Scholarship in Canada

  • Scholarships are available for international students in Canada at undergraduate, graduate and post graduate level as well. Canada is a popular destination for thousands of international students.
The primary criterion for most scholarships is a good academic score, however, it also depends on factors such as your chosen destination, subject and level. In some scholarships, factors like extracurricular activities, and volunteering can also be used to advantage Types of Scholarships in Canada for International Students

1. Canadian Government Scholarships:

These are awards offered by the government to encourage students to study in Canada.

2. 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.

3. Institutional Scholarships:

Offered by universities or colleges in Canada to students who are pursuing education with them.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Internal Scholarships, PhD Scholarships, MBA Scholarships, Canada Graduate Scholarships – Masters Program, etc. Criteria to apply for Scholarships: What are the criteria for applying for scholarships in Canada for international students? To get any scholarship in Canada as an international student, one has to make sure that they fulfill certain criteria. Though for each individual scholarship that you wish to avail, the overall eligibility will vary but some general requirements that international students must keep in mind are:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
Apart from the above-mentioned scholarships, there are certainly other scholarships or financial aid programs funded by the Canadian government. These include:
    1. Ontario Graduate Scholarships: OGS are offered in collaboration with Canadian government and participating institutions. International students enrolling with masters or doctoral programs at select institutes. The total scholarship award is 15,000 CAD/year.
    2. Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship: Financial aid offered to masters students enrolled in Quebec Canadian universities. Awards are offered on the merit basis. Doctoral students are offered 25,000 CAD/year and postdoctoral students are offered 35,000 CAD/year.
    3. Shastri-Indo Canadian Institute: Multiple fellowships are offered to students pursuing graduate and postgraduate courses in Canada.
    4. 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.

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:

    1. Anne Vallee Ecological Fund: Offered to students pursuing animal research at doctoral level in Universities in British Columbia or Quebec. The award amount is 1,500 CAD.
    2. 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.
    3. Canada Memorial Scholarship: Offered to students from the UK pursuing PG education in Canada. The award covers tuition fee, airfare, and accommodation expenses.

Institutional Scholarships in Canada for International Students

Many top universities in Canada offer its international applicants with a number of scholarships to ease out the financial burden. From top universities like UToronto, UBC, McGill to other lesser popular institutions like Fairleigh Dickinson, Quest University, and others; all have certain financial aid opportunities open for international students.