Top Scholarship Opportunities for International Students in Canada

Canada is a top study-abroad destination for international students due to its high-quality education system and multicultural environment. However, tuition fees for international students can be quite high. This is where scholarships come in – they help lower the financial barriers and make Canadian education more accessible.

In this article, we will explore over 10 scholarship programs available for deserving international students wishing to pursue undergraduate, master’s or PhD studies in Canada. The scholarships covered range from partial to fully funded and provide great value – from $3,500 to $180,000 over the course of a degree.

Let’s take a closer look:

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships

One of the most prestigious scholarships for international undergrads is the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship awarded by the University of Toronto. It recognizes top students for their outstanding academic achievement and leadership abilities.

The scholarship covers full tuition fees, books, incidental fees as well as living expenses for all 4 years of an undergraduate program. It has an estimated value of over $100,000 CAD. High school grades of a minimum of 95% and involvement in extracurriculars are required.

York University International Student Scholarship Program

York University offers generous renewable entrance scholarships for high-achieving international freshmen through its International Student Scholarship Program. The scholarship amounts range from $80,000 to $180,000 CAD over 4 years of studies.

To be eligible, students must have a minimum 3.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale and satisfactory English proficiency. The scholarship automatically renews each year as long as the student maintains a 3.5 GPA.

International Scholars Program at UBC

The University of British Columbia commits over $10 million annually in funding for international undergrads through its International Scholars Program. They award both major ($20,000 – $32,000 over 4 years) and minor ($8,000 – $16,000 over 4 years) scholarships.

Applicants must be in the top 5-10% of their high school graduating class and have a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale to qualify. No separate application is needed – students are automatically considered for these awards.

Calgary International Entrance Scholarship

The University of Calgary offers prestigious $20,000 per year International Entrance Scholarships for top international freshmen admitted to any faculty except Nursing. This totals to $80,000 in funding over 4 years of studies.

To be eligible, students are required to present a minimum high school average of 90% (or equivalent) and minimum language proficiency requirements. The scholarship is automatically renewable.

Now, let’s look at some of the scholarship opportunities for graduate international students in Canada:

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Considered the most prestigious federal graduate award, the Vanier CGS provides $50,000 per year for 3 years of doctoral studies. Students must apply through participating Canadian universities during their master’s. The scholarship is meant to attract global research talent.

University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships

The University of Manitoba awards substantial in-course Graduate Fellowships of $18,000 per year for PhDs and $14,000 for masters through internal competition. International students enrolled in any faculty are encouraged to apply during their studies. No application fee is charged.

University of Calgary Graduate Awards

U of C provides international graduate students with funding starting from $1,000 up to $40,000 per year based on merit and research potential. Awards can be used to pursue master’s, doctoral, or even postdoctoral studies in various science and engineering fields.

Now, let’s look at some other prominent scholarship opportunities for international students to study in Canada:

Carleton Prestige Scholarships (Undergrad)

Prestigious undergraduate entrance awards between $20,000-$30,000 are given out by Carleton University-based purely on academic merit. A minimum admission average of 90% is required to be considered for the Carleton University Scholarship of Excellence and other such awards.

Winnipeg President’s Scholarships for World Leaders (Undergrad)

Intended for future world leaders, the University of Winnipeg awards $3,500-$5,000 entrance scholarships based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and leadership skills of international undergraduate applicants.

Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships

Open to citizens of developing countries pursuing PhDs in Canada, this prestigious award provides up to $60,000 per year for 3 years of doctoral studies in humanities and social sciences fields like political science and international relations.

To wrap up, while the number of scholarships for international students in Canada may be fewer compared to countries like the US, UK or Australia, there are still some excellent opportunities for those with strong academic profiles. The scholarships covered in this article provide life-changing financial support ranging from partial to fully-funded amounts. I hope this information helps guide international students in their scholarship search for Canadian higher education.