Scholarships for International Students in Canada (2026)

Key takeaways

Most money comes from your university, not the federal government
Full awards are rare: U of T’s Lester B. Pearson scholarship goes to about 37 students a year
UBC entrance scholarships for international students range from $10,000 to $25,000
Doctoral students can apply for the CGRS-D ($40,000 a year for 3 years); up to 15% go to international applicants
Global Affairs Canada scholarships are short exchanges, and only Canadian schools can apply for them
You still need full proof of funds for your study permit unless an award covers it

How scholarships for international students really work

These scholarships come from three main places.

Your university or college. This is the biggest source. Many schools check you for awards when you apply, with no extra step.
Provinces. For example, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship has a share set aside for international graduate students.
The federal government. It has research awards and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) programs. But they are few, and some are only for short exchanges.

Awards for undergraduates are often smaller than tuition. Tuition for these students is often tens of thousands of dollars a year. See average tuition by level and province. Graduate students, most of all those in research master’s and PhD programs, are more likely to get funding from their department.

Verified scholarships open to international students

Award	Level	Value	How to apply
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto)	First-year undergraduate	Tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence for 4 years	Your high school nominates you; then you apply
International Major Entrance Scholarship (UBC)	First-year undergraduate	$10,000 to $25,000 a year (2026/2027), renewable for up to 3 more years	Automatic if you apply for admission by the deadline
Outstanding International Student Award (UBC)	Entering undergraduate	$10,000 to $25,000, one time (range UBC lists for 2025/2026)	Automatic if you apply for admission by the deadline
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Doctoral (CGRS-D)	PhD	$40,000 a year for 3 years	Through your Canadian university, or directly to the federal granting agency
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)	Master’s and PhD in Ontario	$10,000 for 2 terms or $15,000 for 3 terms	Through your Ontario university
Study in Canada Scholarships (GAC)	College, undergraduate, graduate exchange	$10,200 for 4 months; $14,000 for 5 to 6 months (graduate)	Your Canadian partner school applies for you
Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (GAC)	Undergraduate and graduate exchange	$8,600 for 4 months; $12,400 for 5 to 6 months (graduate)	Your Canadian partner school applies for you

Values come from each award’s own page, checked October 10, 2026. Amounts and rules change every year, so check the award page before you apply.

Full awards: the Lester B. Pearson scholarship

The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years. U of T says about 37 scholars are chosen each year.

For students starting in September 2027:

You must be in your final year of high school in 2026/2027, or have finished no earlier than June 2026.
Your school must nominate you. Each school can nominate one student a year.
School nomination deadline: October 9, 2026 (already passed).
Deadline to apply to U of T: October 16, 2026.
Deadline to apply for the scholarship: November 6, 2026.

Because so few students win, plan your budget as if you will not get a full award.

Awards for master’s and PhD students

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Doctoral (CGRS-D)

The federal granting agencies (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) offer the CGRS-D: $40,000 a year for 36 months. NSERC says “up to 15% of awards will be available to international applicants.” These students must already be in a PhD program at a Canadian school by the deadline. If you apply directly to the agency, the deadline is October 17, 2026 (8:00 pm Eastern time). University deadlines are often earlier. Results come by April 30.

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program no longer accepts applications. Its website sends people to the CGRS-D.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

The OGS pays $5,000 a term for 2 or 3 terms in a row. Carleton University says international students in Ontario with a study permit can apply. Some OGS awards are set aside for them. Each university runs its own contest. For example, Carleton’s 2027-28 applications close on November 16, 2026.

Also ask your department about funding and about teaching or research assistant jobs. See master’s and PhD study in Canada.

Global Affairs Canada scholarships

EduCanada lists federal scholarships for international students. As of October 2026, the list has six programs.

Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP)
Study in Canada Scholarships
SEED-2
Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program
Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030
OAS Academic Scholarships Program

Two things to know about ELAP and Study in Canada Scholarships:

You cannot apply yourself. Only Canadian post-secondary schools can apply. They choose students from partner schools.
They are short-term. They fund 4 to 6 months of exchange or research, not a full degree.

Study in Canada Scholarships cover students from listed countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and others. ELAP covers Latin America and the Caribbean. For both, the 2026-27 deadline for schools was March 31, 2026.

A GAC scholarship can also matter for your permits. IRCC says students who get a Global Affairs Canada scholarship do not need a provincial attestation letter (PAL). See the study permit cap and PAL. IRCC also says you cannot get a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) in one case. That is if your GAC funding or scholarship says you must go back to your home country after you graduate.

Worked example: what a partial award covers

Say a first-year student at UBC Vancouver gets the lowest International Major Entrance Scholarship, $10,000 a year, renewed for 4 years. That is $40,000 in total.

For the study permit, you must still show first-year tuition plus at least $23,448 for living costs. This is for one person, for applications from September 1, 2026, outside Quebec. IRCC accepts proof of a scholarship as part of your funds. So a $10,000 award can cover $10,000 of the first-year amount you must show. Use the proof of funds calculator and the cost of studying calculator to see the gap.

How to find and apply for scholarships safely

Start with your school. Read the awards page of every school you apply to. Note which awards need a form and which do not.
Apply early. Many entrance awards need you to apply to the school by an early deadline.
Watch the deadlines. Graduate awards such as OGS and CGRS-D close in October and November for the next school year.
Never pay to apply. Real scholarships do not charge a fee to “release” the award. Be careful with agents who promise scholarships. See study in Canada scams.
Check the rules. Many awards need a minimum average to renew each year.

Common questions

Are there full scholarships for international students in Canada?

Yes, but very few. For example, U of T’s Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees and residence for four years for about 37 students a year.

Can I apply for a Global Affairs Canada scholarship myself?

Not for ELAP or Study in Canada Scholarships. Only Canadian post-secondary schools can apply, and they choose students from partner schools.

Is the Vanier scholarship still available?

No. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program no longer accepts applications. Doctoral students can look at the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Doctoral (CGRS-D), where up to 15% of awards go to international applicants.

Can international students get the Ontario Graduate Scholarship?

Yes. Ontario universities set aside some OGS awards for international students with a study permit. You apply through your university.

Does a scholarship count as proof of funds?

Yes. IRCC accepts proof of a scholarship as one way to show you have enough money for a study permit.

Sources

Checked against these sources on October 10, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Scholarships for international students in Canada in 2026: what is actually available