Whenever scholarships are mentioned like this, a lot of aspiring international students get excited and head over heels about the whole stuff. But no, you need to understand that a majority of scholarship listings are almost “scam” programs, and you’d only be wasting your time doing them. For any aspiring international student, studying at a Canadian university is like a dream come true, and it’s not bad because the South American country is one of the countries that attract so many internationals annually, thanks to the low unemployment rate and high-standard learning institutions.
This article explores the best scholarship programs that can give you entry into a Canadian university at a drastically reduced cost, or even fully funded.
The 7 Best Scholarships In Canada For International Students
1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) is one of Canada’s most prestigious scholarships for international students. It is named after Major-General Georges P. Vanier, who was the first francophone Governor General of Canada. This scholarship program is aimed at doctoral students who have demonstrated excellence in research, leadership skills, and academic performance.
The Vanier CGS offers up to 166 scholarships annually and a total of up to 500 active scholarships per time. While this is not a fully funded scholarship, it reduces your educational costs by supporting you with $50,000 per year for up to three years during your doctoral studies. To be eligible for this, you must meet the following:
- An international student or a Canadian citizen
- Must be pursuing a doctoral degree at a Canadian institution
- Strong academic performance and leadership potential
2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program
You can apply to the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program offered by the University of Toronto, which is Canada’s largest university and ranks top 10 in world rankings. The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is awarded to exceptional international students who did extremely well in different aspects, most importantly in leadership and research.
It is an all-inclusive scholarship intended to cover the awardees’ tuition fees, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. Every step and process of this scholarship is to be done on the official U of T website, responding to any email hinting to help you through is a waste of time as that could be a scam email. Eligibility is analyzed by:
- You must be an international student in your final year of secondary school or have recently graduated.
- Applicants must be nominated by their high school and demonstrate strong academic performance and leadership potential.
- You must be an undergraduate aspiring to study at the University of Toronto.
3. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Another good scholarship to check out as a postgraduate looking to further your studies in a Canadian university is the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program. Well, this scholarship program is open to both international students and locals; it is a popular program for those looking to study in Ontario.
The OGS program offers $5,000 per session/term, up to a maximum of $15,000 per year to eligible candidates. It can be awarded for a minimum of one academic year (two terms) or up to two years (six terms), depending on the student’s program of study. You must be studying in Ontario province to qualify for this scholarship. Other eligibility requirements are:
- You must be willing to enroll in a master’s or doctoral program at a participating Ontario university.
- Candidates must have achieved high academic excellence with a minimum 80% average in the last two years of full-time study.
4. Trudeau Foundation Scholarships
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship provides awardees with up to $50k in funding per year, for up to three years, to cover the majority of the expenses they need to pursue a doctoral degree in Canada. Also, awardees of this scholarship program receive an additional $20,000 annually, for three years, to cover their travel and research-related expenses. Scholars also benefit from leadership training and opportunities to interact with prominent academics and leaders. To qualify for the Trudeau Foundation Scholarships, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Pursuing a doctoral program at a Canadian university
- Must be an ardent researcher into the following core themes: human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada’s role in the world, and people and their natural environment.
- You must have a track record of community involvement and leadership potential.
5. University of British Columbia (UBC) International Leader of Tomorrow Award
Ranked as the overall 3rd best university in Canada, the University of British Columbia offers an International Leader of Tomorrow Award to highly esteemed international students who did exceptionally well in their studies and have a high standard of academic achievements.
This scholarship program offers financial assistance to cover the difference between the student’s financial resources (as assessed by UBC) and the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses. You must be confirmed to be in need of financial assistance to further your studies for you to be awarded this scholarship. Eligibility requirements include:
- You must be applying for your first undergraduate degree at UBC
- Must have financial need and be academically exceptional.
6. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
Now, here’s a fully funded scholarship scheme for exceptionally brilliant postdoctoral students. The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program is for top-tier international and native academic researchers whose research could help in a long way towards the growth and improvement of Canada’s economy, social, and research-based fields.
This fellowship offers a yearly $70,000 stipend for two years to support postdoctoral researchers in pursuing advanced studies in specific sectors such as health, natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences. It is a federal program backed by the different Canadian Institutes. To be eligible for this, you have to meet the following requirements:
- Must have a strong academic backing
- Must have completed PhD or equivalent within the last few years
- Candidates must be pursuing a postdoctoral position at a Canadian institution.
7. Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED)
This is a region-specific program to provide educational opportunities for students from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It promotes exchanges and strengthens ties between Canada and ASEAN countries. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel expenses, health insurance, and living costs. Actually, what the awardees get are stipends ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 for short-term studies or research. Eligibility criteria include:
- You must be from an ASEAN country.
- Must be enrolled in a full-time program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
- Have outstanding academic backing and proofs, plus interest in development-related fields.
Conclusion
There are lots of scholarship schemes to get you into a Canadian university at reduced costs as an international student. However, these seven (7) schemes are among the top best, verifiable ones to participate in. Look out for scholarships that you meet their eligibility criteria – as different scholarship providers request different eligibility requirements.