Updated on: 04 Sep 2023
Canada is a popular destination for international students due to its high-quality education system and diverse cultural experiences. According to Statcan Canada, a national statistical agency, the average tuition fee for undergraduate international students is 30,000 CAD per year, while that for MS in Canada ranges from 18,000 CAD to 56,000 CAD per year. On top of this, a Canada student visa requires you to have 10,000 CAD to meet your living expenses.
Scholarships, grants, and bursaries can provide financial assistance enabling you to pursue your studies without the burden of high debt. Canadian Bureau of International Education survey report in 2022 stated that 24.4% of students rely on scholarships from universities, 11.5% on scholarships by the government of their home country, 6.8% on scholarships by the Canadian government and 1.4% on financial aid by organizations neither in the home country nor in Canada.
Types of scholarships for international students in Canada
Scholarships in Canada can be divided according to their funding authority. You can look up to three types of scholarships in Canada:
Let’s see the scholarship details under each category.
Check Your Education Loan Eligibility for Free Apply Here
Government-funded scholarships for Indian students in Canada
International students in Canada have access to numerous scholarships provided by the government to bear the costs of studying and living in Canada.
Scholarship
|
Details
|
Amount Granted
|
Deadline
|
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
|
To doctoral students in the field of Health science, Natural sciences, Engineering, Social sciences, Humanities
|
70,000 CAD per year for up to 2 years
|
September 21, 2023 (tentative)
|
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
|
To doctoral students of health research, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities
|
50,000 CAD per year for 3 years
|
November 01, 2023 (tentative)
|
Merit Scholarship Program by the Quebec government
|
To doctoral students studying in universities of the Quebec province
|
25,000 - 35,000 CAD per year
|
September 30, 2023
|
IDRC Research Awards
|
To doctoral students of various subjects.
|
42,033 - 48,659 CAD per year for 2 years
|
February 15, 2023
|
Ontario Graduate Scholarships
|
For master’s or doctoral students at universities in the Ontario province
|
10,000 - 15,000 CAD
|
January - June 2023 (varies with universities).
|
Ontario Trillium Scholarships
|
For doctoral students of universities in Ontario.
75 scholarships in a year
|
40,000 CAD
|
March,2023 (tentative)
|
Human Frontier Science Program
|
To doctoral students of biology
|
2,25,000 USD for 3 years
|
May 11, 2023
|
Dick Martin Scholarship Award
|
To students of Occupational Health and Safety courses
|
3000 CAD per year
|
January 31, 2023
|
These are just a few examples of the many government-funded scholarships available for Indian students who wish to study in Canada. It is advisable to use Gyan Dhan’s scholarship assistance portal for free to research and apply for scholarships that are most relevant to your field of study and academic goals.
Read Also:
Non - government funded scholarships in Canada
If you could not secure a government scholarship in Canada, you can look at scholarships by various organizations in Canada, some of which are listed below:
Scholarship
|
Details
|
Amount Granted
|
Deadline
|
Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships
|
For doctoral students
Theme of the scholarship program for 2023-2026 Scientific Cycle is Canada in the World
|
40,000 CAD per year for 3 years
|
December 2023 (tentative)
|
BMO Capital Markets Lime Connect Equity Through Education Scholarship
|
For students with disabilities studying financial services
|
5000 CAD per year
|
April 09, 2023
|
Google PhD Fellowship Program
|
For students in AI and IT
|
Full tuition and other fees covered + a monthly stipend
|
April 18, 2023
|
Education Future International Scholarship
|
For Indian students of UG/PG courses in top institutions abroad
|
3,319 - 16,594 CAD
|
Rolling deadlines
|
J.N. Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians(loan scholarship)
|
A merit-based education loan scholarship for education abroad
|
1659 - 16,594 CAD
|
March 07, 2023
|
K.C. Mahindra Scholarships for Post - Graduate Studies Abroad
|
Students pursuing any first - class degree or diploma at a recognized foreign institution
|
8,298 - 16,594 CAD
|
March 31, 2023
|
Check Your Education Loan Eligibility for Free Apply Here
University-specific scholarships in Canada
There are several university-specific scholarships available in Canada for international students. Here are some examples:
Scholarship
|
Details
|
Amount granted
|
Deadline
|
University of British Columbia Outstanding International Student Award
|
One time merit and need based to outstanding students after they gain admission at UBC
|
25,000 CAD
|
January 15, 2023
|
Entrance Scholarships - Carleton University
|
To undergraduates students with 80% scores and a demonstrated financial need
|
500 - 2000 CAD per year
|
June 30, 2023
|
University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship
|
Two scholarships every year for undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 2.64 or a score of 24.00 units
|
20,000 CAD
|
March 01, 2023
|
University of Alberta International Undergraduate Scholarships
|
Admission-based and application-based scholarships
|
Vary for different scholarships bw 5000 - 29,000 CAD
|
January 11, 2023
|
University of Winnipeg President’s Scholarship for World Leaders
|
Master’s students with minimum 80% marks in undergraduate
|
5000 CAD per year
|
June 01, 2023
|
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
|
For master’s or doctoral students with a GPA of 3.0/4.0
|
14,000 - 18,000 CAD per year
|
January 16, 2023
|
Dalhousie University Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral
|
To doctoral students of various subjects
|
15,000 CAD per year
|
October 03, 2023 (tentative)
|
University of Waterloo Hira and Kamal Ahuja International Graduate Scholarship
|
For master’s or doctoral studies in engineering with 80% marks in the last qualifying exam from IITs – Delhi, Mumbai, Ropar, Roorkee, Kanpur, and Kharagpur
|
10,000 CAD per year
|
No specific deadlines
|
University of Waterloo Arthur F. Church Entrance Scholarships
|
Two scholarships each year for undergraduates, to a student of Mechatronics and Computer or Systems Design Engineering
|
10,000 CAD per year
|
February 17, 2023
|
University of Toronto Sherryl Kintu Scholarship
|
Students of diploma courses in management and business with financial need
|
100% of the tuition fee
|
January 31, 2023 (tentative)
|
Hydro-Québec Admission Scholarship - Laval University
|
For master’s or doctoral students of humanities and STEM courses
|
6,000 - 8,000 CAD per year for master’s and 100,000 - 120,000 for doctoral courses
|
February 15, 2023 (tentative)
|
Bursaries from Simon Fraser University
|
For graduate students with a CGPA of 3.0 (waived for first semester students) with a demonstrated financial need
|
Up to 60,000 CAD per year
|
January 13, 2023
|
College-specific scholarships in Canada
The table below presents a handpicked list of college specific scholarships in Canada:
Scholarship
|
Details
|
Amount granted
|
Deadline
|
Seneca College Entrance Awards
|
Undergraduate students with a minimum of 80% marks in the last qualifying exam
|
500 - 1000 CAD per year
|
October 31, 2023
|
Scotiabank International Partner Entrance Scholarship
|
Students of diploma, degree, or postgraduate certificate courses with a minimum of 3.0/4.0 GPA
|
5000 CAD per year
|
January 31, 2023 - Winter session
September 30, 2023 - Fall session
|
George Brown Scholarship Assist-on Scholarship
|
Students of diploma, degree, or postgraduate certificate courses with a minimum of 3.0/4.0 GPA
|
1000 CAD per year
|
January 31, 2023 - Winter session
September 30, 2023 - Fall session
|
Humber Entrance Scholarships
|
International students of a graduate certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma with a good GPA, statement of interest, and reference letters
|
2000 CAD per year
|
May 31, 2023 - Summer session
September 30, 2023 - Fall session
|
Conestoga College Degree Entrance Scholarships
|
Full-time students are awarded the scholarships, based on their academic excellence
|
3000 CAD per year
|
February 10, 2023 - Winter session
June 09, 2023 - Spring session
|
Lambton college scholarships for international students
|
Students with a minimum score of 6.5 in IELTS or 79 in TOEFL can apply
|
3000 CAD for two semesters
|
No specific dates
|
Check Your Education Loan Eligibility for Free Apply Here
How to apply for scholarships in Canada?
Here are a few essential steps you need to keep in mind when applying for scholarships in Canada:
-
Research scholarships: Look for scholarships that are available for your level of study, the field of study, and your citizenship status. You can search for scholarships on scholarship search engines, university websites, and government websites.
-
Check eligibility: Once you have found scholarships that you are interested in, check the eligibility criteria to see if you meet the requirements. Some scholarships may have specific eligibility criteria, such as a minimum GPA, GMAT, GRE or language proficiency test scores.
-
Gather documents: Gather all the documents that you need to apply for the scholarships, such as transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation. Make sure that you have all the documents required before you start the application process.
-
Apply for scholarships: Follow the instructions on the scholarship application form and submit your application before the deadline. Some scholarships may require you to write an essay or provide additional documents.
-
Follow up: After submitting your application, make sure to follow up with the scholarship provider to confirm that your application has been received and to check the status of your application.
-
Accept the scholarship: If you are awarded a scholarship, make sure to accept it within the deadline given. Follow the instructions provided by the scholarship provider to receive the scholarship funds.
It's important to note that scholarship applications can be competitive, so make sure to apply to multiple scholarships and give yourself enough time to complete the application process.
6 tips to increase your chances of getting scholarships
- Start your research early, some scholarships are awarded as part of the admission process and some are to be applied for separately.
- Cast a wide net and apply for variety of scholarships, government, organizations, university specific
- Maintain a good academic record and prove your academic worth, get involved in extracurricular activities
- Write a compelling scholarship essay and proofread before submission
- Request strong letters of recommendation and attest your abilities and achievements
- Submit your application early and avoid missing deadlines
Check Your Education Loan Eligibility for Free Apply Here
How to ensure your scholarship is not revoked in Canada?
You might lose a scholarship if:
- The grade point average per semester is not as per the scholarship rules.
- The scholarship was for a specific major or subject, and the student switched to another field.
- The grant required a particular number of credit hours, and you didn't meet them. It can change your student status from full-time to part-time or half-time, which impacts the aid.
- The scholarship fund is utilized for purposes other than the one mentioned in the terms.
As a student, make sure you keep academic scores on track as required for the continuity of the scholarship. Stay up to date regarding scholarship eligibility, selection process and deadlines by being part of GyanDhan discussion forum!
First published date: 12 Feb 2020