UBC Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027: Applications Open for African Students to Study at the University of British Columbia

Overview

The University of British Columbia Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is preparing to open applications for its Winter 2027 intake, which begins on August 31, 2026. It offers eligible young Africans the chance to study selected master's degrees at UBC's Vancouver campus. The programme looks beyond grades to leadership, community service and the likely contribution an applicant can make to the development of their home country. The application has several stages: identifying an eligible programme, submitting an expression of interest, completing the scholarship application if invited and then applying to the relevant UBC faculty.

Who can apply

Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree, must not hold a master's degree, must be 35 or younger (born in 1990 or later) and must be a citizen or refugee of an African country. They must apply to one of the eligible programmes and meet the minimum academic requirements of that UBC programme, which UBC publishes by country for international credentials. Meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee selection. Candidates whose bachelor's degree was not taught in English may need to submit TOEFL, IELTS or a similar approved test.

Requirements

Only certain programmes are covered. In the Faculty of Land and Food Systems they are the Master of Food and Resource Economics and the Master of Food Science. In the Faculty of Forestry they are the Master of Sustainable Forest Management, Master of International Forestry, Master of Urban Forestry Leadership, Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management and the thesis-based MSc or MASc in Forestry. In the Faculty of Science it is the Master of Data Science. Selection weighs academic merit, leadership, community service, the quality of the application, alignment with the programme theme and potential development impact.

Key dates

Applications for the Winter 2027 intake open on August 31, 2026. Applicants are advised to prepare documents before then.