There are essentially three kinds of scholarships that an international student can apply for while looking at opportunities in Canada.
- Scholarships offered by the Canadian Government
- Scholarships offered by Trusts, Non-Profit Organisations, or any non-Governmental body
- University Scholarships
Each of these has its own process, procedure, and eligibility criteria with strict deadlines. If you are considering applying for any of these, you better begin your research and application process way ahead of the deadlines.
While most scholarships look for a certain minimum level of academic achievement, some also take into account your extra-curricular accomplishments and your personal essay.
And, once you get your scholarship, your education journey as an international student becomes that much easier. Besides, it gives you the time to focus more on your learning and academics rather than spending significant portions of the day at a part-time job in order to make ends meet. (Just to be clear, having a part-time job while studying opens out a whole new world of experience and learning. With a scholarship, your job becomes a matter of your choice rather than a necessity.)
All that said, in this article, we will be looking at the different Canadian University scholarships offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels for international students.
Undergraduate Scholarships in Canada for Indian Students
University of Toronto – Lester B Pearson International Scholarship
About the School: Ranking 26th in the list of world universities (Source: QS Rankings), the University of Toronto is one of Canada’s largest universities. A pioneer in research and teaching, this university has made the Canadian global ed-scape more attractive to international students since 1827. The Canadian city of Toronto is also one of the most vibrant, diverse and safe cities in the world
The Lester B Pearson Scholarship has been designed to support outstanding international students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and creativity. Recognised as future leaders, an awardee for this is evaluated for their impact on the life of their school and community, and their future potential to contribute positively to the global community.
Eligibility:
- Must be an international student with a study permit
- Must be currently in their final year of secondary school
- Must be beginning their studies at the University of Toronto in the following academic year. (September 2023 for those applying now)
Available Departments or Programs: The University of Toronto has over 700 undergraduate programs in Humanities & Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Commerce & Management, Computer Science, Engineering, Kinesiology & Physical Education, Music, and Architecture.
Scholarship Amount: Each year, about 37 students will be awarded this, while the amount can vary.
York University International Student Scholarship
About the School: A multi-campus university located in Toronto, York University is a space for excellent learning and research. With over 350,000 global alumni, this university is committed to making a positive change in the global ethos. It ranks 456 on the list of world universities (Source: U.S. News). The university offers flexible degrees so you can choose your majors and minors to fit your passions.
The university has 5 different scholarships for international students. So, when you fill up the international student scholarship application, you will be considered in parallel for all of them. The common factor underlying all of these awards is that they are looking for international students who display academic excellence, and leadership skills and commit to volunteer work and extra-curricular activities.
Eligibility:
- Must be an international student requiring a Study Permit to study in Canada
- Must have applied to an undergraduate degree program at York that begins in Fall 2022 or the subsequent academic year
- Must have no previous college/ university experience (not applicable to Tentanda Via Award)
- Must maintain a minimum average grade of ‘A’.
- Must have demonstrated leadership through community service or excellence in the arts, sports, or other areas of individual achievement (where applicable)
Must upload two letters of recommendation or other supporting documents as applicable before the deadline
Available Departments or Programs: The university has over 100 different courses for you to choose your majors and minors from, ranging across the disciplines of Humanities, Social Sciences, Fine Arts, and STEM.
Scholarship Amounts:
- President’s International Scholarship of Excellence – $180,000 ($45,000 x 4 years)
- Tentanda Via Award – $120,000 ($30,000 x 4 years)
- Global Leader of Tomorrow Award for International Students – $80,000 ($20,000 x 4 years)
- International Circle of Scholar’s Scholarship – $15,000
- York University Academic Excellence Scholarships for International Students – $5,000-10,000
Click here for more details.
University of Calgary – International Entrance Scholarship
About the School: Established in 1966, the University of Calgary boasts of about 30,000 undergraduate students. Ranking 264th globally, this university has a research-oriented approach pushing the boundaries of knowledge to cutting edge.
The International Entrance Scholarship is offered annually to undergraduate international students entering their first year in any undergraduate degree in the upcoming fall term.
Eligibility:
- Must have satisfied the university’s English Language Proficiency requirement.
- The scholarship can be extended provided a student maintains a GPA of 2.60 or more
- Must be an international student paying differential fees.
Available Departments or Programs: Ranging from Accounting to Zoology, the scholarship application is open to all international students, irrespective of their discipline.
Scholarship Amount: $15,000 (renewable)
University of British Columbia
About the School: Since 1915, the University of British Columbia has been providing quality education to aspiring students across the globe. Over 20% of their admissions, in both the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses, are international students looking for better prospects in higher education. The school has been the alma mater of 8 Nobel laureates and ranks 46th in the world, according to QS Rankings.
The school has allotted over $30 million as financial assistance for international students. There are two main scholarships you can consider applying for: The International Major Entrance Scholarship and the Outstanding International Student Award.
Eligibility:
- Be on a Canadian student visa
- Be new to UBC
- Be exceptional in academics, display intellectual promise, and commitment to extracurricular and community involvement
- Not being nominated for other awards.
Available Departments or Programs: These are open to applicants of all majors.
Scholarship Amount: Variable amount
Concordia University – Undergraduate In-Course Bursary Program
About the School: Located in Montreal, this university stands out for its exceptional teacher-student ratio. Smaller compared to traditional public universities, it creates an intimate space that is also diverse, making it easier for each student to find their footing. Committed to the U.N.’s goals for sustainable development and decolonisation, it is truly a next-gen university.
The In-Course Bursary Program is for continuing students in the university. It is to provide financial aid for those in need. So, you will be submitting your financial and academic statements while applying.
Eligibility:
- Must be a continuing student
- Can be registered in a part-time or full-time program
- Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
- Must not be applying/ receiving any other grants
- Must be applying to the university from outside of Canada.
Available Departments or Programs: The university offers over 100 different programs for you to choose from.
Scholarship Amount: Variable amount
Dalhousie University Scholarship
About the School: Founded in 1818, Dalhousie University is stepping into the third century in the field of higher education. Located in Nova Scotia, this university offers interdisciplinary academic programs and gets over $194 million in research funding each year.
International High School Students with an IB Diploma can also apply for the General Entrance Award.
Eligibility: For students from India entering the Bachelor of Commerce program, you can also apply for CorpFinance International Limited (Kevin Andrews) Indian Scholarship valued at $15,000.
Available Departments or Programs: The university has over 200 degree programs under the following faculties: Agriculture, Architecture, Arts and Social Sciences, Computer Science, Dentistry, Engineering, Health, Law, Management, Medicine, and Science.
Scholarship Amount: Commerce Scholarship for Indian Students – $15,000.
Carleton University
About the School: This university has a history that goes back to the Second World War. Founded in 1942 to meet the needs of the war veterans, the Carleton University since then has become one of the premier higher education establishments in Canada. Located in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa, this university has one of the most generous scholarship programs, dispersing over 14,000 of these in one academic year.
Eligibility: The university has two different kinds of scholarships: Entrance and Prestige, in addition to a few specialised awards for international students. For students entering Carleton from other parts of the world, these are one-time, merit-based awards offered to students entering directly from high school, based on grades at the time of admission. No separate application is required.
Available Departments or Programs: The awards and scholarships are available for students irrespective of their choice of faculty/ department.
Scholarship Amount: CAD 6,400
University of Victoria
About the School: Located in British Columbia, The University of Victoria is one of Canada’s top research universities. Their courses on climate change and sustainability, indigenous law, social justice, equity and technology and the human experience are uniquely crafted to make a difference in today’s world. The university has over 90 different undergraduate programs for you to choose from.
Eligibility: To be considered for a scholarship:
- International students must be admitted to the University of Victoria
- Must submit the interim/ final transcript of marks
Available Departments or Programs: The undergraduate programs range from Astronomy, Accounting, and Business to Zoology. The application is not dependent on your choice of major.
Scholarship Amount: Varies each year depending on funding
University of Manitoba
About the School: One of Canada’s research-intensive universities, the University of Manitoba has been contributing to higher education and research since 1877. With over 31,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the university emphasizes transformative research. The university also has a strong network of over 181,000 alumni spread across the globe.
The University has a Graduate Fellowship that is awarded every year to students who have displayed superior intellectual ability and academic accomplishment. This is open to graduate students of all disciplines. Each year, around $2 million is allocated for graduate students.
Eligibility:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Must be admitted as a full-time student
- Must be recommended by their department
Available Departments or Programs: The university has an extensive list of over 47 doctoral programs and 99 master’s programs.
Scholarship Amount: CAD 28,000
University of Waterloo
About the School: In 1957, the University of Waterloo was founded as a school of engineering. Today, with over 40,000 students in varied fields, it provides a space for experiential learning and opportunities for networking. The university has over 180 graduate and doctoral programs that make international students flock from all parts of the globe. Dona Strickland who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2018 is a faculty member at the University of Waterloo.
The University of Waterloo has a variety of funding opportunities available for international students. They are:
- International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA)
- International Master’s Award of Excellence (IMAE)
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
- Ontario Trillium Scholarship (OTS)
- Trudeau Foundation Scholarships
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- Bursaries
- Graduate funding and awards database
Eligibility: Each of these scholarships/ funding programs has detailed eligibility criteria that you can look into here. However, the most common eligibility criteria include academic merit and progress. A student applying for any of these awards must not apply for other sources of financial aid.
Available Departments or Programs: The University has graduate programs across the disciplines of Arts, Engineering, Environment, Health, Humanities, and STEM.
Scholarship Amount: The amount varies depending on the type of funding you are applying for and the budget set for the year.
McGill University
About the School: A public university founded in 1821, McGill is one of Canada’s most reputed universities for higher education. International students at McGill make up over 30% of their student body. Over 145 McGill students have won the Rhodes scholarship. Located in Montreal, this university is a thriving centre for research and learning.
The university has a fully-funded scholarship program for international students. At the graduate level, the funding opportunities are based on merit and require you to compete with others. You can apply for funding along with your application or later after having enrolled at the university.
Eligibility:
- The language required is English.
- Must be enrolled in a full-time program at the University
- Must show proof of financial need
- Must maintain minimum GPA as decided by the department
Available Departments or Programs: Scholarships are available across disciplines.
Scholarship Amount: On average, it is about CAD 15,300 at the graduate level.
University of Buckingham – Ondaatje Postgraduate Scholarship
About the School: While the main campus is in the United Kingdom, due to the historical links between the U.K and Canada, there is a tie-up with the University of Toronto. Students attending Massey College will graduate with a degree from the University of Buckingham and Toronto.
In 2003, Sir Christopher Ondaatje set up a corpus fund at the university to fund one-year scholarships. It is set aside for students undertaking their postgraduate studies at Buckingham, and for Buckingham students attending Massey College, University of Toronto. If a student obtains a Master’s degree, then they are eligible to have their Ph.D. studies funded by the University of Toronto.
Eligibility: Anyone interested in applying for the Ondaatje Scholarship should already have the offer of a place at Buckingham for postgraduate study, but cannot apply once they have commenced their Master’s degree.
Scholarship Amount: £4,000 each towards the tuition fees for one year’s postgraduate study.
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