McCall MacBain Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded McGill Guide

Introduction

The moment many students have been waiting for has finally arrived. Applications are now open for international students who want to apply for the McCall MacBain Scholarship 2027 at McGill University in Canada.

The scholarship is available to students planning to pursue an eligible full-time master’s degree or second-entry professional undergraduate degree at McGill University. It offers a comprehensive funding package that covers full tuition and university fees for the normal duration of the eligible program. Scholars also receive a living stipend of CAD 2,300 per month during academic terms and a one-time relocation grant for moving to Montréal.

Applications opened in June 2026. The deadline for students and graduates of universities outside Canada and the United States is August 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Students and graduates of universities in Canada or the United States, as well as Canadian citizens studying abroad, have until September 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Applicants should understand that the McCall MacBain Scholarship application is separate from the McGill University admission application. Candidates first submit the scholarship application and then apply separately to eligible McGill programs. McGill program applications generally open in September, and scholarship finalists must apply to McGill by December even when their chosen program has a later deadline.

McCall MacBain Scholarship 2027 Overview

The McCall MacBain Scholarship is a graduate-level funding opportunity for students planning to study at McGill University. It supports more than 150 fields of study across eligible master’s degrees, along with selected second-entry professional programs.

Students of all nationalities may apply if they meet the scholarship eligibility criteria and the admission and language requirements of their intended McGill program. Each year, the program offers up to 30 full scholarships and 100 additional entrance awards to leading candidates.

Category	Details
Host country	Canada
Host university	McGill University
Study intake	Summer/Fall 2027
Study level	Eligible master’s and second-entry professional degrees
Full scholarships	Up to 30
Additional entrance awards	Up to 100
Monthly living stipend	CAD 2,300 during academic terms
Tuition coverage	Full tuition and university fees
References required	Two
International deadline	August 19, 2026
Canada/U.S. deadline	September 23, 2026
Application mode	Online

Not every applicant will receive the complete scholarship. Up to 30 candidates are selected for full funding, while other strong applicants may be considered for finalist or regional awards.

Applicants should therefore prepare a strong and accurate application profile. They should clearly present their academic record, leadership experiences, community involvement, employment history, achievements, and future goals.

Is the McCall MacBain Scholarship 2027 Open?

Yes. Applications for the McCall MacBain Scholarship 2027 are currently open for students planning to begin an eligible program at McGill University in Summer or Fall 2027.

The scholarship application became available online in June 2026. The international deadline is August 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, while the deadline for students and graduates of universities in Canada or the United States, as well as Canadians studying abroad, is September 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The applicable deadline depends mainly on the location of the university where the applicant currently studies or previously graduated. It is not determined only by the applicant’s citizenship.

For example, an international student studying at a university in Canada or the United States normally follows the September 23 deadline. A student who studied at a university in Pakistan, India, Nigeria, or another country outside Canada and the United States normally follows the August 19 deadline.

Applicants should still use the deadline-checking information provided on the official scholarship website and confirm the correct deadline in their application account.

What Is the McCall MacBain Scholarship?

The McCall MacBain Scholarship is more than a tuition award. It combines financial support with mentorship, leadership development, interdisciplinary learning, coaching, and participation in an international community of scholars.

Recipients pursue a funded master’s or eligible second-entry professional program at McGill University while participating in a structured leadership-development curriculum. Scholars also receive support from experienced mentors, executive coaches, and program advisers.

The scholarship is intended for applicants who demonstrate academic strength, intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, community engagement, entrepreneurial thinking, and strong personal character.

Applicants should consider whether their experiences demonstrate the following qualities before submitting an application.

Exceptional Character

Strong candidates should demonstrate integrity, honesty, empathy, responsibility, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning. They should be prepared to work hard, serve others, pursue long-term goals, and take thoughtful risks when meaningful change is needed.

Community Engagement

Applicants should show that they have contributed to their school, workplace, organization, or wider community. This could include volunteering, public service, student activities, community projects, advocacy, mentoring, or helping address a practical social problem.

The selection committee is interested not only in the number of activities completed but also in the depth and value of the applicant’s contribution.

Leadership Potential

Leadership does not require holding a senior title. Applicants can demonstrate leadership by bringing people together, accepting responsibility, helping a team reach a shared goal, solving problems, or supporting the development of others.

Strong candidates should be able to explain what they personally contributed, how they worked with others, and what result they achieved.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Entrepreneurial spirit refers to recognizing unmet needs and taking initiative to develop useful solutions. It may be demonstrated through a business, research project, community program, student initiative, technical solution, or improvement to an existing system.

Applicants should show that they are willing to explore new approaches and are not prevented from acting simply because success is uncertain.

Academic Strength and Intellectual Curiosity

Candidates should have a strong academic background and a genuine interest in learning about people, ideas, and the wider world.

They should also show a clear connection between their previous qualifications, the McGill program they intend to pursue, and their future academic or professional plans. The selected program should make sense as the next step in the applicant’s development.

McCall MacBain Scholarship Benefits

The McCall MacBain Scholarship provides much more than financial assistance. It supports students during their eligible degree at McGill University and also helps them develop their leadership, communication, and professional skills.

Students selected for the full scholarship receive coverage of their tuition fees and university fees for the normal duration of the eligible program. They also receive a living stipend of CAD 2,300 per month during academic terms and a one-time relocation grant to help them move to Montréal.

The main financial benefits include:

Full tuition-fee coverage
Coverage of university fees
CAD 2,300 monthly living stipend during academic terms
A one-time relocation grant for moving to Montréal
Possible summer funding
Leadership-development opportunities
Support from mentors, executive coaches, and advisers
Access to optional activities, including French-language courses

Students who are not enrolled in an academic term during the summer may apply for funding of up to CAD 5,000 to complete an approved and meaningful summer initiative. This could support a professional, community-based, academic, or personal-development activity.

Is the McCall MacBain Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. The full McCall MacBain Scholarship can be described as a fully funded scholarship because it covers tuition and university fees and also provides monthly financial support for living expenses.

However, applicants should understand that the CAD 2,300 stipend is provided during academic terms. Students may still need to manage personal spending, immigration expenses, travel costs beyond the relocation grant, and any expenses they have before receiving their first scholarship payment.

Leadership and mentoring benefits

The scholarship is not limited to paying university expenses. Scholars also take part in an interdisciplinary leadership-development program.

This may include:

Leadership seminars
Workshops
Field visits
Annual summer intensive programs
Strategic-planning activities
Public-speaking training
Crisis-communication workshops
Entrepreneurial-leadership sessions

Each scholar is also matched with an experienced mentor, an executive coach, and program advisers. These people help scholars set goals, develop professionally, and think about their future after graduation.

Applicants can read the complete funding and development details on the official McCall MacBain program page.

McCall MacBain Full Scholarships and Additional Awards

The McCall MacBain program offers more than only the 30 full scholarships. For the 2027 competition, up to 130 scholarships and awards are available in total.

These include:

Up to 30 full McCall MacBain Scholarships
Up to 100 finalist and regional awards

The awards are divided between Canadian and international applicants.

Awards for international applicants

International applicants may be considered for:

10 full McCall MacBain Scholarships, which can be used at McGill University
25 Finalist Awards worth CAD 20,000 per year for up to two years, which can be used at McGill University
15 Regional Awards worth CAD 10,000, which can be used at any public university in Canada

This means that an international applicant who does not receive the full scholarship may still be selected for a valuable finalist or regional award.

Awards for Canadian applicants

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and refugees may be considered for:

20 full McCall MacBain Scholarships, which can be used at McGill University
30 Finalist Awards worth CAD 10,000, which can be used at McGill University
30 Regional Awards worth CAD 5,000, which can be used at any public university in Canada

The finalist and regional awards have different values and conditions from the full scholarship. They should not be described as complete McCall MacBain Scholarships.

Difference between the awards

The full scholarship provides the complete funding package, including tuition and university fees, the monthly living stipend, and relocation assistance.

Finalist Awards are offered to some candidates who reach the final interview stage but are not selected for the complete scholarship.

Regional Awards are offered to some strong candidates who perform well during the regional stage. International regional awards can be used at a public university in Canada, while international finalist awards are tenable specifically at McGill University.

Therefore, applicants have more than one opportunity to receive financial support through the competition.

McCall MacBain Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the official eligibility requirements before submitting the McCall MacBain Scholarship application.

To be eligible for the 2027 cohort, an applicant must meet at least one of the following three conditions:

The applicant is currently completing their first bachelor’s degree and expects to finish it by August 2027.
The applicant completed their first bachelor’s degree in January 2021 or later.
The applicant completed their first bachelor’s degree before January 2021 and was 30 years old or younger on January 1, 2026.

Applicants do not need to meet all three conditions. Meeting any one of them is enough for the scholarship’s basic degree and graduation-date eligibility.

They must also satisfy the minimum academic-degree and language requirements of their selected McGill master’s or eligible professional program. Scholarship eligibility does not automatically mean that the applicant will qualify for admission to McGill University.

Can final-year bachelor’s students apply?

Yes. Students who are still completing their first bachelor’s degree can apply as long as they are expected to graduate by August 2027.

This allows students in the final year of their undergraduate degree to apply for the scholarship before receiving their final degree certificate.

Can recent graduates apply?

Yes. Applicants who completed their first bachelor’s degree in January 2021 or later can apply without needing to meet the age condition in the third eligibility route.

For example, someone who completed their first bachelor’s degree in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026 may qualify under the recent-graduate category.

Is there a 30-year age limit?

There is no universal age limit of 30 for every applicant.

The age condition only applies to applicants who completed their first bachelor’s degree before January 2021. Such applicants must have been 30 years old or younger on January 1, 2026.

A recent graduate who completed their degree in January 2021 or later does not need to use this age-based eligibility route.

Can students from any country apply?

Yes. Students of all nationalities may apply. However, applicants must use the deadline that applies to the location of the university where they currently study or previously graduated.

Students and graduates of universities outside Canada and the United States generally use the August 19, 2026 international deadline. Students and graduates of universities in Canada or the United States, as well as Canadians studying abroad, use the September 23, 2026 deadline.

Is academic eligibility enough?

No. Meeting one of the degree and graduation-date conditions only makes a person eligible to submit an application.

Selection also considers:

Academic strength
Intellectual curiosity
Leadership potential
Community involvement
Exceptional character
Entrepreneurial spirit
Suitability of the proposed McGill program
Connection between the applicant’s experience and future plans

Applicants should also confirm that their intended McGill degree is covered by the scholarship and that they meet its academic and language requirements.

Complete eligibility and deadline information is available on the official McCall MacBain application page.

McCall MacBain Scholarship Eligible Programs

The McCall MacBain Scholarship does not cover every program offered by McGill University. Applicants must choose a compatible full-time degree that begins in Summer or Fall 2027.

An eligible program must normally:

Be a full-time program
Consist of at least 45 credits
Be completed mainly at McGill University’s downtown or Macdonald campus
Be an eligible master’s degree or second-entry professional undergraduate degree

The scholarship supports more than 150 fields of study at McGill University. Applicants can list up to five McGill programs of interest in the scholarship application. However, they must later apply separately for admission to the McGill program they want to study. A scholarship offer remains conditional on admission to and enrollment in an eligible program.

Applicants can check the complete options on the official McCall MacBain eligible-degree page.

Eligible master’s degrees

Eligible fields are available under the following degree types:

MA — Master of Arts
MArch — Master of Architecture
MATL — Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning
MBA — Master of Business Administration
MEd — Master of Education
MEng — Master of Engineering
MISt — Master of Information Studies
MM — Master of Management
MMus — Master of Music
MPP — Master of Public Policy
MSc — Master of Science
MScA — Master of Science, Applied
MScAPT — Master of Science, Applied in Physical Therapy
MScAOT — Master of Science, Applied in Occupational Therapy
MSW — Master of Social Work
MUP — Master of Urban Planning
LLM — Master of Laws
STM — Master of Sacred Theology

The Master of Management category includes eligible programs in areas such as analytics, finance, and retail. Applicants should check the individual McGill program page because admission requirements, deadlines, language conditions, and degree duration can differ.

Eligible professional undergraduate degrees

The scholarship also supports three second-entry professional undergraduate degrees:

BCL/JD in Law
DMD in Dentistry
MDCM in Medicine

These are called second-entry programs because applicants normally need previous university study before admission. They are not ordinary first-entry undergraduate degrees for students applying directly from secondary school.

Programs that are not eligible

Examples of programs that are not covered include:

PhD programs
Graduate certificates
Part-time programs
Joint-degree programs
Executive master’s programs, including EMBA, IMHL, and IMPM
Graduate Management in Supply Chain Management and other ineligible part-time options

Qualifying-year students may apply at the beginning of their qualifying year for the master’s degree they intend to start afterward.

Can PhD students apply?

No. The McCall MacBain Scholarship does not fund PhD programs.

It is intended for eligible master’s and second-entry professional programs. Students searching for doctoral funding should look for separate McGill PhD scholarships, assistantships, or research funding.

How should applicants choose a program?

Applicants should select a program that connects clearly with:

Their previous degree
Their academic and professional experience
Their interests
Their long-term career plans
The type of contribution they hope to make after graduation

Choosing a program only because it is covered by the scholarship may weaken the application. Candidates should be able to explain why the selected program is the right academic step for them.

McCall MacBain Scholarship Required Documents and Application Information

The McCall MacBain application collects more than academic documents. It asks applicants to provide information about their education, activities, employment, community involvement, achievements, goals, and personal experiences.

The main application components for the 2027 cohort include:

Personal information
Academic and career interests
Activities and employment history
Two reference forms
University endorsement where required
Short-answer questions
Short essays
Résumé
Academic transcripts
Applicant waiver and confirmation

Applicants can review the current components on the official application-resources page.

Personal and educational information

At the beginning of the application, students provide information about:

Family background
Current and previous education
Scholarships
Awards and distinctions
Languages spoken
Academic interests
Career interests

Applicants may list up to five eligible McGill programs and up to three career interests.

They may also include information about standardized admission tests, such as the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, DAT, or CASPer, if they have already taken a test required for one of their intended programs. Test information is optional in the scholarship form unless otherwise required for the separate McGill admission application.

Activities and work experience

The application asks candidates how they have spent their time outside the classroom. Most listed experiences should generally come from the previous five years.

Applicants may be asked to provide:

Up to four community or campus activities
Up to three academic, intellectual, or creative works
Up to five co-op terms or activities completed during academic breaks
Up to five paid work experiences
Leadership experience
Volunteer experience
Information about significant breaks in education or employment

Paid experience can include part-time work, full-time employment, or entrepreneurial activities.

The activities do not need to be directly connected to the applicant’s chosen academic field. Applicants should focus on their responsibilities, motivations, achievements, and impact.

Activity verifiers

Applicants must provide verifiers for certain experiences, including campus or community activities, one leadership experience, and one volunteer role.

A verifier is someone who can confirm that the applicant genuinely participated in the activity. The scholarship staff or selection committee may contact this person.

Applicants should inform verifiers before entering their contact details. A verifier is not necessarily the same person as an academic or community referee.

Résumé

Applicants must upload a current résumé.

The résumé should clearly present:

Education
Employment
Leadership
Volunteering
Community involvement
Awards
Academic or creative work
Relevant skills

The information in the résumé should match the dates and descriptions entered elsewhere in the application. Applicants should remove outdated or unrelated information that does not help the committee understand their current profile.

Academic transcripts

Applicants must upload transcripts from their post-secondary studies.

The transcripts should show the applicant’s academic record and help the selection committee understand their educational background. Applicants should follow the upload instructions in the application portal and ensure that every page is readable.

The documents used for the scholarship application may not replace the official documents later required for admission to McGill University.

Short answers and essays

The 2027 application includes several short-answer questions and short essays.

These questions ask applicants to reflect on:

Personal goals
Activities they no longer pursue
Aspects of their identity
The influence of their community
Reasons for selecting particular McGill programs
Long-term aspirations
Meaningful experiences
Personal growth and important changes in direction

Applicants must confirm that the application is their own work and has not been edited by another person. The official guidance recommends using clear sentences, active verbs, and natural language rather than complicated vocabulary.

University endorsement

Some applicants must also receive endorsement from their current or former university.

The endorsement rules differ according to:

Canadian or international applicant status
Graduation year
Whether the university is an official participating institution
Whether the applicant studied at a Canadian university

Applicants should follow the instructions shown inside the application portal. Endorsement is separate from the two reference forms.

McCall MacBain Scholarship Reference Requirements

Every applicant must arrange two reference forms:

One academic reference
One community reference

Both reference forms must be submitted online by the applicant’s applicable scholarship deadline. An application is considered incomplete when one or both references are missing.

Applicants can review the questions on the official reference-questions page.

Academic reference

The academic reference should normally be completed by someone who knows the applicant’s academic work well.

A suitable person may include:

University professor
Lecturer
Research supervisor
Thesis adviser
Academic program adviser who has directly observed the applicant’s work

The academic referee is asked to assess qualities such as:

Intellectual curiosity
Academic excellence
Originality of thought
Integrity
Work ethic
Openness to different viewpoints
Ability to learn from mistakes

The referee must also discuss the applicant’s academic or professional achievements, suitability for the proposed degree, strengths, and areas for further growth.

Applicants to an MBA or another program that does not require an academic reference may be permitted to send this form to a professional contact instead. However, applicants to the Master of Management in Analytics still need an academic reference.

Community reference

The community referee should be someone who knows the applicant’s involvement outside purely academic work.

Suitable options may include:

Volunteer coordinator
Employer
Community organization representative
University staff member familiar with campus involvement
Sports coach
Project supervisor
Community mentor

The community form evaluates qualities such as:

Honesty and integrity
Empathy
Listening
Resilience
Collaboration
Service
Leadership
Work ethic
Ability to learn from mistakes

The referee is also asked to give concrete examples of the applicant’s community engagement and contribution to other people.

Who should not provide a reference?

Applicants should not use:

Family members
Friends
Fellow students
People who barely know them
A famous or senior person who cannot provide specific examples

A detailed reference from someone who knows the applicant well is usually more useful than a general reference from someone with an impressive title.

How are references submitted?

Applicants enter the referee’s contact information in the online scholarship application and select “Send to Recommender.”

The referee then receives an email containing a unique link to the online reference form. Reference forms cannot be submitted by email, post, or another method.

Applicants do not need to finish their own application before sending reference requests. They can invite referees as soon as they begin the application.

Reference deadline

Both referees must submit their forms by the applicant’s applicable deadline:

August 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time for students and graduates of universities outside Canada and the United States
September 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time for students and graduates of universities in Canada or the United States and Canadians abroad

Applicants are responsible for checking whether the forms have been submitted. Sending the invitation before the deadline is not enough; the referee must complete the form before the deadline.

Reference language and confidentiality

Reference responses must be written in English or French.

The completed forms are confidential. Applicants cannot view or receive copies of the answers, although the application system sends confirmation when a reference has been submitted.

How to select strong referees

Applicants should choose people who can provide specific examples instead of only general praise.

Before sending a request, give the referee:

The correct deadline
The name of the scholarship
A brief explanation of the selected McGill programs
An updated résumé
A reminder of projects or experiences completed together
Enough time to prepare thoughtful answers

Applicants should not write the reference answers for their referees. Each referee must complete the confidential form independently.

University Endorsement

University endorsement is different from the two reference forms. The requirement depends on the applicant’s status, graduation year, and university.

Canadian applicants who are current students or graduated in 2024, 2025, or 2026 normally require university endorsement.
Canadian applicants who graduated in 2023 or earlier apply directly.
International current students and recent graduates generally require endorsement.
International applicants who graduated in 2023 or earlier from a Canadian university or an official participating university abroad normally apply directly.
Applicants from other universities may still need endorsement regardless of graduation year.

Applicants should follow the instructions shown in their application account. In many cases, students at participating universities do not need to contact the university unless specifically instructed.

The official list of outreach partners is available on the McCall MacBain application page.

How to Apply for the McCall MacBain Scholarship 2027

The scholarship application and McGill University admission application are separate.

Step 1: Confirm eligibility

Check that you meet one of the bachelor’s degree or graduation-date conditions and that your intended McGill program is eligible.

Step 2: Create an online account

Step 3: Select programs of interest

Applicants can list up to five eligible McGill programs in the scholarship application.

Step 4: Add activities and employment

Provide information about community engagement, leadership, volunteering, academic work, employment, and other important experiences.

Step 5: Upload documents

Upload:

One-page résumé in PDF format
University transcripts
English or French translations where needed

Official and unofficial transcripts are accepted for the scholarship application.

Step 6: Request two references

Invite:

One academic referee
One community referee

Both forms must be submitted before the application deadline.

Step 7: Complete endorsement

Follow the endorsement instructions displayed in your account, where applicable.

Step 8: Answer the application questions

Complete the short answers and essays using your own experiences and words.

Step 9: Review and submit

Check all dates, documents, activity descriptions, and referee submissions before submitting.

Step 10: Apply separately to McGill

Applicants must later apply for admission to an eligible McGill degree. Scholarship finalists must submit their McGill application by December, even if the normal program deadline is later.

McCall MacBain Application Questions and Essays

The 2027 application contains three very short responses and several essays.

Short-answer questions

Applicants provide brief responses about:

An activity they previously spent significant time doing
Two non-academic goals they are currently pursuing
Three personal facts not already shown elsewhere

Each response has a maximum of 105 characters.

Community and program essays

Applicants explain:

How their community influenced their education and choices
Why they selected their proposed McGill programs and how these programs support their long-term goals

Each response has a maximum of 225 words.

Leadership essay

Applicants list up to three important leadership roles from the previous five years and select one experience to discuss.

The response covers:

Role and responsibilities
How the position was obtained
Team goals and results
A challenge or failure
Lessons learned

Community contribution essay

Applicants list up to three important volunteer or service roles and select one to explain in up to 250 words.

They should describe what motivated them, what they personally contributed, and how the experience affected them and others.

Course-correction essay

Applicants describe a significant change in their academic, personal, or leadership approach. They explain what caused the change and what they learned from it in up to 250 words.

The scholarship advises applicants to use clear, natural language. Applicants must confirm that the submission is their own work and has not been edited by another person. The official prompts and limits are available on the application resources page.

McCall MacBain Scholarship Selection Process

The selection process has three main stages.

1. Written application review

The selection committee evaluates the applicant’s academic record, character, leadership, community involvement, experiences, essays, résumé, and references.

2. Regional interviews

More than 250 semifinalists are invited to regional interviews in October and November 2026. International interviews are conducted online according to the region where the applicant attended university.

3. Final interviews

Approximately 85 finalists are invited to Montréal in March 2027. The program covers travel costs for participation in the final interviews. Finalists may receive either a full scholarship or a finalist award.

Scholarship selection remains conditional on admission to an eligible McGill program.

Regional and Final Interviews

Regional interviews allow applicants to discuss their background, experiences, academic interests, and future plans with a panel.

Important international interview dates include:

Region	Interview dates
Latin America and the Caribbean	October 7–8, 2026
East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania	October 13–15, 2026
Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia	October 14–15, 2026
South Asia	October 19–20, 2026
Sub-Saharan Africa	October 21–22, 2026
Europe and the United Kingdom	October 26–27, 2026

International applicants are interviewed online. Shortlisted candidates are normally informed approximately two weeks before their regional interview.

Applicants should prepare to discuss:

Their academic background
Leadership and community experiences
Difficult decisions or challenges
Reasons for choosing McGill
Long-term goals
Lessons learned from failures

The final interviews take place in Montréal in March 2027 and are invitation-only.

Can You Apply Without IELTS?

IELTS is not a separate requirement for submitting the McCall MacBain Scholarship application. However, applicants must meet the English-language requirements of their selected McGill program.

McGill’s general graduate admission minimums include:

IELTS Academic: Overall score of 6.5 or higher
TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 86, with at least 20 in each component

Some programs require higher scores. McGill does not accept the Duolingo English Test or PTE Academic for graduate admission.

Proof of English may not be required if the applicant has completed or is completing a degree at:

A recognized university in Canada or the United States
A recognized foreign university where English is the language of instruction
A university in a country where English is the primary language, after meeting McGill’s stated conditions

Applicants should confirm the exact language requirement on the page of their selected McGill program.

McCall MacBain Scholarship for Pakistani Students

Pakistani students are eligible to apply as international applicants.

Students studying at or graduating from a university in Pakistan normally use the international deadline:

Deadline: August 19, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Pakistan time: August 20, 2026, at approximately 1:00 a.m.

Pakistani applicants must:

Meet one of the bachelor’s degree eligibility conditions
Select an eligible McGill program
Submit two references
Complete university endorsement where required
Apply separately for admission to McGill
Meet the language requirements of their selected program

Applicants from Pakistan are generally included in the South Asia regional interview group. Regional interviews for South Asia are scheduled for October 19–20, 2026.

Common Application Mistakes

Applicants should avoid these common mistakes:

Following the wrong deadline
Selecting an ineligible or part-time program
Applying for a PhD
Confusing the scholarship form with McGill admission
Submitting an outdated résumé
Providing inconsistent dates across the application
Choosing referees who cannot give specific examples
Sending reference invitations too late
Ignoring university endorsement instructions
Writing vague descriptions of leadership and service
Repeating the same experience in every essay
Waiting until the final day to apply

Applicants must also upload a transcript. If it is not in English or French, both the original transcript and translation should be combined into one PDF.

Results and What Happens After Selection

Shortlisted applicants are normally informed approximately two weeks before their regional interviews.

After regional interviews:

Selected candidates become finalists.
Approximately 85 finalists are invited to Montréal in March 2027.
Finalists may receive a full scholarship or a finalist award.
Other strong regional candidates may receive regional awards.
Scholarship recipients must gain admission to an eligible McGill program.

A scholarship offer is conditional on full-time enrollment in an eligible program at McGill University. The award cannot be used for part-time study.

Can the scholarship be deferred?

No. McCall MacBain Scholarship offers cannot be deferred to a later intake. Applicants should apply only if they are prepared to begin an eligible program in Summer or Fall 2027.

What if an applicant does not receive the full scholarship?

Some strong candidates may still receive:

An international finalist award
An international regional award
A Canadian finalist or regional award, where applicable

These awards have different values and conditions from the complete McCall MacBain Scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the McCall MacBain Scholarship 2027 open?

Yes. Applications are open for students planning to begin an eligible McGill program in Summer or Fall 2027.

What is the international deadline?

The deadline for students and graduates of universities outside Canada and the United States is August 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Is the scholarship fully funded?

Yes. Full scholars receive tuition and university-fee coverage, a CAD 2,300 monthly stipend during academic terms, and a relocation grant.

How many full scholarships are available?

Up to 30 full scholarships are available, including up to 10 for international applicants.

Can final-year students apply?

Yes. Students completing their first bachelor’s degree by August 2027 may apply.

Is there an age limit?

There is no universal age limit. The age condition applies only to applicants who completed their first bachelor’s degree before January 2021.

Are PhD programs eligible?

No. The scholarship supports eligible master’s and second-entry professional programs, not PhD degrees.

How many McGill programs can applicants list?

Applicants can list up to five eligible McGill programs in the scholarship application.

Are two references required?

Yes. Applicants need one academic reference and one community reference.

Is IELTS required?

IELTS is not required for the scholarship application itself. However, applicants must meet the language requirements of their selected McGill program.

Do applicants apply separately to McGill?

Yes. The scholarship application and McGill admission application are separate.

Can Pakistani students apply?

Yes. Pakistani students are eligible as international applicants.

Are final-interview travel costs covered?

Yes. The program covers travel costs for invited finalists attending interviews in Montréal.

Final Application Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that you have:

Checked your eligibility
Identified the correct deadline
Selected eligible McGill programs
Created an online account
Completed personal and academic information
Added employment and activity details
Uploaded a current résumé
Uploaded readable transcripts
Added translations where needed
Invited one academic referee
Invited one community referee
Completed endorsement requirements where applicable
Answered all short questions and essays
Checked that both references were submitted
Reviewed all dates and information
Submitted before the deadline
Planned the separate McGill admission application

Final Thoughts

The McCall MacBain Scholarship 2027 is a major fully funded opportunity for students who want to pursue an eligible graduate or professional degree at McGill University.

Full scholars receive tuition and fee coverage, a CAD 2,300 monthly stipend during academic terms, relocation support, mentoring, and leadership-development opportunities.

International applicants studying outside Canada and the United States must apply by August 19, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Students and graduates of universities in Canada or the United States, along with Canadians studying abroad, have until September 23, 2026.

Applicants should begin early because transcripts, references, essays, and university endorsement may take time. The scholarship application must also be followed by a separate application to an eligible McGill program.

Official resources: