Deadline:
August 31, 2025
Location(s)
Canada
845 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal
Overview
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program stands as the largest scholarship and leadership initiative of its kind in Africa. It strives to strengthen the higher education ecosystem by encouraging inclusion and accessibility, innovation in teaching and learning, research, and collaboration across critical sectors and stakeholders.
Between 2024 – 2034 the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill University will bring together gifted leaders and changemakers from across Sub-Saharan Africa at the master’s level who aspire to improve and transform nutrition, public health, public policy, and sustainable agriculture across Africa.
Details
This scholarship program is designed to sponsor outstanding, community engaged students to attend university who otherwise would not have the opportunity, thereby, fostering the development of future Sub-Saharan African leaders and entrepreneurs.
A central goal of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is to create a globally educated and highly qualified group of future leaders, who, upon graduation, can return to Africa to help foster the region’s development. Toward these ends, McGill complements Scholars’ education with a comprehensive support system that includes mentorship, tailored support services, community service opportunities and sustained programming relevant to their personal development. Scholars also receive guidance and funding for two internships in their home countries during their studies. These internships aim to sustain the Scholars’ connection with their home countries and build a path toward meaningful employment post-graduation.
About McGill
Who We Are
McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. With students coming to McGill from over 150 countries, our student body is the most internationally diverse of any research-intensive university in the country.
History
McGill is a public university, founded in 1821.
A Tradition of Success
McGill is recognized around the world for the excellence of its teaching and research programs. Ernest Rutherford's Nobel Prize-winning research on the nature of radioactivity was conducted at McGill, part of a long tradition of innovation on our campuses that includes the invention of the artificial blood cell and Plexiglas. Today our professors are building the new field of epigenetics, developing alternative energy sources from crop plants and driving human achievement in every field imaginable.
The Best and Brightest
In addition to a stellar faculty, McGill is known for attracting the brightest students from across Canada, the United States, and around the world. McGill students have the highest average entering grades in Canada, and our commitment to fostering the very best has helped our students win more national and international awards on average than their peers at any other Canadian university. The prestigious Rhodes Scholarship has gone to a nation-leading 145 McGill students.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Prospective applicants must qualify academically for admission to McGill University and meet the following minimum criteria:
- 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.
Dates
Deadline: August 31, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
In addition to financial support, Scholars are provided with a comprehensive support network that includes an array of mentoring and support services to ensure each student’s academic success, community service engagement and transition to socially relevant employment opportunities, when they return to Africa at the conclusion of their studies.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
