McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University 2027

McCall MacBain Scholarships 2027, one of Canada’s most prestigious and fully funded scholarship programmes for students pursuing a master’s or second-entry professional undergraduate degree at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. This is not just a financial award , it is a complete leadership development programme that wraps around your degree and stays with you long after graduation. There is no application fee, and the scholarship is open to both Canadian and international students from almost any country in the world.

The scholarship covers your full tuition and fees, gives you a monthly living stipend of $2,300 CAD during academic terms, provides a one-time relocation grant to help you move to Montreal, and offers free French language courses from beginner to advanced level. If you are not taking academic courses during the summer, you can also apply for up to $5,000 to pursue a meaningful initiative of your choosing.

For the 2027 cohort, up to 30 full McCall MacBain Scholarships will be awarded , 20 to Canadian applicants and 10 to international applicants. On top of that, up to 100 finalist and regional awards are available, which means even candidates who are not selected for the full scholarship can still receive significant financial support to study at McGill or another Canadian university.

The deadline for international applicants is 19 August 2026, and for students and graduates from Canada and the United States, the deadline is 23 September 2026. If you are a recent bachelor’s graduate or finishing your undergraduate degree soon, this is something worth applying for right now.

Key Details:

• Scholarship Name: McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University
• Host University: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Host Country: Canada
• Degree Level: Master’s degrees and second-entry professional undergraduate programs (Law, Dentistry, Medicine)
• Funding Type: Fully Funded
• Monthly Stipend: $2,300 CAD per month during academic terms
• Summer Initiative Fund: Up to $5,000 CAD (for scholars not in academic terms during summer)
• Total Full Scholarships Available: Up to 30 per year (20 Canadian + 10 international)
• Additional Awards: Up to 100 finalist and regional awards also available
• Application Deadline (International): 19 August 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time
• Application Deadline (Canada and USA): 23 September 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time
• Open To: Both Canadian and international students , open to all nationalities
• Application Fee: None
• Study Start Date: September 2027

What the McCall MacBain Scholarship Actually Gives You:

This scholarship goes well beyond paying your tuition. Here is everything you receive as a McCall MacBain Scholar:

• Full tuition and fees — Every dollar of your tuition and program fees for the complete normal duration of your master’s or professional program is covered. You graduate with no debt from your degree costs.
• $2,300 CAD per month living stipend — Paid every month during your academic terms, this stipend is designed to cover your rent, food, transport, and everyday living costs in Montreal so you can focus fully on your studies and leadership development.
• One-time relocation grant — When you first move to Montreal, you receive a one-time payment to help cover moving costs, whether you are coming from across Canada or from the other side of the world.
• Free French language courses — McGill offers French language instruction from beginner to advanced level at no cost to scholars. This is genuinely useful for living and working in Montreal, and it adds a bilingual dimension to your professional profile.
• Up to $5,000 CAD for summer initiatives — If you are not taking academic courses during summer, you can apply for this fund to pursue something meaningful , research, social impact projects, travel for learning, or any initiative that aligns with your goals.
• A personal mentor from your field — Every scholar is matched with an experienced mentor who has a distinguished career in an area relevant to what the scholar wants to do. Since the programme launched in 2021, more than 100 leaders have served in this role. Mentors come from business, law, health, education, non-profits, public policy, social finance, and more.
• An executive coach — On top of your mentor, you are also assigned a personal executive coach who works with you throughout the academic year to push you toward your goals and help you define new ones.
• A network of advisors — Beyond your mentor and coach, you get access to a wider network of people who can give you specific guidance on professional challenges and next steps after your degree.
• Travel costs covered for final interviews — If you make it to the final interview stage in Montreal, your travel costs to attend are covered by the programme.
• Access to the McCall MacBain House — This is a dedicated space right at the entrance of McGill’s downtown campus where scholars gather, study, run workshops, and collaborate. It includes meeting rooms and a kitchen, and it becomes something like a home base for your cohort.
• Annual summer intensives and field trips — In their second year, scholars travel to another part of Quebec or Canada for place-based learning experiences. Recent destinations have included Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.
• Bi-weekly leadership seminars — These are not generic sessions. They cover practical topics like strategic planning, crisis communication, entrepreneurial leadership, political decision-making, and public speaking , the kinds of skills that actually matter when you step into leadership roles.
• Engagement with Indigenous history and culture — The programme includes dedicated sessions with an Elder-in-residence and other speakers, giving scholars a grounded understanding of Indigenous worldviews and histories that is increasingly important for leaders working in Canada and globally.

Finalist and Regional Awards — Even If You Do Not Get the Full Scholarship:

One thing that sets this programme apart from most scholarships is that even candidates who are not selected for the full scholarship can still receive substantial financial awards. Here is the breakdown:

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

• 20 full 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

For international applicants:

• 10 full 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

So even reaching the finalist stage as an international applicant can unlock $20,000 per year for two years , that is a significant amount of support even without the full scholarship.

Who Can Apply — Eligibility Criteria:

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

• You are currently studying and on track to complete your first bachelor’s degree by August 2027
• You already completed your first bachelor’s degree in January 2021 or later (within the last five years)
• You completed your first bachelor’s degree more than five years ago, but you were 30 years old or younger on 1 January 2026

You also need to meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for admission to a McGill master’s program. These requirements vary by program, so it is worth checking the specific entry requirements for the degree you are planning to pursue.

There are no nationality restrictions , students and graduates from any country can apply.

What McCall MacBain Looks For in Applicants:

Beyond the eligibility requirements, the selection panel looks at five areas of character and potential. These are not checked boxes , they are looking for evidence of who you genuinely are:

• Exceptional character — Do you act with integrity, empathy, and honesty? Do you work hard and pursue long-term goals even when it is difficult?
• Community engagement — Have you given your time and energy to work with others on challenges that matter to a community? Do you have interests and activities outside the classroom?
• Leadership potential — Have you worked with and led others toward a shared goal? Are you ready to take on real leadership responsibilities and help develop the people around you?
• Entrepreneurial spirit — Can you spot unmet needs and bring people together around creative solutions? Are you willing to take risks and try new paths even if you might fail?
• Academic strength and intellectual curiosity — Do you genuinely care about ideas and learning? Is there a clear fit between the degree you want to pursue, what you have studied before, and where you want to go?

Programs Available — Eligible Fields of Study:

The McCall MacBain Scholarship covers master’s degrees and second-entry professional programs at McGill with 45 credits or more, primarily on McGill’s downtown or Macdonald campuses. Eligible fields include:

• Arts and Humanities
• Architecture
• Business Administration (MBA)
• Education
• Engineering
• Information Studies
• Management Analytics
• Finance and Retail Management
• Music
• Public Policy
• Science (Pure and Applied)
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Social Work
• Urban Planning
• Law (LLM and BCL/JD)
• Sacred Theology
• Dentistry (DMD)
• Medicine (MDCM)
• Data Science and Analytics
• Environmental Studies
• Computer Science and Technology
• International Development
• Health Sciences
• Economics and Political Science
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Communications and Media Studies
• Gender Studies
• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Graduate certificates, executive master’s programs (EMBA, IMHL, IMPM), PhDs, part-time programs, and joint degree programs are not covered by this scholarship.

About McGill University and Montreal:

McGill University is ranked number 1 in Canada and 27th in the world in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. It sits in the heart of Montreal, a city that consistently ranks as one of the top student cities in the world. Montreal has a low cost of living compared to other major Canadian cities, a rich cultural scene, access to nature, and direct flights to more than 130 cities worldwide.

The city is bilingual , English and French are both widely spoken , and is home to people from over 100 countries. You do not need to know French to study at McGill, but the free French language courses included in the scholarship mean you have every chance to learn while you are there.

Montreal is also known as Tiohtià:ke in Kanien’kéha and Mooniyang in Anishinaabemowin, and the McCall MacBain programme takes the responsibility of acknowledging and learning from the land’s Indigenous history seriously.

The Application Process — Step by Step:

There are two separate applications you need to submit: one for the McCall MacBain Scholarship itself, and one for admission to your chosen McGill program. These are independent processes with different deadlines.

Step 1 — Apply for the McCall MacBain Scholarship (June to September 2026)

• Go to the official McCall MacBain Scholarship application portal
• Create an account and complete the online application
• Two reference forms are required , choose referees who know you well and can speak to your character, leadership, and potential
• Submit before your deadline: 19 August 2026 for international applicants, or 23 September 2026 for Canada and USA applicants

Step 2 — Apply to McGill University (October to December 2026)

• Apply separately through McGill’s admissions system for the master’s or professional program you want to pursue
• McGill admissions generally open in September for the following fall semester
• If you become a scholarship finalist, you will need to apply to McGill by December regardless of your program’s standard deadline

Step 3 — Regional Interviews (October to December 2026)

• More than 250 semi-finalists will be selected from the written applications and invited to regional interviews
• Interviewers are leaders from varied fields and backgrounds
• These interviews take place in various locations globally

Step 4 — Final Interviews in Montreal (March 2027)

• Around 85 finalists are invited to Montreal for the final interview stage
• Travel costs to Montreal for the final interviews are fully covered
• Finalists who are not selected for the full scholarship are still eligible for finalist awards

Step 5 — Begin Studies at McGill (September 2027)

• Up to 30 scholars begin their programs at McGill in September 2027

Application Timeline Summary:

• Applications Open: June 2026
• International Deadline: 19 August 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time
• Canada and USA Deadline: 23 September 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time
• McGill Admissions Applications: October to December 2026
• Regional Interviews: October to December 2026
• Final Interviews in Montreal: March 2027
• Studies Begin: September 2027

Things to Know Before You Apply:

• The McCall MacBain Scholarship application is completely separate from the McGill University admissions application , you must complete both
• You can only apply for one McGill program in connection with this scholarship
• There are outreach partner universities across 30 countries, and if your university is a partner, they may nominate candidates for a higher number of international award spots , worth checking if your university is on the list
• The programme is interdisciplinary by design , your cohort will include people from law, medicine, engineering, arts, public policy, and more. This variety is intentional
• The McCall MacBain House in Montreal is exclusively for scholars and provides a real sense of community throughout the programme
• The scholarship does not cover PhDs, part-time programs, executive master’s programs, or joint degrees

Contact and More Information:

For questions about the application process, attend one of the official information sessions available through the application portal at apply.mccallmacbainscholars.org/portal/events