On 1 September 2026, STEM Girls Connect hosted an Info Session for prospective applicants interested in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
The session gave prospective applicants an opportunity to hear directly from current Mastercard Foundation Scholars who have successfully navigated the application process and are now pursuing their studies at UBC.
Learning from Current Scholars
We were delighted to welcome three current Mastercard Foundation Scholars:
Akwanwi Relindis Fru, Cameroon | Master of International Forestry Abubakarr Barrie, Sierra Leone | Master of International Forestry Adewale Samuel Jokanola, Nigeria | Master of International Forestry
Drawing from their own experiences, the scholars walked participants through different stages of the application process and shared practical lessons they learned along the way.
The discussion covered:
Understanding the Expression of Interest (EOI) and the different application stages Eligibility and academic requirements Choosing and aligning with the right UBC program Preparing required documents Selecting referees and securing strong recommendation letters Leadership, volunteering and community engagement Demonstrating financial need English language proficiency requirements Professional and thesisbased master's programs Finding and approaching potential supervisors Maintaining consistency across essays, CVs, LinkedIn profiles and interviews Common application mistakes and practical ways to strengthen an application
Participants also had the opportunity to ask questions directly to the scholars during an extensive Q&A session.
We also appreciate Kehinde Yusuf, who joined the conversation and provided additional insights into what the application process looks like for applicants pursuing thesisbased programs, including the role of potential supervisors and how this pathway differs from professional master's programs.
Giving Back to the Community
We sincerely thank Akwanwi Relindis Fru, Abubakarr Barrie and Adewale Samuel Jokanola for generously sharing their time, experiences and practical advice.
A special thank you goes to Akwanwi Relindis Fru, one of our very own STEM Girls Connect members, whose initiative made this session possible.
We are especially grateful to see her continue to give back to the community, opening doors, sharing opportunities and helping others navigate paths she has walked herself.
Her contribution reflects the kind of community we hope to continue building at STEM Girls Connect: one where young people who access opportunities also help others discover and pursue them.
We also thank everyone who joined the session, asked questions and contributed to the conversation.
Watch the Session
Revisit the conversation and hear the guidance directly from the scholars who shared their experiences with our community.
We hope this session serves as a useful resource as you prepare and navigate your own application journey.