How to Apply — Step by Step#

Here is the truth about applying for these scholarships: each one has its own timeline, its own portal, and its own requirements. If you mix them up, you will miss deadlines. So pay attention.

The good news? Because the deadlines are spread out, you can apply to all three. And you should. More applications means more chances.

Master Timeline (Fall 2027 Entry)#

This is your roadmap. Save it. Screenshot it. Set reminders on your phone.

June 2026

• McCall MacBain application portal opens at mccallmacbainscholars.org. Start your application immediately. Do not wait until August.

August 2026

• McCall MacBain international deadline (~August 20). Your application must be submitted by now.
• McGill Mastercard Foundation opens its application and holds information sessions. Attend every session.

September 2026

• McCall MacBain Canada/US deadline (~September 24) if you are a Canadian or US citizen.
• UBC Mastercard Foundation Expression of Interest (EOI) deadline. This is a shorter application — think of it as a screening round.

October 2026

• Mastercard Foundation at McGill application deadline.
• If UBC approves your EOI, you submit your full scholarship application.

November 2026

• UBC Mastercard applicants who pass the scholarship stage now apply to their chosen UBC faculty/program.

December 2026

• McCall MacBain finalists are notified and apply to their chosen McGill graduate programs.

January — March 2027

• Interviews happen. McCall MacBain flies finalists to Montreal. Mastercard and UBC conduct their own selection processes.
• Decisions are made. You will hear back.

April — May 2027

• Accept your offer. Prepare your documents for the visa process.

June — August 2027

• Apply for your Canadian study permit. Book flights. Prepare to start your new life.

Documents You Need (All 3 Scholarships)#

Start collecting these now. Not next month. Now.

• Academic transcripts — official copies from every university you attended. If they are not in English or French, get them translated by a certified translator.
• CV / Resume — academic format. Include education, work experience, research, volunteer work, leadership roles, publications if any.
• Reference letters — typically 2-3 letters. More on choosing referees in the next lesson.
• Personal statements / essays — each scholarship asks different questions, but they all want to know: who are you, what drives you, and what will you do with this degree?
• Proof of English proficiency — IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent.
• Valid passport — make sure it will not expire within the next 2 years.
• Financial documents — bank statements, sponsor letters. The scholarship covers everything, but some applications still ask for this.

English Language Requirements#

• McGill (McCall MacBain and Mastercard): IELTS 6.5+ overall (no band below 6.0), or TOEFL iBT 86+
• UBC: IELTS 6.5+ overall (no band below 6.0), or TOEFL iBT 90+

If English is the language of instruction at your current or previous university, you may be exempt. Check each university's website to confirm.

My Tips for You#

Apply to all 3 scholarships. The deadlines are different enough that you can manage it. McCall MacBain opens first, then Mastercard McGill, then UBC. Spread the work across the summer.

Prepare your CV and reference letters first. All three scholarships need them. Get your CV polished and your referees confirmed before anything else. This saves you weeks of stress later.

Tailor every personal statement. Do not copy-paste the same essay for all three. McCall MacBain wants to see entrepreneurial thinking and character. Mastercard wants to see commitment to Africa and community. UBC wants to see how you will contribute to their campus. Read what each one asks and answer that specific question.

Attend every information session. McCall MacBain and Mastercard both hold webinars and Q&A sessions. Attend them. You will learn things that are not on the website, and it shows you are serious.

Do not wait until the last week. Portals crash. Referees forget. Internet goes down. Give yourself at least 2 weeks of buffer before every deadline.

You have the timeline. You have the document list. Now it is time to understand what these scholarships are really looking for.