One of the best ways that international students can help finance their educational pursuits in Canada is through Scholarships or some form of Financial Aid. In this article, you would come to know the scholarships/financial aid for international students in Canada.
The question is what are scholarships? Scholarships are basically non-refundable financial rewards offered to a student or group of students due to many factors. This might be a result of academic excellence and financial limitations.
Some scholarships are offered spontaneously while for others you have to apply. Scholarships for international students are limited and can be very competitive, but with the right knowledge and procedures, you can definitely increase your chances of getting one.
Below are some of the details we would be looking at in this article:
- Look for a home-based Scholarship
- Research
- Contact your desired University
- Universities that offer Scholarships to international students in Canada
- Helpful Resources
Look for a home-based Scholarship
Students who are seeking for scholarships in Canada should first try and explore scholarships and other funding opportunities in their home country. Try and get in contact with the department of education in your home country.
With over 250,000 applicants seeking scholarships in Canada, there is a growing rise in competition; this is why seeking out a scholarship program first in your home country is wise.
Research
Doing your own research is vital before beginning your journey to seeking out a scholarship in Canada. Learn about scholarships administered by the Canadian government, provincial governments, private foundations, and non-profit organizations.
This is the step to take before moving forward to choosing the school you want to apply for a scholarship.
Contact your desired University
Get in contact with the financial aid office of your desired university about your plan to seek a scholarship. Let the right authority know that you want to apply for a scholarship program in their school and also find out what scholarship opportunities and guidelines there is.
Universities that offer Scholarships to international students in Canada
Now that you have the right procedures to follow, in this section; we would be looking briefly at some of the universities in Canada that offer scholarships to international students. Below are the top 3 universities in Canada that offer scholarships to international students.
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is offering scholarships to international students through the Pearson International Scholarship program. This program recognizes outstanding international students who show a great deal of achievement and creativity in their academics.
To be eligible for this program, you first have to be a non-citizen of Canada seeking a student visa and have recently graduated from high school or are in your final year of high school. The scholarship provides a fully funded 4 years to all successful applicants.
To get in, you must first be nominated by your school. Scholarship award can range from $10,000 – $15,000 per year for the 4 years duration resulting in a total of $40,000 – $60,000.
University of British Columbia
The University of Columbia is offering scholarships to international students through the International Leader of Tomorrow Award. This award covers part of the cost of the tuition fees as allocated by the university and also other expenses.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must first have selected the school as your first choice of University for that year and also be a non-citizen of Canada. You must be able to demonstrate a level of financial need that would prevent you from pursuing a UBC degree.
The University of Columbia is also offering scholarships through another program called the Wehrung International Student Award. The Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award is an award that recognizes the student’s academic excellence and achievements. To be considered, you must be a non-citizen of Canada and also economically disadvantaged to be considered.
York University
York University is offering scholarships to international students with a yearly budget of about $20,000 for the complete 4 years program leading up to $80,000. This award is a prestigious award given to international students who have a study permit and also applying directly from high school or no more than 2 years after graduating high school.
The award covers the following undergraduate programs:
- Arts & Media
- Performance & Design
- Environmental studies
- Health
- Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
The students are required to possess an academic grade of at least A or its equivalent in Canadian grading system. They also offer another scholarship through the program International Entrance Scholarship. This program offers international students scholarships that are renewable for up to 3 years for a full-time program.
To be considered, you must be an international student who is required to have a study permit in Canada. You must be applying directly from high school and also mot more than 2 years of graduation from high school.
Scholarship award ranges from $35,000 for a full year’s program which is about $14,000 for the complete 4 years program if gotten.
Helpful Resources
In your quest to get a scholarship program to study in Canada, it is important to know about helpful resources that you may need to aid in your search. Below are some of helpful resources for you. These programs would help you in your search for scholarship opportunities in Canada.
- Government of Canada International Scholarships Program
- Fonds de recherche du Quebec Scholarships and Grants
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- Perre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
