A fully funded pathway to a Doctor of Public Health degree at the University of Toronto for Sub-Saharan African graduates — tuition, travel, housing, food, and books all covered, with no IELTS required.
For African public health graduates with their sights set on doctoral study, the University of Toronto Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Scholarship is one of the more complete funding packages on offer for 2027. Delivered through the Africa Health Collaborative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, it’s designed for recent alumni ready to lead public health transformation back home.
What Is the DrPH Scholarship?
The scholarship supports the University of Toronto’s hosting of another Mastercard Foundation Scholars cohort for the 2027/28 session. It’s aimed at recent alumni and graduating students from Africa Health Collaborative partner universities who have shown academic excellence in health-related disciplines — and who are committed to returning home to apply what they’ve learned.
Successful scholars go on to earn a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, one of the world’s leading public health schools.
At a Glance
| Host Country | Canada |
| Category | Postgraduate / PhD Scholarship |
| Eligible Applicants | African countries (Sub-Saharan Africa) |
| Reward | Full tuition, stipends, housing, travel, food & books |
| IELTS Required? | No |
| Application Deadline | October 1, 2026 |
Who Can Apply?
This scholarship is narrowly and deliberately targeted — it isn’t open to the general public. To be eligible, you must:
- Be a citizen of, and currently residing in, a Sub-Saharan African country
- Have graduated from an Africa Health Collaborative partner institution, without yet having started doctoral studies
- Demonstrate academic excellence and leadership during your undergraduate and master’s years
- Be academically admissible to the DrPH program at the University of Toronto
- Show a genuine commitment to returning home for the final two years of the program to contribute to Africa’s economic and social development
What the Scholarship Covers
This is a genuinely comprehensive award, covering essentially every cost of doctoral study abroad:
- Full tuition for the duration of the DrPH program
- Travel expenses, including flights to and from Canada
- Housing for the length of study
- Food and books, along with other program-related expenses
- A comprehensive support network to help scholars succeed academically
- Orientation sessions to ensure a smooth start to graduate life
How to Apply — Step by Step
The application process runs across four distinct stages, so it’s worth mapping out the timeline early:
- Check the admission requirements for the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health before applying.
- Attend a mandatory info session. Register for and attend one of the three virtual info sessions (a separate Q&A session is optional). Attendance at one info session is required to be eligible.
- Submit the Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholarship application — the application link is shared during the info sessions. If your application is approved by the Scholarship Admission Committee, you’ll be notified by email by October 1, 2026.
- If shortlisted, complete the DrPH program application to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, due by November 20, 2026.
Applications for the 2027/28 cycle close October 1, 2026 — register for an info session now, since attendance is mandatory before you can apply.
