introduction

Public health improvement in Africa should involve research and the formulation of policy that are driven at the local level; the University of Toronto and the Mastercard Foundation agree with this and have therefore established a highly specialised doctoral programme for African scholars.

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) scholarship offered by the Mastercard Foundation is quite different from an ordinary study-abroad grant; it is a rigorous and completely funded programme which is based on the principle that the final stage of your doctoral research should be carried out in your home country. For public health professionals who wish to transform research into systemic change, this programme offers the resources needed to achieve that objective.

overview of the program

The scholarship is organised by the Africa Health Collaborative, a project which is funded by the Mastercard Foundation and whose objective is to improve health systems throughout the continent, and it is concerned with the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) at the University of Toronto's famous Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

While traditional PhDs are primarily theoretical, the DRPH is a professional degree focusing on applied research, leadership, and the implementation of practical solutions to public health problems. Eligibility for this scholarship is limited to individuals who have received their degrees from certain universities that are part of the Africa Health Collaborative Network.

detailed explanation: the "split-site" commitment

The key issue in this announcement-something which applicants must completely understand-is the structure of the programme, as the source text refers to a commitment to returning home for the last two years of the programme.

It is a split-site doctoral programme, the scholars being required to spend the first stage of the programme in Toronto, where they will attend rigorous courses and work on developing their research methodology; in the final two years, though, they have to return to their home country-more exactly to their home university or to one of the designated partner sites—in order to carry out their public health interventions, collect data, and carry out their doctoral projects.

The fact that this system ensures the research will directly benefit the local community makes it impossible for you to plan to remain in Canada for the entire duration of your degree.

important information at a glance

1. host institution: university of toronto (dalla lana school of public health)
2. degree offered: doctor of public health (drph)
3. target group: citizens and residents of sub-saharan africa
4. financial coverage: 100% tuition, living stipend, housing, travel, books
5. scholarship application deadline: october 1, 2026

requirements and eligibility criteria

to be considered, applicants must meet highly specific conditions:

1. As for citizenship and residency, you must be a citizen of a country in sub-Saharan Africa and have to be living in that country at the present time.
2. In order to be counted as an alumnus, it is necessary that you have graduated from one of the universities which is a partner of the Africa Health Collaborative. (In the case where your university is not clearly stated as a partner on their official website, you will not be eligible).
3. academic level: you must not have started any doctoral studies yet.
4. It is necessary for you to have excellent grades and to display obvious leadership while you are doing your undergraduate and master’s degrees.
5. The provision known as the 'give-back' clause obliges you to return to your home country for the final two years of the programme so as to help promote its economic and social development.

benefits and features

the financial package is designed to remove all economic barriers so you can focus entirely on your professional development:

1. The entire sum of the tuition will be paid: all the tuition and fees of the University of Toronto will be paid.
2. People will receive assistance with everyday expenses: this will include funding for housing, food, books, and other ordinary living costs in Toronto, as well as continued support after they go back to Africa.
3. The expense of travelling is paid for by the round-trip air ticket between your home country and Canada.
4. We offer specific orientation sessions to help you get used to the academic standards and the cultural environment at the University of Toronto.
5. Through mentorship one can gain access to a wide support network made up of faculty members and public health professionals.

step-by-step application process

The scholarship operates on the opposite principle: you do not submit your application to the university first, rather you apply for the money first.

step 1: review drph admission requirements

Start by checking the standard academic admission requirements for the drph programme at the dallana school of public health to ensure that you satisfy the necessary background criteria.

step 2: attend a mandatory info session

You must register for and attend at least one of the three virtual information sessions arranged by the university; attendance is not optional and is a strict prerequisite for obtaining access to the application portal.

step 3: submit the scholarship application

Complete the form for the MasterCard Foundation doctoral scholarship. If your initial application meets the criteria, the scholarship admissions committee will look at it.

step 4: wait for the october 1 decision

If your scholarship application is approved you will receive an email inviting you to the final stage on October 1, 2026.

step 5: apply to the university of toronto

You will be required to fill in the formal application form for the DRPH program at the University of Toronto only if you pass step 4, and the application to this university must be submitted by 20 November 2026.

expert tips for applicants

1. It is important that you get in touch with your partner university as soon as you can-do not wait until September to find out if your home university is one of the member institutions of the Africa Health Collaborative. You should immediately either contact the international office of your university or check the Mastercard Foundation website to see whether you are eligible.
2. When you are preparing for the information session, regard the mandatory virtual session as though it were an informal interview and have well-considered questions ready on the topic of split-site logistics-for instance, those concerning how faculty supervision works when you return to Africa.
3. Emphasize the practical effects: when preparing your application, rather than trying to identify basic biological mechanisms, you should work on improving health systems, carry out epidemiological interventions, make changes to policy, and put into action community health initiatives.

common mistakes to avoid

1. You will not be awarded the scholarship if you apply to the DrPH program without having first received approval from the Mastercard Foundation Committee in October.
2. You can't just assume that skipping the information session will be acceptable; the university organises these sessions so as to reject applicants who aren't serious or who don't understand the requirements of the programme.
3. To underestimate the DRPH would be a mistake since this degree is not merely a milder version of a PhD; it does require a considerable amount of professional experience in the field of public health. If you have been straight from a bachelor's degree or a master's degree that is completely academic and includes no real experience in the health sector, your application will most likely be rejected.

frequently asked questions

What is the Africa Health Collaborative?

It is a network consisting of universities and other institutions in Africa, funded by the Mastercard Foundation, with the aim of developing resilient health systems; in order to apply you must be a graduate of one of these specific partner institutions.

Can I stay in Canada for the full duration of the programme?

By any means the scholarship does not require you to return to your home country if you want to carry out the final two years of your research and implementation.

A requirement of IELTS really isn't it?

Even if the source states that "no IELTS is required", the University of Toronto generally requires international students to provide proof of English proficiency; in most cases, waivers are granted because the applicant obtained their previous degree in English, or alternatively other tests can be accepted. For this reason, you should contact the Dalla Lana School of Public Health directly about the language requirements.

What is the difference between a DrPH and a PhD in the field of public health?

A PhD mainly involves research and is intended as a preparation for a career in academia, while the DrPH is a professional doctorate designed to prepare individuals for senior leadership roles in health ministries, NGOs, and public health organisations, with an emphasis on applied research and policy.

I am currently pursuing a master's degree. May I apply?

You can apply on the condition that you are in your final semester of your master's degree, provided that you have officially finished your degree by the time the university begins its enrolment.

Is the scholarship going to be available to my family?

The doctoral scholarships offered by the U of T may have provisions covering dependents, but in this case there is variation. You ought to enquire about family funding when you attend the mandatory information session, since it will be necessary to make careful plans if you are to bring your family to Toronto on a student budget.

When exactly are the virtual information sessions held?

The precise dates are generally announced towards the end of summer, so