Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH University: Undergraduate Scholarships in Costa Rica

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH University supports young people from disadvantaged communities in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. It combines university education with mentoring, career preparation and opportunities to contribute to communities. Official scholarship information.

Located in Costa Rica, EARTH offers a four-year undergraduate degree in Agricultural Sciences. Its teaching combines scientific and technical knowledge with entrepreneurship, ethical leadership, and social and environmental responsibility. About the degree.

To be considered for a Mastercard Foundation scholarship, you must first apply to EARTH and meet the university’s admission requirements. Scholarship recipients must demonstrate financial circumstances that would otherwise prevent them from attending university. Scholarship application route.

Scholarship value

EARTH’s programme page describes support covering:

• Tuition and basic living expenses.
• Mentoring and academic tutoring.
• Leadership development.
• Career counselling.
• Internship and community service opportunities.

The page does not publish a fixed scholarship amount or cash stipend. Programme benefits.

EARTH also states that students awarded a full scholarship by the university do not have to pay the costs of its required Spanish programme. Spanish programme funding.

Number available

The official Mastercard Foundation programme page does not state how many scholarships are available for the next admission cycle. Its figures for enrolled scholars and graduates should not be interpreted as the number of new awards. Official programme information.

Eligibility criteria

You must satisfy EARTH’s admission requirements and demonstrate the financial need required for scholarship consideration.

EARTH’s admissions guidance states that:

• Applicants should preferably be between 17 and 30 years old. This is expressed as a preference, rather than an absolute age limit.
• Assessment considers your school performance, recommendations, interviews, aptitude tests and psychometric evaluation.
• There is no single published passing score that determines admission.

Review the official admissions FAQ for these conditions.

You should also be prepared to complete the university’s residential programme in Costa Rica. EARTH does not recognise or transfer credits from other institutions into its degree. University FAQ.

What you will study

EARTH’s undergraduate programme is Agricultural Sciences. It develops knowledge and practical skills in agriculture and natural-resource management, alongside entrepreneurship and community engagement.

The curriculum includes practical work, business projects, an internship and a graduation project. These activities form part of the university’s approach to learning through experience. Educational model.

Language of instruction

Classes are taught primarily in Spanish. Non-Spanish-speaking students must complete EARTH’s language preparation programme, which has two phases:

• August to mid-January: Intensive Spanish study and accommodation with a host family.
• Mid-January to August: Continued Spanish classes alongside regular degree studies.

The language programme therefore continues into the first year of the degree. Confirm your required arrival date and language arrangements with your admissions officer. Official Spanish programme information.

Documents to prepare

EARTH’s English application page requests:

• School transcripts covering your last three completed years of secondary education.
• A secondary-school diploma or certificate of completion.
• Three recommendation letters from people who are not relatives, using the university’s format.
• Relevant supporting certificates, awards or training records. English application requirements.

The Spanish admissions page gives different submission instructions: one PDF of up to 4 MB, three recommenders’ contact details, and an unlisted YouTube introduction video of no more than two minutes.

Follow the instructions EARTH sends for your application route. Confirm which document format and recommendation process applies to you before submitting. Spanish application requirements.

How to apply

1. Confirm your intake and scholarship deadline

Applicants from African countries can contact Karen Bermúdez, EARTH’s admissions officer for African applicants, at kbermudez@earth.ac.cr. General enquiries can be sent to admisiones@earth.ac.cr. Official admissions contacts.

2. Register through EARTH’s official admissions page

Complete the account-registration form. EARTH will email the access information needed to continue.

Registration alone is not your admission application. You must complete the official application that follows. Registration instructions — Spanish.

3. Complete and submit your application

Follow your emailed access instructions, provide the requested information and upload your documents.

If the access email does not arrive within two days, check your spam folder and contact admissions. Avoid creating another account, which can duplicate your information. Application instructions.

4. Complete the assessment stages

If selected to continue, follow EARTH’s instructions for the admissions tests, interviews and financial assessment.

Applying to EARTH is free. Scholarship consideration begins through the university’s admission process. Official university FAQ.

Application deadline

Confirmed year-specific deadline: Not established for the proposed 2027 application cycle.

The official pages currently show different schedules:

The Spanish page also says general admissions operate throughout the year. These schedules do not establish a universal 31 January 2027 scholarship deadline. Confirm the dates applicable to your application with EARTH. English schedule, Spanish schedule.

Selection process

EARTH reviews application materials before deciding who progresses to an academic aptitude test and psychometric assessment. Successful candidates then participate in group and individual interviews.

Financial-support assessment considers your family’s circumstances and may require supporting documents or a family meeting. A committee reviews the assessment results to determine admission and possible financial assistance. Official selection process.

An admission application does not guarantee a Mastercard Foundation scholarship. Ask EARTH to confirm the funding conditions attached to any offer you receive.

Official information and application

• Scholarship details: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at EARTH
• English admissions information: Application and scholarships
• Admissions registration and guidance — Spanish: Admisión y costos
• Admissions FAQ: Eligibility and assessment questions
• African applicants: kbermudez@earth.ac.cr
• General admissions: admisiones@earth.ac.cr