Tuition & Funding

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a 10-year global initiative to educate and develop next-generation leaders who will contribute to social and economic progress. The Program enables young people from economically disadvantaged communities to complete quality secondary and tertiary education, and make successful transitions to further education, or to the workforce in their home countries. Through comprehensive support, Scholars receive learning opportunities that equip them with knowledge, skills, and values needed to succeed in the economy, and make positive impacts in their communities.

Scholars in the Program are primarily from Africa. In recent years, the continent has experienced unprecedented economic progress and political resurgence. More than 60 percent of its population is under the age of 25, making it the youngest continent. Yet, Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the lowest enrollment rates in secondary and tertiary education.

The Program will educate an estimated 15,000 young people from economically disadvantaged communities. This network of next-generation leaders – unified by a common philosophy of change and ethical leadership – will drive social and economic transformation in their communities.

UBC is pleased to join the Mastercard Foundation in achieving their vision.

To apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, please visit this webpage.  

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Application deadline is December 1, 2023.

If selected by Mastercard Foundation Office to apply to UBC, the deadline to apply for MGEM is January 11, 2024 (with a complete application).

In-depth information about needs-based funding such as loans, bursaries, and other types of financial aid is available from the UBC Student Services office. MGEM students may apply for UBC bursaries, but must be in receipt of full Canadian Government student loan funding and have “unmet need” after their loan funding as determined in their loan assessment. UBC bursaries are non-repayable awards. They are designed to help fill an unmet need, the gap between your assessed financial need, and available government assistance. Refer to the UBC Student Services Awards Scholarships and Bursaries website for complete details.

Four scholarships totalling approximately $11,000 are available each year to outstanding graduate students in the Faculty of Forestry enrolled in one of the Faculty’s Professional Master’s degree programs (MIF, MSFM, MGEM, MUFL). A scholarship is awarded to one student in each program with high academic standing (minimum 85% overall average at the end of Fall Term) and also demonstrating exceptional engagement and leadership within their cohort. No application is required; recipients are notified in mid-January each year.

Deadline: None

The Course-based Master’s (CBM) Graduate Student Professional Development Fund provides funding support for students enrolled in MF, MIF, MGEM, MSFM or MUFL program to participate in person or virtual professional development (workshop, course or conference) directly related to their area of study. It cannot be used toward internship expenses or student workshops. CBM graduate students are eligible to use the fund once during their degree (one activity) to a maximum of $600 per student. Funding is limited each year and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants. See the application form for complete eligibility details and procedure and payment information.

Two scholarships totaling $5,000 are available each year to the best overall graduating students in the MGEM program. The award recipients will be exemplary scholars and citizens who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and teamwork skills during their studies and show exceptional career promise in the field of Geomatics. No application is required; recipients will be notified in May each year.

The Faculty of Forestry makes available annual funds for two scholarships, up to $10,000 each, for Indigenous students entering any of UBC Forestry’s Master’s programs or PhD program. All Aboriginal students are eligible to apply but priority is given to those whose traditional territory falls, at least in part, within Canada. This includes Canadian First Nations (Status and non-Status), Métis or Inuit students, and may include Aboriginal students from Alaska and the northern states of the USA. Scholarship applicants must be starting their first Master’s or PhD program at UBC Forestry and have a confirmed Offer of Admission for the coming academic year. If in any given year there are no eligible incoming students, UBC Forestry reserves the right to open the competition to a continuing Indigenous graduate student(s) in good academic standing. Assessment is made through a review of the student’s program application file, as well as a Statement of Interest document for the scholarship. Full application instructions and deadlines are sent to incoming students in early July each year, and the recipient will be selected and notified by the end of August.

The University of British Columbia offers multi-year fellowships to master and doctoral Indigenous students. Award winners are selected on the basis of academic merit through an annual competition administered by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Each fellowship provides a stipend of $18,200 per year for doctoral students or a stipend of $16,175 per year for Master’s students. Please note that the Indigenous Graduate Fellowship was known as the Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship until 2023.

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