A scholarship post can look convincing and still lead to an outdated notice or an impersonator. Students in Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and across Africa should verify the opportunity before sharing documents or paying anyone.
1. Find the provider independently
Search for the awarding organisation and university through their official websites. Compare the notice there with the social media claim. A logo, follower count or screenshot is not a substitute for a matching official announcement.
For example, the Mastercard Foundation says applications for its Scholars Program are managed by the individual partner institutions. It directs applicants to the affiliated institution they wish to attend.
2. Read eligibility and the intake year
Check the award’s subject, study level, nationality or residence conditions and other requirements. Confirm the intake year and deadline. A real programme can still be unsuitable for you, and a genuine old notice may no longer accept applications.
Save a record of the official link and date you checked it. Ask the provider if a condition is unclear rather than accepting an answer from an unrelated account.
3. Separate promises from award terms
Read the funding conditions yourself. Note what is included, excluded and dependent on later decisions. Admission, scholarship selection and visa decisions are separate matters. Be cautious about a claim that one payment guarantees all three.
4. Verify payment instructions
The Mastercard Foundation warns about unaffiliated Facebook groups advertising recruitment and requesting application fees. It says the Foundation does not request payments from individuals. Its guidance also explains that partner institutions can have their own admissions fees, so verify the exact request with the institution.
Before paying, check the recipient and purpose through an independently found official contact. Urgency, secrecy or a request to send money to an unrelated personal account should prompt further verification.
5. Protect your records
Share documents only through the intended process. Do not post passport scans, financial records or application passwords in public groups. Keep copies of notices and messages so you can explain what happened if you need to report suspected fraud.
Official source and next step
Reviewed on 11 October 2026. Read the Mastercard Foundation’s official application guidance and fraud warning. These practical checks apply to research across many programmes; each provider’s rules remain decisive.
Discuss your plans with Musa Bod Careers
Our online guidance welcomes enquiries from across Africa. Tell us your country of residence, destination and study goal so we can discuss the preparation support appropriate to your situation. Our office is in Makindye, Kampala, Uganda; office visits are by appointment.
We assist with supporting-document preparation. We do not fill or submit visa forms, and we do not award scholarships or decide visas. Book a consultation or contact careers@musabodycareers.com. Admission, scholarships and visas are not guaranteed.
