Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
🇨🇦 Canada
PhD
- CAD $50,000 per year for three years
Deadline: November 1 (annual)
🇨🇦
North America
Scholarships in Canada for International Students
2 verified scholarships · 2 fully funded · Including Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
Canada is a top study destination renowned for its world-class universities, cutting-edge research facilities, and vibrant campus life. We've compiled 2 scholarship opportunities — including 2 fully funded programs — to help international students fund their education in Canada in 2026.
2
Total Scholarships
2
Fully Funded
2
Degree Levels
2
Open to All Nations
All Scholarships in Canada
Fully Funded
Undergraduate
- Full tuition for four years
- Books and incidental fees
- Full residence support
Deadline: November 7 (nomination by school)
Why Study in Canada?
Canada has overtaken the UK as the second-most popular English-speaking study destination for international students, hosting over 800,000 in the most recent academic year. Tuition is significantly lower than the US (often half or less), the post-graduation work permit is one of the most generous in the OECD, and provincial nominee programmes give clear immigration pathways for graduates who want to stay long-term. Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal anchor several world-top-50 universities, while smaller cities like Waterloo, Edmonton, and Halifax offer strong programmes at a fraction of metropolitan living costs.
Top Universities in Canada for International Students
These universities anchor the country's scholarship pipeline and are routinely the destination institutions for the funded programmes listed above.
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
AI, medicine, engineering; home of Pearson Scholarship
McGill University
Montréal, QC
Medicine, law, neuroscience
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
Forestry, sustainability, business
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON
Computer science, engineering, co-op programmes
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
Energy, agriculture, nursing
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
Health sciences, engineering
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
Business, law, mining engineering
Université de Montréal
Montréal, QC
Public health, AI (Mila), aerospace
Tuition and Cost of Living in Canada
Fully funded scholarships normally cover both tuition and a monthly living allowance, but knowing the underlying costs helps you choose between full and partial funding offers.
Annual Tuition (Self-Funded Rate)
- Undergraduate
- CA$20,000–CA$55,000 per year
- Master's
- CA$15,000–CA$45,000 per year
- PhD
- CA$8,000–CA$25,000 per year (often waived by funding packages)
Quebec offers reduced tuition for international students from francophone countries and France. Many PhD programmes guarantee funding packages of CA$20k–CA$40k/year.
Monthly Living Budget (CA$1,300–CA$2,400)
- Rent
- CA$700–CA$1,800 (shared rooms; Toronto and Vancouver at upper end)
- Food
- CA$300–CA$450
- Transport
- CA$90–CA$150 (monthly transit pass)
Toronto and Vancouver are the two most expensive cities; Halifax, Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Edmonton offer 30–40% lower cost of living with comparable academic quality.
Student Visa, Work Rights, and Post-Study Pathway
Visa rules and post-graduation work rights vary dramatically between destinations — for many applicants they matter as much as the scholarship itself.
Study Permit
- Visa Fee
- CA$150 + CA$85 biometrics
- Processing Time
- 4–12 weeks depending on country (Student Direct Stream is faster)
- Financial Proof Required
- CA$20,635/year for living expenses (2024 update, doubled from CA$10,000) + first-year tuition
- Health Insurance
- Provincial health coverage varies: BC, AB, SK, MB cover students; ON, QC require private insurance (~CA$700–CA$900/year)
- Work While Studying
- 20 hours/week off-campus during term, unlimited during scheduled breaks (rules were tightened in 2024)
Post-Study Work Rights
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for up to 3 years after graduation from an eligible programme. The PGWP is open — no employer sponsorship required — and Canadian work experience counts heavily toward Express Entry permanent residence applications.
English Language Requirements
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall (with 6.0 in each band) is the most common requirement. McGill, U of T, and UBC typically want 7.0 overall. TOEFL iBT 86–100 and PTE Academic 60–70 are accepted. Many programmes also accept Duolingo. French-language programmes at Université de Montréal and Laval require DELF B2 or equivalent.
Application Timeline for Canada Scholarships
Most scholarship deadlines are 8–14 months before the programme start date. Backwards-plan from your target intake to avoid missing key dates.
- 1
12–15 months before
Shortlist Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs); confirm programme is PGWP-eligible.
- 2
10–12 months before
Take IELTS/TOEFL; secure references; draft SOP.
- 3
8–10 months before
Submit applications (deadlines January–March for September intake).
- 4
6–8 months before
Apply for Vanier, Trudeau, and university-specific scholarships.
- 5
3–5 months before
Receive Letter of Acceptance, apply for study permit, secure provincial nominee documents if applicable.
How to Win a Scholarship in Canada
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Trudeau Foundation are nomination-based — you cannot apply directly. You must first secure an offer from a Canadian university, then your supervisor or department nominates you. Start conversations with prospective supervisors 12+ months before deadlines; the nomination process is internal and competitive. Lester B. Pearson at U of T is one of the very few full-ride undergraduate scholarships in Canada, with ~37 awards/year and applications via your school. For PhDs, prioritise programmes where the prospective supervisor's research funding aligns with your interests — university funding follows the supervisor, not the student.
Canada Scholarships at a Glance
- PGWP gives graduates up to 3 years of open work permit — among the most generous globally.
- Express Entry awards extra points for Canadian education plus Canadian work experience.
- Quebec runs its own scholarship programme (PBEEE) separate from federal awards.
- Co-op programmes at Waterloo, Sherbrooke, and others let students earn while studying.
Scholarships in Canada by Student Nationality
Find scholarships in Canada tailored to students from your home country. Select your nationality to see specific opportunities and eligibility requirements.
🇵🇰 Pakistani Students 🇮🇳 Indian Students 🇳🇬 Nigerian Students 🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Students 🇰🇪 Kenyan Students 🇬🇭 Ghanaian Students 🇵🇭 Filipino Students 🇪🇬 Egyptian Students 🇪🇹 Ethiopian Students 🇳🇵 Nepali Students 🇻🇳 Vietnamese Students 🇮🇩 Indonesian Students 🇱🇰 Sri Lankan Students 🇹🇿 Tanzanian Students 🇺🇬 Ugandan Students
Explore Other Study Destinations
Considering other countries? Browse scholarships in these popular study destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships in Canada
Yes, Canada offers several fully funded scholarships that cover tuition fees, living expenses, health insurance, and sometimes even travel costs. Government-sponsored programs and university-specific awards provide comprehensive funding for international students at all degree levels.
Competition varies by program. Prestigious government scholarships tend to be highly competitive with acceptance rates under 5%, while university-specific funding and partial scholarships are more accessible. Starting your application early and maintaining strong academic credentials significantly improves your chances.
Most English-taught programs require IELTS (6.0–7.0) or TOEFL (80–100) scores. Some programs offer pre-sessional language courses to help you meet the requirements.
Start researching and preparing at least 12–18 months before your intended start date. Most scholarship deadlines fall between October and March for programs starting the following September. Early preparation gives you time to gather recommendation letters, write strong personal statements, and take standardized tests.
Most student visa categories in Canada allow part-time work during term time (typically 15–20 hours per week) and full-time work during holidays. However, many fully funded scholarships provide sufficient living allowances, allowing you to focus entirely on your studies.
TheScholarSphere currently lists 2 scholarship programs in Canada for the 2026 academic year, ranging from fully funded government scholarships to partial university grants. New opportunities are added regularly, so subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
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