Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship 2027

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

• Citizens of an African country who are enrolled in post-secondary study or graduated within the last five years, have a venture idea, can complete all three online phases, and have reliable internet and a device. Any field of study.

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

• Valid international passport (bio page scan)
• Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
• Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
• Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
• Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
• Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
• Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
• Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
• Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
• Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

1. 1
   Confirm eligibility on the official site

   Open https://www.queensu.ca/innovationcentre/programs/jim-leech-mastercard-foundation-fellowship-entrepreneurship and verify the sponsor's stated criteria match your profile — currently: "Citizens of an African country who are enrolled in post-secondary study or graduated within the last five years, have a venture idea, can complete all three online phases, and have reliable internet and a device. Any fie…". Sponsor rules change between intakes, so always confirm against the live call.

2. 2
   Secure a study place or admission offer

   Identify a supervisor whose research aligns with yours, exchange emails, and either obtain a conditional offer or confirmation that they will host your project. Many Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre (Queen's University) & Mastercard Foundation awards require this before the funding application opens.

3. 3
   Sit required tests and gather documents

   Register for IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (or SAT / GRE where required), request official transcripts, brief two or three referees, and prepare passport and identity documents at high resolution.

4. 4
   Draft your essays and statements

   Write a focused 1,000–2,000-word research proposal and a separate personal statement. Tailor every paragraph to the sponsor's stated priorities — generic recycled essays are the most common reason strong applicants are rejected.

5. 5
   Complete the online application

   Create an account on https://www.queensu.ca/innovationcentre/programs/jim-leech-mastercard-foundation-fellowship-entrepreneurship, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Aim to have the full draft complete by 2 Oct 2026. Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.

6. 6
   Submit by 01 December 2026 12:59 GMT-5 (Eastern Time) (aim 7 days early)

   Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours before the 1 Dec 2026 deadline. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

7. 7
   Prepare for shortlist interviews

   If shortlisted, Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre (Queen's University) & Mastercard Foundation will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

Working backwards from the sponsor's stated deadline (01 December 2026 12:59 GMT-5 (Eastern Time)). Dates assume a smooth, single-attempt timeline — start earlier where you can.

1. 12 months out

   6 Dec 2025

   Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.

2. 6 months out

   4 Jun 2026

   Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.

3. 3 months out

   2 Sept 2026

   Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.

4. 1 month out

   1 Nov 2026

   Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.

5. Application deadline

   1 Dec 2026

   Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.