McCall MacBain Scholarship 2026: Fully Funded McGill Master’s

The McCall MacBain Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded award that supports a master’s or second-entry professional degree at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, paired with a structured leadership programme. It is open to applicants worldwide, including Nigerian, African and Indian graduates, who apply in the 2026 round for entry in the September 2027 cohort. For applicants outside Canada and the United States, the deadline is 19 August 2026 — so it is worth acting early.

Quick facts

• Award: A full scholarship covering an eligible full-time master’s or second-entry professional undergraduate programme at McGill, plus a leadership development programme with mentors, coaches and a scholar community. Reports indicate it also provides a monthly living stipend (around CA$2,300 during academic terms), a relocation grant, and up to CA$5,000 for summer initiatives — confirm exact amounts on the official site.
• Provider: McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill, funded by the McCall MacBain Foundation.
• Level: Postgraduate (master’s or second-entry professional degree).
• Deadline (2027 admission): International applicants — 19 August 2026, 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Canada/US applicants and Canadians abroad — 23 September 2026, 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
• Who can apply: Current students finishing a first bachelor’s by August 2027, recent graduates, or graduates aged 30 or under (see eligibility), who can meet McGill’s admission requirements.
• Official link: mccallmacbainscholars.org and the McGill page at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/funding/external/mccall-macbain-scholarship.

Who is eligible for the McCall MacBain Scholarship

The scholarship is leadership-driven and looks for candidates with character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, and academic strength. Beyond those qualities, there are firm eligibility rules.

To apply for the 2027 cohort, you must meet one of the following:

• You are a current student on track to earn your first bachelor’s degree by August 2027; or
• You earned your first bachelor’s degree in the last five years (January 2021 or later); or
• You earned your first bachelor’s degree more than five years ago and were 30 years or younger on 1 January 2026.

In other words, the age limit of 30 only applies to the third route. Current students and recent graduates can apply regardless of age.

On top of this, you must be able to meet McGill’s minimum degree and language requirements for master’s admission. This is a separate process: the scholarship application does not admit you to McGill, so you also have to apply to, and be admitted by, your chosen graduate programme.

Who it is — and isn’t — for

It suits ambitious graduates and final-year students with a strong academic record and a clear track record of leadership and community involvement, who want a funded master’s at a leading Canadian university. It is less suitable if you cannot meet McGill’s admission or language requirements, if you only want research-only or non-eligible programmes, or if you fall outside all three eligibility routes (for example, a graduate over 30 who finished their degree more than five years ago).

Benefits: what the award covers

The McCall MacBain Scholarship is described as a full scholarship for your master’s or professional studies at McGill. It funds the eligible programme and surrounds it with a cohort-based leadership development programme, mentors and coaches, and community activities — the support is designed to be developmental, not only financial.

Multiple sources report that scholars receive a monthly living stipend (commonly cited at around CA$2,300 during academic terms), a relocation grant to help with the move to Montreal, and the option to apply for up to CA$5,000 for a meaningful summer initiative when not in a summer academic term. Treat these figures as a guide and confirm the current amounts on the official site, as financial details can be updated each cycle.

It is also worth knowing that strong candidates who are not selected for the full scholarship may receive an entrance, regional or finalist award, reported in the range of CA$5,000 to CA$20,000, with the regional award usable at any public university in Canada. Each year, up to 30 full scholarships and around 100 entrance awards are offered.

How to apply (step by step)

The scholarship application and McGill admission run on parallel but separate tracks, so plan the order carefully:

1. Check your eligibility and the programmes. Identify eligible McGill master’s or professional programmes that fit your background and goals. You can list up to five programmes of interest on your scholarship application.
2. Submit the scholarship application. The application is open online from June 2026. Complete it and arrange two reference forms before your deadline (19 August 2026 for international applicants; 23 September 2026 for Canada/US).
3. Apply separately to McGill. You must also apply to, and be admitted by, your chosen McGill programme. McGill admissions generally open in September for the following year. If you become a scholarship finalist, you will need to apply to McGill by December 2026 even if the programme’s own deadline is later.
4. Attend regional interviews if invited. After the written applications are assessed, more than 250 semi-finalists are invited to regional interviews (October–December 2026).
5. Attend final interviews if invited. Around 85 finalists are invited to final interviews in Montreal in March 2027, with travel costs covered.
6. Take up the award. Up to 30 scholars (20 Canadian, 10 international) begin studies at McGill in September 2027.

Required documents

The scholarship application is submitted through the McCall MacBain online portal and typically requires:

• The completed online scholarship application form.
• Two reference forms from your nominated referees.
• Details of up to five eligible McGill programmes of interest.
• Evidence to support McGill admission separately, such as transcripts, a degree certificate (or proof you are on track to graduate by August 2027), and proof of English-language proficiency to McGill’s standard.

Check both the scholarship portal and your McGill programme page for the exact documents each requires.

Key dates and deadline

• June 2026: Scholarship applications open for the 2027 cohort.
• 19 August 2026, 4:00 PM ET: Deadline for international applicants (students and graduates of universities outside Canada and the US).
• 23 September 2026, 4:00 PM ET: Deadline for Canada/US applicants and Canadians abroad.
• October–December 2026: Apply separately to McGill programmes; regional interviews held.
• December 2026: Finalists must have applied to their McGill programme.
• March 2027: Final interviews in Montreal (travel covered).
• September 2027: Scholars begin studies at McGill.

Confirm these dates on the official site before relying on them, as the timeline is set each cycle.

How winners are selected

Selection runs from a written application to interviews. After the written stage, more than 250 semi-finalists are invited to regional interviews, around 85 finalists are then invited to final interviews in Montreal, and up to 30 scholars are chosen. Interviewers are leaders from varied disciplines and backgrounds, and the process weighs character, leadership, community engagement and academic strength alongside fit between your goals and your proposed programme.

Tips to strengthen your application

• Build your McGill admission case early. A strong scholarship application means little without a viable admission, so research eligible programmes and their requirements now.
• Show, don’t tell, on leadership. Use specific examples of initiative, responsibility and impact rather than general claims.
• Choose referees who know your work. Two reference forms are required; brief your referees early and give them time.
• Connect your goals to the programme. Make the link between your background, the McGill programme and your future plans explicit and credible.
• Mind the two deadlines. International applicants face the earlier August date, so do not assume you have until September.
• Attend an information session. The programme runs sessions that explain the process and what assessors look for.

Before you apply

The McCall MacBain Scholarship is a genuine, prestigious, fully funded route to a McGill master’s, but it is competitive and runs on two parallel tracks — the scholarship and McGill admission — with an early deadline for international applicants. Confirm the current financial details, eligibility and dates on the official McCall MacBain and McGill pages before you rely on any figure here.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the McCall MacBain Scholarship 2026? Applicants who meet one of three routes — a current student finishing a first bachelor’s by August 2027, a graduate from the last five years, or a graduate from more than five years ago who was 30 or younger on 1 January 2026 — and who can meet McGill’s degree and language requirements.

Is it open to Nigerian, African and Indian students, including NOUN graduates? Yes. The scholarship is open to students and graduates of universities outside Canada and the US, and these applicants apply by 19 August 2026. You do not have to come from a partner university to apply, so eligible National Open University of Nigeria graduates and other African and Indian applicants can apply directly, provided they meet the eligibility and McGill admission requirements.

What is the deadline? For 2027 admission: 19 August 2026 (4:00 PM ET) for international applicants, and 23 September 2026 (4:00 PM ET) for Canada/US applicants and Canadians abroad.

Is it free to apply? There is no separate scholarship application fee, but you must also apply for admission to McGill, which has its own application process. Be cautious of any site claiming to charge for the scholarship itself.

What does the scholarship cover? A full scholarship for an eligible McGill master’s or professional programme plus a leadership programme; reports also cite a monthly living stipend, a relocation grant and summer-initiative funding. Confirm exact amounts on the official site.

How are winners selected? Through a written application, then regional interviews for semi-finalists, then final interviews in Montreal for around 85 finalists, with up to 30 scholars chosen for the cohort.

Apply on the official site →

Always confirm details on the official provider’s website before applying. Dates and eligibility may change.