JL Mastercard Fellowship

⏰ Deadline: December 1, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2027 Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, an 8-month program designed to help African students and recent graduates develop entrepreneurial skills, validate business ideas, and build ventures with social and economic impact.

The Fellowship provides world-class entrepreneurship training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and financial support to emerging entrepreneurs across Africa. Participants will gain access to proven startup methodologies, industry experts, and a global community of innovators.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must:

Be a citizen of an African country.
Be currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution or have graduated within the last five years.
Have a strong interest in entrepreneurship and solving real-world challenges.
Be able to participate in all phases of the online program.
Have reliable internet access and a device suitable for online learning.

BENEFITS

Access to entrepreneurship training delivered by Queen’s University faculty and industry leaders.
Mentorship, networking opportunities, and connections with entrepreneurs and innovation leaders from around the world.
Opportunity to earn entrepreneurship micro-credentials from Queen’s University.
Up to 60 Fellows will receive a CAD $500 stipend during the final phase of the program.
Opportunity to compete for prizes of up to CAD $15,000 through the program’s pitch competition.

APPLICATION TIMELINE