Do Canadian Universities Offer Fully Funded Scholarships?
Fully funded undergraduate scholarships for international students in Canada are less common compared to those for graduate studies. However, there are still some excellent international student awards available. While they are not fully funded, they do cover a good portion of an international student’s tuition but not the cost of living. Here are a few examples:
Entrance Scholarships
Some Canadian universities offer entrance scholarships for exceptional international undergraduate students. These scholarships are often awarded based on academic merit, extracurricular achievements, and leadership potential.
University of Alberta - President's International Distinction Scholarship up to $120,000 CAD will cover anywhere from 70% to 90% of your tuition over a 4-year degree. This is an excellent award for any international student who has a strong academic and extracurricular activity profile. It is an application-based scholarship, and many students compete for the award.
Trent University has 2 scholarships worth $136,000 CAD, the Trent International Global Citizen Scholarship and the Trent International Program Tuition Levy Scholarship which will cover your tuition for 4 years. This application-based scholarship looks at merit, financial need, extracurricular activities and leadership qualities.
Western University’s International President's Entrance Scholarship is worth $100,000 CAD which is another worthwhile scholarship for international students. Split over 4 years, an international student would have $25,000 CAD per year to cover a good portion of the tuition. This application-based scholarship looks at leadership qualities, merit and extracurricular activities.
UNB’s Lady Vi Aitken Scholarship is worth $40,000 CAD, that is $10,000 for each of 4 years. This means that an international student could have 50% of their tuition covered if they are offered this prestigious application-based scholarship.
St Francis Xavier University offers the Schwartz National Scholars scholarship high school students entering a BBA program. The scholarship is worth $80,000 CAD, distributed over 4 years. This will cover around 85% of an international student’s tuition. This award is open to all nationalities.
Merit Scholarships for International Students
Many Canadian universities and even colleges offer merit scholarships. These scholarships may range from $500 to $10,000 CAD. Students are not limited to only one merit scholarship. The higher your admission average, the more scholarship money you might be able to obtain. International students with admission averages over 85% may be eligible for scholarship consideration.
Organization-sponsored Scholarships
Various organizations, both within Canada and internationally, sponsor scholarships for undergraduate students to study in Canada. These scholarships may be targeted towards specific nationalities, academic disciplines, or demographic groups. The nice thing about third-party scholarships, they are independent from university scholarships, so it is possible to have more than one scholarship from different sources.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has a $35,000 CAD scholarship that is open to both national and international students when they open a bank account with them. This also includes the required GIC account that is required for SDS study permit applicants. I am sure it is very competitive as thousands of students across Canada and internationally will be opening accounts at CIBC, but it certainly is worth hoping for.
MPower Financing is a lending organization that offers financial aid to international students who study in Canada and the US. Many students have used their loans and Canadian universities often mention them on their website, so we know that MPower Financing is a reputable company. Their scholarships are not the largest, but $6000 or $10,000 will help to defray your cost of living.
Scholarshipscanada.com is a website where international students can search out third-party scholarships open to international students. Some are open for whatever Canadian university you attend. Scholarships may range from $500 to $10,000 CAD and eligibility might be a writing contest or a scholarship for girls entering a STEM program. So sign up for Scholarshipcanada.com’s newsletter and keep up-to-date on available scholarships and their deadlines.
Sports Scholarships
If you excel in sports, you may be eligible for athletic scholarships offered by Canadian universities. These scholarships may partially cover tuition fees, accommodation, and other expenses for student-athletes. A look at these 4 universities will give you an idea of what the eligibility requirements are for sports scholarships. Note that sports scholarships are not limited to these four, they are only examples of what is available.
Yes, there are well funded scholarships available in Canada for international students. These scholarships are offered by various Canadian universities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private institutions. It is essential to research and explore all available scholarship opportunities thoroughly and work with an education advisor who represents several Canadian institutions such as Helen Khan at Go 2 Canada Education Services. She knows where the money is at.