Scholarships are a great way to fund studies. Through scholarships, external bodies and organizations sponsor the cost of the course along with potential bursaries for living expenses. The schemes are available for Canadian citizens and those from overseas who wish to pursue an academic path in Canada. This article is aimed at international students seeking a scholarship to study in Canada.
What Are Scholarships And Why You Might Be Interested
A scholarship is a financial fund that will pay for a university course’s full or partial cost. Applying to undergraduate, doctorate, and postgraduate programs, the fund size and eligibility vary from one scholarship to another.
In some instances, it can cover additional expenditures such as the cost of living such that the student does not need to seek out loans, help from family or work away from their studies. This is known as a fully funded scholarship.
Scholarship opportunities are highly competitive and keenly fought over. Given the high cost of student fees and living expenses in Canada, anyone who has a chance of obtaining a scholarship should seek to take advantage. A downside is the low number of scholarships available (compared to the number of students) and the strict eligibility criteria. Nevertheless, all students should seek to apply if they meet the qualifying criteria.
You can find scholarship opportunities on the official Government of Canada website for international students.
International Students: What Types Of Scholarships Are Available In Canada
There are 2 main types of scholarships available for international students. They are Government of Canada Scholarships, and Scholarships from a University. There are also scholarships available from non-governmental organizations. The number of non-governmental scholarships is considerably smaller than the other 2 types.
Government of Canada Scholarships
The government of Canada has many scholarship programs to encourage international students to study in Canada. These include:
| Government Scholarship Program | Study Level | Amount Awarded | Qualifying Subjects | Eligibility |
| Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship | PhD | CA$70k per annum for 2 years | Health, Science, Engineering, Social Science or Humanities | International citizen with PhD or a health professional degree |
| Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship | PhD | CA$50k per annum for 3 years | Research in Engineering, Humanities or Social Sciences | International citizen and nominated by a Canadian institution that receives a Vanier CGS quota |
| IDRC Research Awards | Masters or Doctorate | Between CA$42,033 and CA$48,659 for 12 months | Global health, Inclusive and Democratic governance, Science and Education, Evaluation and Policy, Food Systems (Climate Resilient), Development Research Ethics, and Sustainable Inclusive Sustainable Economies | Any international student from a developing nation |
| Ontario Graduate Scholarships | Masters or Doctorate | CA$ 10k for 2 successive study terms | Any subject | Open to both Canadian and International students who have achieved more than 79% score in the previous two full time academic years |
| Ontario Trillium Scholarship | PhD | CA$40k per annum for up to 4 years | In any subject | International citizens with a pass mark over 79% at Masters level willing to do a doctoral program in Ontario |
Government scholarships are available at all Canadian universities that cater for the qualifying subjects and the degree level.
Scholarships Offered By Universities In Canada
Scholarships are offered directly by educational establishments (i.e.Universities) in Canada. Some of the best ones are listed below:
| Name Of Scholarship Program | University Name | Study Level | Amount Awarded | Qualifying Subjects | Eligibility |
| University of Alberta Entrance Scholarships | University of Alberta | Undergraduate, Masters and PhD | Worth up to CA$10k | Any subject offered at the University | International citizens with high academic achievements |
| University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship | University of Calgary | Undergraduate | CA$15k per annum | Any subject offered at the University | International citizens with high academic merit. |
| The University of Waterloo International Funding | University of Waterloo | Undergraduate, Masters and PhD | Worth up to CA$10k | Any subject offered at the University Of Waterloo | International citizens with scores in excess of 69% for undergraduate programs or over 74% for masters, and PhD |
| UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award | University of British Columbia | Undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate | Varies up to a maximum of CA$80k over 4 years | A variety of subjects | Internal citizens with excellent academic record |
| Lester B Pearson Scholarship | University of Toronto | Undergraduate | Scholarship will cover tuition fees, incidental fees, books, and residential costs | Covers 700 programs | International citizens with outstanding academic credentials |
| Western University’s International President’s Entrance Scholarship | Western University | Undergraduate | CA$50k over 4 years | Undergraduate courses | International citizens with an excellent academic record and extracurricular pursuits such as athletics and the arts |
| University of Manitoba Scholarship for Graduates | University of Manitoba | Masters and PhD | CA$14k per year for Masters & CA$18kFor PhD students | Any masters or PHd course | International citizens with grade point average of 3.0 |
| York University Automatic Entrance Scholarship | York University | Undergraduate and postgraduate | Varies, the maximum is CA$180k over 4 years. | Any undergraduate or postgraduate course | International citizens with an average “A” grade minimum |
Non-Government Scholarship Programs
| Non Government Scholarship | Study Level | Amount Awarded | Qualifying Subjects | Eligibility |
| Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships | Doctorate | Fixed CA$40k plus CA$20k per year for 3 years for travel or research allowance | Citizenship, Dignity, and Human rights | Open To International students |
| Anne Vallee Ecological Fund | Masters or doctorate | CA$1500k | Animal research | For international citizens enrolled at a British Columbia University or Québec university |
There are only 2 notable non-Government Scholarship Programs, with the Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships paying a sizable amount.
The Application Process
Before applying for a scholarship, the candidate must get accepted for their chosen course by the University. It is prudent for those seeking a scholarship to check they meet the specific scholarship requirements before applying for the course. For example, a program may accept a candidate with less than 70% pass mark, but the scholarship could require the person to possess a higher score.
Applying For A Scholarship
Once the candidate is accepted onto the course, they can begin the scholarship application process. Most applications can be completed online. It is important to remember the closing dates for the scholarship programs.
With the scholarship application, some of the documents that will need to be attached will include:
- Course application documents,
- Letter of acceptance to the course,
- All academic certificates and transcripts,
- Statement of intention to explain why you want the scholarship,
- Aptitude test scores (GRE, GMAT, SAT, and so on),
- English Proficiency results (TOEFL, IELTS, and so on),
- Results from medical tests (optional).
In some instances, Universities may choose candidates for a scholarship through the initial application for the course. It will be based on factors such as high academic achievement and extracurricular activities (such as arts or sports). The educational establishment will inform the student of the outcomes of the application well before the course commences.
Processing Times And Costs
There are no costs associated with applying for a scholarship in Canada. Following the application, the University or the non-governmental body providing the scholarship will review the forms submitted.
You can expect to hear the outcome of the application within a couple of months. It is advised the application is made 6 to 12 months before the start of the course or the research program.
Taking Full Advantage Of Scholarships
Students from anywhere in the world can apply for an international scholarship to study in Canada. That will include parts of the world, such as Africa, Asia, Europe, and students from Latin America. Though opportunities are available for undergraduates, and graduates, they are extremely competitive, and those with outstanding academic records have the best chance to enjoy funded studies and research.
