Montreal, Quebec (October 9, 2026) – Twenty-eight undergraduate students make up the next cohort of McCall MacBain International Fellows, offered in partnership with McGill University, McMaster University, Dalhousie University, and the University of Manitoba.
Valued at up to $30,000, the Fellowship is designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn a language, participate actively and respectfully in a new community, build lasting international ties, and deepen their ability to work in a different cultural context. Fellows departed this summer to spend a full year abroad, which is divided into three terms: one term learning a new language intensively, one term completing academic studies at a university, and one term at a work or internship experience. This year’s selected Fellows are spread all over the world, including China, India, Brazil, Germany, Egypt, France, Japan, Taiwan, Belgium, Italy, South Korea, Portugal, Costa Rica, Spain, Sweden, Colombia and Mauritius.
Marcy and I are delighted to announce the 2026 McCall MacBain International Fellows. In an era when Canada wants to strengthen ties with countries all around the world, it is vital that we, as Canadians, collectively invest in opportunities that allow our next generation of leaders to build strong understanding of a broad range of countries and regions. As a Foundation, we believe that investing in programs like these – ones that support young Canadians to develop independence, adaptability, and deepen their cross-cultural understanding – are key to our shared future.
– John McCall MacBain, Chair of the McCall MacBain Foundation
“We hope this Fellowship enables students to cultivate key leadership skills: from learning across differences to finding joy and building adaptability. And, we hope that the Fellowship serves as proof of concept that investing in long-term immersive opportunities is a game-changer for young Canadians to build the skills necessary to lead in a globalized world,” said Natasha Sawh, CEO of McCall MacBain Scholarships offered by the Foundation.
The selection process for the McCall MacBain International Fellowships looks beyond academic achievement to examine students’ activities and pursuits in the service of their communities, their leadership experience, and their character. To support them in planning their year abroad, the Fellows attended a pre-departure orientation over three days in May and have regular touchpoints with each other and with the Foundation team throughout the year.
Applications for the next cohort are now open until January 6, 2027, for departure in the summer of 2027. Learn more and apply here.
About the McCall MacBain Foundation
The McCall MacBain Foundation’s mission is to improve the welfare of humanity by providing scholarships and other educational opportunities that nurture transformational leadership, and by investing in evidence-based strategies to address climate change, preserve our natural environment, and improve health outcomes.
The Foundation has made significant investments in the leadership potential of young people, most notably through the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill, the Rhodes Scholarships, the Loran Awards, as well as the Mandela Rhodes Scholarships based in South Africa and the Kupe Leadership Scholarships in New Zealand. The Foundation has also made significant investments in scholarships and leadership development programs at universities in Canada, including McMaster University, Toronto Metropolitan University, and the University of Montreal.
The 2026 McCall MacBain International Fellowship Recipients:
Learn more about the recipients here.
Aaron
Arts & Science, McMaster University
Fellowship year: Mandarin in Taiwan
Aline
Cognitive Science, McGill University
Fellowship year: Spanish in Spain
Audréanne
Political Science & International Development, McGill University
Fellowship year: Portuguese in Brazil
Bona
Health Sciences, McMaster University
Fellowship year: French in France
Cameron
Classics & Biology, McGill University
Fellowship year: Italian in Italy
Cassiana
Bioresource Engineering, McGill University
Fellowship year: Mandarin in Taiwan
Danoya
Honours Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law, McMaster University
Fellowship year: French in Mauritius
Delina
Computer Engineering & Management, McMaster University
Fellowship year: Portuguese in Brazil
Francesca
Health Sciences, McMaster University
Fellowship year: Swedish in Sweden
Gonzalo
Health Sciences, McMaster University
Fellowship year: Mandarin in China
Harrison
Mechanical Engineering, Dalhousie University
Fellowship year: Mandarin in China
Jacob
Bioresource Engineering, McGill University
Fellowship year: Hindi in India
Jessica
Medical Radiation Science, McMaster University
Fellowship year: French in France
Katherine
Cognitive Science, McGill University
Fellowship year: French in Belgium
Kaytlan
New Media, Toronto Metropolitan University
Fellowship year: Korean in South Korea
Lian
Conflict Studies and Human Rights, University of Ottawa
Fellowship year: French in France
Lindsay
Health Sciences, McMaster University
Fellowship year: Mandarin in China
Maya
Biology & Latin American and Caribbean Studies, McGill University
Fellowship year: Spanish in Costa Rica
Mehtab
Economics, McGill University
Fellowship year: German in Germany
Merin
Applied Psychology & Human Behaviour, McMaster University
Fellowship year: Spanish in Colombia
Mieko
Psychology & Philosophy, McGill University
Fellowship year: Arabic in Egypt
Molly
Computer Science & Biology, McGill University
Fellowship year: Japanese in Japan
Rihana
Neuroscience, Dalhousie University
Fellowship year: Portuguese in Brazil
Salina
Interdisciplinary Health, University of Manitoba
Fellowship year: Japanese in Japan
Sam
Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba
Fellowship year: Italian in Italy
Shareen
Psychology & Philosophy, University of Manitoba
Fellowship year: Portuguese in Portugal
Ted
Mathematics & Statistics, Dalhousie University
Fellowship year: Korean in South Korea
Vince Angelo
Mechatronics Engineering, McMaster University
Fellowship year: Japanese in Japan