About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
There is an important change compared with older versions of this scholarship.
UBC's current Mastercard Foundation partnership is focused on graduate-level study. The new 10-year partnership running from 2024–2034 is projected to support 351 graduate students across seven professional Master's programmes.
Therefore, websites advertising a 2027/2028 UBC Mastercard Foundation undergraduate scholarship should be treated cautiously. UBC's current programme information does not present a new undergraduate intake under the current phase.
📚 Participating Master's Programmes
The current programme focuses on selected professional Master's degrees, including:
Faculty of Forestry
Master of International Forestry (MIF)
Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM)
Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM)
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 (MDS)
UBC selected these programmes because of their connections to natural-resource management, entrepreneurship, sustainable development and workforce needs in Africa.
🌍 Who Is Eligible?
The programme is designed primarily for talented young people from Sub-Saharan Africa who have significant financial or other barriers to pursuing university education.
Applicants should demonstrate:
Strong academic achievement
Leadership potential
Commitment to improving their communities
A desire to contribute to Africa's development
Eligibility for the specific UBC Master's programme
Ability to satisfy UBC's academic admission requirements
The programme is particularly intended to support young people who otherwise face significant barriers to accessing quality higher education.
💰 What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides comprehensive support to selected scholars.
UBC describes the programme as providing holistic support that can include:
🎓 Financial support for the programme of study
🏠 Student well-being and support
📚 Academic support
🤝 Community engagement
👥 Leadership development
💼 Support for transition into meaningful and dignified employment
🌍 Connections to a wider Mastercard Foundation Scholars network
The exact financial package should be confirmed in the offer and current programme documentation rather than advertising an invented fixed dollar amount.
📝 How to Apply — Important
For the Winter 2027 intake, UBC's current instructions say applicants must apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program first.
The application opened on:
🟢 August 31, 2026
Applicants who are selected through the Mastercard Foundation process are then invited to apply to the relevant UBC graduate programme.
For example, UBC's Faculty of Forestry currently states that selected Mastercard Foundation applicants will be invited to submit their graduate applications and that complete graduate applications must be submitted by November 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
The Faculty of Land and Food Systems similarly confirms that Winter 2027 applications opened August 31 and that applicants must apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program first.
📅 Key Dates
Mastercard Foundation application opening:
August 31, 2026
Graduate application stage:
Selected candidates receive instructions to apply to their specific UBC programme.
Important: Deadlines can vary by participating faculty/programme. Applicants should follow the deadline communicated by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the relevant UBC faculty.
🇺🇬 Are Ugandans Eligible?
Yes, Ugandan students can be eligible in principle, because Uganda is a Sub-Saharan African country and the programme is designed to support talented young people from Sub-Saharan Africa.
However, eligibility is not automatic. Applicants must satisfy the programme's socioeconomic, academic, leadership and programme-specific requirements.
⭐ Why This Scholarship Is Excellent
The programme goes beyond tuition assistance. UBC describes a holistic model involving academic and social support, well-being, personal growth, leadership development and transition into meaningful employment.
It is particularly relevant for students interested in areas such as:
🌱 Environmental sustainability
🌲 Forestry
🌍 Natural-resource management
🛰️ Geomatics
🌾 Food systems
📊 Data Science
💼 Economics
💧 Land and water management
⚠️ Is It Fully Funded?
✅ It is a comprehensive scholarship programme.
However, I recommend avoiding a specific claim such as “100% fully funded + CAD $X” unless that amount is stated in the current scholarship offer.
UBC's current official material confirms comprehensive support but does not publish one universal dollar amount applicable to every scholar
How to apply