If you are an international student looking to study in one of the best universities in the world but cannot afford it due to cost implications, then look no more as there are fully-funded Scholarship opportunities in top Canadian Universities for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Canada is one of the most sought-after study-abroad destinations for students all over the world and has over 621,656 international students enrolled in their universities as of 2021. Several reasons contribute to these great statistics, one being the friendly immigration policies put in place by the Canadian Government.
Despite being a destination of choice for most international students, studying in Canada is quite expensive as tuition fees rose by 7.6% for international undergraduates in the 2019-2020 academic session according to a report by Statistics Canada. The average tuition cost for international undergraduate students stood at around $29,714 Canadian dollars annually while the average living cost was around $10,000.
Thankfully, there are several funding sources that can be explored by international students for their studies in Canada. One such is the lucrative scholarships offered by top Canadian universities. Through these, students can focus their full attention on their studies without having to worry about how to fund their studies.
Top 5 Canadian Universities Offering Lucrative Scholarships For International Students
More than 800 scholarships are available for international students at Canadian universities for the academic session. Here are our top picks:
Canadian Universities offering Lucrative Scholarships
- University of Toronto
Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada’s top university with a long history of challenging the impossible and transforming society through the ingenuity and resolve of its faculty, students, alumni, and supporters. The University is one of the world’s top research-intensive institutions, bringing together top minds from every conceivable background and discipline to collaborate on the world’s most pressing challenges. The university is home to thousands of international students and offers lucrative scholarship and funding opportunities. Notable among the scholarship available at the University is the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship.
- University of Saskatchewan
Located in Saskatoon, Canada, and founded in 1907, the University is a public research institution that is ranked among the best in the country. The highly-ranked university offers programs in all spheres of academic endeavors at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The university offers lucrative scholarships across all its courses – making education easily accessible to international students who would ordinarily not be able to fund their education. There are several fully-funded masters and Ph.D. scholarships available for students who meet the eligibility criteria. Master’s scholarship at the university is valued at $18,000 CAD per year while Ph.D. scholarships are valued at $22,000 per annum.
- University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is ranked among the top best public research universities in Canada with over 140 international scholarships available for students from all over the world. Scholarships available at this university are either course-specific or country-specific awards for undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students. These scholarships may be worth up to $10,000 CAD which may be awarded to students automatically as they gain entrance into the university. Some of the scholarships include:
Colonel Hugh Heasley Engineering Scholarships
Frank and Janet Hill Scholarship for Women in Math
4. University of Alberta
The University is among the top 5 Canadian universities and one of the top 150 in the world offering more than 200 undergraduate programs and more than 500 graduate programs with 250 specializations and 300 research areas. The standard of learning at the university and its reputation over the years continue to attract students from over 150 countries of the world. The University offers fully funded masters and Ph.D. scholarships for international students who meet the selection criteria.
To further attract international students, the university recently made adjustments to its English proficiency requirements which allows international with certain criteria to apply for scholarships without needing to write their IELTS test. Awards amounting to over $34 million in undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and financial support are provided each year to students.
Some of the scholarships include:
Admission-based scholarships (International Admission Scholarship, Regional Excellence Scholarship, Gold Standard Scholarship).
Application-based scholarships (President’s International Distinction Scholarship, International Leader Scholarship, May Quon Undergraduate Scholarship, etc.).
Transfer Scholarships.
5. McGill University
Located in Montreal, McGill University ranks among Canada’s most prestigious universities, attracting thousands of international students from over 150 countries every year, and the highest percentage of Ph.D. students of any Canadian research university. There are several scholarships and student aid programs available for undergraduate and postgraduate students to include:
Frugal Scholar Program
Entrance Scholarships
McGill Financial Aid
Government Aid
Work Study program