Updated: August 11, 2026 | Reading time: 8 min | Written By the Study Tribune Scholarships Desk
Canada consistently ranks as one of the most-searched study-abroad destinations for international students, and for good reason — it combines internationally recognized universities, a straightforward path from study permit to work permit to permanent residency, and a genuinely wide range of scholarships at every level from college diplomas through PhDs. The hard part isn’t finding Scholarships in Canada. It’s knowing which of the dozens of options actually fits your program, your budget, and your timeline — which is what this guide is built to sort out.
Below, we’ve organized every major funding route into Canada by type, so you can jump straight to what’s relevant instead of reading through everything: university-specific entrance and merit awards, government-funded scholarships, named international programs, and dedicated pathways for students who don’t have an IELTS score yet.
Table of Contents
- Why International Students Choose Canada
- Types of Scholarships Available in Canada
- Top Universities Offering Scholarships in Canada
- Scholarships in Canada Without IELTS
- How to Apply: General Process and Requirements
- What It Actually Costs
- After You Arrive: Work Rules, PGWP, and the Path to PR
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- FAQs
- Explore Scholarships in Canada by Category
Why International Students Choose Canada
Beyond the scholarships themselves, Canada draws a large South Asian, African, and Middle Eastern student population for practical reasons: multiple recognized pathways from study permit to permanent residency, tuition that runs meaningfully lower than comparable programs in the US or UK even before any scholarship is applied, and a genuinely multicultural student population in most major cities, which makes settling in easier than in destinations where international students are a small minority. None of that replaces doing the funding math carefully — but it’s a large part of why Canada consistently sits near the top of study-abroad search volume year after year.
Types of Scholarships Available in Canada
University entrance and merit scholarships. Most Canadian universities and colleges award scholarships automatically at the point of admission based on academic record — no separate application in many cases. Amounts and criteria vary significantly by institution, from a few thousand dollars off tuition to full-ride packages at the strongest schools. See our university-by-university breakdowns for Waterloo, UBC, McGill, Toronto, Alberta, and others below.
Government-funded scholarships. Programs like the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (doctoral level, up to $50,000 a year) and Quebec’s PBEEE merit scholarship are funded directly by federal or provincial government, typically the most competitive and highest-value awards available, and usually require a Canadian institution to nominate you rather than applying cold.
Named international programs. Organizations and companies — from KPMG’s internship-linked funding to Deloitte’s One Young World sponsorship — run their own scholarship or fully-funded programs tied to specific fields or career tracks, separate from anything a university offers directly.
Scholarships and study routes without IELTS. A genuine pathway exists for students who don’t have (or don’t want to sit) an IELTS score, using a Medium of Instruction certificate or an alternative test instead. This isn’t universal — it depends entirely on the university — so we’ve built a dedicated breakdown of exactly which route works where.
Top Universities Offering Scholarships in Canada
University of Waterloo — Strong entrance scholarships for international undergraduates, particularly in engineering, mathematics, and computer science, Canada’s most competitive fields for international applicants.
University of Toronto — Home to the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, one of Canada’s most prestigious full-ride undergraduate awards, alongside the President’s Scholars of Excellence program for high-achieving admits.
University of British Columbia (UBC) — Offers a structured undergraduate entrance scholarship process with clear, published criteria, making it one of the more transparent options to plan around.
McGill University — Merit-based entrance awards for international students across most faculties, with Quebec’s lower relative tuition (compared to Ontario) making the total cost of attendance more manageable even without a full award.
University of Alberta — Runs several dedicated international scholarship tracks, including options that don’t require IELTS for eligible applicants.
University of Manitoba — Its work-study program is worth a specific look if you want part-time, on-campus income alongside your studies rather than a tuition-only award.
Concordia University and Université de Montréal — Both offer international entrance scholarships and sit in Quebec’s more affordable tuition bracket, worth comparing directly against McGill if Montreal is your target city.
Humber Polytechnic — For diploma and advanced diploma applicants specifically, Humber’s International Entrance Scholarships are automatic for most eligible students and don’t require a separate application.
Scholarships in Canada Without IELTS
If you don’t have an IELTS score, you’re not automatically excluded from studying in Canada. Several universities accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate — confirming your previous education was conducted in English — or an alternative test like PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, or Duolingo instead. Acceptance varies significantly by institution and program, so this genuinely needs checking case by case rather than assumed either way. We’ve built a full breakdown of exactly which Canadian universities accept which alternative, along with a related guide on universities accepting a lower IELTS band (5.5) if you have a score but it’s below the usual 6.5-7.0 threshold most competitive programs ask for.
How to Apply for Scholarships in Canada: General Process and Requirements
- Shortlist your program and confirm English-proficiency requirements directly — don’t assume IELTS is mandatory or that an alternative is accepted without checking your specific university’s current policy.
- Gather your academic documents — transcripts, diplomas, and (for graduate applicants) a statement of purpose and recommendation letters.
- Apply through the university’s official portal. Entrance scholarships are usually evaluated automatically alongside your admission file; government and named programs typically require a separate, dedicated application.
- Secure your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) — this is required before you can apply for your study permit, so timing your application early in the cycle matters more in Canada than in many other destinations.
- Apply for your study permit, which requires proof of funds covering both tuition and living costs (more on exact figures below), along with your LOA and standard identity documents.
- Plan your travel and arrival once your permit is approved, factoring in Canada’s processing times, which vary by country of application.
What It Actually Costs
Tuition is the number most students search for, and it varies more than people expect. According to Statistics Canada, average international undergraduate tuition for the 2025-26 academic year sits at roughly CAD $41,746, with graduate tuition averaging around CAD $24,028 — both continuing a multi-year upward trend that’s now running faster than tuition increases for domestic students. Location matters enormously: Newfoundland and Labrador remains Canada’s most affordable province for international students, while Ontario runs the highest, and specific high-demand programs push well above the national average — engineering at the University of Toronto runs close to CAD $69,000 a year, and at Waterloo closer to CAD $77,000, compared to arts and science programs at a school like McGill, which can run CAD $31,000-$46,000.
On top of tuition, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires proof of funds for your study permit application — a minimum of roughly CAD $23,000 per year for living costs in most provinces (higher in Ontario), on top of your first year’s tuition. A scholarship that covers tuition alone still leaves this living-cost requirement to plan around, so factor it into your budget from the start rather than after you’ve already committed to a program.
After You Arrive: Work Rules, PGWP, and the Path to PR
Most international students on a study permit can work part-time during the academic year and full-time during scheduled breaks, though the exact hour limits have changed more than once in recent years, so confirm the current rule before you rely on it for income. After graduation, many programs qualify graduates for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which lets you work in Canada for a period tied to the length of your program — this is, realistically, the reason most applicants choose Canada over comparable destinations, since it opens a direct route toward permanent residency through Express Entry and other provincial nomination programs. Not every program or institution qualifies, so confirming PGWP eligibility before you enroll, not after, is one of the highest-value five minutes you’ll spend in this whole process.
We’re actively expanding this guide with dedicated pages on the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa process, a full cost-of-living breakdown by city, and a step-by-step PGWP eligibility guide — check back, or explore the guides already live below.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a scholarship covers everything. Most cover tuition only, or a percentage of it — build your living-cost budget separately from day one.
- Applying to only one university. Entrance scholarship criteria vary enough between schools that applying to several genuinely changes your odds and your options.
- Leaving the study permit application until after acceptance season is over. Processing times vary by country, and a late start can cost you an entire intake.
- Ignoring PGWP eligibility until after enrolling. Confirm your specific program qualifies before you commit, not after you’ve already paid a deposit.
FAQs
Do I need IELTS to study in Canada?
Not always. Several universities accept a Medium of Instruction certificate or an alternative English test instead, though this depends entirely on the specific institution and program.
How much does it cost to study in Canada as an international student?
Roughly CAD $41,746 a year for undergraduate tuition and CAD $24,028 for graduate tuition on average, plus a minimum of about CAD $23,000 a year in required living-cost funds for your study permit — both figures vary significantly by province and program.
Can I work while studying in Canada?
Yes, most study permit holders can work part-time during the semester and full-time during scheduled breaks, though the specific hour limits are subject to change, so confirm the current rule before relying on it.
Does studying in Canada lead to permanent residency?
It can. Many graduates become eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, which is often the first step toward Express Entry or a provincial nomination program — but PGWP eligibility depends on your specific program and institution, so confirm it before enrolling.
Which province is cheapest for international students?
Newfoundland and Labrador consistently has the lowest average international tuition in Canada, while Ontario runs the highest — a significant factor if you have flexibility in where you apply, not just which program.
Explore Scholarships in Canada by Category
University-specific scholarships: University of Waterloo Scholarships · Lester B. Pearson Scholarship (University of Toronto) · UBC Undergraduate Scholarships · McGill University Scholarships · University of Manitoba Work-Study Program · Humber International Entrance Scholarships
Without IELTS: Universities in Canada Without IELTS · Canadian Universities With a 5.5 IELTS Band
Government and named programs: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships · Quebec Merit Scholarship (PBEEE) · KPMG Canada Internship · Deloitte One Young World Canada
Diploma pathway: Diploma Scholarships in Canada
Visa, work, and life in Canada: How to Get a Canada Study Visa · Student Life in Canada · Canadian Immigration and Permanent Residence · How to Apply for a Work Permit After Studying in Canada · Grants for International Students in Canada · Top Part-Time Jobs for Students in Canada
Whichever path fits your program and budget, the same rule applies across all of them: confirm current deadlines, English-proficiency requirements, and Scholarships in Canada amounts directly with the university before you apply, since all three shift from year to year and intake to intake.