A Ghanaian graduate, Amamata Tanko, has secured a fully funded scholarship from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) to pursue a master’s degree in Canada. Tanko, who graduated with a First Class degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development in 2022, will study the Master of International Forestry programme at UBC.
Her scholarship success came after she submitted only one master’s application in 2025, following a period in which she faced several unsuccessful applications and doubts about her decision to pursue postgraduate studies outside her previous academic environment.
Amamata Tanko Graduated With First Class in Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Tanko completed her undergraduate studies in Climate Change and Sustainable Development in 2022. After graduation, she worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Ghana.
Her academic background gave her experience in climate and environmental issues before she decided to pursue a master’s degree in another country.
According to her account, there were expectations that she would remain within her department and continue her postgraduate education there. However, she decided to pursue a different academic direction.
She Submitted Only One Master’s Application in 2025
One of the most notable parts of Tanko’s scholarship story is the number of applications she submitted. Rather than applying to numerous master’s programmes, she submitted one application in 2025.
Her journey was not immediately successful. She described receiving multiple rejection emails and dealing with doubts while waiting for the opportunity that eventually led to her admission and scholarship.
Her experience shows that the number of applications alone does not determine whether a student will eventually secure a scholarship.
For highly competitive scholarships, the quality of the application, academic preparation, programme fit, leadership potential and the applicant’s broader profile can be more important than simply submitting a large number of applications.
The Breakthrough Came Through UBC’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Tanko was eventually selected by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC. The award will support her studies in the Master of International Forestry programme.
She announced the achievement publicly in August 2026, expressing gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation and UBC for believing in her potential.
She also said she intends to make the most of the opportunity and give back to her community after benefiting from the programme.
Her Master’s Programme Focuses on International Forestry
Tanko’s new programme is the Master of International Forestry at the University of British Columbia. The programme provides a strong connection between her previous academic background in climate change and sustainable development and advanced study in forestry and environmental issues.
Forestry is closely connected to climate change, biodiversity, land management, conservation, natural-resource governance and sustainable development.
This makes her academic progression particularly relevant to broader environmental and development challenges facing Ghana and other African countries.
Her Climate Background Strengthened Her Academic Profile
Tanko’s undergraduate degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development gave her a foundation in an area that increasingly intersects with international development and environmental policy.
Her subsequent experience as a teaching assistant in atmospheric and climate science also provided academic and professional exposure before she applied for postgraduate study.
As an inspiration for scholarship applicants, her academic progression demonstrates the value of developing a coherent academic and professional profile.
A strong application does not necessarily require applicants to have studied exactly the same programme at every level. However, applicants should be able to clearly explain how their previous education, experience and future goals connect with the programme they want to pursue.
UBC Provides the Canadian Destination for Her Scholarship Journey
The University of British Columbia is the Canadian institution where Tanko will undertake her master’s programme. UBC is a major Canadian research university with campuses in Vancouver and the Okanagan and offers graduate programmes across numerous academic disciplines.
Now, for Tanko, the university provides an opportunity to continue her environmental and climate-related academic development in an international research environment.
Her LinkedIn profile confirms that she began her UBC education in 2026.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Is Supporting an African Scholar
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is designed to provide educational opportunities to talented young people, particularly students from Africa, while developing a network of scholars committed to positive social and economic impact.
Tanko’s award is an example of how the programme can provide an opportunity for an African graduate to pursue advanced education in another country.
Her selection also demonstrates that applicants from Ghana and other African countries can compete for highly selective international postgraduate opportunities when they meet the programme’s requirements and present strong applications.
Tanko’s Story Includes Several Rejections Before the Scholarship
Before receiving the UBC scholarship, Tanko said she experienced several rejection emails. The setbacks came during a period when she was also dealing with uncertainty about her academic direction.
Instead of abandoning her plans, she eventually submitted her UBC application in 2025. Her story therefore highlights an important part of international scholarship applications that is often absent from scholarship announcements: successful applicants can experience unsuccessful applications before receiving an award.
A rejection does not necessarily mean an applicant lacks the academic ability to win a scholarship. It can reflect the competitiveness of a particular programme, the number of applicants, available funding or how closely an applicant’s profile matches the selection priorities of that particular year.
Her Teaching Experience Added to Her Postgraduate Journey
Before moving to Canada, Tanko served as a Teaching Assistant at UENR. Academic and professional experience can be valuable when applying for postgraduate scholarships because it can demonstrate a candidate’s ability to work in an academic environment and contribute beyond classroom learning.
In Tanko’s case, her teaching experience followed an undergraduate degree focused on climate and sustainable development, giving her an academic trajectory that connects naturally with environmental and forestry-related postgraduate study.
The Scholarship Comes After a Major Academic Transition
Tanko’s journey moved through several stages:
| Stage | Academic/Professional Development |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Graduated with First Class in Climate Change and Sustainable Development |
| After graduation | Served as Teaching Assistant in Atmospheric and Climate Science |
| 2025 | Submitted her master’s application |
| 2026 | Received Mastercard Foundation scholarship |
| 2026–2027 | Begins Master of International Forestry at UBC |
Her journey demonstrates how academic achievements can become stepping stones toward international postgraduate opportunities when combined with relevant experience and a clearly defined academic direction.
The Scholarship Is More Than an Academic Award
For Tanko, the scholarship represents an opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and international experience. She has also indicated that she hopes to give back to her community after benefiting from the programme.
That element is important because the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program places considerable emphasis on scholars using their education and networks to contribute to their communities and wider societies. The objective of such programmes therefore extends beyond helping an individual obtain a foreign degree. There are 21 Partner Universities Offering Mastercard Foundation Fully Funded Scholarships for African Students and you can try it out too.
Tanko Acknowledged the People Who Supported Her
In announcing the scholarship, Tanko thanked several people who supported her journey. Among those she mentioned were her husband, Seedorf Nana Darko, her family, her boss and supervisor Caleb Mensah, and Ing. Jeff Dacosta Osei.
She credited their encouragement, guidance and support during her academic journey.
Her Scholarship Story Is Relevant to Other African Applicants
Tanko’s experience is particularly relevant to African graduates planning to pursue postgraduate education abroad. Her academic background was closely connected to her eventual field of study, and she had already gained teaching experience before applying. However, her story also shows that even academically strong candidates may encounter rejection.
The key lesson for prospective applicants is not simply to copy the fact that she submitted one application. Instead, applicants should understand the academic preparation, relevant experience, programme fit and personal persistence that supported her application.
Submitting only one application worked for Tanko, but it should not be interpreted as evidence that applicants generally need only one scholarship application.
A First Class Degree Can Strengthen a Scholarship Application
Tanko’s First Class undergraduate result is an important part of her academic profile. However, a First Class degree does not automatically guarantee a scholarship.
Highly competitive international awards can assess several areas, including academic performance, leadership, community engagement, professional experience, career objectives, references and the applicant’s potential contribution to society.
Applicants with lower grades can also find scholarships where the selection criteria place greater emphasis on other factors.
The strongest approach is therefore to identify scholarships whose eligibility requirements and selection priorities genuinely match the applicant’s profile.
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The Scholarship Connects Climate Change With Forestry
Tanko’s academic journey also demonstrates how related fields can complement one another. Her undergraduate degree focused on climate change and sustainable development, while her master’s programme will focus on international forestry.
The connection between these fields includes issues such as:
- Climate adaptation
- Forest conservation
- Sustainable land management
- Biodiversity
- Carbon storage
- Natural-resource governance
- Environmental policy
- Community development
- Sustainable development
This academic pathway could position her to work at the intersection of environmental management, climate policy and sustainable development.
The Opportunity Does Not Mean Every Applicant Can Apply Directly to UBC Through the Same Route
Tanko’s scholarship should not be presented as a general scholarship automatically available to every Ghanaian or African student.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program operates through participating institutions and specific programme arrangements.
Applicants need to check the current UBC scholarship and admissions information to determine which programmes and applicant categories are open in a particular cycle.
The existence of Tanko’s award does not mean that every master’s programme at UBC is automatically covered by the Mastercard Foundation.
Tanko’s Success Offers a Practical Lesson for Future Applicants
The strongest lesson from her story is the importance of building a profile before the application stage.
Her record included a First Class undergraduate degree, climate-related academic training and teaching experience.
She also applied for a programme that connects with her previous academic background and professional interests.
For future applicants, this suggests several areas worth developing:
- Maintain strong academic performance.
- Gain relevant professional, research or community experience.
- Choose postgraduate programmes that fit your academic and career direction.
- Develop a clear explanation of your future goals.
- Prepare strong recommendation letters.
- Tailor each scholarship application to the programme.
- Continue applying after rejection.
- Research the scholarship’s actual selection criteria instead of relying only on previous winners.
The Story Also Shows Why Rejection Should Not End the Process
Tanko’s experience included unsuccessful applications before her eventual scholarship. This is common among international scholarship applicants because many awards receive applications from candidates with excellent academic records.
A rejection can therefore be part of the application process rather than evidence that a candidate should stop pursuing international education.
Applicants can use unsuccessful applications to improve their personal statements, research proposals, programme selection, references and overall presentation.
Ghanaian Graduate Begins a New Academic Chapter in Canada
Tanko’s scholarship success marks the beginning of a new stage in her academic career.
After completing her undergraduate degree and gaining experience as a teaching assistant, she is now moving to Canada for advanced study in international forestry.
Her journey from a climate-focused undergraduate programme in Ghana to a funded master’s programme at UBC illustrates how international scholarships can connect African graduates with advanced education and research opportunities abroad.
Her stated intention to give back to her community also reflects the broader expectation that scholarship recipients can use their education and international networks to create impact beyond themselves.
Conclusion
Amamata Tanko, a Ghanaian First Class graduate of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, has secured a fully funded Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program award to study Master of International Forestry at the University of British Columbia in Canada. There’s a new Call for Application for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh: Fully Funded On-Campus and Online Scholarships.
Her journey included graduating in 2022, working as a Teaching Assistant in atmospheric and climate science, facing multiple unsuccessful applications and eventually submitting one master’s application in 2025.
That application led to her selection for the UBC Mastercard Foundation scholarship. Make your own decision from the current UBC’s Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program 2027/2028. Check your Eligibility, Benefits, Eligible Programs and How to Apply.
Her story provides encouragement for African graduates pursuing international scholarships, while also showing that successful applications are usually built on academic preparation, relevant experience, a clear academic direction and persistence.
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For students hoping to follow a similar path, the most useful takeaway is not simply that Tanko applied once and succeeded. It is that she developed a strong academic and professional profile and continued pursuing her postgraduate goals despite earlier setbacks.
A Travel Consultant dedicated to helping students, job seekers, and professionals discover life-changing opportunities around the world. He holds a Diploma in Human Resource Management, Project Management & Ticketing, Degree in Microbiology, and Master’s in Public Health.