McCALL MacBAIN SCHOLARSHIP 2027 — FULLY FUNDED GRADUATE AWARD AT McGILL UNIVERSITY, CANADA

By: Sphesihle Mtseftwa

Deadline for International Applicants: 19 August 2026

Apply at: mccallmacbainscholars.org

The McCall MacBain Scholarship at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, is a fully funded graduate award supporting exceptional leaders from around the world to pursue master’s and select professional degrees. Recipients receive full tuition, a monthly living stipend, relocation support, and an intensive leadership and mentorship programme designed to accelerate impact and build a lifelong peer network. The 2027 cohort application window opened on 1 June 2026, with a distinct deadline for international applicants outside Canada and the United States.

What the Scholarship Offers

The McCall MacBain Scholarship is a flagship award covering the full cost of graduate study at McGill. The package includes:

• Full tuition and mandatory fees for an eligible McGill master’s or second-entry professional degree
• A monthly living stipend of CAD 2,300 during academic terms
• A relocation grant for international recipients
• Leadership programming, personalized mentorship and coaching, and peer networks
• Funding for summer initiatives or project work

The scholarship typically covers the normal duration of the chosen degree programme, and up to 30 full McCall MacBain Scholarships are awarded per cohort, alongside additional Entrance and Regional awards and finalist prizes.

Who Can Apply?

There are no citizenship restrictions, international students are eligible to apply, and Eswatini applicants are welcome to put their names forward. Applicants must be applying to or have recently graduated from a bachelor’s degree programme, with recency and age rules applying as outlined on the official scholarship website.

To be eligible, applicants must meet the admission and programme-specific requirements of McGill University, including English language requirements, and must follow the scholarship’s application rules. McGill’s graduate admissions pages provide programme-specific requirements and link directly to scholarship information. For applicants whose medium of instruction was English, a Medium of Instruction letter may be accepted in place of a formal language test — though this should be confirmed on both McGill’s and the scholarship’s official sites.

What the Selection Committee Is Looking For

Selection is based on five core attributes that the McCall MacBain Scholarship considers essential in its recipients:

• Exceptional character
• Community engagement
• Leadership potential
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Academic strength and intellectual curiosity

Successful applicants typically demonstrate sustained impact in their communities, clear and evidenced leadership experiences, and a compelling vision for how McGill and the McCall MacBain community will help them grow and scale their impact. The scholarship is not looking for theoretical potential alone, it seeks candidates who have already shown what they are capable of and who have a clear plan for what comes next.

Application Process and Key Dates

Applications for the 2027 cohort are submitted through the official McCall MacBain Scholarship portal. The application window opened on 1 June 2026. For international applicants outside Canada and the United States, the deadline is 19 August 2026. Applicants from Canadian and US universities, as well as Canadians studying abroad, have a later deadline of 23 September 2026.

Shortlisted candidates proceed with further application and selection steps, including programme admission to McGill, as instructed through the scholarship process. Applicants should use the official Application Resources and FAQ pages on the scholarship website for guidance on references, submitting evidence, and preparing short-answer responses.

Important Note for Eswatini Applicants

International applicants must ensure that visa and immigration requirements, including the Canadian study permit are completed on schedule alongside the scholarship and university admission processes. The relocation grant and monthly stipend provide meaningful financial support for the transition to study in Montreal, but applicants should plan their timelines carefully to ensure all processes run concurrently without delays.

For full programme details, eligibility information, and to access the application portal, visit mccallmacbainscholars.org or McGill’s graduate applicants page at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/funding/external/mccall-macbain-scholarship.

Ongoing Scholarships

1. IRELAND FELLOWS PROGRAMME 2027–2028 — FULLY FUNDED MASTER’S SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EARLY TO MID-CAREER PROFESSIONALS IN AFRICA

Stage 1 Deadline: 26 July 2026 | Apply by email to: Mozambiquefellowships@dfa.ie

The Ireland Fellows Programme, fully funded by the Irish Government under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is inviting applications from early to mid-career professionals across eligible African countries — including Eswatini — for the 2027–2028 academic cycle. The programme offers selected candidates the opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year master’s level programme at a recognised higher education institution in Ireland, commencing in August or September 2027.

The programme’s aims are clear: to nurture future leaders, to develop in-country capacity to achieve national Sustainable Development Goals, and to build lasting positive relationships with Ireland. The Ireland Fellows Programme promotes gender equality, equal opportunity, and welcomes diversity, encouraging applications from the broadest possible base including applicants with disabilities and those belonging to minority or disadvantaged groups.

What the Fellowship Covers

The award is fully funded and comprehensive. It includes:

• Academic fees for the full duration of the programme
• Visa application fees
• Medical and travel insurance
• Economy class flights to and from Ireland
• Irish residence permit fee
• A settling-in allowance towards items needed upon arrival in Ireland
• A completion and departure allowance at the end of the study period
• A monthly living stipend of €700 (approximately E13,500 per month, subject to review)
• Student accommodation arranged and paid for during the first two trimesters (normally September to May)
• A monthly accommodation stipend of €800 to €1,000 during the third trimester, depending on location in Ireland

In addition, the Ireland Fellows Programme offers a range of extracurricular, training, and volunteering opportunities to enrich the experience of fellows during their time in Ireland.

Who Can Apply?

Eswatini is listed among the eligible countries for the Ireland Fellows Programme Africa. To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a resident national of Eswatini
• Hold a bachelor’s degree awarded in 2015 or later from an accredited and government-recognised institution, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A lower second class may be considered where the applicant has substantial directly relevant work experience
• Have a minimum of three years of substantial work experience directly relevant to the proposed programme of study
• Not already hold a qualification at master’s level or higher
• Not be currently enrolled in or due to start a master’s programme in the 2026/2027 academic year
• Demonstrate leadership abilities and aspirations, a commitment to achieving the SDGs within Eswatini, and a commitment to building positive relationships with Ireland
• Have identified and selected three master’s programmes from the Ireland Fellows Programme Directory of Eligible Programmes, ranked in order of preference across three different higher education institutions where possible
• Not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion
• Be in a position to take up the fellowship in the 2027/2028 academic year

English Language Requirements

All Irish higher education institutions require a high standard of English language proficiency, and this is verified through English language testing as there are no exceptions. If shortlisted at Stage 1, candidates who do not yet hold the required English language certification will be provided with a coupon to sit the Duolingo English Test, accepted by most Irish institutions. Candidates requiring a score not met by Duolingo will be required to sit the IELTS exam in January 2027, with most institutions requiring an overall score of 6.5 or higher. Applicants who already hold an IELTS result must note that the test is only valid if completed in September 2025 or later.

Master’s Programme Choices

Applicants are required to select three master’s programmes from the Ireland Fellows Programme Directory of Eligible Programmes, listed in order of preference. It is strongly recommended that the three programmes are at three different higher education institutions. The order in which programmes are listed is critically important, if more than one offer is received, applicants will be required to accept the programme ranked highest in their application. Programme choices may be revised at Stage 2 but no further changes will be permitted after that stage except in exceptional circumstances.

The Personal Statement

The final section of the Stage 1 application requires a personal motivation statement addressing three areas of no more than 150 words each: how the chosen programmes would assist career aspirations; how the programmes would contribute to achieving Eswatini’s national SDG goals; and how the applicant would propose to develop links between Eswatini and Ireland. Applicants are expected to demonstrate knowledge of Ireland and Irish higher education. All responses must be the applicant’s own authentic work for the use of AI-generated content is expressly prohibited and will disadvantage the application.

Stage 1 Required Documents

The Stage 1 application must be submitted as a typed Microsoft Word or PDF document by email, accompanied by the following:

• A scanned copy of an official identification document (passport identity page, or alternative official ID)
• The undergraduate degree award certificate
• Final academic transcripts, including an explanation of the grading system where available

Applications submitted without these documents will not be considered valid.

The Application Process

The programme operates across three stages. Stage 1, the preliminary application, opens on 29 June 2026 and closes on 26 July 2026. Shortlisted Stage 1 candidates proceed to Stage 2, the detailed application, which runs from 21 September to 18 October 2026. Stage 3 consists of interviews conducted in November and December 2026, held either in person or by video or telephone conference. Successful candidates are notified and invited to apply to Irish higher education institutions around March 2027, with fellowship places confirmed in June or early July 2027. New fellows are expected to arrive in Ireland in August or September 2027.

Applicants from Eswatini should check the Embassy of Ireland’s local notice or their employer for confirmation of eligibility, as application arrangements may be handled through country-specific channels.

For Eswatini Applicants: Where to Submit

The Embassy of Ireland responsible for Eswatini applications is the Embassy of Ireland in Mozambique. All Stage 1 applications from Eswatini must be submitted by email to Mozambiquefellowships@dfa.ie by 26 July 2026. For more information on studying in Ireland, visit educationinireland.com and for programme details visit ireland.ie/IrelandFellowsProgramme.

You can also contact Likusasa Letfu for assistance in applying and for more information via email at careers@likusasa.org.

 

2. DAAD HELMUT-SCHMIDT PROGRAMME 2027/28 — MASTER’S IN SOCIAL PROTECTION, GERMANY

Deadline: 31 July 2026

Apply at: daad.de/go/en

The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme 2027/28 includes the Master’s in Social Protection as one of its scholarship-linked study options for applicants from developing countries, including Eswatini. Offered through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the programme is part of a broader scholarship scheme designed to prepare future leaders in public policy-related fields, among them social policy, administration, law, and economics.

What the Programme Is

The Master’s in Social Protection sits within the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme’s wider framework of master’s scholarships in Germany, all of which are focused on strengthening future leadership in public governance and related disciplines. The degree is specifically intended for students and professionals with a genuine interest in policy development, welfare systems, and social development fields that are directly relevant to the work of public servants, NGO practitioners, and development professionals in Eswatini and across the African continent.

The programme is hosted at the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS) and is delivered over four semesters through a blended learning model, combining in-person study in Germany with online and practical components. This format equips graduates with both the technical and methodological skills needed to design, reform, analyse, and manage social protection policies in their home countries.

What the Scholarship Covers

The Master’s in Social Protection is a fully funded scholarship under the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt framework. The scholarship package includes:

• A monthly stipend of €992 (approximately E19,000 per month)
• Full tuition fee exemption
• Health insurance cover in Germany
• Fixed travel allowances for travel between Germany and the scholar’s home country
• A study and research grant
• Rent subsidies and family supplements where applicable
• A mandatory German language course of up to four months in Germany, held prior to the commencement of studies

It is important to note that due to the blended learning concept of the Social Protection programme, a reduced sur place rate of €500 per month applies during the fourth semester, which is completed online from the student’s country of origin or another developing country.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to applicants from developing countries with an academic and professional background in public policy, governance, social development, or related disciplines. To be eligible under the broader Helmut-Schmidt-Programme framework, applicants must hold a well-qualified first university degree with above-average grades in the upper third of their cohort, have practical experience relevant to the programme through professional work, internships, political activities, or community engagement, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to contributing to the social, political, and economic development of their home country upon completion of studies.

The applicant’s most recent degree must not date back more than six years at the time of application. Candidates who have spent more than 15 months in a country not on the DAC list are not eligible.

Application Deadline and Process

For the 2027/28 cycle, the application window runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 July 2026. Applications must be submitted directly to the Social Protection master’s programme at the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, not to the DAAD. Applicants are strongly advised to begin preparing their documents early, as the deadline is firm and the documentation requirements are detailed.

For contact and programme-specific details, visit www.ma-socialprotection.de or email msc-socialprotection@h-brs.de. For full Helmut-Schmidt-Programme scholarship details, visit daad.de/go/en. Contact Likusasa Letfu for assistance in applying and for more information via email at careers@likusasa.org.

Why This Programme Matters

For professionals and graduates in Eswatini working in or aspiring to work in social protection, welfare policy, public administration, or development, this programme represents a rare and valuable combination of world-class German academic training and practical policy-focused education. Graduates leave equipped to design effective, sustainable social protection systems and are well-positioned for careers in public service, international organisations, and the NGO sector. Given the strict deadline of 31 July 2026, eligible candidates are encouraged to act without delay.