Applications will soon open for the McGill University Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 for talented African students who want to study for a master’s degree in Canada.
The scholarship supports gifted leaders and changemakers from Africa who are committed to improving their communities and contributing to development across the continent.
At McGill University, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program focuses on areas such as nutrition, public health, public policy and sustainable agriculture. The programme is designed to support students who have strong academic ability, leadership experience and a clear desire to give back to their home communities.
Scholarship Benefits
The McGill University Mastercard Foundation Scholarship is a comprehensive award that covers the major costs of studying at McGill University in Canada.
Successful applicants will receive support covering:
- Full international student tuition
- Pre-arrival and immigration support
- On-campus housing
- Personal monthly stipend for food, transport and personal expenses
- Academic tools and resources, including book allowance, laptop and tutoring support
- Leadership and professional development support
- Post-graduation transition support, including return flight and related expenses
The programme also provides mentorship, career support, leadership training and other opportunities to help scholars grow academically and professionally.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the McGill University Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be academically qualified for admission to McGill University
- Be admissible to one of the eligible graduate programmes at McGill
- Be a citizen of and currently live in an African country
- Have never registered for or completed a master’s degree
- Have a valid passport
- Be admissible to Canada as an international student requiring a study permit
- Have a strong record of service, leadership and community involvement
- Show a desire to give back to their home community
- Demonstrate that financial barriers have limited or restricted their educational opportunities
- Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application
Applicants with dual citizenship, asylee, refugee or permanent resident status in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom or the European Union are not eligible.
Priority will be given to women, people affected by forced displacement, people living with disabilities and applicants who have faced major barriers to education.
Applicants with First Class Honours or an equivalent academic record have a stronger chance of admission to McGill University.
Eligible Countries
The scholarship is open to citizens and residents of countries across the African continent, including Nigeria.
Other eligible countries include Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe and many others.
Applicants should check the official eligibility page for the full list of eligible African countries.
Eligible Programmes
Applicants must apply to one of the eligible master’s programmes under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill University.
Eligible non-thesis programmes include:
- Animal Science: Sustainable Agriculture
- Bioresource Engineering: Environmental Engineering
- Bioresource Engineering: Integrated Food and Bioprocessing
- Bioresource Engineering: Integrated Water Resource Management
- Biostatistics
- Biotechnology
- Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry: Food Science
- Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry: Food Safety
- Human Nutrition: Project
- Public Health
- Public Policy
Eligible thesis programmes include:
- Animal Science
- Bioresource Engineering
Applicants should review the official eligible programmes list before choosing a course.
Important Application Dates
Applicants should take note of the following timeline:
- Mandatory information sessions: June 23 to July 15, 2026
- Scholarship applications open: August 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EST
- Scholarship applications close: August 21, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. EST
- McGill admission deadline for candidates with fee waiver: December 1, 2026
- Admission decisions: Early to mid-February 2027
- Scholarship selection: Mid-February to early March 2027
- Scholarship decisions: Late March or early April 2027
Applicants should note that attending an information session is a compulsory part of the application process.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed based on:
- Academic merit
- Leadership and service record
- Quality of the scholarship application
- Alignment with the values of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- Potential impact on the applicant’s home country
- Barriers the applicant has faced in accessing education
The programme is highly competitive, so applicants should prepare a strong application that clearly shows academic ability, leadership experience, community impact and financial need.
How to Apply
Interested applicants must first confirm their eligibility on the official McGill Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program eligibility page.
Applicants must then register for and attend a mandatory information session. Only eligible applicants who attend an information session will receive access to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form.
After attending the session, applicants should complete the scholarship application form. Once the application is pre-screened, successful applicants may be asked to provide additional documents.
Applicants who pass the pre-screening stage will receive a fee waiver and detailed instructions on how to apply for admission to McGill University.
Applicants must apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program first. Only applicants who are successfully pre-screened will be invited to apply to their chosen programme through the McGill admission process.
McGill University also warns that applications submitted outside the official process will not be accepted. Applicants should only use information from the official McGill website.
For more details, visit the official McGill University Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application page.
Applicants can also read the official Frequently Asked Questions for more guidance.
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