Canada Scholarships for international students 2024-2025

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Scholarships are an excellent form of financial aid for international students studying at Canadian universities. These scholarships are designed to help students pursue their academic goals by providing financial assistance to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other educational costs.

Canadian universities offer a wide range of scholarships to attract and support international students.

In this guide, we will take a closer look at some of the scholarships available for international students at Canadian universities.

University-specific scholarships
Government-funded scholarships
Merit-based scholarships
Need-based scholarships
External scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions

University-specific scholarships

Many Canadian universities offer scholarships that are specifically available to international students. These scholarships are typically awarded based on various criteria such as academic merit, leadership skills, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Each university may have its unique scholarships with eligibility requirements, the application process, and award amounts.

1. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

The University of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship that covers tuition fees, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years of undergraduate study. It is awarded based on academic excellence, leadership skills, and community involvement.

2. International Merit Scholarship

The University of British Columbia offers the International Leader of Tomorrow Award, which provides scholarships that cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs for outstanding international students who demonstrate leadership skills, academic achievements, and involvement in extracurricular activities.

3. Entrance Scholarships

McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, offers a variety of entrance scholarships for international students entering undergraduate programs. These scholarships are based on academic achievements and may cover partial or full tuition fees for the duration of the program.

4. International Master's and Doctoral Awards

These awards are offered by the University of Waterloo to international students pursuing a Master's or Doctoral program. The scholarships are based on academic excellence and provide funding towards tuition fees and living expenses.

5. International President's Entrance Scholarships

Western University offers this scholarship to international students entering undergraduate programs who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements. The scholarship covers partial or full tuition fees for up to four years of study.

Also read: Study in Canada

Government-funded scholarships

The Canadian government offers scholarships for international students through various programs. These scholarships are typically awarded based on academic excellence and research potential. Some examples of government-funded scholarships for international students in Canada include:

1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

This prestigious scholarship is offered by the Canadian government and is available to international students pursuing a doctoral program in Canada. The scholarship provides funding towards tuition fees, living expenses, and research expenses for up to three years.

2. Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's Program

This scholarship is also offered by the Canadian government and is available to international students pursuing a Master's program in Canada. The scholarship is based on academic excellence and provides funding towards tuition fees and living expenses for one year.

3. International Research Scholarship Program (IRSP)

This scholarship is offered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and provides funding to international students pursuing research-based Master's or Doctoral programs in natural sciences or engineering fields in Canada. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, and research expenses for up to two years for Master's students and up to four years for Doctoral students.

4. Global Affairs Canada Scholarships

The Canadian government also offers scholarships through Global Affairs Canada, which provides funding to international students pursuing post-secondary studies in Canada. Examples of these scholarships include the Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarships Program, Canada-Chile Leadership Exchange Scholarship, and Canada-Cuba Scholarship Program, among others.

5. Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP)

This scholarship is offered by the Canadian government and provides funding to students from Latin American and Caribbean countries pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in Canada. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs for a minimum of four months to a maximum of two academic years.

Also read: How much does it cost to study in Canada?

Merit-based scholarships

Many Canadian universities offer merit-based scholarships to international students based on their academic achievements. These scholarships are typically awarded to students who have exceptional grades, test scores, or other academic achievements. Examples of merit-based scholarships for international students in Canada include:

1. International Student Entrance Scholarships

The University of Waterloo offers entrance scholarships to international students entering their first year of undergraduate studies. These scholarships are awarded based on the student's academic achievements and may cover partial or full tuition fees for up to four years.

2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

3. President's Scholarship for World Leaders

This scholarship is awarded to international students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievements and leadership skills. The scholarship covers full tuition fees, textbooks, and partial living expenses for the duration of the student's program at the University of Winnipeg.

4. International Merit Scholarship

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Need-based scholarships

Some Canadian universities also offer need-based scholarships to international students who demonstrate financial need. These scholarships are awarded to students who require financial assistance to pursue their studies in Canada. Students may need to provide documentation of their financial situation, such as family income, expenses, and assets, to be eligible for need-based scholarships. Examples of need-based scholarships for international students in Canada include:

1. Graduate Fellowship for International Students

This scholarship is awarded to international students pursuing a master's or doctoral program at the University of Manitoba who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs, and is renewable for up to two years for master's students and up to four years for doctoral students.

2. Financial Aid and Awards

The University of Ottawa offers a variety of need-based scholarships, bursaries, and awards to international students who demonstrate financial need. These awards may cover partial or full tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs, and are based on the student's financial circumstances and academic achievements.

3. International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships

Memorial University offers need-based entrance scholarships to international students entering their first year of undergraduate studies. These scholarships are awarded based on the student's financial need, academic achievements, and community involvement. The scholarship amount varies and may cover partial or full tuition fees for up to four years.

4. International Student Bursaries

The University of Guelph offers need-based bursaries to international students who demonstrate financial need based on the student's financial circumstances, academic achievements, and community involvement. The bursary amount varies and is designed to help cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs.

External scholarships

Many organisations in Canada, including foundations, corporations, and non-profit organisations, offer scholarships for international students studying at Canadian universities. These scholarships may have specific eligibility criteria and application processes, and students need to research and apply to them separately. Some examples of external scholarships for international students in Canada include:

1. The Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program

This scholarship program is offered by the Canadian government in partnership with the Commonwealth countries. It provides funding to students from eligible Commonwealth countries pursuing Master's or Doctoral programs in Canada. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs.

2. Trudeau Foundation Scholarships

The Trudeau Foundation offers scholarships to outstanding international students pursuing a Doctoral program in Canada in the field of humanities and social sciences. The scholarship provides funding towards tuition fees, living expenses, research expenses, and conference attendance.

3. Mitacs Globalink Research Internship

Mitacs offers this internship program to international undergraduate and graduate students for research projects with Canadian universities and organisations. The internship provides funding towards travel costs, living expenses, and research expenses for a 12-week research project in Canada.

4. Organization of American States (OAS) Academic Scholarship Program

The OAS offers scholarships to international students from member countries pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral programs in Canada. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs.

5. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships

This scholarship is offered by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and provides funding to outstanding international students pursuing a Doctoral program in Canada in the field of humanities and social sciences. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, research expenses, and conference attendance.

6. The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) Scholarships

CBIE offers several scholarships to international students studying in Canada, such as the CBIE-CSC Scholarship for Chinese students, the CBIE-AEFE Scholarship for French students, and the CBIE-Brazil Scholarship for Brazilian students, among others. These scholarships have specific eligibility criteria and provide funding towards tuition fees, living expenses, and other costs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can international students apply for scholarships at Canadian universities?

Yes, many Canadian universities offer scholarships specifically for international students. These scholarships are designed to recognize academic excellence, leadership potential, and other achievements, and provide financial support to help international students pursue their studies in Canada.

What types of scholarships are available for international students at Canadian universities?

Canadian universities offer various types of scholarships for international students, including university-specific scholarships, merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships, external scholarships, and more.

How can I find out about scholarships offered by Canadian universities for international students?

You can find information about scholarships for international students on the official websites of Canadian universities. Many universities have dedicated scholarship webpages that provide detailed information about the types of scholarships available, eligibility criteria, application process, and deadlines. You can also contact the university's international student services office or financial aid office for more information.