Quick answer: the biggest scholarships for international students in Canada are offered by universities, not the government. For undergraduates, the best known are the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto (full tuition, books, fees and residence for four years), UBC’s International Scholars Program, and automatic entrance scholarships like York University’s, worth up to CA$37,500. For PhD students, the federal Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral pays CA$40,000 a year, and international students can apply once they’re registered.
Scholarships for international students in Canada are competitive, and many lists online include awards that have ended or that only Canadians can get. This guide covers scholarships that are open to international students for 2026–27 and 2027–28 entry, checked against the official pages, plus the automatic awards most students actually receive.
This guide is general information based on official sources. Your own requirements depend on your situation, and IRCC makes every decision, so check the official pages before you apply.
Quick comparison
| Scholarship | Level | Value | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto) | Undergraduate | Tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence for 4 years | School nomination plus scholarship application |
| UBC International Scholars Program | Undergraduate | Based on financial need; renewable | School or non-profit nomination plus application |
| York International Scholarship of Distinction | Undergraduate | Up to CA$37,500 over 4 years | Automatic with admission |
| York President’s International Scholarship of Excellence | Undergraduate | CA$180,000 over 4 years | Application and nomination |
| Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D) | PhD | CA$40,000 a year for 3 years | Apply through your university once registered |
Undergraduate scholarships
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, University of Toronto
This is Canada’s best-known scholarship for international students. It covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years, and about 37 students are named Pearson Scholars each year.
- You must be in your final year of secondary school in 2026–27, or have graduated no earlier than June 2026, and start at U of T in September 2027.
- Your high school must nominate you. Each school can nominate only one student a year.
- For 2027 entry, the school nomination deadline was October 9, 2026, and the scholarship application and documents are due November 6, 2026.
If you missed this year’s nomination, plan for next year: talk to your school early in your final year. See the official Pearson page.
UBC International Scholars Program
UBC’s International Scholars Program supports international students with outstanding grades and leadership who couldn’t attend UBC without significant financial help. Awards are based on financial need and can be renewed for up to three more years. The program includes the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award and the International Impact Award.
- You must be nominated by your high school or a registered non-profit organization, and have a teacher referee.
- You must apply to UBC for admission and submit financial documents showing your need.
- Applications for September 2027 are open. The scholarship deadline falls before the UBC admission deadline, usually in November, so check the official UBC page now.
Automatic entrance scholarships
Most international students who get a scholarship receive an automatic entrance award based on their admission average, with no separate application. York University is a good example:
| York award | Admission average | Value |
|---|---|---|
| International Scholarship of Distinction | 90%+ | CA$15,000 in year 1, then CA$7,500 a year (up to CA$37,500) |
| International Merit Award | 80%–89.9% | CA$10,000 in year 1, then CA$5,000 a year (up to CA$25,000) |
| International Entrance Award | 75%–79.9% | CA$5,000, one time |
Renewable York awards require full-time study and a B+ average. Some programs, such as Computer Science and Engineering, are excluded from the top award. York also offers the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence, worth CA$180,000 over four years, with a student application deadline of January 27, 2027. See York’s international scholarships page.
Many other Canadian universities offer similar automatic awards. When you compare schools, look at the entrance scholarship you’d likely get alongside the tuition. Our guide to the cheapest universities in Canada can help you compare total costs.
Graduate and PhD funding
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D)
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship has ended: its last competition was in fall 2024. Doctoral funding from Canada’s three federal research councils now goes through the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D), worth CA$40,000 a year for three years.
International PhD students can apply, but only once they’re registered in their doctoral program at a Canadian university. You apply through your university, which sets an internal deadline, usually in September.
Funding from your supervisor and department
For research master’s and PhD programs, the most common source of funding is a package from your department, often made up of a research assistantship, a teaching assistantship and internal awards. Contact potential supervisors before you apply, and ask the department what funding it guarantees for international students. Some departments also waive application fees: see universities in Canada with no application fee.
How to improve your chances
- Start early. The biggest awards need nominations and essays months before admission deadlines.
- Keep your grades high. Most entrance awards are based on your admission average.
- Show leadership and community impact. Pearson and UBC’s program look closely at what you’ve done outside class.
- Be honest about financial need. Need-based awards ask for documents. Prepare them carefully.
- Apply widely. Combine one or two competitive awards with schools that offer automatic scholarships.
- Never pay for scholarship applications. Real scholarships don’t charge application fees, and no agent can guarantee an award.
Remember that a scholarship doesn’t remove the need to show proof of funds for your study permit, but it reduces the amount you need to show.
Frequently asked questions
Are there fully funded scholarships in Canada for international students?
Yes, but very few. The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship covers tuition, books, fees and residence for four years. UBC’s International Scholars Program can cover most costs for students with significant financial need. Most other awards are partial.
Can international students get government scholarships in Canada?
At the PhD level, yes: international students registered in a doctoral program can apply for the CGRS-D. Most undergraduate scholarships for international students come from universities.
Is the Vanier scholarship still available?
No. The final Vanier competition was in fall 2024. Doctoral students now apply for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral, worth CA$40,000 a year.
Do I need to apply separately for entrance scholarships?
Often no. Many universities, such as York, consider you automatically when you apply for admission. Others need a separate application, so check each school.
Can students from Bangladesh get scholarships in Canada?
Yes. The scholarships in this guide are open to international students from any country, including Bangladesh. See our guide to studying in Canada from Bangladesh.
Related guides
- Cheapest universities in Canada for international students
- Universities in Canada with no application fee
- Cost of studying in Canada
- Study in Canada: step-by-step guide