The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) offers a fully funded opportunity for talented young people from Africa to pursue selected Master’s degrees in Canada.
For the Winter 2027 intake, the programme is opening applications from August 31, 2026. The scholarship is designed to support academically talented African students who demonstrate leadership, community service and the potential to contribute to positive development in their home countries.
Selected scholars receive comprehensive financial and academic support, including tuition and books, flights and immigration support, accommodation, living stipends, health insurance, career support and access to the global Mastercard Foundation alumni network.
📊 Scholarship / Opportunity Overview
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Name | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC |
| Institution | University of British Columbia (UBC) |
| Country | Canada |
| Study Level | Master’s |
| Intake | Winter 2027 |
| Funding Type | Fully Funded |
| Eligible Applicants | African citizens and refugees |
| Age Requirement | 35 years or younger at the time of application |
| Application Opens | August 31, 2026 |
| Expression of Interest Deadline | September 6, 2026 |
| Invitation to Apply | September 15–30, 2026 |
| Faculty Application | November 1–20, 2026 |
| Application | Online |
The programme currently identifies selected Master’s programmes across the Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and Faculty of Science.
📌 About the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC is a partnership between The University of British Columbia and The Mastercard Foundation aimed at developing the next generation of African leaders.
Under the current phase, UBC expects to support 351 graduate students from Africa between 2024 and 2034 across seven professional Master’s degree programmes.
The programme has a particular thematic focus on forestry, agriculture, water and land management, while also supporting areas such as data science and related research and professional fields.
The programme goes beyond financial assistance. Scholars receive academic, social, leadership, career and personal-development support designed to help them transition into meaningful employment, entrepreneurship and community leadership.
💰 What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC provides comprehensive financial support, including:
- 🎓 Tuition fees
- 📚 Books
- ✈️ Flights
- 🛂 Immigration support
- 🏠 Room and board
- 💵 Stipends for living expenses
- 🏥 Health insurance
- 💼 Career services and support
- 🌍 Access to the Mastercard Foundation global alumni network
- 🚀 Access to the Social Entrepreneurship Fund for eligible scholars interested in developing ventures in Africa
The programme also provides academic and social support, student wellbeing programmes, leadership development and experiential learning opportunities.
Because the official programme describes coverage of tuition, accommodation, living expenses, travel and health insurance, this opportunity can appropriately be described as fully funded.
🎓 What Programmes / Courses Does It Support?
For the Winter 2027 intake, the current graduate admissions page lists the following eligible Master’s programmes:
🌲 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 Land and Food Systems
- Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
- Master of Food Science (MFS)
💻 Faculty of Science
- Master of Data Science
The currently published admissions page specifically lists these programmes for the Winter 2027 Mastercard Foundation Scholars application.
👤 Who Can Apply?
The programme is designed for talented young people from Africa who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership potential.
Applicants should be:
- Citizens or refugees of an African country
- 35 years old or younger at the time of application
- Holders of a Bachelor’s degree
- Applicants who do not already hold a Master’s degree
- Applicants seeking one of the eligible Master’s programmes
- Applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements of their chosen programme
- Individuals with a demonstrated record of transformative leadership and community service
Selection also considers the quality of the application and the potential impact the applicant could make in their home country.
🇳🇬 Can Nigerians Apply?
Yes. Nigerian applicants are eligible to apply, provided they meet the programme requirements.
The official UBC Mastercard Foundation Scholars alumni information includes Nigeria among the African countries represented in the programme.
Nigerian applicants must still meet the age, academic, degree and programme-specific requirements and must demonstrate the leadership, community-service and impact qualities sought by the programme.
🌍 Eligible Countries
The programme is open to citizens or refugees of African countries.
The official eligibility requirement does not provide a single exhaustive country list on the graduate admissions page. Therefore, applicants should verify their specific nationality or refugee status against the official requirements before submitting an expression of interest.
✅ Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following key requirements:
🎓 Academic Qualification
- Must have completed a Bachelor’s degree.
- Must meet the minimum academic requirements of the Master’s programme being applied for.
- Applicants should check UBC’s international credential requirements for their country and chosen programme.
🎓 Previous Master’s Degree
Applicants must not already have a Master’s degree.
🎂 Age
Applicants must be 35 years old or younger at the time of application, meaning applicants for the current intake should have been born in 1990 or later.
🌍 Nationality
Applicants must be:
- A citizen of an African country; or
- A refugee from an African country, subject to the applicable programme conditions.
📚 Programme Eligibility
Applicants must apply for one of the Master’s programmes specifically listed by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC.
⭐ Leadership and Community Service
The selection process considers:
- Academic merit
- Transformative leadership
- Service to the community
- Quality of the application
- Alignment with the programme theme
- Potential impact on the applicant’s home country
📅 Important Application Information
The application process takes place in several stages.
🗓️ August 31, 2026
Expression of Interest opens.
🗓️ September 6, 2026
Deadline to submit the Expression of Interest.
Applicants can use either the general stream or the refugee-only stream, depending on their status.
🗓️ September 15–30, 2026
Eligible applicants will be invited to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
🗓️ November 1–20, 2026
Successful applicants from the first round are invited to apply to their selected UBC faculty.
Late faculty applications will not be considered.
🗓️ December–January
Successful candidates are contacted for interviews.
🗓️ February
Selected scholars receive offers for the Winter term.
🗓️ August
Scholars are welcomed in Vancouver for the Winter term.
📝 How to Apply
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Confirm that you:
- Are an African citizen or eligible refugee
- Are 35 or younger
- Have completed a Bachelor’s degree
- Do not already hold a Master’s degree
- Meet the academic requirements
- Are applying for an eligible Master’s programme
Step 2: Choose an Eligible Programme
Select one of the eligible Master’s programmes at UBC and make sure your academic background meets the programme requirements.
Step 3: Submit Your Expression of Interest
Starting August 31, 2026, submit your Expression of Interest through the official UBC Mastercard Foundation Scholars application system.
The deadline is September 6, 2026.
Step 4: Wait for an Invitation
Eligible candidates will be invited to complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application between September 15 and September 30, 2026.
Step 5: Complete the Mastercard Foundation Application
The application includes:
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form
- Personal statements
- CV/resume
- Two reference letters on official letterhead
- Academic transcripts
Step 6: Apply to UBC Faculty
Successful applicants will receive instructions to submit their UBC faculty application.
The faculty application period is November 1–20, 2026.
Step 7: Attend Interviews if Selected
Successful candidates may be contacted for interviews during the December–January selection stage.
Step 8: Receive the Final Decision
Selected scholars are expected to receive offers for the Winter term in February, with scholars welcomed to Vancouver in August.
📄 Documents to Prepare
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
- 📄 Bachelor’s degree certificate
- 📚 Academic transcripts
- 📄 CV/resume
- ✉️ Two reference letters on official letterhead
- 📝 Personal statements
- 🛂 Identification/passport documentation where required
- 📑 Other documents required by the selected UBC Master’s programme
The official Mastercard Foundation application specifically lists the application form, personal statements, CV/resume, two reference letters and transcripts among the required application materials.
Applicants should check their selected faculty’s requirements for any additional documents.
⭐ Why Apply for This Opportunity?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC offers more than financial assistance.
Successful scholars can benefit from:
- 🎓 Fully funded Master’s study in Canada
- 🌍 International academic exposure
- 💰 Comprehensive financial support
- 🏠 Accommodation and living support
- ✈️ Travel and immigration support
- 💼 Career development
- 👥 Leadership development
- 🤝 Global networking
- 🚀 Entrepreneurship opportunities
- 🌍 Access to a global Mastercard Foundation alumni network
- 🌱 Opportunities to contribute to sustainable development in Africa
The programme is particularly valuable for applicants who want to use their education and leadership experience to contribute to development in their communities and home countries.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UBC fully funded?
Yes. The programme covers tuition and books, flights and immigration support, room and board, living stipends and health insurance, alongside academic, career and social support.
Can Nigerians apply?
Yes. Nigerians are eligible as African applicants, provided they meet all other requirements.
What degree does the scholarship support?
The current graduate programme supports selected Master’s degree programmes at UBC.
Do I need a Bachelor’s degree?
Yes. Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree.
Can I apply if I already have a Master’s degree?
No. The current eligibility requirements state that applicants must not already have a Master’s degree.
What is the age limit?
Applicants must be 35 years old or younger at the time of application.
When does the application open?
The Expression of Interest opens on August 31, 2026.
What is the Expression of Interest deadline?
The deadline is September 6, 2026.
Can I apply directly to UBC?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars process comes first. Eligible applicants are invited to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and successful applicants are then invited to submit their UBC faculty application.
What programmes are available?
The current list includes selected Master’s programmes in Forestry, Land and Food Systems, and Science, including Master of Data Science.
💡 Important Tips for Applicants
- Start preparing your documents before August 31, 2026.
- Carefully check the academic requirements for your chosen programme.
- Choose a programme that matches your academic background and career goals.
- Prepare strong personal statements that clearly demonstrate your leadership and community impact.
- Choose referees who can provide strong and relevant recommendations.
- Make sure your transcripts are ready.
- Submit your Expression of Interest before September 6, 2026.
- Check your email regularly after submitting your expression of interest.
- If invited, complete the Mastercard Foundation application carefully.
- Do not miss the November 1–20, 2026 faculty application period.
- Use only the official UBC application channels.
- Do not wait until the final day to submit your application.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying when they already have a Master’s degree.
- Ignoring the 35-year age requirement.
- Applying for a programme that is not on the eligible list.
- Missing the September 6 Expression of Interest deadline.
- Submitting incomplete personal statements.
- Providing weak or inappropriate references.
- Uploading incomplete transcripts.
- Failing to demonstrate community leadership and service.
- Applying directly to a faculty before following the Mastercard Foundation process.
- Missing the November faculty application deadline after receiving an invitation.
- Using unofficial application websites.
- Assuming that meeting the academic requirements automatically guarantees selection.
🎯 Final Thoughts
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia is a major fully funded opportunity for talented young Africans seeking a Master’s degree in Canada.
The programme is especially suited to applicants who combine strong academic performance with leadership, community service and a clear vision for contributing to positive change in Africa.
If you are eligible, begin preparing now because the Expression of Interest opens August 31, 2026, and closes September 6, 2026.
🔗 Official Application
🔗 Official Application Link:
Apply Here – Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC📅 Application Deadline:
September 6, 2026 — Expression of Interest
Application Opens: August 31, 2026
Important: Applicants should always check the official UBC Mastercard Foundation Scholars website before applying because programme requirements, eligible programmes, timelines and application instructions can change.