Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia Scholars Program for Africans 2026

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is pleased to be partnering with The Mastercard Foundation to foster the next generation of African leaders. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC will provide academically talented young people from Africa with access to quality and relevant university education at UBC. After graduating, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars will then utilize their learning and experiences to contribute to the economic growth and social transformation of their communities in Africa.

• Table of Content
• About MasterCard Foundation
• Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia
• Aim and Benefits of Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia
• Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia Courses
• Requirements for Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About MasterCard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is an international non-governmental organization established by Mastercard in 2006. The organization, which is based in Toronto, Ontario, has supported work in 49 countries.In 2018, Mastercard Foundation shifted to a specific focus on Africa, through its Young Africa Works strategy. The foundation develops programs primarily focused on reducing gender and economic inequality, expanding access to quality education, increasing the opportunities for decent work, and supporting overall economic growth.Funding is primaril... continue reading

Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia

Aim and Benefits of Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia

• Tuition & Books
• Flights & Immigration support
• Room and Board
• Stipends for living expenses
• Health Insurance
• Career services & Support
• Access to a global Mastercard Foundation alumni network
• **Social Entrepreneurship Fund (Initiative for scholars who are enterprising and want to start a venture back on the continent)

Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia Courses

• Data Science
• Food Science
• Food and Resource Economics
• Geomatics for Environmental Management
• International Forestry
• Land and Water Systems
• Science
• Sustainable Forest Management

Requirements for Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia Qualification

To be eligible for consideration for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Masters’ Degree Program at UBC, the applicant must:

• 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.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Mastercard Foundation University of British Columbia

The selection process for applications is based on the following criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate that qualifies for admissions to the program of choice
• Track record as a transformative leader and service within their community.
• Quality of application in line with the Program theme.
• Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country.

Documents Required for Application

Your fully completed application should include (all in one application form online):

1. Complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Application Form. 
   Note: for the personal statements, succinctly answer each question.
2. Submit a CV/resume. 
3. Provide two reference letters on official letterhead. Attach these to the application. DO NOT email them 
4. Transcripts. 

Check also:
Tony Elumelu Foundation African Entrepreneurship Programme 2026

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Apply to the Mastercard Scholar online application. 

Once your Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application is complete, successful applicants will receive an email with instructions to submit an online application to UBC. Review the instructions for faculty applications

You may be eligible for a fee waiver if your citizenship and correspondence address is located in one of the world’s 50 least developed countries, according to the United Nations. Please visit this website to check which countries are on the list: If your country is not listed above, please request a fee waiver when you are submitting your Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application package. If you are invited to move to the Faculty Application step, we will provide instruction on how to use a fee waiver during the program application process.

For more details, visit UBC Mastercard Foundation Scholarship webpage