How to Apply
- Determine your eligibility.
- Register and attend one of the five information sessions to receive the link to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application form.
- Complete the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Application Form*.
- Once your application is pre-screened, provide additional documentation as requested by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program team.
- Successful pre-screened applicants will be invited to apply to McGill University. Successful applicants will receive a fee waiver and detailed instructions on how to apply for admission to McGill.
*You must apply to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program first. Only once you have been successfully pre-screened will you be invited to apply to your chosen program of study through the McGill admissions process.
The Program will not accept applications submitted outside the set application process. Applicants who have previously applied to McGill University and deferred their offer of admission will have to reapply to the scholarship to be considered.
Next Steps
Application Timeline
Please note that the application timeline is subject to change depending on the volume of applications received.
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| July 3 – July 28, 2025 | Prospective applicants should attend a virtual info session to learn more about the eligibility requirements and application process. |
| August 4, 2025 (9:00 a.m. EST) | Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program applications open. |
| August 31, 2025 (4:00 p.m. EST) | Applications close. All applicants must have completed the first stage of the application and eligibility assessment. Applications will not be accepted beyond this date. |
| September 1 – November 1, 2025 | Only successful pre-screened applicants will be invited to move on to the McGill University application for admission stage. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified. |
| December 1, 2025 | Application deadline for candidates who received a fee waiver. |
| Early to mid-February 2025 | Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of their admission decision to McGill. |
| Mid-February – end of March 2025 | The McGill Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Committee will select scholarship recipients. |
Selection Process
The selection process for applications is based on the following criteria:
- Academic merit of the candidate that qualifies for admission to McGill University.
- Track record as a transformative leader and person of service within their community.
- Quality of application in line with the Mastercard Foundation ethos and values of the McGill Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill.
- Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country.
- Applicants who have faced significant barriers to education (social, financial, personal, practical or health-related)
This is the official website of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill University. Any application information housed on a non- mcgill.ca website may be fraudulent.
