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Scholarships and Grants for
International Students
How can International Students discover Scholarships and Grants in Canada?
Canadian Universities/Colleges offer financial support to international students through grants and scholarships, but these awards are contingent upon high academic achievement, diligence, and motivation, thus enhancing access to higher education for talented individuals worldwide.
Canadian institutions offer two types of scholarships for international students.​
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AUTOMATIC SCHOLARSHIPS:
Automatic scholarships are granted by Canadian Universities after you submit your application, and only once it has been reviewed and you have been admitted. Canadian universities award scholarships and grants based on exceptional academic performance, including grades, active participation, and achievements in competitions at both regional and international levels.
For some of specific scholarships, such as the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships at the University of Toronto or the International Scholars Program at UBC, students must be nominated by their current high school. However, no high school can guarantee exclusive admissions or awards.
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EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS:
Many Canadian organizations provide scholarships for international students in Canada, such as:
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, EduCanada Scholarships, and etc.
Timely submission of scholarship and financial aid applications is essential, as many opportunities are governed by strict deadlines.
Taking the necessary time to comprehensively review the eligibility criteria for each scholarship and to prepare all required documentation can significantly enhance your likelihood of success. These awards are highly competitive and necessitate early preparation.
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CONCLUSION:
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Success relies entirely on your efforts— strive for outstanding academic results, gain mastery in relevant subjects, and obtain high scores on standardized tests (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo). Involvement in academic competitions extracurricular activities will further bolster your profile.
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Collect the information about scholarships/grants by exploring official Canadian university websites, which provide comprehensive information on funding opportunities, application processes, and selection criteria.
​​Each year approximately 37 students will be named Lester B. Pearson Scholars.
​​​For detailed information, please visit website: https://future.utoronto.ca/pearson/about/.
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships 2026
One of our most competitive scholarships, the Pearson Scholarships cover tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. Pearson Scholars demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and potential to contribute positively to the global community.
Scholarship Summary
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Study Level: Undergraduate
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Duration: 4 years
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Eligibility: International Students
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Deadline: November 7, 2025
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The deadline to apply for admission to U of T and be considered for the Pearson Scholarship is October 17, 2025
Benefits
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Full cover of tuition fee
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Provision of books and leaning materials
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Health insurance for the duration of the program
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Incidental expenses support
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Full residential accommodations for four years
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Participation in academic, leadership, and extracurricular activities
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply to the Pearson International Scholarship, you must be:
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an international student (i.e. a non-Canadian requiring a study permit);
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enrolled in your final year of senior secondary school in 2025/2026 or have graduated no earlier than June 2025; and
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beginning your studies at the University of Toronto in September 2026.
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Academic excellence, creativity, and demonstrated leadership within the school and broader community.
Application Process
The 2026 Competition opens on July 1, 2025. To apply, you will need to:
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Receive a nomination from your school.
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Apply to study at the University of Toronto by October 17, 2025 in order to begin your studies in September 2026. Please be advised that you will be considered for the Pearson Scholarship for your first choice of program at U of T.
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Once we’ve received a nomination and you’ve applied to the university, you can complete the online Lester B. Pearson Scholarship application by November 6, 2025. You will receive a private link to the scholarship application when you are successfully nominated by your school.
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Submit all necessary documentation online by November 6, 2025.
Waterloo University
Scholarships for
International Students
Waterloo University offers more than 170 scholarships for international students, ranging from $1,000 to $40,000. We'll automatically consider you for most of our scholarships, including our Merit and President’s scholarships which range from $1,000 to $5,000. However, there are some scholarships which require an application, including some of the ones listed below.
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International Student Entrance Scholarship - 20 scholarships valued at $10,000 each. All Programs, Application not required.
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Faculty of Engineering International Student Entrance Scholarships - Up to 20 valued at $10,000 each. All Engineering program except Architecture, Application not required.
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​Contest-based scholarships
To be considered, you must be a current high school student admissible to the Faculty of Mathematics. Scholarship decisions are based on a combination of averages, the Admissions Information Form, and math contest results. You are strongly recommended to write one or both of our math contests: the Euclid Mathematics Contest and/or the Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest.
Entrance Scholarships - Contest(s) are strongly recommended.
The Faculty of Mathematics awards 200 entrance scholarships in values of:
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$10,000 over four years
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$8,000 over four years
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one-year scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
International Entrance Scholarship - Award value $20,000 CAN (Renewable)
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Offered annually to undergraduate international students entering first year in any undergraduate degree in the upcoming fall term who have satisfied the university's English Language Proficiency requirement. Renewable in the second, third and fourth year at the University of Calgary, provided recipients achieve a GPA of 2.60 or more over a minimum of 24.00 units in the previous fall and winter terms and continue to pay an international differential tuition fee as an international student.
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Scholarship Summary
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Level of Study: Undergraduate
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Program Period: According to the selected Bachelor program.
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Application required
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Deadline: December 1, 2025
Eligibility Criteria:
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International students who are required to pay international tuition fees and who are not Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada
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Academic merit.
Seymour Schulich Academic Excellence Entrance Scholarship -
Award value $24,800 (Renewable)
Offered annually to undergraduate students entering first year in the Schulich School of Engineering. Renewable in the second and third years at the University of Calgary at $15,200 providing the recipient maintains enrolment in the Schulich School of Engineering and achieves a minimum GPA of 3.50 in the previous fall and winter terms based on a full course load (minimum 30.00 units)
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Exceptional academic merit
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International students
Scholarships Summary
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Level of Study: Undergraduate
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Program Period: According to the selected Bachelor program.
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Application required
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Deadline: December 1, 2025
Eligibility Criteria:
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International students who are required to pay international tuition fees and who are not Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada
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Academic merit.
​​When you apply to York University as an International Student for Fall 2026 admission, you’ll automatically be considered for an entrance scholarship on the basis of your final admission average. These scholarships recognize your academic achievements and range from $2,500 to $37,500. 
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The President’s International Scholarship of Excellence is a high-value award that cannot be combined with entrance scholarships. Students may apply for our prestigious scholarships – if successful, you will receive the higher value award.​
President's International Scholarship of Excellence (PISE)
The President's International Scholarship of Excellence will be awarded to international high school applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to volunteer work and extracurricular activities, and leadership skills. Recipients will represent a variety of regions around the world and will be referred to as 'President's International Scholars'.
Scholarship Summary
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Study Level: Undergraduate
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Duration: 4 years
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Deadline: To be announced
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Award Value: Up to $180,000 CAD, paid out over four years ($45,000 per year).
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Eligibility: International students applying to York University for full-time undergraduate studies.
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Application: Requires an online application form, a personal statement (3000 characters max), a financial profile, a letter of reference, and a list of volunteer and extracurricular activities, according to International Scholarships.ca.
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Selection Criteria: Academic excellence, commitment to volunteer work and extracurricular activities, and leadership skills.
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Renewal: Renewable for an additional three years if the student maintains good academic standing.
To apply for scholarships, you must first apply
for admission to York University
The International Scholars Program brings some of the world’s brightest young undergraduates to UBC.
International Scholars are high academic achievers who have demonstrated exceptional extracurricular activities, show a desire to create global and social change, and they are dedicated to giving back to their communities.
Eligibility for the Program
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You must be an international student who will be studying in Canada on a Canadian study permit.
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You must be entering UBC from a recognized secondary school, or transferring from your first year at a post-secondary college or other university.
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You must have graduated from high school no earlier than one gap year prior to the academic year you are applying to. For example, applicants for 2026 Winter session must have graduated from high school no earlier than November 2024.
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You must be applying for your first undergraduate degree.
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You must demonstrate superior academic achievement (achieve all As or equivalent standard).
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You must demonstrate a level of financial need that would otherwise prevent you from pursuing a UBC degree. (UBC automatically considers all international students for the merit-based International Major Entrance Scholarships and Outstanding International Student Awards. If these awards do not cover your needs for tuition and basic living expenses, you are eligible to apply for the International Scholars Program.)
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You must meet UBC’s admission requirements, including general and degree-specific requirements and the English Language Admission Standard.
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Applications for 2026 open in mid-September.
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For the International Scholars Program awards, you will be considered for your first choice program. You should still select a second choice program; however only your first choice program is eligible for award consideration.
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When selecting your degree, please note that the following degrees are not eligible for UBC International Scholars Program awards: Bachelor of Nursing degree (Okanagan and Vancouver), Bachelor of Dental Science in Dental Hygiene, Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor + Master of Management degree, dual degrees, joint degrees between UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, and joint degrees with other post-secondary institutions.
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To apply for the International Scholars Program, you must be nominated by your school or non-profit, and submit a reference from an academic referee.
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Confirm that your school or non-profit is able to nominate you. A single high school, college, or university may nominate up to two students for UBC Vancouver (including Vantage College), and one student for UBC Okanagan. A non-profit may only nominate a high school student who is involved with their organization.
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Inform your nominator and academic referee that you’d like to apply for the International Scholars Program and advise them of the November 15, 2025 application deadline. Your nominator should be your school counsellor or equivalent, and your academic referee should be someone who is familiar with you and your work – for example, your teacher for your chosen area of study.
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Apply for the International Scholars Program by submitting the application by the November 15 deadline.
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Submit your admissions application to UBC by the December 1 deadline.
McCall MacBain Scholarship - Award value $27,600.00/Year
The McCall MacBain Scholarship is a full scholarship for your master’s or professional studies.
Applications open June 1, 2025, for the 2026 cohort.
Students must apply by August 20.
Aside from the full tuition, the award also gives you a living stipend to cover your living expenses while studying. Additionally, you will get access to a dedicated mentor, coach, and advisors to guide you throughout your program.
Scholarship Summary
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Level of Study: Graduate
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Application required
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Undergraduate Final-Year Students | Postgraduate Scholarships | Master’s Programs
Eligibility Criteria:
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You must currently be in your final year of a bachelor’s degree (to graduate by August 2026),
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You must have earned your first bachelor’s degree in 2020 or later, OR If you earned your degree before 2020, you must be 30 years or younger by 2025.
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You must meet McGill’s admission requirements, including language and academic qualifications for the specific program you’re applying to.
Deadline:
Application is currently ongoing and will close August 20, 2025.
The Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 (BCDI 2030) is a unique international development program that leverages higher education to strengthen social and economic development in 26 eligible Francophonie and Commonwealth countries, as well as other Small Island Developing States.
How to find Scholarships and Grants in Canada
for International Students?
Canadian Universities and Colleges provide financial assistance to international students through grants and scholarships. However, these awards depend exceptional academic performance, hard work, and motivation, making higher education more accessible for talented individuals from around the globe.
Finding scholarships and grants can significantly ease the financial burden of higher education. One of the best places to start your search is the official websites of Universities/Colleges.
If you need an assistance to find scholarships/grants please complete and
submit one of the following forms so we can recommend programs
based on your educational background.