How To Get Scholarship To Study In Canada? (2026 Guide)

Studying in Canada is achievable with the right funding plan. This guide explains how international students can win scholarships for 2026 entry, the main award types, standout programmes, and realistic amounts. It also covers study-permit changes that affect budgeting and timelines, including the Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) and the cost-of-living fund, which IRCC ties to the Low-Income Cut-Off and indicates will rise again on 1 September 2025. Check the latest figure before you apply.

Let’s see how to get scholarship to study in Canada in detail.

Does Canada Offer Scholarships For International Students?

Yes. Funding comes from universities, provinces, federal programmes, and Mitacs research internships. Some marquee doctoral awards do accept foreign citizens (e.g., Vanier CGS, Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships). Many other Tri-Agency awards, such as CGS-M and several NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR scholarships, are limited to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Always check eligibility.

Scholarship types

Scholarships fall into these groups:

• Automatic entrance awards (based on grades at admission; e.g., UCalgary, York).
• Application-based entrance awards (higher value; e.g., York President’s International Scholarship of Excellence, CAD $45,000 per year x 4).
• University prestige awards for international students (e.g., UBC International Scholars Programme; need + merit).
• Provincial awards (e.g., Ontario Trillium Scholarship for PhD, CAD $40,000/year).
• Federal doctoral/postdoc (e.g., Vanier CGS CAD $50,000/year x 3; Banting CAD $70,000/year x 2).
• Research internships (e.g., Mitacs Accelerate, typically $15,000 per 4–6 months).

Read Also:

• How Much Gap Is Accepted For Study In Canada?
• How To Get PR In Canada After Study?
• How To Pay For University?

Scholarships For International Students In Canada

Before starting a scholarship search, you should know the different types of scholarships. Many Canadian universities offer scholarships for international students. You can categorize scholarships into two ways: need-based and merit-based.

Need-based scholarships are offered to students who need financial assistance to continue their studies. These scholarships are awarded to students from lower-income backgrounds. On the other hand, merit-based scholarships are awarded to students who have excellent academic track records.

Scholarships For High School Applicants

For international pupils applying from high school, the biggest awards are university-run. Two examples with official pages and values:

• York President’s International Scholarship of Excellence: $45,000/year, renewable up to 4 years.
• University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship: $20,000, renewable.
• UBC’s International Scholars Programme offers full-need packages for exceptional candidates.

Undergraduate scholarships (after Year 12)

There are many undergraduate scholarships for international students in Canada. Many international students come to Canada for higher studies after the 12th grade, and many of them opt for scholarships. Government, university, and private organization scholarships are available for international undergraduate students.

• UBC International Scholars Programme – competitive, need + merit, supports tuition and living costs.
• York President’s International Scholarship of Excellence – $45,000/year x 4.
• UCalgary International Entrance Scholarship – $20,000, renewable; a second International Entrance Award of $20,000 exists.

Master’s scholarships

Canada also offers various government scholarships for graduate students. Individual universities and private organizations also offer scholarships for master’s students. Some of these scholarships are very prestigious and awarded to great minds in different fields.

• University awards remain the main route. Example: University of Waterloo International Master’s Award of Excellence (IMAE) – $2,500 per term, up to 5 terms.
• Mitacs Accelerate internships add $15,000 research funding for 4–6 months, which can complement partial awards.
• Tri-Agency CGS-M is not open to international students; don’t rely on it.

Ph.D. Scholarships In Canada

Many international students with excellent track records are awarded PhD scholarships each year. Most of these scholarships cover full tuition fees, accommodation costs, monthly stipends, health insurance, airfare, etc.

• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships – $50,000/year for 3 years; a Canadian university may nominate citizens of any country.
• Ontario Trillium Scholarship (PhD, Ontario) – $40,000/year, up to 4 years, for international PhD students.
• Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship – generous stipend plus research/travel; open to international students enrolled at a Canadian university; recent materials show packages totalling up to $60,000/year when stipend + travel are combined. Check the current call each year.
• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships – $70,000/year for 2 years; Canadian and foreign citizens eligible; non-Canadians must hold the award at a Canadian host.

2026 Intake Planning & Study-permit Rules

Plan for 2026 admissions, as most 2025 cycles are shut. Build your plan around:

1. PAL/TAL: Most undergraduate and college applicants need a provincial/territorial attestation letter before a study-permit application.
2. Cost-of-living funds: IRCC tied this to LICO on 1 Jan 2024 and signals another increase from 1 Sept 2025. Confirm the live number on IRCC’s site when you publish your page and again before students apply.

How to Apply for Scholarships: Step-By-Step

• Step 1: Build a list of awards that you’re actually eligible for (international-only). Start with university pages and Mitacs.
• Step 2: Map deadlines to intake terms (many prestige awards close Nov–Feb for the following autumn). See Vanier’s timeline example to understand lead times.
• Step 3: Prepare documents: transcript, passport, references, personal statement/CV, proof of English. Example threshold: IELTS 6.5 overall, no band <6.0 at UBC.
• Step 4: Apply early through the university’s award portal or PDF form, as required. See York/UCalgary award pages for process patterns.
• Step 5: After an offer is accepted on time, keep the GPA conditions (renewable awards list GPA rules).
• Step 6: Prepare your study-permit file with the PAL/TAL (if required) and updated cost-of-living fund.

Eligibility For Scholarship In Canada

There are specific scholarship requirements in Canada for international students. Most of these scholarships are offered by provincial governments, individual universities or colleges, the federal government, and private organizations.

Eligibility criteria vary for different scholarships, but you may get a scholarship available to international students studying in Canada if you meet the following requirements:

• Strong grades and course rigour.
• Leadership and community work (explicit in many top awards).
• Financial need where stated (UBC International Scholars).
• Research fit and references for graduate awards; see Vanier/Banting criteria.
• English proficiency that meets university minimums; UBC example IELTS 6.5.

Required Documents for Scholarship in Canada

At application: transcripts, passport, CV, statement, references, English score, portfolio, where relevant.

After award: acceptance form, deposit (if any), proof of funds for the study permit at the current IRCC amount, and a PAL/TAL where required.

Scholarships For International Students In Canada

The Canadian government, universities, private organizations, and other institutions offer many scholarships for international students. These scholarships are generally awarded based on academic excellence, leadership potential, and financial assistance.

The following table shows some of the best scholarships available in Canada for international students:

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Higher study in Canada is an excellent opportunity to widen your horizons and gain valuable experience that you can apply in your professional life. After knowing how to get scholarship to study in Canada, you can make the necessary preparations and make yourself eligible for a scholarship.