Canada has emerged as one of the top study destinations in the world, due to its high-ranking universities, quality education and relative affordability. In addition, most institutions and the government also allow eligible students to avail scholarships for covering the tuition and living costs. Several different types of scholarships are offered in Canada:
Financial scholarships based on the financial needs of students (primarily for students from USA).
Merit scholarships for academically or athletically gifted students, and those who have served communities or demonstrated entrepreneurial skills.
Country-based scholarships for qualifying students from certain developing countries.
Part scholarships, which could be a small one-time payment for covering tuition fees or larger payments in instalments for covering specific costs of attending university.
Privately-funded scholarships offered by donors or businesses to students pursuing specific fields of study, or those belonging to certain minorities or specific developing countries.
Government-funded scholarships offered by the Canadian government to those who choose to study in Canada. These include:
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship intended to attract and retain doctoral students by offering CAD$50,000 annually for three years towards completion of a Master’s degree combined with PhD, or a doctoral degree.
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship for international students pursuing post-graduation in health sciences, social sciences or natural sciences.
- IDRC Doctoral Research Awards for students belonging to developing countries studying at a Canadian university.
- NSERC Post-graduate Scholarship for those who choose to study engineering or natural sciences.
University scholarships offered by Canadian universities as a form of financial aid to foreign students. Some of these include:
- University of Toronto offers the Lester B Pearson International Scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, books, incidental expenses and accommodation for 4 years – for students demonstrating exceptional academic achievements.
- Humber College offers the International Entrance Scholarship to new foreign students, as a renewable scholarship to fully or partially cover tuition fees.
- York University offers the International Student Scholarship Program (worth CAD$60,000 to CAD$100,000) to students who display academic excellence while pursuing a four-year degree program.
- University of British Columbia’s Scholarship for International Students dedicates around CAD$10 million annually to several undergraduate foreign students – in the form of financial assistance, scholarships and awards.
- Carleton University offers the partial Entrance Scholarship for International Students (worth CAD$4,000 to CAD$16,000) to those who satisfy the average admission criteria of 80% and above.
- University of Calgary offers Graduate Awards up to CAD$40,000 to international students through various funding opportunities.
- University of Manitoba offers the Graduate Fellowship to students of all nationalities who apply for full-time graduate studies at the university. PhD students are awarded CAD$18,000 and Master’s students are CAD$14,000.
- Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation offers a Doctoral scholarship worth CAD$60,000 annually for up to three years, to foreign students who apply for doctoral programs in the humanities and social sciences.
- University of Waterloo offers the Master’s Award of Excellence – granting CAD$2,500 each term for up to five months – to Master’s students from outside Canada who are commencing a research-based graduate programme.
- University of Winnipeg offers the President’s Scholarship to international students from the undergraduate to PhD level – partially waiving tuition fee by CAD$3,500.
To identify ideal courses to suit your overseas education goals, navigate the application and enrolment process for international students in Canada, and qualify for securing a scholarship, seek the guidance of seasoned consultants at Study Abroad Expert.