Scholarship details
In 2013, McGill University began its partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to offer the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill. This program provides academically talented young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with access to a world-class university education. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill will welcome Scholars from Sub-Saharan Africa, including some at the Master’s level, over a ten year period. Unique to McGill, some Scholars are from French-speaking countries and receive intensive English language training before starting their degree programs.
There are around 16 countries that have become active in the MasterCard foundation program, and this steadily grows each passing year.
The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. The Foundation’s work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion for people living in poverty. One of the largest foundations in the world, it works almost exclusively in Africa. It was created in 2006 by Mastercard International and operates independently under the governance of its own Board of Directors.
The Mastercard Foundation was created in 2006 by Mastercard International and operates independently under the governance of its own Board of Directors.
The Program has a particular focus on Africa. Africa is the youngest continent. 62 percent of its population is under 25, and more than 2.2 million youth are expected to enter the labor force between 2011 and 2015. Secondary and tertiary enrollment rates in Sub-Saharan Africa are the lowest in the world. It is evident that the future of Africa will be shaped by its young people.
As for McGill University is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by King George IV, the university bears the name of James McGill, a Scottish merchant whose quest in 1813 formed the university’s precursor, University of McGill College. However, the name was officially changed to McGill University in 1885.
Since a statistic study in 2019, 20% of the student population (out of 50,000 plus students) is an international student. McGill University prides itself on having a great diverse student body count from multiple nations.
Eligibility
- Scholars must show with their previous work that they value learning and have the drive to complete their own education.
- All students must have shown or demonstrated commitment to improving their communities.
- Students who apply must understand that they will need to be role models, mentors, and problem solvers.
- Students and scholars only from Africa can apply for this program.
- Students must provide financial annual family income.
- Students must provide school transcripts or school records that are the equivalent to transcripts.
- This program is for students who are undergraduates, graduates, sophomores in college, seniors in college, to scholars.
- McGill University will act as the epicenter for all the students, that will need to travel abroad.
- Students will need their student visas eventually which will be administered through the university to help students who need the travel fee waived.
Requirements
Students must be originally and still living in Africa when they apply. Each student must demonstrate that they intend to help and improve their own community while working towards a higher education.
Students will be able to receive funds and have their full tuition pay off as long as they stay in the program for the full duration time frame.
Since this program educates over 30,000 young people from low-income backgrounds. This network of next-generation leaders are unified by a common philosophy of change and ethical leadership. This will drive social and economic transformation in their communities. At an institutional level, the Program will develop best practices to identify, educate and mentor students of this profile, and transition them from secondary to higher education and into the workforce.
This means that students will need to learn or have excellent teamwork and leadership skills. This is a number one requirement.
Students will need to live on campus at McGill University in Canada. This means that students will need to make arrangements through the program to have everything in order before arriving.
How to Apply
Students can apply by following the link to the scholarship portal. As of right now, students will have to wait until the end of 2022 to apply for the 2023 Spring term.
Every applicant needs to fill out the form and they must not leave any blanks. All forms need every section filled out with the best and correct answer that can be given. If a student answers untruthfully, they will be revoked and the scholarship program application will be tossed.
Students must show compassionate listening skills, because this will be tested within the first round of applications. There are three rounds where students will be notified if they have passed to the next round and interviews will be conducted.
Reward – Extra Benefits
Students will receive financial support for fees, uniforms, books and supplies, transportation, accommodation, and stipends. This is a full tuition scholarship program. Another added benefit, is that students receive support during their transition into secondary school, university or the workforce with mentoring, career counseling, internships, leadership development, and other life skills coaching.
Deadline
Graduates of the Scholars Program will be connected through an alumni network that offers information, resources, and opportunities to consult with other graduates.
The deadline happens every Spring semester. The Spring deadline has already passed since it closed in early 2022. Students will need to wait until the end of 2022 (Winter preferably) until the next open submissions window.
Open Submission Window Time Frame
The open submission window time frame happens during the Winter semester season and the deadline happens in the beginning of each year to allow students to receive the reward and start school in the following Spring.
Also, students should check with McGill University admissions to see if they have changed the deadline date as well.
Annual
This is an annual scholarship that happens each year. So far the scholarship has been extended a few times, so students should always check back to see when the scholarship may change availability times. Otherwise students should always follow the rules and guidelines when it comes to deadline and annual renewable dates.
