Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC 2027 in Canada | Fully Funded

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship supports eligible African citizens and refugees to apply for specified Master’s programs at the University of British Columbia; the focus is on selecting candidates with academic merit and leadership potential. Applications for the Winter 2027 intake open August 31, 2026, with an expression of interest deadline of September 6, 2026.

The scholarship is administered by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC (University of British Columbia). The program coordinates candidate selection, invitations to apply to the Scholars Program, and guidance for subsequent faculty applications to UBC.

Benefits of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

• Full coverage of tuition and mandatory academic fees.
• A regular stipend to cover living costs, room, and board (housing and food).
• Funding for required textbooks and academic supplies.
• Round-trip economy flights between your home country and Vancouver, plus coverage for immigration and study permit costs.
• Comprehensive health coverage for the duration of the program.
• UBC faculty application fee waivers or reimbursements for eligible candidates.
• Access to dedicated student wellbeing programs, career transition support, and eligible funding opportunities like the Social Entrepreneurship Fund.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Eligibility Criteria

• have completed a Bachelor’s degree;
• not already have a Master’s degree;
• be 35 years old or younger at the time of application (i.e. born in 1990 or after);
• be a citizen or a refugee of an African country;
• be applying for a Master’s degree in one of the eligible programs listed below;
• meet the minimum academic requirements of the program they are applying to.
• Consult the link below identifying the Minimum Academic Requirements/International Credentials for Graduate Students, listed by country to determine your academic eligibility for the degree program and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
• If your Bachelor’s degree was not taught in English, make arrangements to take an English Proficiency Exam (TOEFL or IELTS) and have the results sent to UBC. Please visit this website to confirm whether you meet UBC’s English requirement.

How to Apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?

1. DECIDE your Program(s) of Interest from the list of eligible programs.
2. Submit an expression of interest by September 6th, 2026 (General Stream link provided on the page).
3. Refugee and Displaced Persons Stream submit an expression of interest via the separate link provided.
4. Applicants who are eligible will be invited to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program by September 15th – 30th, 2026.
5. Complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Application Form including succinct personal statements.
6. Submit a CV/resume as part of the fully completed application.
7. Provide two reference letters on official letterhead and attach these to the application (do not email them).
8. Include official transcripts with your application.
9. If invited, apply to your UBC Faculty by November 1st – 20th, 2026 following the emailed instructions.
10. Request a fee waiver if eligible (citizenship and correspondence address in a listed least developed country) during the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. These answers cover eligibility, application timeline, required documents, eligible programs, and next steps to apply.