The University of British Columbia says applications for the Winter 2027 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program open from August 31, 2026, with the first Expression of Interest due by September 6, 2026. The opportunity is aimed at eligible citizens and refugees of African countries applying to a defined group of UBC master’s programs.
This is a multi-stage scholarship process, so applicants should not wait until the later university admission deadline to begin. The first step is the Expression of Interest, followed by an invitation-based scholarship application and then, for successful candidates, a UBC faculty application.
Important Dates and Eligibility
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| University | University of British Columbia, Vancouver |
| Intake | Winter 2027 |
| Applications open | August 31, 2026 |
| Expression of Interest deadline | September 6, 2026 |
| Round 1 invitation period | September 15-30, 2026 |
| Faculty application window for successful applicants | November 1-20, 2026 |
| Age requirement | 35 or younger at the time of application; UBC specifies born in 1990 or after |
| Citizenship/refugee requirement | Citizen or refugee of an African country |
| Prior education | Must have completed a bachelor’s degree and must not already have a master’s degree |
Who can apply?
UBC lists several core eligibility requirements for the master’s scholarship. An applicant 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, which UBC describes as being born in 1990 or after;
- be a citizen or a refugee of an African country;
- apply to one of the master’s programs specifically listed as eligible; and
- meet the minimum academic requirements of the chosen graduate program.
Meeting these minimum conditions does not guarantee selection. The scholarship has a competitive selection process, and the applicant must also meet UBC’s academic and, where applicable, English-language requirements.
Which UBC programs are eligible for Winter 2027?
UBC states that the scholarship is available only for the programs listed on the official application page.
Faculty of Land and Food Systems
- Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE)
- Master of Food Science (MFS)
Faculty of Forestry
- 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
- Master of Data Science
Applicants should not assume that every UBC master’s degree is covered. If your intended program is not on the official list, it is not part of this scholarship round unless UBC later updates the page.
What does the scholarship cover?
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC describes the award as comprehensive support. The program’s prospective-scholar information lists:
- tuition and books;
- flights and immigration support;
- room and board;
- stipends for living expenses;
- health insurance;
- career services and support;
- access to the global Mastercard Foundation alumni network; and
- access to a Social Entrepreneurship Fund initiative for scholars who want to start a venture on the African continent.
Applicants should rely on the current UBC offer and award documents for the exact support attached to their individual scholarship. Canadanship does not recommend estimating a cash value when UBC has not published one on the current application page.
Step 1: Submit the Expression of Interest by September 6
UBC’s first application step is an Expression of Interest. For the Winter 2027 intake, the deadline is September 6, 2026.
The university provides two separate streams:
- a general stream for interested candidates other than refugees; and
- a Refugee and Displaced Persons stream.
Applicants should use the links on UBC’s official scholarship page rather than third-party forms or copied application links. This is particularly important for scholarship applications because unofficial sites can publish outdated forms or deadlines.
Step 2: Scholarship application for invited candidates
UBC says eligible candidates will be invited to apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program between September 15 and September 30, 2026.
The scholarship selection process considers:
- academic merit sufficient for admission to the chosen program;
- a record of transformative leadership and service within the applicant’s community;
- the quality of the application in relation to the program theme; and
- the applicant’s potential impact on the development of their home country.
This makes it clear that the scholarship is not based on grades alone. Applicants should be ready to explain leadership, community impact and how the graduate degree relates to future contribution.
Documents required in the scholarship application
For invited applicants, UBC lists the following core items for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application:
- the completed scholarship application form;
- a CV or resume;
- two reference letters on official letterhead; and
- transcripts.
UBC specifically tells applicants to attach the reference letters to the application rather than emailing them separately. Applicants should follow the instructions in the invitation they receive because application systems can change.
Step 3: Apply to the UBC faculty
Successful scholarship applicants are then invited to submit the university faculty application. UBC lists the faculty application window as November 1 to November 20, 2026 and says late applications will not be considered.
This is an important sequence. The September Expression of Interest does not replace the formal UBC graduate application. It is the first stage of a scholarship process that can lead to an invitation to apply to the faculty later.
Can applicants get a UBC application fee waiver?
UBC says candidates may be eligible for a fee waiver if both their citizenship and correspondence address are in one of the United Nations’ 50 least developed countries. It also says applicants from other countries can request a fee waiver when submitting the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program package.
UBC warns that if an applicant submits the faculty application without applying the fee waiver when instructed, the university cannot provide a refund. Applicants who reach this stage should therefore read the scholarship team’s instructions before paying.
Academic requirements still matter
Scholarship eligibility and graduate-program admission are connected but not identical. An applicant must still meet the minimum academic requirements for the degree they choose.
UBC publishes country-specific minimum academic requirements for international credentials. Applicants should check the country where they completed their degree rather than relying on a general GPA conversion found on an unofficial website.
If a bachelor’s degree was not taught in English, UBC’s scholarship page tells applicants to arrange an English proficiency test such as TOEFL or IELTS and check the university’s current English-language requirements.
Why applicants should start before August 31
Even though the Expression of Interest opens August 31, applicants can prepare earlier. The gap between opening and the September 6 EOI deadline is short.
Before the form opens, a candidate can:
- confirm that the intended master’s program is on the eligible list;
- check country-specific UBC academic requirements;
- review the English-language requirement if applicable;
- update a CV with education, leadership, employment and community service;
- identify potential referees for the later scholarship stage; and
- review the official program information so their goals align with the scholarship’s focus.
What happens after the faculty application?
UBC’s timeline indicates that successful candidates move through further stages, including interviews. The program says selected scholars receive offers during the winter period, with scholars later welcomed to Vancouver ahead of their studies.
Applicants should treat the dates in their direct UBC correspondence as controlling if there is any difference between an email invitation and a general website timeline.
How this fits into your Canada study plan
A scholarship application should be one part of a wider study plan. Candidates should also research the academic program, career relevance, admission requirements and immigration steps. Canadanship’s Study section covers broader education planning, while International Students covers study-permit and student-rule changes.
More funding opportunities are organized in the Scholarships section.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for the November faculty deadline and missing the September Expression of Interest.
- Applying for a master’s program that is not on UBC’s eligible scholarship list.
- Assuming African citizenship alone guarantees eligibility.
- Ignoring the requirement that applicants must not already have a master’s degree.
- Submitting references in a format different from UBC’s instructions.
- Using a third-party application link instead of the official UBC scholarship page.
- Assuming the scholarship removes normal graduate admission requirements.
Official sources
| Source | What it confirms |
|---|---|
| UBC Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Graduate Admissions | Winter 2027 opening date, September 6 EOI deadline, eligibility, eligible master’s programs, application rounds and documents. |
| UBC Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: Prospective Scholars | Scholarship coverage, support model and application timeline. |
| UBC Graduate Studies: Minimum academic requirements by country | Official country-specific academic credential requirements for graduate admission. |
Scholarship details checked on August 25, 2026. Applicants should verify the official UBC page before submitting because scholarship dates and instructions can be updated.