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In partnership with Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (Senegal), the Mastercard Foundation has commenced applications for the 2025 African STARS MSc Fellowship Program. This prestigious opportunity is hosted by the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University.
About the Mastercard African STARS MSc Fellowship
* Program: MSc in Bioinformatics of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Genomics
* Location: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
* Duration: 2 years (February 2026 – January 2028)
Structure
- A structured 9-month lecture block, including a compulsory Statistics and Bioinformatics module
- Elective Capita Selecta modules in Infectious Diseases or Pathogen Genomics
- Over 1 year of hands-on research training in infectious disease laboratories
- Career development workshops tailored for researchers from low- and middle-income countries
- Ongoing mentorship from supervisors at Stellenbosch and partner institutions
Benefits of the Fellowship
The Mastercard African STARS MSc Fellowship is fully funded, covering:
* Tuition fees
* Accommodation
* Living stipend
* Research-related expenses
* Air travel expenses
* Health insurance
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered, applicants must:
* Be born in and/or currently living in Africa
* Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application
* Hold a BSc Honors (NQF Level 8) or equivalent 4-year degree (minimum 65%) in one of the following:
- Bioinformatics
- Data Science
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Computer Science
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Or a related field
Women are strongly encouraged to apply
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
Step 1
Submit the Scholarship Application:
Click HERE to apply for the African STARS Fellowship Scholarship
Note: This form is only for the scholarship application.
Scholarship application deadline: 26 June 2025
Step 2:
Apply for admission to the MSc Program at Stellenbosch University
MSc application deadlines:
31 August 2025 (International applicants)
30 September 2025 (South African applicants)
For more information, click HERE to visit the scholarship portal
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