Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarship
The Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships are funded by a bequest from former Canadian Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King and supported by participating Canadian universities including McGill, Toronto, UBC, and Queen's. Two awards exist: the Open (any graduate field, study anywhere in Canada or abroad) at CAD 11,000 and the Travelling (international affairs at a US or UK university) at CAD 12,500. To be eligible you must have completed a Bachelor's at a participating Canadian university — so Sri Lankan students who did their undergrad in Canada can apply at the Master's stage.
Open for 2027 awards — Mackenzie King applications close 1 February 2027
Mackenzie King Scholarships Trust (tenable at McGill / Canadian universities)
External Organization-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Open Award
CAD 11,000
Travelling Award
CAD 12,500
Level
Graduate (Master's / PhD)
Awards
~2 per year (very competitive)
info How this award actually works
This is a separate, highly competitive application
Awards from external organisations like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.
Who awards it
Mackenzie King Scholarships Trust (tenable at McGill / Canadian universities) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.
What it covers
Up to CAD 11,000 (Open) / CAD 12,500 (Travelling). Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.
Where we come in
We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor's from Participating Canadian University
You must hold (or be about to receive) a Bachelor's degree from one of the participating Canadian universities — McGill, Toronto, UBC, Queen's, Western, McMaster, Ottawa, Dalhousie, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and a handful of others.
Outstanding Academic Profile
Top-decile academic record at the undergraduate institution. The two awards combined typically go to two outstanding graduating students each year out of the entire Canadian university system.
Heading to Graduate Study
You must be entering or already in full-time graduate study (Master's or PhD). The Travelling award explicitly requires the destination programme to focus on international or industrial relations and be at a US or UK university.
Canadian Citizen or Eligible Graduate
Open primarily to Canadian citizens, but international graduates of participating Canadian universities are typically eligible. Confirm your status before applying — the Trust's eligibility rules are interpreted strictly.
account_tree Application Process
Confirm your Bachelor's institution is eligible
Check the Mackenzie King Trust's list of participating Canadian universities. If your undergrad isn't on the list, you cannot apply — there is no exception route.
Apply via your undergraduate university
Each participating Canadian university handles its own internal nomination process. Apply through your graduate-studies office (not directly to the Trust) by 1 February 2028.
University nomination
Your home Canadian university shortlists one or two nominees and forwards them to the Mackenzie King Trust selection committee for the national competition.
Trust selection + award
The Trust's selection committee reviews all nominees and selects the Open and Travelling winners. Awards are announced in May and held during the academic year of graduate study.
About Mackenzie King Scholarships
Established in 1950 from the estate of Canada's longest-serving prime minister, this is one of Canada's most prestigious graduate awards. Past recipients include eminent academics, civil servants, and public-policy leaders.
Since 1950
Programme Running
11+
Participating Canadian Universities
~2
Awards / Year (national pool)
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
Open the cost calculator arrow_forwardSort courses by lowest fee
The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat CA actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for CA, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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