The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is opening applications for its Winter 2027 intake, providing an opportunity for eligible African students and refugees to pursue selected master’s degree programmes in Canada.
Applications for the Winter 2027 intake will open on August 31, 2026. The programme is designed to support academically talented young people who demonstrate leadership, community service and the potential to contribute to the development of their home countries.
Applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements, eligible programmes and multi-stage application process before submitting an expression of interest.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Master’s Degree Program at UBC, applicants must meet several requirements.
Eligible candidates 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 applicants must have been born in 1990 or later.
• Be a citizen or refugee of an African country.
• Apply for one of the specifically eligible master’s programmes covered by the scholarship.
• Meet the minimum academic admission requirements for their selected UBC programme.
Applicants are also expected to verify the minimum academic requirements and international credential requirements applicable to their country and intended degree programme.
Candidates whose Bachelor’s degree was not taught in English may need to provide evidence of English proficiency through an approved examination such as TOEFL or IELTS, depending on UBC’s applicable requirements.
Eligible Master’s Degree Programmes
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC is available only for specific programmes. Applicants must therefore select a degree from the approved list.
Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Eligible programmes include:
• Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
• Master of Food Science (MFS)
Faculty of Forestry
Applicants can apply for:
• 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
The eligible programme under the Faculty of Science is the:
• Master of Data Science
Applicants should note that programmes outside this approved list are not covered by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC.
Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest
The first stage requires interested candidates to submit an expression of interest by September 6, 2026.
There are two application streams.
The General Stream is intended for interested candidates who are not refugees.
The Refugee and Displaced Persons Stream is specifically for refugee and displaced applicants.
Applicants should select the stream that corresponds to their circumstances and submit the appropriate expression of interest before the deadline.
Step 2: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Application
Applicants who meet the initial eligibility requirements may be invited to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program between September 15 and September 30, 2026.
Selection will consider several factors, including:
• Academic merit and eligibility for admission to the selected programme.
• Evidence of transformative leadership and meaningful community service.
• The quality and relevance of the application in relation to the programme theme.
• The potential contribution the applicant could make to the development of their home country.
The completed scholarship application is expected to include a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form, concise personal statements, a CV or resume, two reference letters on official letterhead and academic transcripts.
Reference letters should be uploaded with the application and should not be emailed separately.
Step 3: Apply to the UBC Faculty
Successful scholarship applicants will subsequently receive instructions to submit an online application to their selected UBC faculty.
The faculty application period is scheduled for November 1–20, 2026. Late applications will not be considered.
Applicants should follow the faculty-specific application instructions provided by UBC after successfully completing the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application.
Eligible candidates may qualify for an application fee waiver. Applicants whose citizenship and correspondence address are in one of the United Nations’ 50 least developed countries may be eligible under UBC’s fee-waiver provisions.
Candidates from other countries may request a fee waiver during the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application process. Applicants should follow UBC’s instructions carefully because submitting an application without requesting an applicable fee waiver may result in the applicant being unable to receive a refund.
Application Timeline
The programme follows a multi-stage selection process extending from August 2026 into the following year.
• August 31, 2026: Applications open.
• September 6, 2026: Expression of interest deadline.
• September 15–30, 2026: Invited candidates submit Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program applications.
• November 1–20, 2026: Successful candidates apply to their selected UBC faculties.
• December 2026–January 2027: Successful candidates may be contacted for interviews.
• February 2027: Selected Scholars receive offers for the Winter term.
• August 2027: Scholars are welcomed in Vancouver for the Winter term.
Who Should Apply?
The opportunity is particularly suited to African graduates who have demonstrated strong academic performance, leadership potential and a commitment to community development.
Candidates should also have a clear interest in one of the eligible fields, including food and resource economics, food science, forestry, sustainable forest management, international forestry, urban forestry, environmental geomatics or data science.
Applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their academic transcripts, CV, references and personal statements ahead of the opening date.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should review the eligibility criteria and eligible programmes before submitting an expression of interest. The expression of interest deadline is September 6, 2026, while invited candidates will proceed to the next stage between September 15 and September 30.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC offers eligible African students and refugees an opportunity to pursue selected master’s degrees while developing their academic, leadership and community-impact potential in Canada.
