How Nikuze Nikobahoze Nadine, a Rwandan Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology at University of Rwanda, Rwanda Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

I am Nikuze Nikobahoze Nadine, and I am from Rwanda. I have had a difficult life, especially being completely orphaned at a young age and dealing with significant mental health issues later on. I have completed all my undergraduate coursework in clinical psychology at the University of Rwanda and passed the licensing exam administered by the Rwanda Allied Health Professions Council (RAHPC). I am set to graduate next month, in October, and my license to practice as a clinical psychologist will soon be formalized.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Details

The scholarship I was on was the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which I received twice: first at UC Berkeley, and then at the University of Rwanda, where I am set to graduate.

At the University of Rwanda, I got a full scholarship that covers my accommodation, meals, tuition, and monthly stipend, and I get to benefit from their partners, like the Solid Minds Counseling Clinic, and get support from campus staff and the rest of the Scholars Program administration. In other words, it is holistic.

That scholarship supports economically disadvantaged students who are academically talented and have the drive to become agents of change in their community. Those students must be from Sub-Saharan Africa and, at UR, refugees, young women, and female students are prioritized.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

There was no other scholarship I received in higher education, but during my high school studies, I was supported by a Dutch-sponsored scholarship, which I received through my late mother's network from church.

Educational Background

Growing up, I was really good at math, and at some point, I often got perfect scores in my exams. Starting advanced level, though, my late mother encouraged me to enroll in a high school program that is preparatory for medicine. So I set aside math and followed more of a health science combination of courses. I was hardworking and talented academically overall, so I did well in them too. All through my schooling, from elementary school to high school, I was always ranked among the top performers in my class. For instance, there is one report card from an advanced level where I was ranked 1st in a class of 40+ students every trimester, all year.

Upon graduating high school, I was admitted to medicine at the University of Rwanda but ended up pursuing higher education abroad instead. This followed securing a full-ride scholarship to UC Berkeley through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. I did my first year there, and that is when I started having significant mental health struggles. I was then out of school in recovery for nearly five years, mainly with my brother Samuel looking after me, which is one of the reasons I have so much respect for him. During that time, I was in the United States for a while but eventually went back home to Rwanda. When it was time to return to school, I couldn't go back abroad for various reasons, but I still secured admission to the Program at the University of Rwanda. During my recovery, I worked with an amazing treatment team at Solid Minds Counseling Clinic, a Program partner, and that experience inspired me to pursue clinical psychology because I wanted to understand more of what I was going through and be able to help myself and others in similar situations — something I am now working towards achieving as a fellow through the AIMS SDG Innovation Challenge fellowship. Reapplying wasn't difficult for me, because I was already embedded in the Program's ecosystem as a beneficiary at a partner clinic, and that eased the transition, even though I went through the whole application process like every other student.

Academic Research

As part of completing my undergraduate studies, I conducted my dissertation, titled “Psychosocial Impact of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program on Students: A Case Study of the University of Rwanda.” I methodically used a mixed-methods and comparative design to rigorously examine the subject, and I successfully defended it, scoring 88.2% overall.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Rwanda/UC Berkeley?

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and the University of Rwanda/UC Berkeley?

I knew about scholarships because that was the well-known path for most top performers at my school. However, given my background, I wasn't informed about things like what standardized tests were and so on. To secure my scholarship, I took a gap year and competitively enrolled in a program through the US Embassy called the Young Emerging Scholars (YES) Program. That program was sponsored and rigorously prepared us, improving our chances of pursuing higher education abroad.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the TOEFL, the ACT with writing, and a couple of subject tests. Preparing for them required a lot of effort from me, given that my English language skills were still minimal back then. I studied hard, read books, did practice exams, visited preparatory websites, and studied with peers.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?

In the YES Program, we had an amazing mentor, Mrs. Jaya, who made sure we got information and even attended college fairs and visits. It was a challenging experience for me because I was informed early on that I wouldn't be able to enroll in medicine right away, and that I might even need to be flexible about that if I wanted to go to school in the US.

What Did You Pursue After the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?

Now that I have completed my undergraduate coursework and am preparing to graduate this October, I have been intentional about finding ways to give back while building and strengthening my career path. I was competitively selected as the Youth Advisory Board Lead for Rwanda for a Vanguard Economics project, where I help ensure that lived experience meaningfully informs research and that young people's perspectives are grounded in evidence to contribute to community-focused change.

After meeting Vanguard Economics' Managing Director, Dr. Kato, at the PEP AGM in Kenya, I later had the opportunity to join the organization as a Project Intern. I spent two months in the role, further strengthening my research and analytical skills and gaining valuable experience contributing to applied research.

I am now an AIMS SDG Innovation Challenge Fellow, where I will spend the next four months working full-time to incubate a mental health-focused project grounded in lived experience and designed to address real community needs. Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to build a career in humanitarian work, combining research, innovation, and lived experience to contribute to meaningful and sustainable change.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think authenticity made my application stand out. I already had a good academic record, and I genuinely had dreams that involved having an impactful future, so that is how I positioned myself, and that authenticity is what came through.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I think I was really stressed, and with all I know now and the wisdom I've gained, if I were to go through it all over again, I would relax more.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Put in the work, but trust that if it's a good fit, it will come through. Figure out what the scholarship entails, be self-aware, and be sure to position yourself with authenticity — the slot belongs to you.