9 Canadian Universities With Scholarships for International Students (2027 Entry)
- Study in
- Canada
- Levels
- Bachelor's
- Funding
- Partial to full awards, CAD $3,000 to full cost
- Covers
- Tuition awards from $3,000 to $180,000; Pearson covers tuition, books, fees and residence
- Who can apply
- International students entering first-year undergraduate study from secondary school, on a Canadian study permit
- Run by
- Individual Canadian universities
On this page
Many Canadian universities run their own scholarships for international students starting a first degree. Some are added to your offer automatically. Others need a separate application, a school nomination, or both. This guide lists nine universities with university-run awards for September 2027 entry, checked on each university’s own website. All the awards below are for undergraduate students coming straight from secondary school. It covers awards run by the universities themselves, not government or foundation programmes.
Status: open, with different deadlines at each university. The earliest close in November and December 2026, and the latest close on 1 March 2027. The University of Toronto school nomination for the Pearson scholarship has already closed (checked October 19, 2026).
The nine universities at a glance
| University | Scholarship | Value (CAD) | How and when |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship | Tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years. About 37 a year. | School nomination closed 9 Oct 2026. Nominated students apply by 6 Nov 2026. |
| University of British Columbia | International Major Entrance Scholarship and Outstanding International Student Award | $10,000 to $25,000. IMES is yearly and renewable. OIS is one-time. | Automatic when you apply to UBC by the admission deadline. |
| York University | President’s International Scholarship of Excellence | $45,000 a year for four years ($180,000). | Apply by 27 Jan 2027. School nomination by 4 Feb 2027. |
| University of Waterloo | International Student Entrance Scholarship | $10,000 in first year, paid in two parts. No limit on numbers. | Automatic. No application. |
| McGill University | Entrance scholarships | One-year: $3,000. Major: $3,000 to $10,000 a year, renewable. | One-year is automatic. Major needs a separate application by 21 January for schools outside Canada. |
| University of Manitoba | International Excellence Entrance Scholarship | One award of $25,000 and two of $10,000. | Application and teacher reference by 1 December. |
| University of Alberta | President’s International Distinction Scholarship | Up to $120,000 over four years. 25 a year. | Scholarship application by 10 Jan 2027. |
| Carleton University | Prestige Scholarships and President’s Welcome Award | Prestige: $5,000 to $14,178 a year. Welcome Award: $2,000 to $5,000, first year only. | Prestige by 1 March. Welcome Award is automatic. |
| University of Calgary | University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship | $20,000, renewable for three more years. 2 awards. | Prestige awards application closes 1 December. |
Who can apply
- You need a Canadian study permit and must pay international tuition fees.
- You must be entering the first year of a bachelor’s degree, usually straight from secondary school.
- Most awards look for high grades. York asks for a final admission average of at least 80%. Manitoba’s $25,000 award needs at least 90%. UBC’s International Scholars Program asks for all As or the equivalent.
- Many awards also weigh leadership, volunteering and activities outside class.
- Some exclude certain programmes. Check the rules for your chosen course.
Need-based options
If you cannot pay without major help, look at the UBC International Scholars Program. It is need and merit based, requires a school nominator and a teacher referee, and closes on 15 November 2026. UBC does not publish a fixed value for every award in the programme. If you apply for it, UBC says you cannot be considered for its merit-based awards.
How to apply
- Pick your universities and read each scholarship page above.
- Ask your school early if a nomination is needed. Toronto, UBC International Scholars and York all need one, and schools have strict limits on how many students they can nominate.
- Apply for admission first. Most scholarship portals only open after you submit your admission application.
- Complete any separate scholarship form. Expect essays, a list of activities and awards, and reference letters.
- Send documents on time. Calgary asks for admission documents by 15 December. UBC International Scholars applicants must send documents by 31 January.
Tips before you apply
- Note that most of these awards cover part of the cost, not all of it. Plan for the rest before you accept an offer.
- Some dates on official pages do not show a year. For McGill and Manitoba, confirm the exact year on the McGill deadlines page and the Manitoba international awards page.
- Check renewal rules. Calgary needs a GPA of at least 2.60. Carleton needs an A- average. Alberta needs a GPA of at least 2.0 and 18 credits.
- At McGill, the $12,000 major scholarship is only for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Related guides
- Ndombe-Carrère International Scholarship 2026 for Cal Poly Humboldt Students
- Bold.org Scholarships International Students Can Apply For (November 2026)
- Edwards Scholarship 2026: 0 for First-Generation International Students in the US
Details are taken from the official websites of each university listed above, checked on October 19, 2026. Confirm the current rules there before you apply.
