Canada might be one of the most coveted destinations for international students, but unfortunately studying here doesn’t come cheap. For those keen to study in Canada but in need of financial support, we’ve rounded up a selection of scholarships for international students, provided by the Canadian government, individual Canadian universities, and other organizations.
Canadian government scholarships
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships – Canadian government scholarships and fellowships offered to international students undertaking postgraduate study within the natural and social sciences or health research.
- Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program – Scholarships for Canadian students enrolled on a master’s degree or PhD at a (CGS-M allocated) university in Canada.
- IDRC Research Awards – Canadian government scholarships for students from developing countries to undertake a master’s or doctoral-level research degree at a recognized Canadian university.
- NSERC Postgraduate scholarships – Various Canadian government scholarships, grants and awards available to outstanding students undertaking study in the natural sciences or engineering at an accredited Canadian university. Funded by the NSERC.
- Organization of American States (OAS) Academic Scholarship Program – Canadian government scholarships from the Organization of American States (OAS), open to graduate students from any OAS member state (including selected countries in Latin America and the Caribbean islands).
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program – Canadian government scholarships available to doctoral students internationally, to study in Canada at a participating university.
For more information on Canadian government scholarships and for more external funding opportunities, visit the Government of Canada’s scholarship homepage or contact the Canadian Ministry of Education in your home country.
Non-governmental scholarships to study in Canada
- Anne Vallee Ecological Fund – Scholarships for international students undertaking animal research at doctoral level at an accredited Canadian university in Québec or British Columbia.
- Canada Memorial Scholarship – Full scholarships are available for British postgraduate students to study at any accredited Canadian higher education provider, covering tuition, airfares, accommodation and more. The 2019 round is now closed, check back later this year for the 2020 round.
- Surfshark Privacy and Security Scholarship - A $2,000 prize is available to a student currently enrolled in Canada or another study destination as a high school, undergraduate or graduate student. You will need to submit an essay to apply and the scholarship is open to all nationalities.
- Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships – The Trudeau Foundation offers a number of scholarships, fellowships and mentorships to international students at doctoral level undertaking study in Canada at selected institutions.
University-specific scholarships to study in Canada
- Carleton University Awards for International Students – Scholarships to study in Canada at Carleton University, open to all graduate students, who are automatically considered for the awards upon application.
- Concordia University International Undergraduate Awards – Various scholarships for international students to study in Canada at Concordia University in Montréal, open to international students at undergraduate level.
- Dalhousie University Scholarships – Scholarships for current and prospective international/domestic students of all levels studying at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
- Fairleigh Dickinson Scholarships for International Students – Scholarships for international students of all levels undertaking study in Canada at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Vancouver.
- HEC Montréal Scholarships – Various merit- and need-based Canadian scholarships for international students at HEC Montréal, including mobility scholarships for international students.
- International Student Scholarships at Humber College Canada – A range of Canadian scholarships for international students at undergraduate level to study in Canada at Humber College in Toronto.
- McGill University Scholarships and Student Aid – Various funding opportunities, including the McGill Entrance Scholarship Program and the PBEEE - Quebec Merit Scholarship for Foreign Students, for international students enrolled in graduate and postdoctoral studies.
- Queen’s University International Scholarships – A number of scholarships for international students to study in Canada at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Some awards solely open to students from India, Pakistan and the US.
- Quest University Canada – Scholarships are available ranging from CA$2,000 to full tuition to study at Quest University Canada, which all international students are eligible for.
- UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award – Merit-based Canadian scholarships to study at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, open to undergraduate students who demonstrate leadership skills and exceptional academic achievement.
- UBC Graduate Scholarships – A searchable database of scholarships for master's and PhD students at the University of British Columbia, including the university's four-year doctoral fellowships and Graduate Support Initiative.
- University of Alberta International Scholarships – A range of scholarship options for international students to study at undergraduate/graduate level at the University of Alberta.
- University of Calgary International Scholarships – A selection of scholarships for international students to study in Canada at the University of Calgary. Awards range from CA$500 to CA$60,000.
- University of Manitoba – Scholarships to study in Canada at the University of Manitoba, open to international undergraduates. The university’s Faculty of Graduate Studies lists scholarship options for international graduate students.
- University of Saskatchewan International Student Awards – Merit-based ‘excellence’ scholarships to study in Canada, for undergraduate international students at the University of Saskatchewan.
- University of Toronto Ontario Graduate Scholarship – Scholarships for domestic and international students to study at the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies.
- University of Waterloo International Funding – A variety of Canadian scholarships on offer to international students undertaking a master’s degree or doctoral program at the University of Waterloo.
- Simon Fraser University Financial Aid and Awards – A range of scholarships and other funding opportunities for domestic and international students currently studying or planning to study at Simon Fraser University.
- Western University International President's Entrance Scholarships – Various Canadian scholarships offered to international students undertaking study at Western University.
- York University International Student Program – York University offers a number of international scholarships for undergraduate students to study in Toronto.
For more information regarding funding opportunities to study in Canada, contact your local Canadian embassy. For more general information about studying in Canada, visit our complete guide to studying abroad in Canada. You may also be interested in our list of the top universities in Canada.
This article was originally published in September 2014. It is updated regularly, most recently in May 2019.
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