UBC Mastercard Scholarship 2027: Eligibility, Programmes and Timeline

Last verified: 20 October 2026. We checked these UBC Mastercard scholarship details against the official Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC website.

The UBC Mastercard scholarship is a fully funded Master’s award at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, for citizens and refugees of African countries. It covers tuition, books, flights, housing, living stipends and health insurance. However, the timing is the tricky part: for the Winter 2027 intake, the expression of interest window has already closed, while Round 2 runs in November 2026. This guide explains where the cycle stands, who qualifies and how to get ready.

UBC Mastercard scholarship at a glance

Who is eligible for the UBC Mastercard scholarship?

According to the programme, you must meet all of these conditions:

• You have completed a Bachelor’s degree and do not already hold a Master’s degree.
• You are aged 35 or younger when you apply.
• You are a citizen or refugee of an African country.
• You are applying to one of the eligible Master’s programmes below.
• You meet the programme’s minimum academic requirements under UBC’s country-by-country list.
• If your Bachelor’s degree was not taught in English, you take TOEFL or IELTS and send the results to UBC.

The programme also says it aims to reach young people, particularly women, refugees, internally displaced people and persons with disabilities. For that reason, it runs a separate Refugee and Displaced Persons Stream alongside the General Stream.

Eligible Master’s programmes

Importantly, you cannot use this scholarship for any UBC course. For the Winter 2027 intake, only these programmes qualify:

• Land and Food Systems: Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) and Master of Food Science (MFS).
• Forestry: 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.
• Science: Master of Data Science.

English tests and the GRE

You only need an English test if your Bachelor’s degree was not taught in English. In that case, UBC’s graduate school sets these minimum scores:

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in each section.
• TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026: 90 overall, with 22 in Reading and Listening and 21 in Writing and Speaking.
• TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026: the test now uses a 1 to 6 scale. UBC asks for 4.5 overall, with 5 in Listening, 4.5 in Reading and Writing, and 4 in Speaking.

Your scores must be less than 24 months old, and some programmes set higher minimums. The MFRE programme also accepts Duolingo with an overall score of 125.

There is good news on the GRE. Neither MFRE nor the Master of Data Science asks for it. For Food Science and the Forestry programmes, check the programme page, because we could not confirm their GRE rules.

The UBC Mastercard scholarship timeline

Next, here is the cycle for Winter 2027 entry, as published by the programme:

1. Expression of interest: first, from 31 August to 6 September 2026 (now closed).
2. Round 1, programme application: next, invitations to eligible applicants, 15 to 30 September 2026.
3. Round 2, faculty application: then, 1 to 20 November 2026. The programme says it will not consider late applications.
4. Round 3, interviews: after that, December 2026 to January 2027.
5. Offers: later, in February 2027.
6. Arrival: finally, August 2027 in Vancouver.

So if you missed the September window, you will need to wait for the next cycle. In the current cycle, the expression of interest opened on 31 August. If the next cycle follows a similar pattern, it would open around late August 2027, but the programme has not confirmed any dates yet.

How applicants are selected

The programme scores applicants on four things:

1. Academic merit. This is based on your transcripts and UBC’s minimum requirements for your country.
2. Leadership and community service. For example, volunteering, student leadership or work that helped your community.
3. Application quality. In other words, how clearly and honestly you answer each question.
4. Potential impact. This means how you plan to use your degree to benefit your home country or region.

The admissions page does not list a formal financial-need test or a work-experience rule. Even so, strong grades alone are rarely enough. A candidate with a solid record of community work and a clear plan often stands out. So, as you write, link each example to a real result, such as a project you led or a group you helped.

Worked example: preparing for the next cycle

To illustrate, imagine Akosua, a 27-year-old forestry graduate in Kumasi, finds out about the scholarship in October 2026. She has missed the Winter 2027 window. So she uses the next ten months to get ready:

• October to December: first, she checks Ghana’s requirements on UBC’s country list and confirms her grades qualify for the Master of International Forestry.
• January to March: next, she asks her former lecturer for a reference letter on official letterhead.
• April to June: then, she drafts answers about her goals for forest communities in Ghana.
• July: finally, she updates her CV and gathers her transcripts, ready for the expression of interest.

Because her degree was taught in English, she does not need TOEFL or IELTS. Still, she should confirm this with UBC.

How to apply for the UBC Mastercard scholarship

The Round 1 package is a single online form with four parts:

1. Application form. The programme asks you to answer each personal statement question concisely.
2. CV or resume. Keep it to your most relevant experience.
3. One reference letter. It must be on official letterhead and attached to your application, not emailed.
4. Transcripts. Include records for your whole Bachelor’s degree.

As for fees, applicants whose citizenship and correspondence address are in one of the UN’s least developed countries may qualify for a fee waiver. Others can request one with their Round 1 package. However, the programme warns that it cannot refund fees if you forget to apply the waiver.

For help with your statements, see our scholarship application guide. Once you get an offer, our Canada student visa requirements guide covers the next step.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing an ineligible programme. For instance, an offer for a Master of Engineering will not qualify, even with strong grades.
• Missing the 20 November cut-off. The programme says it will not consider late Round 2 applications.
• Emailing the reference letter. Instead, upload it with your application on official letterhead.
• Forgetting the fee waiver. UBC’s international application fee is CAD 168.25 and it is not refundable. So if you qualify for a waiver, apply it before you pay.
• Misreading the age rule. The page says 35 or younger and also “born in 1990 or after”. If you were born early in 1990, email the team to confirm before you apply.
• Using old test scores. English results older than 24 months will not count.

Frequently asked questions

Is the UBC Mastercard scholarship fully funded?

Yes. For example, the programme lists tuition and books, flights, room and board, living stipends and health insurance. It also offers career support and a Social Entrepreneurship Fund for scholars who start a venture in Africa.

Is there an undergraduate UBC Mastercard scholarship?

At the moment, the admissions page covers Master’s programmes only. For undergraduate funding in Canada, see our Lester B. Pearson Scholarship guide.

Can I apply for any UBC Master’s programme?

No. Only the listed Land and Food Systems, Forestry and Data Science programmes are eligible for the Winter 2027 intake.

Do I need IELTS for the UBC Mastercard scholarship?

Only if your Bachelor’s degree was not taught in English. In that case, UBC asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each part, or an equivalent TOEFL score.

Is there a financial need test?

The admissions page does not list a formal means test. Instead, it selects on academic merit, leadership and community service, application quality and potential impact.

Who do I contact with questions?

In that case, email the programme’s admissions team at scholars.admissions@ubc.ca or call 604 822 9803.

Official sources

• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC – Graduate Admissions
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC – Prospective Scholars
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC – Home
• UBC Graduate Studies – English proficiency requirements
• UBC Graduate Studies – Application fee

Scholarship terms change. Always confirm details on the official pages before you apply.