Talented leaders and changemakers at the graduate (master’s) level, from across Africa who are looking to pursue their studies in Canada for the 2026/2027 academic year are invited to apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026 at McGill University. This is a fully funded scholarship program for the entire duration of studies.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is open to exceptional leaders and changemakers pursuing master’s degrees, who aspire to improve and transform nutrition, public health, public policy, and sustainable agriculture across the African continent. This fully funded Masters Scholarship helps you gain admission at the prestigious McGill University in Canada for the 2026/2027 academic year. There are 35 scholarships available every year across 13 graduate programs for you to choose from.
McGill University is a top public research institution in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, famous for its academic excellence, global diversity and more. It is one of Canada’s best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world located on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations.
SEE MORE: MTN Muson Music Scholars Programme 2026/2027
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria to qualify for admission at McGill University:
- Be admissible to one of the eligible programs at McGill University.
- Have NEVER registered for, nor completed a master’s degree.
- Be a citizen of and live in an African country (view eligible countries).
- Have a valid passport and be admissible to Canada as an International Student (requiring a Study Permit).
- Those with dual citizenship, asylee, refugee, or permanent resident status in the US, Canada, UK or EU are not eligible.
- Have an exceptional record of service, leadership, and activity in your school and/or community.
- Demonstrate a desire to give back to your home community.
- Demonstrate that financial constraints have prevented or restricted your educational opportunities.
- Be 35 years or younger at the time of application.
Priority will given to:
- Women;
- People affected by forced displacement (asylum seekers, internally displaced people, refugees and returnees, etc.);
- People living with a disability;
- Applicants with First Class Honors or an equivalent have a stronger chance of admission to McGill University.
Eligible Programs
- All applicants, regardless of country of origin or educational background, must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent as recognized by McGill University) in a subject closely related to the program selected for graduate studies.
- Ensure your bachelor’s degree meets equivalency requirements. Applicants with First Class Honors or equivalent have a stronger chance of being admitted.
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.
Eligible Countries
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026 at McGill University is open to citizens and residents of all countries on the African continent.
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Congo (Republic)
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Selection Process
The selection process for applications is based on the following criteria:
- Academic merit of the candidate that qualifies for admission to McGill University.
- Track record as a transformative leader and person of service within their community.
- Quality of application in line with the Mastercard Foundation ethos and values of the McGill Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
- Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country.
- Applicants who have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related)
Method of Application
Click the APPLY NOW to start your application for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2026 at McGill University.
Application Deadline: August 21, 2026.
For More Information: Visit the Scholarship Website.
