The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) will open applications for the Winter 2027 intake on August 31, 2026. The program is aimed at eligible African citizens and refugees seeking selected master’s degrees at UBC.
Who Can Apply?
To be considered, applicants must:
- Have completed a Bachelor’s degree.
- Not already hold a Master’s degree.
- Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application, meaning born in 1990 or after.
- Be a citizen or refugee of an African country.
- Apply for one of the eligible master’s programs.
- Meet the minimum academic requirements for the chosen UBC program.
- Meet UBC’s English-language requirements where applicable.
Applicants whose bachelor’s degree was not taught in English may need to provide TOEFL or IELTS results.
Eligible Master’s Programs
The scholarship is available only for the following programs:
Faculty of Land and Food Systems
- Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
- Master of Food Science (MFS)
Faculty of Forestry
- Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM)
- Master of International Forestry (MIF)
- Master of Urban Forestry Leadership (MUFL)
- Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM)
- Master of Science/Master of Applied Science in Forestry (Thesis-based)
Faculty of Science
- Master of Data Science
Important Application Dates
The application process has several stages.
August 31, 2026
Applications for the Winter 2027 intake open.
September 6, 2026
Interested candidates must submit an Expression of Interest.
September 15–30, 2026
Eligible applicants will be invited to submit their Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application.
November 1–20, 2026
Successful applicants from the scholarship application stage will apply to their selected UBC faculty. Late applications will not be considered.
December–January
Successful candidates are contacted for interviews.
February 2027
Selected Scholars receive offers for the Winter term.
August 2027
Scholars are welcomed in Vancouver for the Winter term.
How Applicants Are Selected
The selection process considers several factors, including:
- Academic merit and eligibility for the chosen degree.
- A record of transformative leadership and community service.
- The quality of the application and its alignment with the program theme.
- The potential impact the applicant could have on the development of their home country.
Documents Required
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application should include:
- Completed Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form.
- Concise personal statements.
- CV/resume.
- Two reference letters on official letterhead.
- Academic transcripts.
The reference letters should be attached to the application and not emailed separately.
Refugees and Displaced Applicants
UBC provides a separate Refugee and Displaced Persons Stream for applicants who qualify under that category. There is also a separate Expression of Interest form for this stream.
What Happens After the Scholarship Application?
Applicants who successfully progress through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program process will receive instructions to submit an application directly to the relevant UBC faculty.
Applicants may also be eligible for an application fee waiver depending on their citizenship and correspondence address. The information provided by UBC specifically notes that applicants from countries on the UN list of 50 least developed countries may qualify.
Why This Opportunity Is Notable
The UBC program provides a pathway for eligible African students to pursue graduate-level study in areas including data science, food systems, food science, forestry, sustainable forest management and environmental management.
For students interested in technology and analytics, the Master of Data Science is particularly relevant. For applicants focused on climate, agriculture and sustainability, the forestry and food-resource programs provide several options.
Application opening: August 31, 2026
Expression of Interest deadline: September 6, 2026
Faculty application period: November 1–20, 2026
Intake: Winter 2027
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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