McCall MacBain Scholarships 2027 at McGill University in Canada — Fully Funded
The McCall MacBain Scholarships 2027 are offering up to 30 full scholarships and over 100 finalist and regional awards for students beginning master’s or second-entry professional programs at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. The full scholarship covers tuition and fees for the complete duration of your program, a monthly living stipend of $2,300 during academic terms, a one-time relocation grant to help you move to Montreal, and French language courses at no extra cost. Scholars not in academic terms during the summer can also access up to $5,000 to pursue meaningful summer initiatives.
The scholarship is open to both Canadian and international applicants. The deadline for international applicants is August 19, 2026, and for Canadian and US-based applicants, it is September 23, 2026.
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McCall MacBain Scholarships in Canada Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | McCall MacBain |
| Host Country ⇒ | Canada |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate | Masters |
| Benefits ⇒ | Full tuition and fees + $2,300/month living stipend + one-time relocation grant + French language courses + up to $5,000 summer initiative fund |
| Funded By ⇒ | McGill University |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All Countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | August 19, 2026 (International) | September 23, 2026 (Canadian and US-based) |
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About the McCall MacBain Scholarships
The McCall MacBain Scholarships were established in 2019 through a landmark gift from John and Marcy McCall MacBain and have since grown into Canada’s first comprehensive leadership scholarship for master’s and professional studies. The program is based at McGill University, one of Canada’s top research universities and a globally recognised institution located in the heart of Montreal — a bilingual, multicultural city that forms part of the scholarship experience itself.
What separates this scholarship from a standard funding award is the community it places you in. Every scholar participates in a structured leadership curriculum running alongside their degree — annual summer retreats, bi-weekly leadership seminars, supplemental programming, field trips, and place-based learning travel within Canada. In their second year, scholars travel to another part of Quebec or Canada; recent cohorts have visited Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. Scholars also engage with Indigenous history, culture, and worldviews through sessions led by the Elder-in-residence and invited speakers.
Seminar and workshop topics have included strategic planning, crisis communication, entrepreneurial leadership, political decision-making, and public speaking. The curriculum is designed not just to fund your studies but to develop you as a leader — one who is grounded in community, comfortable with complexity, and capable of working across disciplines and cultures.
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Awards Available for the McCall MacBain Scholarships
Canadian Applicants (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and refugees):
- 20 full McCall MacBain Scholarships — tenable at McGill University
- 30 Finalist Awards of $10,000 — tenable at McGill University
- 30 Regional Awards of $5,000 — tenable at any public university in Canada
International Applicants (all other nationalities):
- 10 full McCall MacBain Scholarships — tenable at McGill University
- 25 Finalist Awards of $20,000 — tenable at McGill University
- 15 Regional Awards of $10,000 — tenable at any public university in Canada
Finalist and regional awards are available for candidates who distinguish themselves strongly during the interview process but do not receive the full scholarship. If you reach the interview stage, you are already in serious contention for a meaningful award.
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What the McCall MacBain Scholarships Cover
Full scholarship recipients receive:
- Full tuition and fees for the complete normal duration of the master’s or professional program
- Monthly living stipend of $2,300 during academic terms, to cover accommodation and living costs in Montreal
- One-time relocation grant to help cover the cost of moving to Montreal
- Beginner to advanced French language courses offered through McGill at no extra cost
- Up to $5,000 to pursue meaningful summer initiatives — available to scholars not in academic terms during the summer
- Annual summer retreats and bi-weekly leadership seminars
- Supplemental programming, field trips, and place-based learning travel within Canada
- Engagement with Indigenous history, culture, and worldviews through the Elder-in-residence program
- Leadership curriculum covering strategic planning, crisis communication, entrepreneurial leadership, political decision-making, and public speaking
- Access to a diverse, interdisciplinary cohort of scholars from across Canada and around the world
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Eligibility Requirements
You must meet one of the following degree completion criteria:
- You are a current student on track to earn your first bachelor’s degree by August 2027
- You earned your first bachelor’s degree in the last five years (January 2021 or later)
- You earned your first bachelor’s degree more than five years ago and were 30 years or younger on January 1, 2026
You must also:
- Meet the minimum degree and language requirements for your chosen McGill master’s or professional program
- Be planning to apply for Summer or Fall 2027 admission to a full-time master’s or second-entry professional undergraduate program at McGill University
- Be applying to a program of 45 credits or more, taking place primarily on McGill’s downtown or Macdonald campuses
The selection panel looks for five qualities in every applicant:
- Exceptional character — integrity, honesty, empathy, hard work, and the tenacity to pursue long-term goals
- Community engagement — a track record of working with and for others to address community challenges
- Leadership potential — experience leading others toward a common goal and a genuine drive to develop those around you
- Entrepreneurial spirit — the ability to identify unmet needs, motivate others, and forge new paths without fear of failure
- Academic strength and intellectual curiosity — a deep interest in people, ideas, and the world, with a clear fit between your proposed program, your qualifications, and your plans
These are not checkboxes — the panel reads for authenticity. Applicants who try to engineer responses around what they think the scholarship wants tend to fare worse than those who tell their real story clearly and honestly.
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Eligible Programs for the McCall MacBain Scholarships
Master’s Degrees — across more than 150 fields of study:
MA, MArch, MATL, MBA, MEd, MEng, MISt, MM, MMus, MPP, MSc, MScA, MScAPT, MScAOT, MSW, MUP, LLM, STM
Second-Entry Professional Undergraduate Degrees:
BCL/JD (Law), DMD (Dentistry), MDCM (Medicine)
Not covered by this scholarship: Graduate certificates, executive master’s programs (EMBA, IMHL, IMPM), PhDs, part-time programs, and joint degree programs. Confirm that your intended program falls within the eligible list before applying.
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Required Documents
- Completed online McCall MacBain Scholarship application form (submitted through the official application portal)
- Academic transcripts from your undergraduate studies and any previous graduate studies
- Personal statements or essays addressing the five scholarship selection criteria
- Evidence of leadership, community engagement, and extracurricular involvement
- Application to an eligible McGill master’s or professional program — this must be submitted concurrently with the scholarship application
- English and/or French language proficiency documentation, as required by McGill’s admission standards
- Letters of reference, as required by your chosen McGill program
Specific document requirements will be confirmed through the official McCall MacBain application portal when it opens on June 1, 2026. Begin gathering your documents now so you are not scrambling once the portal goes live.
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How to Apply
- Sign up for email updates at mccallmacbainscholars.org/subscribe to be notified when the application opens and to receive information about upcoming information sessions for the 2027 cohort.
- Explore the list of eligible McGill master’s and professional programs and identify the program that best matches your academic background and future goals. Confirm it meets the 45-credit minimum and is delivered primarily on McGill’s downtown or Macdonald campuses.
- Note your correct deadline — August 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time for international applicants, or September 23, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time for Canadian and US-based applicants.
- Register for an information session to understand what the selection panel is looking for, what the scholar community is like, and how to present your application most effectively.
- When the portal opens on June 1, 2026, begin your McCall MacBain Scholarship application and your McGill program application at the same time. Both must be submitted before your relevant deadline — do not treat one as a prerequisite for the other.
- Write your personal statements with honesty and specificity. Address each of the five selection qualities — exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, and academic curiosity — with real examples from your life. Generic responses do not advance.
- Submit your complete application through the official McCall MacBain application portal before your deadline.
- If shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview. Approach it with openness and authenticity — the process is designed to be a genuine conversation, not an interrogation.
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Application Deadline
- August 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time — international applicants
- September 23, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time — Canadian and US-based applicants
The application portal opens June 1, 2026. Do not wait until the final week to begin — both the scholarship application and your McGill program application must be submitted, and preparing strong responses to the five selection criteria takes time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Nigerian and African students apply for the McCall MacBain Scholarships 2027?
Yes. The McCall MacBain Scholarships are open to international applicants from all countries, including Nigeria and other African nations. Ten full scholarships are reserved for international applicants in the 2027 cycle, alongside 25 Finalist Awards of $20,000 and 15 Regional Awards of $10,000. African applicants who are shortlisted but do not receive the full scholarship are still in contention for a significant financial award.
What master’s programs are eligible for the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill?
More than 150 master’s and professional programs at McGill are eligible, spanning arts, sciences, engineering, law, business, education, music, urban planning, social work, and more. The eligible degree types are MA, MArch, MATL, MBA, MEd, MEng, MISt, MM, MMus, MPP, MSc, MScA, MScAPT, MScAOT, MSW, MUP, LLM, STM, BCL/JD, DMD, and MDCM. The program must be 45 credits or more and delivered primarily on McGill’s downtown or Macdonald campuses. PhD programs, executive master’s programs, part-time programs, and joint degrees are not eligible.
Do I need to be a recent graduate to apply for the McCall MacBain Scholarships 2027?
Not necessarily. You can apply if you are currently finishing your bachelor’s degree and will complete it by August 2027, if you graduated within the last five years (January 2021 or later), or if you graduated more than five years ago but were 30 years old or younger on January 1, 2026. The scholarship is designed to be accessible across a range of career stages — not only for students going straight from undergraduate to graduate study.
Is the McCall MacBain Scholarship only for academic high achievers?
Academic strength is one of five selection criteria, but it is not the only one and not necessarily the most weighted. The panel is equally looking for exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, and entrepreneurial spirit. A candidate with a strong academic record but no demonstrated engagement with others will not automatically outrank a candidate whose record shows genuine impact in their community and credible leadership experience.
When does the McCall MacBain Scholarship application open for 2027?
The application portal opens on June 1, 2026. Sign up for email updates at mccallmacbainscholars.org/subscribe to be notified immediately when it goes live and to receive details about information sessions.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official McCall MacBain Scholarships website as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.
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