The University of British Columbia (UBC) is inviting applications from talented students from Sub-Saharan Africa for the 2027 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
The scholarship provides academically strong young people facing economic and other barriers with the opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree at UBC. Successful scholars will receive comprehensive financial support covering tuition, accommodation, living expenses, travel, study materials, and other educational costs.
Scholarship Summary
- Host: University of British Columbia (UBC)
- Host Country: Canada
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: Sub-Saharan African Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | Living Stipend | Travel Costs | Accommodation | Study Expenses | Laptop
- IELTS: Not Specified
- Application Opens: August 31, 2026
- Deadline: September 6, 2026
Scholarship Details
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia is part of a global initiative aimed at providing academically talented but economically disadvantaged young people with access to quality education.
UBC is one of the Canadian universities participating in The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The initiative provides scholars with financial, academic, social, and post-graduation support to help them succeed during their studies and beyond.
For the 2027 intake, the Master’s scholarship is available for selected programmes at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
Available Master’s Programs
Eligible applicants can apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in the following programmes:
- Faculty of Forestry
- Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM)
- Master of International Forestry (MIF)
- Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM)
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems
- Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
- Master of Food Science (MFS)
- Master of Land and Water Systems (MLWS)
- Faculty of Science
- Master of Data Science
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the UBC Mastercard Foundation Master’s Scholarship, applicants must:
- Have completed a Bachelor’s degree.
- Not already hold a graduate or PhD degree.
- Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application.
- Be a citizen or refugee of a Sub-Saharan African country.
- Have lived a significant portion of their life in a Sub-Saharan African country.
- Demonstrate economically disadvantaged financial circumstances.
- Have demonstrated academic excellence despite challenging circumstances.
- Demonstrate leadership qualities or leadership potential.
- Show a strong commitment to giving back to their home community.
- Require a Canadian study permit to study in Canada.
- Not have claimed or intend to claim asylum or protected person status after arriving in Canada.
- Commit to returning to Africa after completing the programme and using their skills and training to contribute to their communities.
- Apply for an eligible Master’s programme at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
Important: Canadian citizens and permanent residents are not eligible for this scholarship. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program only supports students admitted to the specified UBC programmes and cannot be transferred to another institution.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful scholars will receive comprehensive financial and personal support, including:
- Full tuition coverage.
- Accommodation.
- Living expenses and food.
- Travel costs.
- Textbooks and study materials.
- A working laptop.
- Financial support throughout the programme.
- Academic support.
- Social and community engagement opportunities.
- Post-graduation support.
- Opportunities to develop professional skills and experiences.
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form.
- Personal statements.
- CV or résumé detailing relevant education and work experience.
- Two reference letters.
- Unofficial academic transcripts.
- English translations of transcripts where applicable.
- Completed application checklist.
- Signed declaration.
Applicants will also be required to answer several personal statement questions, including:
- Tell us your story. Explain what is important to you and what reflects who you are. (200–300 words)
- Describe a recent and meaningful involvement in your community and explain your role in the activity. (200–300 words)
- Explain why you want to study at UBC and how your chosen programme will help you achieve your long-term career and personal goals. (200–300 words)
- Describe a significant obstacle or challenge you have overcome, how you responded to it, and what you learned from the experience. (200–300 words)
- Explain any additional information about your financial circumstances that should be considered for the scholarship. (200–300 words)
How to Apply
To apply for the 2027 UBC Mastercard Foundation Scholarship:
- Review the eligibility requirements and available Master’s programmes.
- Submit an Expression of Interest by September 6, 2026.
- Eligible applicants will be invited to submit a full Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application between September 15 and 30, 2026.
- Complete and submit the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application with all required documents.
- If selected, you will receive instructions by email to submit an online application to the relevant UBC Faculty.
- Apply to your chosen UBC Faculty between November 1 and 20, 2026.
- Late Faculty applications will not be considered.
- Applicants should note that they may qualify for an application fee waiver if their citizenship and correspondence address are located in one of the world’s 50 least developed countries.
- Kindly wait for feedback.
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