Comprehensive guide for Scholarship Opportunities for International students, who want to Study in Canada

The article discusses how pursuing a University or College education in Canada can open many career doors, but Tuition fees can be expensive. Luckily, there are many fully-funded scholarships available to help international students manage the costs of a post-secondary education in Canada. The article provides a list of some of the top scholarships for newcomers that can help them achieve their academic goals in 2023 and beyond. It also mentions that the application process and deadlines for the various scholarship options vary, and that for scholarships offered by universities or colleges, students usually only be able to apply after they’ve been accepted into a study program.

If you are an international student who wants to study in Canada, you may be interested in learning about the scholarship opportunities available for you. Scholarships are a form of financial aid that does not need to be repaid, and they can help you cover the costs of tuition, living expenses, books, and other academic needs. In this blog post, we will provide you with some relevant details about the different types of scholarships for international students in Canada, and how you can apply for them.

Undergraduate scholarships for international students

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships

This scholarship program at the University of Toronto assists international students who’ve demonstrated significant academic potential, creativity, and leadership. Around 37 international students receive this scholarship each year.

• Eligibility:?You must be an international student (a non-Canadian who requires a study permit), currently in your final year of secondary school or have graduated no earlier than June 2022, and begin your studies at the University of Toronto in September 2023.?
• What it covers:?Tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years.
• Deadline to apply:?January 16, 2023
• Other criteria:?To become a Lester B. Pearson Scholar, you must be nominated by your school and apply to undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto.

For more information on the application process, visit the?Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships webpage.?

University of British Columbia International Scholars Program

These scholarships are distributed based on both merit and need. UBC offers 50 scholarships each academic year, spread across four categories: the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award, the International Impact Award, and the Vantage One Excellence Award.?

• Eligibility:?You must be an international student on a Canadian study permit entering UBC from a recognized secondary school or transferring from your first year at another college or university. You must have graduated from high school no earlier than June 2022 and be applying for your first undergraduate degree. In addition, you must demonstrate a level of financial need that would otherwise prevent you from pursuing a degree at UBC.
• What it covers:?Awards are based on need, with the university dedicating approximately $10 million CAD a year to the 50 recipients in the program. Recipients also gain access to unique learning opportunities, annual retreats, dedicated advisors, and more.?
• Deadline to apply:?November 15, 2022
• Other criteria:?You only submit one application and don’t choose which award you’d like to receive. Rather, UBC will automatically consider you for all awards you’re eligible for.?

For more information on the application process, visit the?UBC’s International Scholars Program webpage.?

Carleton Entrance Awards for International Students?

This program awards international students entering their first year of study at Carleton University with a record of high academic achievement. In addition to the Entrance Awards, Carleton also offers Prestige Awards to international students with an admissions average score of 90 per cent and above.

• Eligibility:?To qualify for the Entrance Awards, you must be admitted to Carleton with an average of 80 per cent or higher in high school, as well as meet the university’s language requirements.
• What it covers:?Award amounts vary based on your grade average, but begin at a total of $4,000 CAD ($1,000 x four years) and go up to $16,000 CAD ($4,000 x four years) for the 2023 academic year.?
• Deadline to apply:?No separate application required. If you’ve been admitted to Carleton, you’ll automatically be considered for a scholarship. The scholarships are available for students entering in the fall term only.
• Other criteria:?Scholarship value is calculated on your grade average at time of admission and won’t be recalculated based on your final marks.?

For more information, visit the?Carleton’s Entrance Awards for International Students webpage.

University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship

This program awards international students beginning their studies at the University of Calgary who have a track record of stellar accomplishments inside and outside the classroom. Currently, this scholarship is awarded two students each year, based on merit.

• Eligibility:?You must be an international student registered full-time in an undergraduate degree program at the University of Calgary that commences in the Fall 2023 term. You must be a new student and present a minimum GPA of 3.20. You also must meet the university’s English Language Proficiency requirement.
• What it covers:?The scholarship is $15,000 CAD, renewable annually in the second, third and fourth years at the University of Calgary, provided you achieve a GPA of 2.60 or more over a minimum of 24.00 units in the previous fall and winter terms. The total award amount is $60,000 CAD.?
• Deadline to apply:?December 1, 2022. You can apply for this scholarship (offered under the High School Prestige Award) directly through the UCalgary portal.

For more information, visit the?University of Calgary’s International Entrance Scholarship webpage.?

Humber International Entrance Scholarships

This program helps new international students enrolled?in Graduate Certificate, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma programs at?Humber College achieve their academic goals. This scholarship is awarded to 40 students each year, of which 20 are awarded during September intake, 15 during January intake, and the remaining five during May intake.

• Eligibility:?You must be enrolling at Humber College directly from a recognized secondary school, be a non-transfer student, and have a minimum final admission average of 85 per cent. In addition, you’ll need a 6.5+ score in IELTS (or equivalent) to qualify.
• What it covers:?$2,000 CAD, over the first two semesters of your study
• Deadline to apply:?September intake: the last day of May prior to Fall semester. January intake: the last day of September prior to Winter semester. May intake: the last day of January prior to Spring/Summer semester
• Other criteria:?Even if you receive this scholarship, you’ll still have to pay the full tuition amount up front. The scholarship amount will be credited to your account after the tenth day of classes. In order to be eligible, you’ll need to provide the following:
• Your Humber Student ID number
• Confirmed Letter of Acceptance from Humber College for full-time program commencing in the appropriate Semester
• Personal statement of interest, including your Grade Point Average
• Two reference letters

Humber College also offers Bachelor’s Degree scholarships to all meritorious international students coming directly from high school with a grade of 75 per cent and above. If you qualify, you’ll automatically be awarded the scholarship without filing a separate application. If your GPA at the time of admission is 80 per cent or above, you may be eligible to renew your scholarship provided you maintain a GPA of 80 per cent or above during your study program.

For more information, visit the?Humber International Entrance Scholarships webpage.

Graduate scholarships for international students

University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship

This program awards more than $2 million each year to full-time masters and PhD students at the University of Manitoba who have a history of academic excellence.?

• Eligibility:?All students accepted into these programs without provisions are welcome to apply, regardless of citizenship, given they have a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of admission.
• What it covers:?UMGF master’s awards are valued at $14,000 CAD per year for 12 or 24 months, for up to a total of $28,000 CAD. UMGF doctoral awards are valued at $18,000 CAD per year for 12, 24, 36, or 48 months, for up to a total of $72,000 CAD.
• Deadline to apply:?Students must be recommended by their department or unit to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for a UMGF. Consult your department for information on the application process and deadline.

For more information, visit the?University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships webpage.

Waterloo International Master’s Award of Excellence

This scholarship recognizes international students who wish to undertake research-based Masters degree programs at the University of Waterloo.

• Eligibility:?Applicants must be international students with a valid Canadian study permit who are registered full time. The scholarship is awarded to Masters degree students in research-based programs, and only students entering the first term of their program are eligible. Additional academic criteria will be decided upon by the faculty and you must not have any outstanding academic or probation issues.?
• What it covers:?The scholarship award is valued at $2,500 CAD per term for a maximum of five terms.
• Deadline to apply:?You’ll be automatically considered for this scholarship with the submission of your regular application. The application deadline for most Masters programs commencing September 2023 fall within January to February 2023.?

For more information, visit the?Waterloo International Master’s Award of Excellence webpage.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Leadership Scholarships

This three-year scholarship program provides funding and other opportunities to twelve full-time doctoral students, and is not tied to one specific learning institution.

• Eligibility:?Non-Canadians can be either permanent residents or foreign nationals enrolled in a doctoral program at a recognized Canadian institution. Field of study should be related to the humanities or human sciences with direct relevance to Canada’s future. You must already be accepted into years one or two of a doctoral program and expected to complete your studies by 2026.
• What it covers:?Up to $40,000 CAD per year for three years to cover tuition and reasonable living expenses to focus on their doctoral studies and the Foundation’s leadership program. Additionally, up to $20,000 CAD per year for three years, for the learning of languages, for travel and accommodations for the Foundation’s leadership program, and for research, networking, and travel related to their doctoral research. There will also be access to opportunities to acquire greater proficiency in Canada’s official languages (French and English) as well as Indigenous languages.?
• Deadline to apply:?December 2, 2022 at 5 p.m. EST??
• Other criteria:?The selection process is a rigorous one involving multiple rounds of interviews.?If successful, you’ll be expected to participate in and organize activities related to the Foundation outside your normal course of study.?

For more information, visit the?Trudeau Leadership Scholarships webpage.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

This scholarship recognizes students enrolled in graduate studies at?19 publicly-funded Ontario universities, including the University of Toronto, University of Guelph, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, University of Waterloo, Western University, and York University.?Each award is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario (two thirds) and the school offering the award (one third).

• Eligibility:?International students who are studying or plan to study a full-time graduate program (master’s or doctoral level) at one of the 19 participating universities in Ontario under a valid temporary resident visa (student study permit) are eligible for OGS awards (valid study permits must be effective as of the graduate units’ OGS international application deadline). Applications are assessed on merit and must meet the criteria set by the participating schools.
• What it covers:?The value of the OGS is $5,000 CAD per term. Thus, awardees may receive $10,000 CAD for two consecutive terms or $15,000 CAD for three consecutive terms.?
• Deadline to apply:?Date will be set by your graduate department or unit, who will then forward selected applications to OGS for final consideration.?
• Other criteria:?Applicants must submit an OGS application to their proposed graduate unit using their school’s centralized OGS application portal. If you’re applying to multiple participating schools, you’ll need to submit a different OGS application for each school.?

For more information, visit the?Ontario Graduate Scholarships webpage.

The Canadian Government also offers various scholarships for international students at different levels and fields of study

Study in Canada Scholarships

Provide short-term exchange opportunities for students from eligible countries/territories to study or conduct research at Canadian post-secondary institutions.

To be eligible, you must be:

• ? a citizen of an eligible country/territory
• Asia:?Bangladesh, Nepal, Taiwan
• Europe:?Türkiye, Ukraine
• Middle East and North Africa:?Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia
• Sub-Saharan Africa:?Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda
• ? a student enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country/territory
• ? paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of your exchange

You are not eligible for this scholarship if:

• you hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• you are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada
• you are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution

Canadian post-secondary institutions interested in hosting students must:

• ? be a?Designated Learning Institution??(DLI)
• ? have a valid student exchange agreement with the student’s home institution that waives tuition fees for scholarship recipients (required for college/undergraduate study only)

Canada-CARICOM Skills Training for the Green Economy Scholarships Program

The Government of Canada announced the Canada-CARICOM Skills Training for the Green Economy (CCSTGE) Scholarships program in 2020. The program provides students from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states with short-term exchange opportunities at publicly funded Canadian colleges and institutes. The scholarships support college-level students in programs or disciplines linked to the green economy, or with elements related to sustainability, combating environmental degradation, and/or regenerative practices. This could include, but is not limited to: climate-smart agriculture, sustainable culinary practices, renewable energy, and sustainable building techniques, among others.

The Canada-CARICOM Skills Training for the Green Economy Scholarships is a Short-term Exchange Program under Global Affairs Canada’s International Scholarships Program.

To be eligible, you must be:

• ? a citizen of a CARICOM member state
• Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, or Trinidad and Tobago
• ? a student enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution (College or Institute) in an eligible country/territory
• ? paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of your exchange

Students are not eligible for this scholarship if:

• you hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• you are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada
• you are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution

Canadian post-secondary institutions interested in hosting students must:

• ? be a?Designated Learning Institution??(DLI)
• ? have a valid student exchange agreement with the student’s home institution that waives tuition fees for scholarship recipients

Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program

The Government of Canada announced The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program in 2009 to support the development of human capital and the next generation of leaders in the Americas while strengthening the linkages between post-secondary institutions in Canada and the Americas. These scholarships provide students from post-secondary institutions located in Latin America and the Caribbean with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research at Canadian post-secondary institutions. The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program is a Short-term Exchange Program under Global Affairs Canada’s International Scholarships Program.

To be eligible, you must be:

• ? a citizen of an eligible country/territory
• Caribbean:?Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos
• Central America:?Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
• North America:?Mexico
• South America:?Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela
• ? a student enrolled full-time at post-secondary institution in an eligible country/territory
• ? paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of your exchange

You are not eligible for this scholarship if:

• you hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• you are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada
• you are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution

Canadian post-secondary institutions interested in hosting students must:

• ? be a?Designated Learning Institution??(DLI)
• ? have a valid student exchange agreement with the student’s home institution that waives tuition fees for scholarship recipients (required for college/undergraduate study only)

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program

Provide up to $50,000 per year for three years to doctoral students who demonstrate academic excellence, research potential, and leadership.

To be considered for a Vanier CGS, you must:

• be nominated by?only one?Canadian institution, which must have received a?Vanier CGS quota
• be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including joint program such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, or JD/PhD - if it has a demonstrated and significant research component);
• intend to pursue, in the summer semester or the academic year following the announcement of results, full-time doctoral (or a joint graduate research program such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD) studies and research at the nominating institution;
• have completed?no more than 20 months?of full-time study in your doctoral program as of May 1, 2023;
• The doctoral program would begin after the completion of a Master's degree. The months of study completed are calculated from the doctoral enrolment date.
• have completed?no more than 32 months?of full-time study in your doctoral program (i.e., joint graduate research program, accelerated, previously enrolled without obtaining Master's degree), by May 1, 2023 if:
• enrolled in a joint graduate research program, e.g., MD/PhD, MA/PhD, DVM/PhD. Applicants in this category have access to the 32-month window whether or not they were previously enrolled in a Master's program:
• The months of study are calculated starting from the date on which an applicant is officially registered in the joint program (including the Master's portion of the program).
• enrolled directly from a Bachelor's to a PhD (not previously enrolled in a Master's program);
• The months of study completed are calculated from the doctoral enrolment date.
• Previously enrolled in a Master's program without obtaining the degree.
• The months of study completed are calculated from the original Master's enrolment date.
• have achieved a first-class average, as determined by your institution, in each of the last two years of full-time study or equivalent. Candidates are encouraged to contact the institution for its definition of a first-class average; and
• must not hold, or have held, a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from?CIHR,?NSERC?or?SSHRC?to undertake or complete a doctoral program.

Please note that only the PhD portion of a joint program is eligible for funding.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program

Provide $70,000 per year for two years to postdoctoral researchers who will positively contribute to Canada’s economic, social, and research-based growth.

Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada?and?foreign citizens are eligible to apply, provided they meet the following conditions:

• Applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada may only hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at a Canadian institution.
• Applicants who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and who obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree from a foreign university may only hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at a Canadian institution.
• Applicants who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and who obtained their PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree from a Canadian university may hold their Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at either a Canadian institution or an institution outside of Canada.

Applicants to the 2023-24 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program must fulfill or have fulfilled all degree requirements for a PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree:

• between September 15, 2020 and September 30, 2024 (inclusively), and
• before the start date of their award.

Applicants who have not fulfilled all requirements for their degree at the time of application must submit proof no later than October 15, 2024.

For applicants who have completed more than one PhD, PhD-equivalent or health professional degree, the eligibility window applies to the?most recent?of these degrees.

International Business Scholarships

Offered by the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) to students pursuing a career or furthering their studies in international business or that combine business with environmental or sustainability studies .

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master's Program

Offered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to graduate students undertaking research in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, or humanities.

International Development Research Centre Awards

Offered by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to Canadians, permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries pursuing their doctoral studies at a Canadian university .

Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program

Offered by SSHRC to doctoral students with exceptional academic performance in the social sciences or humanities.

University of Toronto International Scholar Award

Offered by the University of Toronto to outstanding international undergraduate students admitted to one of its faculties or colleges.

McGill University Entrance Scholarships

Offered by McGill University to first-time university students entering a full-time undergraduate degree program.

Queen's University International Admission Scholarship

Offered by Queen's University to international students entering their first year of an undergraduate degree program.

York University International Student Scholarship Program

Offered by York University to international students entering their first year of an undergraduate degree program.

Self financing Options

Student lines of credit in Canada

A?line of credit?is a loan that allows you to borrow money repeatedly up until a pre-set limit. You can borrow money from a line of credit, pay some of it back, then borrow again if you wish. A student line of credit is specifically meant to help pay for post-secondary education expenses, including tuition, books and supplies, and living expenses. With a line of credit, you only pay interest on the money that you actually borrow.?

Student lines of credit can be a good option for students who require financial flexibility, but are unsure if they’ll necessarily need a large loan. This way, you don’t find yourself paying interest on a large loan you don’t fully use.?

Student lines of credit are provided by financial institutions and?banks like RBC. However, most banks only offer student lines of credit to domestic students or to students enrolled in certain professional programs. You may need a cosigner to guarantee your line of credit and you’ll most likely need to provide proof that you’re either a full- or part-time student at a recognized post-secondary institution.

Key highlights of student lines of credit:

• You only have to pay back the money you borrow.?Interest?is applied to just the amount that is borrowed and not on the entire amount (which is the case for loans). For instance, if you have a $10,000 CAD line of credit and you borrow $3,000 CAD, you have to repay $3,000 CAD + interest on the $3000 CAD, not on $10,000 CAD.?
• The interest rates may be lower than the rates offered on government student loans. However, you’ll have to start paying interest as soon as you borrow money from a student line of credit, unlike a student loan where you only start paying interest once you finish your program or leave school.
• You can start paying back the money you owe at any time, even while you’re still studying.
• The limit for your line of credit will be determined by the bank, based on your course, the school or academic institution offering the program, living expenses,?credit history, and ability to repay the money you borrow.

For more information on?student lines of credit, see information shared by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.

Bursaries for international students

Bursaries are a form of financial assistance offered by universities and colleges for international students in Canada. Bursaries are given to students based on financial need rather than merits or accomplishments. They’re normally one-time payments that don’t need to be repaid and are provided by nonprofit foundations or private companies. Again, it’s important to research bursaries well ahead of your start date to give yourself enough time to apply for them.?

Key highlights of bursaries:

• Students are usually required to submit an application, undergo a needs assessment, and provide information about their income or their parents’ income to verify their financial situation.?
• As with a scholarship or grant, you don’t need to repay a bursary.
• Information about bursaries is usually available on the individual school or university websites.
• Typically, you have to be registered as an international student in the school to apply for bursaries as the main intention of a bursary program is to supplement students’ primary sources of funding.?

Working while studying in Canada

Another way to cover some of the costs of your education in Canada is to?work while studying. If you take this route, you won’t have to worry about repaying loans later down the road or paying interest fees. However, newcomers need to make sure they’re legally eligible to?work on- or off-campus?before they apply for a job.?

Conclusion

Studying in Canada can be a rewarding and enriching experience for international students. However, it can also be expensive and challenging. Scholarships can help you reduce the financial burden and achieve your academic goals. By doing your research, preparing your application, and applying early, you can increase your chances of winning a scholarship for international students in Canada.

We at WWW.HANDOO.LEGAL can assist your strategize your education and Immigration pathway.