2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Mandela Day Tour
The Mandela Day Township Tour in Langa, Cape Town was an invaluable experience for Mastercard Foundation Scholars who are interested in and pursuing entrepreneurship. They were enthusiastic with questions about how small (informal) business operate, what their challenges and successes are, and how they contribute to the immediate community and economy of Langa. View album here
2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Thesis Writing Day
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Thesis Writing Day provided Mastercard Foundation Scholars pursuing their master's degree with a dedicated space to focus on their research, make meaningful progress on their theses, and support one another during the writing process. View album here
2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Annual Leadership Camp Awards
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program a celebrated Mastercard Foundation Scholars who demonstrated exceptional leadership, teamwork, resilience, and commitment throughout the camp. View album here
2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Annual Leadership Camp
The 2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Annual Leadership Camp brought scholars together for a transformative experience focused on leadership, collaboration, personal development, and community building. View album here
2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni Breakfast
The 2026 Alumni Breakfast brought together Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program alumni, graduates and current scholars to reconnect, share experiences and inspire one another. View album here
2025 Mastercard Foundation Scholar Camp
The 2025 Leadership Camp provided Mastercard Foundation Scholars with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills, build lasting connections and engage in meaningful learning. View album here
2025 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Awards
The Leadership Camp Awards Ceremony recognised and celebrated the outstanding achievements, leadership and contributions of Mastercard Foundation Scholars. View album here
2025 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Decade of Leadership Excellence Concert
The Decade of Leadership Excellence celebrations featured a concert by Dizu Plaatjies & Ibuyambo, with guest artist Thongo Tutsu and the UCT Ibuyambo Orchestra. View album here
2025 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Graduation Ceremony
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program celebrated the graduating cohort while marking ten years of empowering Mastercard Foundation Scholars to become transformative leaders. View album here
2025 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Decade of Leadership Excellence
The Decade of Leadership Excellence Luncheon marked the second part of the celebration, featuring the launch of a commemorative publication highlighting ten years of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. View album here
2025 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 3D@UCT: Scholars Dialogue
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program participated in the 3D@UCT event, hosted by the UCT International Office, which featured a panel discussion with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council, scholar alumni, and the Canadian Ambassador, James Christoff. View album here
2022 Welcome Lunch
The Program hosted a Welcome Lunch which was a reception in honour of the new cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars. It also serves as an opportunity for all Scholars and the Program Staff to meet.
See the gallery: Part One, Part Two
2019 Annual hike with the UCT VC
Each year, our Mastercard Foundation Scholars join UCT’s Vice-Chancellor for a hike of Cape Town’s iconic Lion’s Head mountain. The activity helps build endurance, teamwork and leadership.
2019 Graduation
The 2019 cohort celebrated graduation from UCT in April. The event was the culmination of a year filled with hard-work, dedication and making new friends.
2018 Year-end function
The 2018 cohort held a year-end function at UCT's Smuts Hall. It was a great way for Mastercard Foundation Scholars to celebrate graduation with each other.
2018 International Service Day
Our Mastercard Foundation Scholars participate in community outreach projects for International Service Day.
2018 Entrepreneurship training
Learning to pitch and present were among the topics covered at our entrepreneurship training hosted by the UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) Solution Space.
2018 Leadership camp
Our Matercard Foundation Scholars build their teamwork skills while having have fun at an empowering leadership camp.
2018 Welcome reception
UCT Vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng welcomed the 2018 Mastercard Foundation Scholars at the start of the academic year.
2018 Annual hike with the UCT VC
Hiking Cape Town’s Lion’s Head mountain is an annual event for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars who are joined by the UCT VC.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars on campus
2017 cohort Mastercard Foundation Scholars Carol Masingi, Zukiswa Qwabe, Thato Semoko, Andrew Hlupo and Clayton Sibanda explore the UCT campus.
2017 Cape Peninsula tour
Discovering the natural beauty of Cape Town, our 2017 cohort visited Cape Point and Chapmans Peak.
2017 Meet and greet
From leading libraries to advanced research labs, we provide world-class facilities to our postgraduates. Postgraduates can also access professional and academic resources, as well as personalised guidance at the Office for Postgraduate Studies and the Postgraduate Centre and Funding Office.
2017 Welcome reception
Vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng held a special welcome event to celebrate UCT’s first cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars.