Canada’s scholarship ecosystem includes several programs built specifically around African student mobility, alongside broader federal and university awards that remain genuinely accessible to strong applicants from the continent.
The ten programs below give African applicants a solid starting point for the 2027 intake.
1. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Toronto
The [Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Toronto](/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program-university-toronto/) funds undergraduate and graduate study specifically for talented African students, covering tuition, housing, and a living allowance.
2. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Partner Canadian Universities
Beyond the University of Toronto, the Mastercard Foundation partners with several Canadian institutions to fund African students who have faced significant economic hardship, with each campus managing its own application process.
3. Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships
This program regularly includes African partner countries in its exchange arrangements, funding study periods at Canadian universities with costs shared across government and university partners.
4. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Open to doctoral candidates of any nationality, the [Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship](/vanier-canada-graduate-scholarship/) has supported a consistent number of outstanding African PhD students at Canadian universities.
5. Rotary Global Grant Scholarship
Rotary clubs in many African countries sponsor candidates for Canadian graduate study connected to one of the organization’s recognized areas of focus.
6. IDRC Doctoral Research Award
Offered through Canada’s International Development Research Centre, this award specifically supports doctoral candidates from developing countries, with African researchers forming a significant share of past recipients.
7. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship
The [Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship](/pierre-elliott-trudeau-foundation-doctoral-scholarship/) funds doctoral research connected to major public issues and is open to strong African applicants alongside Canadian candidates.
8. Global Affairs Canada Scholarships
Global Affairs Canada funds a range of scholarship initiatives connected to Canada’s development partnerships with African countries, often delivered through specific university programs.
9. Canada-Africa University Partnership Scholarships
A number of Canadian universities maintain direct partnership agreements with African institutions that include scholarship components for qualifying students moving between the two systems.
10. University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship
This entrance award covers a significant portion of tuition for incoming international undergraduates, including strong applicants from Africa, renewable each year the required grade average is maintained.
Because several of these programs are tied to specific development partnerships, researching which Canadian universities maintain direct ties to a student’s home country can surface additional funding that general searches miss.
Because several of these programs run their own regional information sessions in partnership with Canadian embassies and consulates across Africa, checking a target university or foundation.’s events calendar can surface direct, often less competitive, application pathways.
Keeping a clear record of financial documents and academic transcripts translated into English or French, depending on the destination university.’s language of instruction, helps avoid last-minute delays once an application window opens.
Comparing the cost of living across different Canadian provinces before choosing a university can also meaningfully affect how far a given scholarship stretches, since housing and daily expenses vary considerably between major cities and smaller university towns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program only for low-income African students?
It prioritizes students who have faced significant economic hardship alongside strong academic performance, rather than being open to all African applicants regardless of financial background.
Do African students need existing Canadian university contacts to access these scholarships?
No, most programs run their own open application processes, though university partnership scholarships are sometimes announced primarily through partner institutions.
Can undergraduate African students apply for Vanier?
No, Vanier is specifically a doctoral scholarship, so undergraduate applicants would need to look at university entrance scholarships instead.
Are these scholarships available in every academic field?
Most are open broadly across academic fields, though development-focused programs like IDRC prioritize research connected to development outcomes.
Does the IDRC Doctoral Research Award require fieldwork in Africa?
It generally supports research connected to development issues, which often but not always involves fieldwork in the applicant’s home region.
Is work experience required for Rotary Global Grant Scholarships?
Not always required, though relevant experience connected to the proposed area of focus can strengthen an application.
How can African students find out which Canadian universities have active partnerships with their home country?
Checking a Canadian university’s international office website, and reaching out directly, usually reveals current partnership agreements that are not always widely advertised.