Finding scholarships in Canada for international students can reduce the cost of tuition, accommodation and other study expenses. However, not every Canadian scholarship is fully funded, and not every award requires a separate application.
Some scholarships are awarded automatically when you apply for admission. Others require a school nomination, proof of financial need, essays or a separate scholarship form.
The safest approach is to choose your study level, identify eligible universities and compare the scholarship coverage with the total cost of studying in Canada.
Quick Answer
International students can apply for undergraduate, graduate, research and short-term exchange scholarships in Canada.
Available funding may include:
- Full tuition and accommodation
- Full tuition only
- Renewable entrance awards
- One-time tuition awards
- Research stipends
- Short-term exchange funding
Highly competitive programmes such as the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship can cover tuition, books, incidental fees and residence. Other awards provide a fixed amount that reduces—but does not eliminate—the applicant’s study costs.
Popular Scholarships in Canada for International Students
| Scholarship | Study level | Funding Type | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship | Undergraduate | Comprehensive funding | Tuition, books, incidental fees and residence |
| UBC International Scholars Program | Undergraduate | Need-and-merit based | Funding based partly on demonstrated financial need |
| UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship | Undergraduate | Partially funded | Renewable entrance award |
| UBC Outstanding International Student Award | Undergraduate | Partially funded | One-time merit award |
| University of Waterloo International Student Entrance Scholarship | Undergraduate | Partially funded | CAD $10,000 for eligible first-year students |
| Study in Canada Scholarships | Short-term study or research | Funded exchange | Travel and selected living, insurance and permit costs |
| Canada Postdoctoral Research Award | Postdoctoral | Funded research award | CAD $70,000 annually for two years |
Scholarship values, deadlines and eligible countries can change. Confirm every opportunity through the university or Government of Canada before applying.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is one of Canada’s strongest undergraduate awards for international students.
It is offered by the University of Toronto and covers:
- Tuition
- Books
- Incidental university fees
- Full residence support
- Up to four years of undergraduate study
Approximately 37 students are selected each year.
Applicants must be nominated by their secondary school. A student cannot normally begin the scholarship application independently without that nomination.
The award is intended for students with exceptional academic performance, creativity, leadership and a positive impact within their school or community.
Check the official Lester B. Pearson Scholarship page for the current nomination, admission and scholarship deadlines.
UBC International Scholars Program
The University of British Columbia’s International Scholars Program supports international students with excellent academic records, strong leadership experience and significant financial need.
The programme includes several award categories. Applicants do not choose a specific award when applying; UBC considers them for the award that best matches their circumstances.
Candidates must normally:
- Be international students requiring a Canadian study permit
- Be entering UBC directly from secondary school
- Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement
- Show meaningful leadership and community involvement
- Provide detailed evidence of financial need
- Be nominated where required
- Meet UBC’s admission and English-language requirements
UBC has stated that applications for its 2027 International Scholars Program will open in September 2026.
Some degree programmes are excluded. Applicants should review the official UBC International Scholars page before selecting a course.
UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship
The International Major Entrance Scholarship, commonly called IMES, is available to outstanding international students entering an undergraduate programme at UBC.
All eligible international undergraduate applicants are automatically considered. A separate IMES application is generally not required.
Selection considers the applicant’s:
- Academic performance
- Personal profile
- Extracurricular activities
- Leadership
- Contribution to school or community
IMES is a renewable merit award, but it should normally be classified as partially funded. It does not automatically cover the complete cost of tuition, housing and living expenses.
UBC Outstanding International Student Award
The Outstanding International Student Award, or OIS, is another merit-based undergraduate award at UBC.
Eligible international students are considered through the admission process. The award is generally offered as a one-time entrance scholarship.
Applicants should not confuse OIS with UBC’s need-based International Scholars Program. OIS recognises merit, while the International Scholars Program also carries a substantial financial-need assessment.
Students can review both IMES and OIS on the UBC international scholarships page.
University of Waterloo International Student Entrance Scholarship
The University of Waterloo offers a CAD $10,000 International Student Entrance Scholarship to eligible international fee-paying students admitted to full-time, first-year degree studies.
No separate scholarship application is required. Qualifying students are automatically granted the award through the admission process.
This is a one-year, partially funded entrance scholarship. Students must still budget for:
- Remaining tuition
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Books and supplies
- Health insurance
- Transportation
- Personal expenses
Check the University of Waterloo international scholarship page for excluded programmes and current admission conditions.
Study in Canada Scholarships
The Government of Canada’s Study in Canada Scholarships support short-term study or research exchanges.
The programme is not intended to fund a complete bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. Placements generally last between four and six months.
Depending on the approved award, funding may help with:
- Airfare
- Living expenses
- Health insurance
- Visa or study-permit fees
- Ground transportation
- Books and supplies
International students do not submit the government application directly. A Canadian post-secondary institution applies on behalf of eligible candidates.
This distinction is important. Applicants should first contact their home institution’s international office to determine whether it has an exchange agreement with a Canadian institution.
Current opportunities can be checked through the EduCanada scholarships portal.
Canada Postdoctoral Research Award
International postdoctoral researchers may consider the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award, or CPRA.
The award provides:
- CAD $70,000 per year
- Two years of funding
- A total value of CAD $140,000
International applicants may apply, but they can only hold the award at an eligible Canadian institution. Applications are submitted through CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC, depending on the proposed research field.
Health researchers may still search for this opportunity using phrases such as CIHR postdoctoral fellowship or CIHR post doctoral fellowship. The correct current programme name is the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award.
Are Scholarships in Canada Fully Funded?
Some Canadian scholarships offer comprehensive funding, but most are partial awards. Studyfinder AI positions searchers according to their qualification and not limited to funding type, Study Level, eligibility, deadlines and more.
A scholarship may be described as fully funded when it covers several major costs, such as:
- Full tuition
- Accommodation
- Books
- University fees
- Living allowance
- Travel
A full-tuition scholarship only pays tuition. It should not automatically be called fully funded if the student must pay for accommodation, meals, insurance and transportation.
A partially funded scholarship provides a fixed award or covers only part of the student’s costs.
Always read the official coverage section rather than relying on promotional titles used by third-party websites.
General Eligibility Requirements
Requirements differ by scholarship, but international applicants may need:
- Strong secondary-school or university results
- Admission to an eligible Canadian institution
- English or French-language proficiency
- Leadership or community-service experience
- A personal statement
- Academic references
- Proof of nationality
- Proof of financial need
- Research experience for graduate awards
- A nomination from a school or institution
Meeting the minimum academic requirement does not guarantee selection. Major Canadian scholarships attract applicants with strong grades from many countries.
Language Requirements
Most Canadian universities require applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English or French.
Accepted evidence may include:
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- PTE Academic
- Cambridge English qualifications
- Duolingo English Test, where accepted
- Previous education completed in an approved language environment
The scholarship itself may not set a separate language score. However, applicants must still meet the admission requirement of their chosen university.
Check the programme page before booking a language test because accepted examinations and minimum scores vary.
Documents to Prepare
International scholarship applicants should be ready to provide:
- Passport identification page
- Academic transcripts
- Graduation certificate
- English or French-language result
- Personal statement
- Scholarship essay
- CV or résumé
- Academic references
- Leadership and service evidence
- Proof of admission or application
- Family financial information for need-based awards
- Research proposal for graduate funding
Documents issued in another language may require certified translations.
Never submit altered financial records, references or academic results. Universities can withdraw admission and funding when information cannot be verified.
Applicants used StudyFinder Document Vaults to ascertain documents before they begin application.
How to Apply for Scholarships in Canada
Step 1: Choose your study level
Decide whether you need undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, postdoctoral or short-term exchange funding.
This prevents you from spending time on awards that do not match your academic stage.
Step 2: Select eligible programmes
Search for Canadian universities offering your preferred course. Confirm the tuition, admission requirements and application deadline.
Step 3: Compare scholarship coverage
Calculate how much the award will pay and how much you must fund yourself.
Include tuition, housing, food, insurance, books, permits and transportation.
Step 4: Check the application route
The scholarship may require:
- Automatic consideration through admission
- A separate scholarship form
- School nomination
- University nomination
- Application through a Canadian host institution
- Application through a federal research agency
Follow the correct route. Applying for university admission does not place you into every scholarship competition.
Step 5: Apply for admission early
Many scholarship deadlines occur before regular admission deadlines. Submit your university application early enough to obtain an applicant number and complete the funding application.
Step 6: Prepare a focused statement
Explain your academic goals, achievements and future plans with specific examples.
For leadership awards, describe:
- The challenge you identified
- What action you took
- Who benefited
- What changed
- What you learned
Step 7: Submit every required document
Review file formats, word limits, reference requirements and deadlines before submitting.
Step 8: Monitor your email and portal
Universities may request missing documents, financial information or an interview. Respond within the stated period.
Do You Need to Pay a Scholarship Application Fee?
Legitimate university scholarships are often included in the admission process or have no separate scholarship fee.
However, applicants may still need to pay:
- University admission fee
- Language-test fee
- Transcript or document fee
- Credential assessment fee
- Study-permit fee
- Biometrics fee
Be cautious if an unofficial agent asks for payment to “release” a scholarship, guarantee selection or secure a Canadian visa.
A scholarship does not guarantee a study permit. Immigration, admission and scholarship decisions are separate processes.
Important Financial Planning Advice
A partial scholarship may still leave a large funding gap.
Before accepting an offer, request or calculate the complete annual cost of attendance. Then subtract the confirmed scholarship value.
Do not subtract money from scholarships you have only applied for. Use funding in your budget only after receiving a written award offer.
International students may also need to show that they have enough money to meet Canadian study-permit requirements. The exact immigration amount can change, so confirm it through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada before applying.
Final Applicant Guidance
Scholarships in Canada for international students range from one-time entrance awards to comprehensive undergraduate and postdoctoral funding.
Start with opportunities that match your study level, nationality, academic record and financial situation. Give priority to awards with confirmed international eligibility and official application instructions.
Apply early, use accurate documents and prepare a budget for expenses the scholarship does not cover. A strong funding plan should combine scholarships with other reliable resources rather than depending on an unconfirmed award.
