You have found a partner university you like, but the application asks for SAT or TOEFL scores, and the test fee alone could eat a big part of your savings. Before you give up or borrow money, there is a route the Mastercard Foundation itself points applicants to: a support letter from your counsellor or principal, sent to the admissions office with your story. This guide shows how to ask for that letter and how to make it useful.
What the Mastercard Foundation says about test costs
On its Scholars Program page, the Foundation admits that admission fees and tests such as the TOEFL and SAT can be a barrier. It says it cannot change the admission requirements of its partner institutions. It does list options that have helped some applicants:
- Some universities may be able to assist with completing the tests. If you are confident you can meet the SAT or TOEFL requirements, you can ask your counsellor or principal for a letter of support (or similar documentation) that expresses confidence in your academic achievements. Share it, along with your story, with the admissions office of the university you are applying to.
- Some candidates have found help with the cost of the SAT or TOEFL through EducationUSA.
- The Foundation has also partnered with Africa-based universities whose undergraduate or graduate programmes do not require SAT or TOEFL scores.
Also useful: where a partner charges an application fee, the fee is reimbursed if you are selected for the programme. That does not help you pay upfront, but it is worth knowing. Each partner sets its own fees, deadlines and rules, so always confirm on the partner's own programme page.
First, decide whether you need the test at all
Many readers jump to the letter when a simpler fix exists. Check these in order:
- List the partner institutions you are considering from the official Scholars Program page.
- Open each partner's admissions page and note whether SAT or TOEFL is required for international applicants.
- Mark the ones that do not require it, especially Africa-based partners.
- Only then plan test support for the ones you really want.
If your top choice is a North American university, tests are likely part of the package, according to the Foundation. If an African partner offers your course without them, you save money and effort. Our guide on applying for a Mastercard Foundation scholarship covers the wider process.
Who to ask, and why
The Foundation names counsellors and principals. In a Nigerian, Ghanaian or Kenyan school, that usually means the guidance counsellor, the vice principal academics, or the principal. If you have already left school, a university lecturer, head of department or the head of an organisation where you did serious work is the closest equivalent. Pick someone who has seen your work and can describe it, not just someone with a senior title.
How to make the request
Give them time
Ask at least three to four weeks before the deadline. Busy staff delay, and you may need a signature, a school stamp or a scanned copy.
Send a short, easy message
Here is a template you can adapt:
Dear Mrs Adeyemi, I am applying to [university] for [course] through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The application asks for SAT/TOEFL scores, which I cannot afford to take at this time. The programme's guidance suggests that a letter of support from a counsellor or principal can be sent to admissions. Would you be willing to write one describing my academic record and character? I can send my transcript, a draft of my personal story and the deadline details. Thank you for considering it.
Attach a pack
Send your results, a list of achievements with dates, the university's admissions email address and the deadline. The easier you make it, the better the letter.
What a good support letter contains
- How the writer knows you and for how long.
- Specific evidence of academic ability: class position, subjects where you stand out, a project or competition, with real figures.
- A direct statement of confidence that you can handle the academic requirements, including English-language work if TOEFL is the issue.
- Context on your circumstances, such as financial barriers, kept factual and dignified.
- Official letterhead, date, signature, role and contact details so admissions can verify it.
Never write the letter and have someone sign it without reading it, and never forge a signature or stamp. Admissions offices verify, and fake documents can disqualify you. If you are short on time, a draft of bullet points is fine; the writer must still own the words.
Send it with your story
The Foundation says to share the letter together with your story. So do not email the letter alone. Write a short cover email, attach the letter, and make sure your personal statement explains your background and goals. Our post on a motivation letter helps with the writing. Ask the admissions office, in writing, whether they accept this in place of or alongside test scores, because acceptance is their decision.
A hypothetical example
Suppose Ngozi, a final-year student in Enugu, wants a partner university that lists TOEFL. She cannot pay the fee. She checks two African partners and finds one offering her course without the test. She applies there, and also sends a counsellor's letter plus her story to the North American option. She has not been promised anything, but she has spent nothing on tests and lost nothing by asking.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the letter guarantees a waiver. The Foundation only says it has helped some applicants.
- Asking the week of the deadline.
- Choosing a referee who barely knows you.
- Paying an "agent" to get a waiver or a scholarship. Read our guide on fake scholarship agents; the Foundation says applications go through partner institutions.
- Forgetting that admission does not guarantee selection. The Foundation describes the programme as highly competitive.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to several partners at once?
Yes. The Foundation says there is no limit, but each application takes effort and may carry a fee.
Does the Foundation pay my test fee directly?
It says it does not provide support to candidates outside the scholarship, so do not expect that. Try EducationUSA and the partner university.
Is there one deadline?
No. Each partner sets its own. Check its programme website.
Does it cover PhDs?
No. The programme covers secondary, undergraduate and master's levels, not PhD candidates.
Your next step
Today, pick three partner institutions, check their test requirements, and send your support-letter request to one teacher or counsellor with a clear deadline.
Sources
Details checked against the official sources above on 19 October 2026. Things change, so confirm on the official site before you act.
Scholarship details, deadlines and eligibility can change. Always confirm on the official website before applying, and never pay anyone who promises to "guarantee" a scholarship.