Scholarships in Canada For International Students: Especially in the recent past, Canada has become top on the list of countries that students wish to travel to for further studies. While this is a superb idea, largely due to the friendly atmosphere Canada holds for immigrants and foreign students, education in the country can be really expensive.
Canada is globally recognised for its high standard of education and inclusivity, making it one of the most sought-after destinations for international students.
Numerous scholarships available in Canada pave the way for these students, ensuring that financial constraints don’t hinder their academic pursuits. In this article, we delve into the world of Canada scholarships designed explicitly for international students.
Firstly, it’s crucial to understand that scholarships in Canada are often merit-based or need-based. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students with outstanding academic records, while need-based scholarships focus on students who require financial assistance. Many scholarships also consider factors like community involvement, leadership skills, and unique talents.
Among the prominent scholarships is the ‘Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship,’ designed to attract doctoral students globally. This scholarship, valued at $50,000 per year for three years, showcases Canada’s commitment to attract world-class doctoral students.
Another notable scholarship is the ‘University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships’ (UMGF). Available for both Master’s and Ph.D. students, the UMGF is valued at $18,000 and $20,000 respectively. This scholarship is open to all students, irrespective of their nationalities.
Additionally, the ‘Ontario Graduate Scholarship’ (OGS) scheme encourages excellence in graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral levels. It provides $10,000 to $15,000 per academic year.
International students at the undergraduate level can consider the ‘York University International Student Scholarship Program.’ With a value of $60,000-$100,000 for a four-year degree program, it’s one of the most lucrative scholarships for undergraduate students.
When exploring scholarships in Canada, it’s important to note that many Canadian universities offer their scholarships to international students. Universities like the University of Toronto, McGill University, and University of British Columbia, among others, have robust scholarship programs for international students.
In addition to universities, organizations like the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, funded by Global Affairs Canada, offer scholarships to international students from Commonwealth countries.
Furthermore, the ‘Canadian Rhodes Scholars Foundation Scholarship’ is another prestigious scholarship open to all international students.
Applying for scholarships in Canada requires planning. Begin by identifying the scholarships you’re eligible for, and then pay close attention to the application process. Most scholarship applications require academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and occasionally, an interview.
List of Canada Scholarship Opportunities
We’ve provided a list below of scholarship opportunities available to foreign students in Canadian institutions.
The Lester B Pearson International Scholarship Program
Administered by the University of Toronto, The Lester B Pearson International Scholarship Program is designed to recognize and reward international students who have demonstrated exceptional academic accomplishments and originality.
This scholarship provides recipients with the opportunity to pursue fully-funded higher education. Each scholarship is valid for four years and is designed to cover most student expenses, including tuition fees, book allowances, and support for residence and incidental fees.
University of Winnipeg President’s Scholarships
Targeting those with a passion for the English Language, the University of Winnipeg President’s Scholarships provide an annual opportunity for international students.
These scholarships allow international students to enroll in any of the University’s undergraduate, collegiate, and postgraduate degree programs, as well as Professional, Applied and Continuing Education (PACE), all within the English Language field.
However, it’s crucial to note that this scholarship provides a partial waiver of the total tuition fee, up to the value of 3,500 Canadian dollars. Also, this scholarship is exclusively available to international students entering any of the University’s divisions for the first time.
The University Of Winnipeg President’s Scholarships are prestigious awards offered to students showing exceptional merit in academic and extracurricular activities. These scholarships are designed to recognize and reward the talents of outstanding students, and to encourage them to continue their studies at the University Of Winnipeg.
Eligibility Criteria:
– Applicants must be entering the University Of Winnipeg for the first time.
– Applicants must have achieved a minimum 85% admission average.
– Applicants must have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities through involvement with the community service, including but not limited to, artistic endeavors, athletic achievements, and local and international humanitarian or entrepreneurial engagements.
Scholarship Value:
The value of the scholarships may vary each year. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the value was up to $5,000.
Application Process:
– Applicants need to submit a complete admission application before the specified deadline.
– Alongside the application, students must submit a 250-500 word personal statement describing their leadership abilities and community involvement.
– Applicants also need to provide two reference letters, attesting to their leadership qualities and achievements.
Carleton Prestige Scholarships
Funded by Carleton University, the Carleton Prestige Scholarships comprise a series of scholarships available to incoming students who possess a stellar academic record and have an admission average of approximately 90%. The scholarships available under this program are:
a. The Collins Prestige Scholarship;
b. The Riordon Scholarship;
c. The Richard Lewar Entrance Scholarship;
d. The Chancellor’s Scholarship;
e. The Carleton University SHAD Scholarship and;
f. The Carleton University Scholarship of Excellence.
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Programme
This particular scholarship programme, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Programme is quite the big fish. It is intended not for international students alone, but for Canadian applicants too.
This scheme is adequately funded by government and is intended to confirm the state of Canada to be the seat of academic excellence and in-depth research. It is awarded to over 150 doctorate degree students every year. It offers these recipients tuition provision of about $50,000 annually for three years who are to study for their doctorate degrees in various Canadian Universities involved with the scheme.
MasterCard Foundation Scholarship
Launched in 2012, MasterCard Foundation in collaboration with Canadian Universities came up with the idea of the MasterCard Foundation Scholarship Scheme.
It was agreed that the Scholarship scheme would sponsor students from Africa who are admitted into Canadian Universities, for both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. Since its inception in 2012, they’ve funded the college education of many African students in Canadian Universities such as; the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia and McGill University.
Scholarship For Global Pioneers By The University Of British Columbia:
The University of British Columbia’s Scholarship for Global Pioneers is dedicated to covering tuition fees and living expenses for the recipients, supplementing the funding that recipients and their families can provide annually.
The intention of this scholarship is to reward students who have demonstrated remarkable performance and excellence in various areas such as academics, creative writing, arts, and other extracurricular activities like sports, debates, community service, and leadership roles/student welfare.
The focus is on international students who have a sterling record and have shown remarkable performance in these areas.
International Postdoctoral Research Program:
The International Postdoctoral Research Program is a partial funding opportunity provided by the Canadian government for international students. It is awarded to students undertaking postdoctoral degrees in the field of Natural Sciences.
Applications can be made online, and the scholarship is applicable for studies and programs at research institutes and laboratories supervised by the Canadian government.
Canada-ASEAN SEED Scholarships:
The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) is a scholarship initiative funded by the Canadian government for international students from ASEAN countries.
ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a regional organization promoting political and economic growth among member states and fostering security cooperation. It was established in Bangkok in 1967, initially including the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, and Thailand, with Cambodia, Myanmar, Brunei, Vietnam, and Indonesia joining later, making a total of ten ASEAN countries.
The scholarship offers partial tuition funding of up to 15,900 Canadian dollars at any higher education institution in Canada for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students.
Margaret McNamara Grants For Women’s Education:
The Margaret McNamara Educational Grants for Women provides annual opportunities for women from developing countries. The condition is that recipients return to their home countries or move to other developing countries to improve the lives of women and children upon course completion.
This noteworthy scholarship is granted to numerous women each year, offering funding of up to $15,000.
Scholarships From The Quebec Government:
The province of Quebec in eastern Canada has initiated this scholarship scheme to attract international graduate students, particularly those pursuing doctoral programs, to study at Quebec institutions.
It provides research grants for international doctoral students and financial aid for exceptional candidates looking to pursue doctorate degrees in Mathematics, Engineering, and Natural Sciences.
A vast majority of these scholarships and many others have made their application forms available online. If you’ve been admitted to a Canadian university and are seeking funding, or you’re merely exploring your options, these scholarships are worth considering.
