Canadian universities compete actively for strong international applicants, and that competition has produced a wide range of entrance scholarships and fellowship programs worth knowing about before applying.
The ten universities below each run a well-established scholarship program for international students.
1. University of Toronto
Toronto is home to the [Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship](/lester-b-pearson-international-scholarship/) and the [Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program](/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program-university-toronto/), two of Canada’s most prominent international funding routes.
2. University of British Columbia
UBC’s International Leader of Tomorrow Award funds incoming international undergraduates who combine strong academics with leadership and community involvement.
3. McGill University
McGill awards a number of entrance scholarships to incoming international undergraduates with outstanding academic records, alongside graduate excellence fellowships administered by individual faculties.
4. University of Waterloo
Waterloo’s President’s Scholarship of Distinction rewards incoming undergraduates, including international students, with exceptional high school academic records.
5. Simon Fraser University
SFU’s International Scholars Award is a renewable entrance scholarship for high-achieving incoming international undergraduates, covering a portion of tuition for the degree’s standard length.
6. University of Alberta
Alberta’s International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship supports incoming international undergraduates with strong academic records through a fixed first-year award.
7. York University
York’s International Student Scholarship of Excellence rewards academically strong incoming international undergraduates, with the amount tied to their secondary school admission average.
8. Dalhousie University
Dalhousie’s International Student Entrance Award supports incoming international undergraduates based on academic performance, applied as a tuition credit in the first year.
9. University of Calgary
Calgary’s International Entrance Scholarship covers a significant portion of tuition for incoming international undergraduates, renewable each year the required grade average is maintained.
10. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Partner Universities
Most major Canadian research universities participate in the [Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship](/vanier-canada-graduate-scholarship/) program, which pays a substantial annual stipend to outstanding PhD candidates of any nationality.
Because Canadian entrance scholarships are typically awarded automatically based on the strength of the admission application, submitting applications and transcripts early in the cycle generally improves the odds of consideration.
Because Canadian entrance scholarships are often tied closely to a specific province.’s cost of living, comparing the real value of an award across different cities, not just its nominal dollar amount, helps applicants judge which offer stretches furthest.
Many of these universities also publish detailed scholarship statistics on their websites, including the number of awards given in recent years, which can help applicants gauge realistic odds before committing significant time to an application.
Speaking directly with a university.’s international student office before applying often reveals additional smaller awards and bursaries that do not always appear in general online scholarship searches.
International applicants should also keep in mind that Canadian study permit processing times can vary by home country, so securing a scholarship offer early leaves a more comfortable buffer before the intended intake date.
Applicants should also review whether a chosen scholarship is paid as a lump sum, a tuition credit, or a per-semester disbursement, since this affects how early living expenses need to be budgeted during the first term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these universities require a separate scholarship application?
Most, including Waterloo, York, and Calgary, award entrance scholarships automatically based on the regular admission application and transcripts.
Are these scholarships renewable every year?
Many are renewable for the full length of the degree provided a minimum grade average is maintained, though some entrance awards apply only to the first year.
Is the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship open to every country?
Yes, it is open to international applicants from any country, though the number of awards given each year is limited and highly competitive.
Does financial need factor into these university scholarships?
Most are merit-based rather than need-based, though some universities offer separate bursaries for students who can demonstrate financial hardship.
Can international students hold more than one scholarship at a Canadian university?
Policies vary by institution, with some allowing smaller awards to be combined and others capping the total scholarship amount a student can receive.
How important are extracurricular activities for these awards?
For holistic programs like UBC’s International Leader of Tomorrow Award, leadership and community involvement carry real weight alongside academic performance.
Does the Vanier Scholarship apply to undergraduate students at these universities?
No, Vanier is specifically a doctoral scholarship, so undergraduate applicants would need to look at each university’s own entrance scholarships instead.