In 2014 the Mastercard Foundation partnered with UCT in its Global Scholars Program - a $700 million initiative that provides academically talented, yet economically disadvantaged, young people from developing countries with access to quality, relevant education.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT has thus far provided 74 full-cost Undergraduate and Postgraduate scholarships to students from Sub-Saharan Africa; the holistic programme aims to empower youth to become transformational leaders with the values, knowledge and skills to fuel economic and social progress across Africa whose transition into the workforce and society is underpinned by values of engaged citizenship and social justice.

During their studies, the MasterCard Foundation Scholars are expected to undertake an internship so as to gain work exposure in their home countries. This assists them in their personal career development and addresses the need for graduates to gain practical knowledge and experience of the workplace and its practices. Eight Mastercard Scholars have completed internships during 2017 and in the upcoming December-February holiday period another 12 Scholars will be interning in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa.