Deadline: Feb 12, 2027 Eligibility: Undergraduate

Fully Funded Scholarship at EARTH University, Costa Rica: Requirements and Application Steps

Mastercard Foundation Full Scholarship at EARTH University: How to Apply

If you’re from Rwanda or another African country and you’ve been wondering how to study abroad without your family carrying the cost, this one’s worth a look. EARTH University in Costa Rica has opened applications, and students who need financial help can apply for the Mastercard Foundation Full Scholarship. The degree is a four-year Bachelor’s program in Agricultural Sciences.

What this scholarship is about

EARTH University works with the Mastercard Foundation to support talented young people from disadvantaged communities in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The partnership started in 2011. The idea is simple: help students get an education, then send them back home as leaders who can improve farming, food systems and their communities.

What you could get (Scholarship benefits)

Depending on the award, the scholarship may cover:

Full tuition
Accommodation
Meals
Medical insurance
Student services
Mentorship and leadership training
Career counselling and internships
Service-learning and community engagement support

The program Available

EARTH offers one main undergraduate degree, a four-year Bachelor’s in Agricultural Sciences. It isn’t all lectures. You’ll learn about sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, leadership and protecting the environment, and a lot of it is hands-on.

Who can apply (Eligibility creteria)

For admission, you should:

Preferably be between 17 and 30 years old
Have three recommendation letters from people who know your academics, skills or character (family members don’t count)
Submit transcripts for your last three years of secondary school
Have a high school diploma or a certificate showing you finished secondary school
Be ready for admission exams, interviews and psychometric tests
Show real potential and a commitment to sustainability and community development

There’s no fixed minimum grade. They look at the whole picture: your records, your recommendations, your interviews and exam results.

For the Mastercard Foundation scholarship itself, you also need to:

Meet the admission requirements and finish the admission process with a strong overall result
Show that your family can’t afford higher education without help
Complete the socioeconomic evaluation when they ask for it
Show that you can become a leader who brings positive social and environmental change

Documents to prepare

Three recommendation letters from non-family members, using the university’s format
Secondary school transcripts for your last three completed years
High school diploma or result slip
Supporting documents, like certificates, awards, language qualifications, training certificates or proof of special achievements

The full document list and forms come after you register an account, so don’t panic if something’s not clear yet.

How to apply

Start by applying for admission to EARTH University. The scholarship comes through that same process.

First, create an account using the application link in the official announcement. After you submit the registration form, you should get an email with login details, the admission process, required documents and forms.

Next, log in and complete the admission application. Upload your recommendation letters, transcripts, diploma and supporting certificates. Somewhere in the application you’ll find the financial aid sections. Fill them in and say clearly that you need financial support and you’re interested in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

If you move forward, you may be invited to take admission exams and psychometric tests, and to attend interviews. You’ll also go through a socioeconomic evaluation, where the university looks at your family’s situation to decide what, if anything, they can contribute.

Deadline and timeline

Applications are open from October 15 to January 31. Here’s how the rest of the year looks:

October 15 to January 31: Applications are received
February 1 to March 15: Profiles are reviewed and socioeconomic forms are collected
April: Admission exams and interviews
June: Admission decisions and migration procedures

One thing to keep in mind

Getting admitted doesn’t automatically mean you get the scholarship. You have to meet both the admission requirements and the financial aid selection criteria. So get your documents ready early, and don’t wait for the last week of January.

Want to prepare for the leadership side?

EARTH looks hard at character and leadership, and interviews can get into how you deal with people and pressure. If you want to understand how power and influence work, you can get The 48 Laws of Power here: Down load this book