MASTERCARD FOUNDATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at AIMS

Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences supports talented African youth, particularly those facing the greatest social and economic barriers to opportunity, to access world class education in mathematical sciences. The programme combines rigorous academic training with leadership development and work-integrated learning, preparing scholars to drive transformative change across Africa.

For more than a decade, AIMS has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to support young Africans to pursue postgraduate studies across its centres on the continent. Now in its second phase, the programme builds on this foundation by expanding opportunities for scholars while strengthening a more intentional commitment to inclusion, particularly for women, persons with disabilities, refugees, and displaced youth.

A Commitment to Academic and Professional Excellence

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at AIMS offers a rigorous academic experience rooted in mathematical sciences, supported by expert faculty and research-led learning. Scholars also benefit from work integrated placements that build practical skills, expand networks, and prepare them to drive real world impact across Africa.

Program Offering

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at AIMS offers fully funded Scholarships for talented African students to pursue postgraduate studies in mathematical sciences. The programme is implemented across all six AIMS Institutes of Excellence: AIMS Cameroon, AIMS Ghana, AIMS Rwanda, AIMS RIC, AIMS Senegal, and AIMS South Africa. Each centre provides a dynamic and rigorous learning environment that prepares scholars to apply mathematical sciences to real world challenges across Africa.

1. Mathematical Sciences Education -Advanced postgraduate training in modelling, data science, artificial intelligence, and mathematical innovation.

2. A Pan African Learning Community -AIMS brings together talented students from across Africa, creating a diverse and collaborative learning environment.

3. Leadership Development -The programme supports scholars to grow as ethical and socially responsible leaders equipped to contribute to Africa’s development.

4. Work Integrated Learning -Scholars gain practical experience through internships, research placements, and collaboration with industry and research institutions.

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Key Program Numbers

Scholarship Benefits

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at AIMS provides comprehensive support to enable scholars to fully focus on their academic journey and personal development.

The scholarship includes:

Scholars also benefit from additional support that strengthens their overall learning experience, including:

Scholar Stories

Kenya

GLADYS MUTHONI KAMAU

AIMS Rwanda Co-op Master’s Class of 2019/2021

Gladys Muthoni Kamau is an alumna of the AIMS Rwanda Centre class 2019/2021 taking the AIMS MSc. in Mathematical Sciences, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, the Cooperative Program. Gladys opted for the Co-op trajectory focusing on its 6-months internship track. The desire to apply theoretical knowledge practically was too alluring to her.

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Rwanda

GISA MURERA

AIMS Rwanda Co-op Master’s, Class of 2018-2020

In a secondary school classroom in Rwanda, Gisa Murera was teaching physics by day while quietly imagining a larger role for himself in the future of African science. He understood equations, but he wanted to influence systems. He believed mathematics could transform agriculture, finance, and climate resilience, yet he had not been given the tools or platform to act at that scale. A graduate at the University of Rwanda College of Education, Gisa encountered what he would later define as a life-changing opportunity. In 2017, driven by a desire for mentorship that would expand his thinking, Gisa began his master’s studies at the AIMS Cooperative Education Program, with the support of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. “Immediately, I understood I was stepping into a different academic environment,” Gisa noted, “The intensity of the curriculum, the immersive learning model, and engagement with world class scientists exceeded what I thought possible.” For the first time, he began to see himself not just as a teacher or student, but as a problem solver capable of driving innovation. He became determined to ensure that Rwanda and Africa would not lag behind in this knowledge driven era.

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Ghana

MUMUNI NAPARI HANIFATU

AIMS Ghana Taught Masters, 2018

Mumuni Napari Hanifatu is a lecturer and Head of the Department of Actuarial Science at Tamale Technical University. A specialist in computational statistics, she is dedicated to training the next generation of statisticians and data scientists.

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Alumni Engagement

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni at AIMS form part of a growing Pan-African community of scientists, innovators, and professionals applying mathematical sciences to real-world challenges. After AIMS, alumni transition into diverse pathways including doctoral studies, research, industry, public service, and entrepreneurship across Africa and beyond. AIMS continues to engage graduates through initiatives that strengthen the alumni community and support knowledge sharing across the network. Some examples include

Alumni Meet Ups

Local and regional gatherings that reconnect graduates and strengthen professional networks.

Africa Science Week

Alumni participate in science outreach and mentorship activities that promote STEM education across Africa.

AIMS Ambassadors

Through this initiative, alumni support outreach efforts and inspire future students to pursue studies in mathematical sciences.

Baobab Summit

The Baobab Summit brings together Mastercard Foundation Scholars, alumni, partners, and other Foundation stakeholders to celebrate the global community of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Through the Baobab Platform, participants in this community continue their learning journey by accessing courses in leadership, entrepreneurship, and professional skills that strengthen their career development.

The Africa Health Collaborative

AIMS is a proud member of the Africa Health Collaborative; a strategic partnership between nine leading higher education institutions and the Mastercard Foundation. The Collaborative is committed to advancing inclusive, sustainable, and locally driven health solutions across the continent.

AIMS contributes to a shared vision of preparing diverse youth for meaningful work in transforming health and well-being in Africa. The Collaborative leverages the strengths of universities as centres of knowledge, innovation, and cross-sector engagement to build resilient and contextually relevant health systems.