EARTH University in Costa Rica — one of the world's leading hands-on agriculture universities — partners with the Mastercard Foundation to give full scholarships to talented young people from disadvantaged communities in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Scholars earn a 4-year degree in Agricultural Sciences with mentoring, internships and leadership training built in, and most graduates return home to work on food systems and rural livelihoods.
Why it is notable: it is the only Mastercard Foundation Scholars undergraduate programme based in Latin America — and one of the few fully-funded agriculture degrees in the world that reserves most of its places for Latin American and Caribbean students.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Tuition and basic living expenses for the 4-year degree.
Mentoring, leadership training, tutoring, internship opportunities, service-learning and career counselling.
(Third-party guides also list: accommodation, meals, laptop, books, medical insurance, transport to/from home, stipend — confirm the full package with EARTH admissions before publishing these items.)
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
High school diplomafor Bachelor's
This scholarship is offered for the 4-year Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences at EARTH University — applicants must be graduating high-school students meeting EARTH's admission criteria.
Who can apply
young people from disadvantaged communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (approximately two-thirds of scholars come from Latin America and the Caribbean).
Experience
No experience required — selection weighs academic excellence, leadership potential and extracurricular involvement.
Language Certificate
country-specific English requirements may apply (per third-party guides); IELTS not required as a blanket rule — confirm with EARTH admissions.
Other Certificates
high-school transcripts (last 3 years), high-school diploma, three recommendation letters (per third-party guides; confirm on the admissions portal).
Age Limit
No Age Limit
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not published on official pages — confirm before publishing
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: Costa Rica student visa (visa de estudiante) — applied for at the Costa Rican consulate in the student's home country after admission.
Application Procedure
10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Confirm the 2027 admissions deadline with EARTH
admissions (the commonly cited 31 January 2027 deadline is UNVERIFIED — see top of file).
→
02
Apply for undergraduate admission to EARTH University
through its online admissions portal (this is the FIRST and only application step — there is no separate scholarship form).
Is there a separate scholarship application? A: No — the first step is to apply to EARTH; eligible candidates are automatically considered.Who is eligible? A: Young people from disadvantaged communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean who meet EARTH's admission criteria and demonstrate financial need.What does the scholarship cover? A: Tuition and basic living expenses, plus mentoring, leadership training, internships and career counselling.How many scholars are there? A: 315 have graduated since 2015; 81 are currently studying; they represent 42 countries.What is the gender balance? A: 65% female, 35% male to date.What degree do scholars earn? A: A 4-year degree in Agricultural Sciences.Do scholars return home? A: Most graduates return to their home countries to work on food systems and rural livelihoods.What is the application deadline? A: UNVERIFIED — reported as 31 January 2027 on third-party sites; confirm on EARTH's official admissions portal.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Costa Rica · EARTH University , in partnership with the…
