Fully funded: Canadian university offers master's scholarships for Kenyans
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Kenyans seeking to pursue further studies have a new opportunity to pursue a fully funded Master's degree in Canada
- The scholarship at the University of British Columbia covers tuition, flights, accommodation, living expenses, and health insurance
- TUKO.co.ke shares an in-depth look into the eligibility criteria, preferred age group, and the application procedure
Kenyan graduates with a passion for community leadership and a desire to study abroad have a new opportunity to pursue a fully funded Master's degree in Canada.
This comes after the University of British Columbia (UBC) floated openings for its Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program targeting the Winter 2027 intake.
What the Scholarship Covers
The programme supports academically strong young Africans who have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to positive change in their communities.
According to official data on the institution's website, expressions of interest open on August 31, 2026, with a submission deadline of September 6, 2026.
Successful scholars receive a package that goes well beyond tuition fees. UBC's programme covers books, flights, immigration support, room and board, living expense stipends and health insurance.
Scholars also gain access to career services and the global Mastercard Foundation alumni network. An additional Social Entrepreneurship Fund is available for those who want to launch ventures with measurable impact back in Africa.
To be eligible, applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree but not yet a Master's, be citizens or refugees of an African country, and be 35 years old or younger at the time of application, meaning they must have been born in 1990 or later.
Those whose undergraduate studies were not conducted in English may be required to meet UBC's language proficiency standards.
Selection goes beyond academic performance.
UBC will weigh each candidate's record of transformative leadership and community service, the strength and focus of the application, and the applicant's likely contribution to development in their home country after graduation.
Eligible Master's Programmes
The programme is projected to support 351 graduate students between 2024 and 2034, but not every Master's degree at UBC qualifies for the scholarship.
Eligible programmes span the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, covering the Master of Food and Resource Economics and the Master of Food Science.
The Faculty of Forestry offers several qualifying options, including the Master of Sustainable Forest Management, Master of International Forestry, Master of Urban Forestry Leadership, Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management, and thesis-based Forestry Master's programmes.
The Master of Data Science is also on the eligible list. Prospective applicants are strongly advised to use only official UBC and Mastercard Foundation channels.
Key Dates and Application Requirements
After the expression of interest closes on September 6, eligible candidates will be invited between September 15 and 30 to submit a full scholarship application.
Faculty applications follow between November 1 and 20, with possible interviews scheduled from December 2026 to January 2027.
Scholarship offers are expected between February and early March 2027, and successful scholars will arrive in Vancouver in August 2027 ahead of the Winter intake.
Applicants who advance to the scholarship stage will need a completed application form, a CV or résumé, two reference letters on official letterhead and academic transcripts.
The Mastercard Foundation has previously warned that it does not request payments from individuals, and applicants should treat any scheme demanding money for a placement as fraudulent.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.