McCall MacBain Scholarships 2027 at McGill University in Canada

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Applications for the McCall MacBain Scholarships 2027 at McGill University are now open. Established in 2019 through a landmark $200 million gift — at the time the single largest donation in Canadian history — the McCall MacBain Scholarships are Canada’s first comprehensive, leadership-driven scholarships for master’s and professional degree studies. For the 2027 cohort, 130 scholarships and awards are available, including up to 30 full scholarships and 100 entrance awards. The international application deadline is August 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.

Hosted at McGill University in Montreal, Canada — ranked #1 in Canada and #27 worldwide in the 2026 QS World University Rankings — the McCall MacBain Scholarship is a fully funded award covering full tuition and fees for the entire normal duration of an eligible master’s or second-entry professional program, a living stipend of $2,300 per month during academic terms, a one-time relocation grant for moving to Montreal, and French language courses from beginner to advanced level. Beyond funding, scholars join an immersive leadership development program featuring mentorship, executive coaching, summer intensives, bi-weekly seminars, and a dedicated community hub — the McCall MacBain House — at the entrance of McGill’s downtown campus.

OVERVIEW OF THE McCALL MacBAIN SCHOLARSHIPS

The McCall MacBain Scholarships were announced in February 2019 by John and Marcy McCall MacBain, whose $200 million gift to McGill University created the program. The founders drew on their years of involvement with some of the world’s top scholarship programs — including the Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarships in Cape Town, and the Kupe Leadership Scholarships in New Zealand — and concluded that Canada needed a comprehensive master’s-level scholarship that builds on, but is not limited to, academic excellence.

The program brings together a diverse group of scholars who aspire to “lead with purpose” — individuals who have demonstrated leadership potential and an inner drive to make a positive impact in other people’s lives. While scholars go on to work on a broad range of challenges across sectors, they share a vision of becoming leaders who serve others with integrity and humility, who are committed to continual learning and bridge-building, and who take bold, meaningful risks.

Since 2021, the program has offered over 600 scholarships and awards, supported by a network of 200+ universities and 500+ volunteer selectors worldwide — representing an annual investment of $3 million in tuition and living costs alone. The organization is a registered Canadian charity working in close partnership with the McCall MacBain Foundation and McGill University.

McGILL UNIVERSITY AND MONTREAL — THE HOST ENVIRONMENT

One of Canada’s best-known institutions of higher learning, McGill University is ranked #1 in Canada and #27 worldwide in the 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings. Its downtown and Macdonald campuses offer world-class research facilities, distinguished faculty, and a deeply international student body.

The host city adds a powerful dimension to the experience: Montréal is consistently ranked among the world’s top student cities, known for its open and creative culture, exceptional quality of life, and strong employment opportunities. Over 100 languages are spoken in this vibrant, multicultural metropolis, and while French is the city’s official language, knowledge of French is not required to study at McGill. The city is an international hub with direct flights to more than 130 cities worldwide, located in one of the safest countries in the world.

WHAT THE SCHOLARSHIP COVERS

The McCall MacBain Scholarship is a comprehensive, fully funded award. It includes:

• Full tuition and fees for the entire normal duration of the master’s or professional program at McGill.
• A living stipend of $2,300 per month during academic terms.
• A one-time relocation grant for moving to Montreal.
• French language courses (beginner to advanced) offered through McGill.
• Up to $5,000 in summer funding for scholars not enrolled in academic terms during the summer, to pursue meaningful initiatives.

Beyond the financial package, the program provides every scholar with:

• A leadership development curriculum: annual summer intensives, bi-weekly seminars, field trips, and workshops on topics such as strategic planning, crisis communication, entrepreneurial leadership, political decision-making, and public speaking.
• An experienced mentor, an executive coach, and advisors matched individually to each scholar. Since 2021, more than 100 distinguished leaders — business executives, university presidents, legal experts, health professionals, nonprofit leaders, and public policy experts — have served as mentors.
• Place-based learning travel in the second year to another part of Quebec or Canada (recent destinations include Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Vancouver).
• Access to the McCall MacBain House, the program’s community hub at the entrance of McGill’s downtown campus, with meeting rooms, study spaces, and supplemental activities including lunch-and-learns, yoga, and creative workshops.
• Engagement with Indigenous history, culture, and worldviews through sessions led by the program’s Elder-in-residence.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS AVAILABLE FOR 2027

A total of 130 scholarships and awards will be offered for the 2027 intake, split between two applicant pools.

Canadian applicants (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and refugees):

• 20 McCall MacBain Scholarships, tenable at McGill.
• 30 Finalist Awards of $10,000, tenable at McGill.
• 30 Regional Awards of $5,000, tenable at any public university in Canada.

International applicants (any other citizenship or nationality):

• 10 McCall MacBain Scholarships, tenable at McGill.
• 25 Finalist Awards of $20,000 per year for up to 2 years, tenable at McGill.
• 15 Regional Awards of $10,000, tenable at any public university in Canada.

This tiered structure means that even candidates who are not selected for the full scholarship may still receive substantial financial support through finalist or regional awards based on their performance in the interview process.

ELIGIBLE DEGREES AT McGILL

Candidates may apply for the McCall MacBain Scholarship if they plan to apply for Summer/Fall 2027 admission to a full-time master’s or second-entry professional undergraduate program at McGill, consisting of 45 credits or more and taking place primarily on McGill’s downtown or Macdonald campuses.

Eligible master’s degrees span more than 150 fields of study, including: MA (Arts), MArch (Architecture), MATL (Arts in Teaching and Learning), MBA (Business Administration), MEd (Education), MEng (Engineering), MISt (Information Studies), MM (Management Analytics, Finance, Retail), MMus (Music), MPP (Public Policy), MSc (Science), MScA (Applied Science), MScAPT (Physical Therapy), MScAOT (Occupational Therapy), MSW (Social Work), MUP (Urban Planning), LLM (Law), and STM (Sacred Theology).

Eligible second-entry professional degrees: BCL/JD (Law), DMD (Dentistry), and MDCM (Medicine).

SELECTION CRITERIA: WHAT THE PROGRAM LOOKS FOR

The McCall MacBain selection process evaluates candidates across five dimensions:

1) Exceptional character. Candidates value excellence, hard work, service, and lifelong learning; act with integrity, honesty, and empathy; show tenacity in pursuing long-term goals; and are willing to take meaningful risks.

2) Community engagement. Candidates work for and with others to address challenges facing a community, and pursue a breadth and depth of interests through activities outside the classroom.

3) Leadership potential. Candidates have experience working with and leading others toward a common goal, are ready to take on tough leadership roles to advance meaningful change, and are driven to develop the potential of those they lead.

4) Entrepreneurial spirit. Candidates can identify unmet needs and motivate others to develop creative solutions; they believe in forging new paths and are not held back by fear of failure.

5) Academic strength and intellectual curiosity. Candidates show deep curiosity about people, ideas, and the world; enjoy engaging with different perspectives; and demonstrate a strong fit between their proposed graduate program, their qualifications, and their future plans.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for the 2027 cohort, candidates must meet ONE of the following criteria:

• Be a current student on track to earn a first bachelor’s degree by August 2027; OR
• Have earned a first bachelor’s degree within the last five years (January 2021 or later); OR
• Have earned a first bachelor’s degree more than five years ago AND have been 30 years old or younger on January 1, 2026.

Candidates must also meet McGill’s minimum degree and language requirements for master’s program admission. The scholarship is open to candidates of all nationalities, with separate award streams for Canadian and international applicants.

HOW TO APPLY — STEP BY STEP

The application process consists of two separate applications and a multi-stage selection.

Step 1 — Apply for the McCall MacBain Scholarship (June – August/September 2026). The scholarship application is available online at apply.mccallmacbainscholars.org. It is separate from McGill admissions and requires two reference forms. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply early.

Step 2 — Apply to McGill programs (October – December 2026). Candidates apply separately to compatible programs at McGill University. McGill admissions generally open in September for the following Fall semester. Scholarship finalists must apply to McGill by December, even if the program’s own deadline is later.

Step 3 — Regional interviews (October – December 2026, by invitation). After assessment of written applications, more than 250 Canadian and international semi-finalists are invited to regional interviews conducted by leaders from varied disciplines and life experiences.

Step 4 — Final interviews in Montreal (March 2027, by invitation). Approximately 85 finalists are invited to final interviews in Montreal, with travel costs fully covered. All finalists are eligible to receive either the full scholarship or a finalist award.

Step 5 — Arrival on campus (September 2027). Up to 30 McCall MacBain Scholars — 20 Canadians and 10 international students — begin their studies at McGill.

APPLICATION DEADLINES — 2027 ADMISSION

• International applicants (students and graduates of universities outside Canada and the US): August 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
• Canada and United States (students and graduates of Canadian and American universities, and Canadians abroad): September 23, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.

OUTREACH PARTNERS ACROSS THE WORLD

The program collaborates with about 90 universities in 30 countries to promote its international awards, with partner institutions invited to nominate candidates. In Sub-Saharan Africa, outreach partners include: Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Ghana (Ghana); the University of Nairobi (Kenya); the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Nigeria); the University of Rwanda; Université Cheikh Anta Diop (Senegal); and the University of Cape Town, the University of Johannesburg, and the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa).

In the Middle East and North Africa, partners include Alexandria University and the American University in Cairo (Egypt), the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University (Lebanon), Boğaziçi and Koç Universities (Türkiye), and NYU Abu Dhabi (UAE). Candidates from non-partner universities remain fully eligible to apply directly.

CONTACT

For scholarship application inquiries, candidates can consult the official FAQ, register for an information session, or reach the team via the contact details on the official website. Mailing address: 772 Sherbrooke St W, 4th Floor, Montreal (QC) H3A 1G1, Canada.

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