02 SEP 2026

The MCB Foundation Scholarship opens the doors to Durham for Yeshmee Dwarka

Yeshmee Dwarka of Queen Elizabeth College (QEC) has been awarded the MCB Foundation Scholarship 2026. Ranked 4^th nationally in the Economics stream, the 19-year-old is the 37^th recipient of this flagship scholarship, which gives talented young Mauritians the opportunity to pursue higher education at some of the world's leading universities.

The official scholarship award and signing ceremony was held on Wednesday 2 September at the MCB Centre in Port Louis, in the presence of the Minister of Education, Dr Mahend Gungapersad.

Excellence and commitment

Beyond her outstanding academic achievements, Yeshmee Dwarka has distinguished herself through active involvement in a range of educational and personal development initiatives. She participated in the Global Curriculum Orbit and Innoved competitions in 2022, before going on to chair the zonal and national Model United Nations (MUN) conferences in 2024. Her journey reflects an ability to combine academic performance with leadership, responsibility and civic engagement, qualities that fully embody the spirit of the MCB Foundation Scholarship.

A Passion for numbers

Yeshmee will pursue a degree in Accounting and Finance at Durham University in the United Kingdom. For her, the choice came naturally: "Accounting is the subject I am most passionate about. Being ranked among the top students nationally in this discipline naturally encouraged me to pursue further studies in this field." Like many young people facing intense academic pressure, she also learned the importance of maintaining a healthy balance in her life: "Perhaps the most important challenge was overcoming the guilt I felt whenever I was doing something other than studying. It became difficult to find time for myself. I therefore had to make my wellbeing a priority by taking time to go for walks, talk to my close friends, or watch my favourite comfort series during exam periods."

Transforming Lives for Nearly Four Decades

Established in 1988, the MCB Foundation Scholarship has enabled 37 young Mauritians to pursue higher education at some of the world's most prestigious universities. Among the 33 scholarship recipients who have already graduated, 60.6% have gone on to build international careers, while 39.4% have chosen to return to Mauritius and contribute their skills to the country's development.

Press Release