5 Canadian unis offering scholarships you should not miss out on

If you want a great North American degree but can’t afford it, consider applying for these Canadian scholarships.

Canada is one of the most popular study-abroad destinations for international students with over 621,656 international students by the end of 2021. There are many reasons for this — from its friendly immigration policies to its beautiful array of mountains, valleys and lakes. 

However, despite being a popular choice, studying in Canada can be quite expensive. According to the latest report from Statistics Canada, tuition fees rose by 7.6% for international undergraduates in the 2019-2020 academic year.

At the time of writing, the average cost of tuition for undergraduate international students is roughly around $29,714 Canadian dollars per year. Coupled with an average living cost of $10,000, the price of studying in Canada can often be too much for international students to bear.

Thankfully, international students can help finance their studies through Canadian scholarships. Through these, students can concentrate on their careers rather than worrying about their finances. The best part? They’ll avoid having to leave university with massive student loan debt or the prospect of cutting their education short because of a lack of finances. 

More than 800 scholarships are available at top Canadian universities for international students over the 2022-2023 academic year. Here are our top picks:

5 Canadian universities offering scholarships to international students

1. University of Saskatchewan

Nestled in Saskatoon is a Canadian public research institution that is ranked among the nation’s top universities. It’s called the University of Saskatchewan. Founded in 1907, the esteemed university offers programmes in all academic fields across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The university offers Canadian scholarships across all its levels of study — making education more accessible to local communities as well as its body of over 3,000 international students. 

Fully-funded master’s and PhD scholarships are also available. Their master’s scholarship is valued at $18,000 per year for two years, while their PhD scholarships are valued at $22,000 per year for three years.

Scholarships allow international students to fulfil their dreams of studying abroad. Source: Oli Scarff/AFP

2. University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is a public research university in Canada with over 140 scholarships offered to international students. This stems across a wide criteria, from course-specific to country-specific awards for undergraduate, master’s and PhD students. Canadian scholarships are valued at up to $10,000.

The best part? Many of them don’t require direct applications, as the university automatically grants scholarships. 

Here are some of their scholarships worth exploring:

• Colonel Hugh Heasley Engineering Scholarships
• Faculty of Mathematics Entrance Scholarships
• Frank and Janet Hill Scholarship for Women in Math
  

3. University of Alberta

The University of Alberta has grown to become one of Canada’s best comprehensive academic research universities (CARU). The quality of education offered at the institution and its reputation over the years continues to attract students from over 150 countries across the globe. 

Programmes in just about every field are offered, leading to globally recognised undergraduate and graduate credentials. Canadian scholarships are just as readily available. Currently, the University of Alberta offers fully funded master’s scholarships and PhD scholarships.

What’s more, the university recently made changes to its English Proficiency Language requirements, announcing the removal of the IELTS requirement. This means that international students enrolling in bachelors, master’s and doctoral programmes can apply for scholarships without needing to sit for their IELTS. 

Other University of Alberta scholarships are available in the form of:

• Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships
• Athletic Scholarships
• Country Specific Scholarships
• Sponsored Student Scholarships

Awards amounting to $34 million in undergraduate scholarships and financial support are provided to students every year.

International students studying in Canada have an abundance of funding options available to them. Source: Mark Makela / AFP

4. McGill University

McGill University needs no introduction. Ranked the top Canadian university for 2023, it’s well-known worldwide for its academic prestige and high quality of research output. This makes McGill one of the most attractive universities for international students.

To accommodate for its diverse cohort of students, scholarships at McGill University are open to those from Canada as well as from around the world. These scholarships are offered to undergraduate, master’s and PhD students. Undergraduate students are provided up to $8,500, while bursaries are offered for master’s and PhD students.

Almost all academic fields and majors are available at McGill University for international applicants to pursue their postgraduate degree programmes. For these, consider applying for graduate student funding. 

5. Dalhousie University

Last but not least is Dalhousie University. Ranked among the top 300 universities in the 2022 QS World University Rankings, the institution is well-regarded as one of the best options for international students looking to pursue an education in Canada.

Dalhousie University offers a number of scholarships and bursary options that international students can apply for. Their scholarships are available for undergraduate, master’s or doctoral students. The Dalhousie University Scholarships are fully funded for international students. These Canadian scholarships are valued at up to $50,000 and cover a monthly stipend, accommodation costs, fee waivers and health insurance.

Here are some of their scholarships for international students:

• Chinese Scholarship Council – PhD scholarship 
• The President’s Awards 
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships 
• John and Lena Graham Commonwealth Bursary