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Applications are now open for the 2026 McGill University Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Opportunity Details
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program stands as the largest scholarship and leadership initiative of its kind in Africa. Operating through a Pan-African and global network of universities and non-governmental organizations, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program strives to strengthen the higher education ecosystem by encouraging inclusion, accessibility, innovation in teaching and learning, as well as research and collaboration across critical sectors and stakeholders.
McGill University has partnered with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program since 2013, supporting and empowering 132 Mastercard Foundation Scholars from over 20 African countries. 2024 marks the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program's second phase at McGill University, when we will continue to welcome gifted leaders and changemakers aspiring to improve and transform nutrition, public health, public policy, and sustainable agriculture across Africa.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is more than just a scholarship that covers tuition and basic living expenses. It is an immersive experience meticulously designed to empower Mastercard Foundation Scholars on their journey. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars’ education is complemented with tailored programming that includes mentorship, leadership training, tutoring, experiential learning opportunities, professional development, and career support. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program aims to equip the Mastercard Foundation Scholars with the tools and guidance they need to flourish academically. It engages them as active members of the McGill ecosystem and propels them professionally as leaders geared for impact.
The scholarship Includes:
Prospective applicants must qualify academically for admission to McGill University and meet the following minimum criteria:
Applicants with First Class Honors or equivalent have a stronger chance of being admitted.
Eligible Programs
All applicants, regardless of country of origin or educational background, must:
Meeting the minimum graduate admissions requirements does not guarantee eligibility for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program or admission to McGill University. Consult each program page for any additional requirements.
To apply to a thesis program, the applicant must first apply to the McGill Mastercard Foundation Scholarship. Prospective applicants must NOT reach out to supervisors or professors directly. Applicants selected for a fee waiver and applying to a thesis program will be contacted by our team with instructions on how to secure a supervisor.
Non-Thesis Programs
Thesis Programs
Eligible Countries
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill University is open to citizens and residents of all countries on the African continent.
*You must apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program first. Only once you have been successfully pre-screened will you be invited to apply to your chosen program of study through the McGill admissions process.
The Program will not accept applications submitted outside the set application process. Applicants who have previously applied to McGill University and deferred their offer of admission will have to reapply to the scholarship to be considered.
Apply for McGill University Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program