Scholarships in Canada for international students can ease the financial constraints for applicants with ambitions to pursue studies abroad. Canada, is one of the most coveted studying abroad destinations, with an inflow of over 642,000 international students enrolling on the broad range of programs offered. Therefore, getting the right information on scholarships for international students in Canada becomes immensely important. Irrespective of its popularity, studying in Canada does not come cheap. Students who wish to study in Canada but lack the financial resources to do so can opt for the numerous scholarships for Indian students in Canada.
As international students pursuing higher education in Canada, you can apply for various types of funding available by the government, universities, or non-governmental organizations. Given below are the details for study abroad scholarships for international students in Canada.
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Types of Scholarships for International Students in Canada
- Canadian Government Scholarships: These are awards offered by the government to encourage students to study in Canada.
- Non-Government Scholarships: Offered by various different trusts, foundations, and organizations to students pursuing a specific course stream to encourage participation and development in the said field.
- Institutional Scholarships: Offered by universities or colleges in Canada to students who are pursuing education with them.
Governmental Scholarships in Canada for International Students
There are certainly other scholarships or financial aid programs funded by the Canadian government. These include:
- Ontario Graduate Scholarships: OGS are offered in collaboration with the Canadian government and participating institutions. International students enrolling on master’s or doctoral programs at select institutes. The total scholarship award is 15,000 CAD/year.
- Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship: Financial aid offered to master’s students enrolled in Quebec Canadian universities. Awards are offered on a merit basis. Doctoral students are offered 25,000 CAD/year and postdoctoral students are offered 35,000 CAD/year.
- Shastri-Indo Canadian Institute: Multiple fellowships are offered to students pursuing graduate and postgraduate courses in Canada.
- Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship: Offered to meritorious students from commonwealth countries pursuing masters and PhD at Canadian institutes. The award covers tuition fees, living expenses, and travelling allowance.
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Non-Governmental Scholarships in Canada for International Students
Certain organizations, funds, and trusts offer scholarships to international students in Canada. Some of the popular ones are listed below:
- Anne Vallee Ecological Fund: Offered to students pursuing animal research at the doctoral level in Universities in British Columbia or Quebec. The award amount is 1,500 CAD.
- Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships: Awarded to international students pursuing doctorate degrees in Canada. There are around 15 scholarship awards of 60,000 CAD offered under this scheme.
- Canada Memorial Scholarship: Offered to students from the UK pursuing PG education in Canada. The award covers tuition fees, airfare, and accommodation expenses.
Institutional Scholarships in Canada for International Students
Many top universities in Canada offer their international applicants a number of scholarships to ease the financial burden. From top universities like Toronto, UBC, and McGill to other lesser popular institutions like Fairleigh Dickinson, Quest University, and others; all have certain financial aid opportunities open for international students.
Universities That Offer Full Scholarship To International Students
Canada is yet another top-notch study location, offering every student quality education recognized across the globe.
Some Canadian universities offer a full scholarship to international students who aim to achieve their academic goals in Canada and I have compiled a list of these universities for you to choose the one that suits you best.
Universities that Offer Full Scholarships to International Students in Canada
- The University of Toronto, Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships
- York University International Student Scholarships
- University of British Columbia International Student Scholarship
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The University of Toronto, Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships
The University of Toronto in collaboration with the Lester B. Pearson scholarship program awards the international student with a fully-funded scholarship which covers tuition fees and living costs. Applicants of this scholarship program must have an excellent academic record, be very creative and also recognized as leaders within their school or community.
Qualified students will pursue an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at the University of Toronto.
York University International Student Scholarships
York university international student scholarship is awarded to students who have shown excellent academic performance and are aiming to pursue an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at York University. The scholarship is fully funded, covering tuition fees and living expenses throughout the student’s year of studies.
University of British Columbia International Student Scholarship
The University of British Columbia is one of the most recognized schools in Canada, and offers scholarships to international students with outstanding academic records who aim to study at the university.
Application Process For Scholarships to Study in Canada
Qualifying for a scholarship to study in Canada involves a lot of factors. However, a good academic score, subject, degree, and study level is the primary factor. Specific scholarships also consider extra-curricular activities, volunteering experience and other additional factors. To get any scholarship in Canada as an international student, one has to make sure that they fulfil certain criteria. Though for each individual scholarship that you wish to avail yourself, the overall eligibility will vary but some general requirements that international students must keep in mind are:
- Academic excellence: Applicants for scholarships to study in Canada must ensure that they have good academic scores. Most of the scholarships are merit-based, which means, financial support will be offered to meritorious students.
- Language Proficiency: Since most international students do not have English as their first language, having better language skills or proficiency scores on exams like IELTS/TOEFL enhances your chances of getting a scholarship to study in Canada.
- Extracurricular Indulgence: Some scholarships in Canada for international students also consider students’ involvement in volunteering and extracurricular activities. This is often a case with stream specific scholarships, such as programs like social work, etc. The work experience in the field is an add on and hence, becomes one of the major eligibility criteria.
Steps to Search for Study abroad Scholarships in Canada
Majorly you can either choose to look for funding options offered by the home country to students planning to study abroad. In this case, you can contact the immigration, home affairs, or external affairs department of your home country.
You can also avail yourself of government, non-government, or institutional scholarships to study in Canada. For the former two types of scholarships, you can explore the Government of Canada International Scholarships or the International Council for Canadian Studies. Here is a step by step guide on finding the right scholarship in Canada for you:
- Start the search as soon as you apply. Look for all the options available- government, non-government, university-specific, and more.
- Communicate with your university/colleges to find out what all scholarships are currently open for applications.
- Do additional research, if required contact counsellors, and more.
- Make applications for scholarships before deadlines approach.
- Ensure your scores for tests required to study in Canada are competitive and good.
Amount of Money Available Through Scholarships
The monetary value varies with the scholarship. Most sorted scholarships and the amount available are –
| Scholarship Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute | CAD 500 – 1000 |
| Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan | $10,000 |
| Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program | $5,000 per session |
| Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship | $25,000 to $35,000 |
| Ontario Trillium Scholarship | $40,000 per year |
| Partnership Grants by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada | CAD 20,000 |
| Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships | CAD 50,000 per year |
| Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships | $70,000 per year |
| Trudeau Scholarships & Fellowships | $40,000 – $20,000 |
| Anne Vallee Ecological Fund | $1,500 |
It must be noted that these values of scholarships might change without prior notice, and there might be other variables regarding the amount concerned. So, it is advisable to review all the financial details from the official website or their respective authorities to get a detailed overview of the scholarships in Canada for international students in 2022.
Conclusion
As one of the Universities that offer full scholarships to international students in Canada, the scholarship award is fully funded covering tuition fees and living costs.
There are but a few universities in Canada that offer fully-funded scholarships to international students but there are several financial aids provided by Canada to international students. Or you can opt for LeapFinance providing financial Assistance like education loans and credit cards for students aspiring to study abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can international students get scholarships in Canada?
Ans: Scholarships are basically non-refundable awards which are immensely helpful when it comes to the completion of studies in a country like Canada. Several universities in Canada offer lucrative scholarships to eligible students.
2. What are the easiest scholarships to get in Canada?
Ans: Some of the easiest scholarships to get in Canada are:Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
Canada Graduate Scholarships Master’s Program
Organization of American States Academic Scholarship Program (OAS)
3. What is the minimum percentage required for Scholarship of International students in Canada?
Ans: A minimum of 80% is required to avail Scholarship for International Students in Canada.
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