Apply now for the 2027/28 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia: Fully Funded for study in Canada

Closing Date: 30 September 2026

Apply now for the 2027/28 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia: Fully Funded for study in Canada

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is pleased to be partnering with The Mastercard Foundation to foster the next generation of African leaders. After supporting over 171 Mastercard Foundation Scholars in its first phase, The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia will provide 351 academically talented young people from Africa with access to quality and relevant university education at UBC. After graduating, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars will then utilize their learning and experiences to contribute to the economic growth and social transformation of their communities in Africa.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global center for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the best universities in the world. UBC’s vision is to create an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world.

Building on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC’s learnings and success, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in the next 10 years, (2024 to 2034) is projected to support 351 graduate students in seven professional master’s degree programs. Mastercard Foundation Scholars will be provided with transformative learning through enriched educational experiences and a full range of programming that includes academic and social support, focus on student wellbeing, personal development, leadership, and transitions to dignified and fulfilling employment.

Thank you for your interest in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Masters’ Degree Program at UBC, the applicant must:

have completed a Bachelor’s degree;
not already have a Master’s degree;
be 35 years old or younger at the time of application (i.e. born in 1990 or after);
be a citizen or a refugee of an African country;
be applying for a Master’s degree in one of the eligible programs listed below;
meet the minimum academic requirements of the program they are applying to.
- Consult the link below identifying the Minimum Academic Requirements/International Credentials for Graduate Students, listed by country to determine your academic eligibility for the degree program and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
- If your Bachelor’s degree was not taught in English, make arrangements to take an English Proficiency Exam (TOEFL or IELTS) and have the results sent to UBC. Please visit this website to confirm whether you meet UBC’s English requirement.

1. DECIDE your Program(s) of Interest from the list.

This scholarship is for the following programs ONLY

Faculty of Land and Food Systems
- Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
- Master of Food Science (MFS)
Faculty of Forestry
Faculty of Science
- Master of Data Science

2. Submit an expression of interest by September 6th, 2026.

General Stream– For all interested candidates (except refugees), click here (https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9N1YkXfhhF7VcWy) to submit an expression of interest.

Refugee and Displaced Persons Only Stream– If you are submitting an expression of interest, click here (https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3jusnGsibe4q6O2) to submit an expression of interest.

Round 1

3. Applicants who are eligible will be invited to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by September 15th – 30th, 2026.

The selection process for applications is based on the following criteria:

Academic merit of the candidate that qualifies for admissions to the program of choice
Track record as a transformative leader and service within their community.
Quality of application in line with the Program theme.
Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country.

Your fully completed application should include (all in one application form online):

Complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Application Form.
Note: for the personal statements, succinctly answer each question.
Submit a CV/resume.
Provide two reference letters on official letterhead. Attach these to the application. DO NOT email them
Transcripts.

Round 2

4. Apply to your UBC Faculty by November 1st – 20th, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.

Once your Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application is complete, successful applicants will receive an email with instructions to submit an online application to UBC. Review the instructions for faculty applications
You may be eligible for a fee waiver if your citizenship and correspondence address is located in one of the world’s 50 least developed countries, according to the United Nations. Please visit this website to check which countries are on the list: If your country is not listed above, please request a fee waiver when you are submitting your Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application package. If you are invited to move to the Faculty Application step, we will provide instruction on how to use a fee waiver during the program application process. If you submit your application without applying your fee waiver, UBC is unable to provide a refund.