical training.
The Phase II program is a scale-up of the Higher Education Access Program (HEAP) in Uganda and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in Ethiopia and Rwanda. It aims to support academically talented young women and men from underrepresented communities to access higher education and successfully transition to the world of work.
The bursaries are part of a seven-year scholarship programme (2024–2030) being implemented across 10 Sub-Saharan African countries, including Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The program seeks to empower academically talented young women and men from disadvantaged communities by supporting their transition into higher education and eventually into the world of work.
The bursaries are allocated for the Higher Education Access Certificate (HEAC) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, with a focus on STEM and skills development.
In Uganda, the program will be implemented across the Eastern, Central, Northern, and Western regions of Uganda, targeting youth from 65 districts, including Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Gulu, Kasese, Kabale, Tororo, Moroto, Moyo, and Yumbe, among others.
Under the programme, FAWE Uganda plans to support 2,000 underrepresented young people over seven years, providing financial, academic, and social support throughout their studies.
The TVET bursaries will support students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related courses. Successful applicants will study at selected technical institutions, including Uganda Technical College Elgon, Uganda Technical College Kichwamba and Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba, among others.
Eligibility Requirements
Be Ugandan nationals aged 18–25 years (or up to 30 years for refugees and persons with disabilities).
Have completed Senior Four or Senior Six between 2022 and 2025.
Be born in and reside in one of the target districts.
Not be beneficiaries of any other scholarship program
Be willing to give back to their communities through development service.
FAWE Uganda also encourages orphans, refugees, persons living with disabilities, and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS to apply.
Application Process
Application forms can be obtained free of charge from:
Academic registrars’ offices at participating universities and TVET institutions
District Education Offices in the targeted districts
FAWE Uganda offices in Kampala, Fort Portal, and Mbarara
Completed application forms must be submitted to the District Education Office, partner institutions, or FAWE Uganda offices.
FAWE Uganda emphasises that no payment or facilitation is required at any stage of the application process, warning that any attempt to falsify documents or influence the selection process will lead to automatic disqualification.
Successful applicants will receive comprehensive financial, academic, and social support throughout their academic programmes.
Deadline for submission is Friday, May 8, 2026, at 5:00 pm (EAT).