Eligibility Criteria

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 a Sub-Saharan 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.
• Must be less than 35 years old at the time of application. 

Applicants with First Class Honors or equivalent have a stronger chance of being admitted. 

Eligible Programs

All applicants, regardless of country of origin or educational backgrounds, must: 

1. Hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent as recognized by McGill University) in a subject closely related to the program selected for graduate studies. 
2. 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. 

To apply to a thesis program, the applicant must apply to the McGill Mastercard Foundation Scholarship first. Prospective applicants must NOT reach out to supervisors or professors directly. Applicants who have been selected for a fee waiver and have applied to a thesis program will be contacted by the team regarding the process to obtain a supervisor.

Non Thesis Programs

• Animal Science: Sustainable Agriculture
• Bioresource Engineering - Environmental Engineering
• Bioresource Engineering - Integrated Food & Bioprocessing
• Bioresource Engineering - Integrated Water Resource Management
• Biostatistics
• Biotechnology
• Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry - Food Science
• Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry - Food Safety
• Human Nutrition: Project
• Public Health
• Public Policy

Thesis Programs

• Animal Science
• Bioresource Engineering 

Eligible Countries