Deadline
2025-06-26
Value of Scholarship
Full Scholarship, Accommodation, Feeding allowance, Monthly Stipend & Air tickets
Country Tenable
South Africa
Renewable
No
Apply Now: 2025 Mastercard African STARS MSc Fellowship at Stellenbosch University
The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (Senegal), is now accepting applications for the 2025 African STARS Fellowship Program.
This prestigious and fully funded opportunity supports African students pursuing a Master’s in Bioinformatics of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Genomics at Stellenbosch University.
About the African STARS MSc Fellowship
The African STARS Fellowship is designed to equip the next generation of African scientists with the expertise needed to tackle infectious diseases across the continent.
Program Duration: February 2026 – January 2028
Location: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Programme Highlights:
- A 9-month structured coursework block, including core modules in Statistics and Bioinformatics
- Elective "capita selecta" modules in Infectious Diseases or Pathogen Genomics
- Over a year of intensive research training in world-class labs
- Tailored career development workshops for researchers in low- and middle-income countries
- Mentorship from experienced faculty and partner institutions
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Mastercard African STARS MSc Fellowship, applicants must:
- Be born in and/or currently residing in Africa
- Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application
- Hold a BSc Honours (NQF level 8) or a 4-year degree (with ≥65%) in a relevant field such as:
- Bioinformatics, Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science
- Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, or related disciplines
Women are strongly encouraged to apply
Fellowship Benefits
Successful applicants will receive full funding, covering:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation
- Monthly living stipend
- Research-related costs
- Round-trip airfare
- Health insurance
How to Apply – Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Apply for the Fellowship
Click here to submit your application for the African STARS Fellowship (Scholarship) through the official portal.
Deadline: 26 June 2025
Note: This step is for the scholarship application only.
Step 2: Apply for Admission to Stellenbosch University
Click here to submit a formal application to the MSc programme at Stellenbosch University.
Deadline:
31 August 2025 for international applicants
30 September 2025 for South African applicants
For details on the MSc programme structure, refer to page 136 of the 2025 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Yearbook.
APPLY HERE
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