McCall MacBain Scholarship at McGill
The McCall MacBain Scholarship is Canada's first comprehensive leadership-focused scholarship for full-time graduate study — endowed at CAD 200 million in 2019, the largest gift in McGill's history. It funds tuition, fees, and a generous monthly living stipend (CAD 2,200 = LKR 517k/month) plus enrichment programming and travel support. Around 20-30 scholars are selected each year. Open to international applicants — Sri Lankans are eligible to apply alongside Canadian citizens. The programme strongly resembles Rhodes in structure: applicants must demonstrate purposeful leadership and a clear vision for using their graduate study to address societal challenges.
Applications for the 2027 cohort closed on 17 September 2026. The scholarship runs on an annual cycle — the 2028 cohort round normally opens in early June 2027 with a deadline the following September. Confirm the current dates with the McCall MacBain Foundation before planning around it.
McGill University
External Organization-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Full Tuition + CAD 2,200/mo Stipend
Duration
1-2 Years (Master's / Professional)
Cohort
~25 per Year (Global)
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
McGill University — 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
Full Tuition + CAD 2,200/Month Stipend + Programmes. 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
Recent Graduate (within 5 Years)
You must have completed your Bachelor's between 2022 and 2027 (for 2027 entry) — within 5 years of programme start. Sri Lankan applicants 0-5 years post-Bachelor's are the typical profile.
McGill Master's or Professional Admission
You must separately apply to and gain admission to one of McGill's eligible Master's or professional programmes (MBA, MD, LL.B, DCL, MPP, MA, MSc, MEng, MArch, etc.). PhD candidates apply via separate McGill funding.
Open to All Nationalities
International applicants welcome. Sri Lankan citizens compete in the same global pool as Canadians, Americans, and other internationals. There is no country quota — purely merit-based selection.
Demonstrated Leadership
Selection emphasises character, leadership, impact, and goals. The application includes 6 short-essay questions on values, leadership stories, and post-Master's plans. Pure academic profiles without service or impact stories are rarely successful.
account_tree Application Process
Submit McCall MacBain application by 17 September
Apply via the McCall MacBain online portal — 6 short essays (max 250 words each), CV, transcripts, and references. You do NOT need a McGill admission offer to apply — just intent to apply to an eligible programme.
Reference + video interview round
Shortlisted candidates are invited to a video interview with two scholarship reviewers in October-November. About 200 candidates are then invited to regional interviews.
Regional + final interviews
Regional interviews held in major cities (Toronto, Boston, London, Singapore, etc.) in February-March. Final ~40 candidates are flown to Montreal in April for a multi-day Final Selection Event.
Confirm McGill admission
Final scholars are notified by April. You must then complete your McGill programme admission — McGill's admissions team works with McCall MacBain to streamline the process. Programme starts in August/September.
Why McCall MacBain at McGill?
McCall MacBain was founded in 2019 with the explicit aim of becoming Canada's Rhodes Scholarship — a comprehensive merit-and-character-based award for graduate study. The cohort of ~25 scholars per year lives, studies, and travels together for enrichment programming over 2-4 weeks per year across destinations including Banff, Stratford, and Montreal. The McGill campus is in downtown Montreal, one of North America's most affordable and bilingual cities.
#27
QS World Ranking 2026 (McGill)
~25
Scholars / Year
CAD 200M
Endowment Value
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.
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