Canada Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students: 2027 Entry Guide

📊 Canada Undergraduate Scholarships at a Glance

A snapshot of the main scholarships covered in this guide. Status reflects what’s confirmed as of 25 August 2026 — always verify on the official page before applying.

🟢 Confirmed open for 2027  ·  🟡 2026 figures shown as a guide — 2027 terms not yet published  ·  🔵 Most recent application round has closed; next round not yet announced

🏆 Top University Scholarships for International Students

Canadian universities offer some of the most generous undergraduate scholarship programs available to international students. Some require a separate application; others are awarded automatically based on your admission average.

University of Toronto — Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

One of Canada’s most prestigious undergraduate awards for international students. Covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years — approximately 37 students are named Pearson Scholars each year.

• Eligibility: International students (requiring a study permit) in their final year of senior secondary school, or who graduated no earlier than June of the prior year.
• Nomination required: Each high school may nominate only one student — you cannot apply without your school’s nomination.
• 2027 entry dates: School nomination deadline 9 October 2026; complete your U of T admission application by 16 October 2026; submit the Pearson Scholarship application by 6 November 2026.
• U of T also runs National Scholarship Program awards (President’s Entrance Scholarships: 5 at $65,000, up to 15 at $50,000) for a broader pool of applicants.

University of British Columbia (UBC)

UBC distributes over $35 million annually to international students through its International Scholars Program. Most recently confirmed awards:

• International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES): $10,000–$25,000/year, renewable up to 4 years (up to $100,000 total). Automatic consideration with your application.
• Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award: need-and-merit-based, renewable up to 3 years; applications typically open mid-September for the following intake.
• Outstanding International Student Award (OIS): approximately $10,000.

University of Waterloo — International Student Entrance Scholarship

Confirmed for students starting in September 2026: $10,000 for first-year studies, paid in two $5,000 tuition instalments, awarded automatically with no application. This scholarship was newly introduced for the 2026 intake — Waterloo has not yet confirmed whether or in what form it continues for September 2027 entry, so check Waterloo’s scholarship page directly once the 2027 cycle opens rather than assuming it repeats automatically.

University of Ottawa

Most recently, international students studying in English could receive up to $70,000 in combined scholarships:

• International English Admission Scholarship: $7,500/term ($60,000 over 4 years), automatic, renewable, unlimited awards, minimum 80% admission average.
• International English Academic Excellence Scholarship: $10,000 ($5,000/term), 100 awards, non-renewable, can be combined with the Admission Scholarship, minimum 90% admission average.

University of Alberta

Alberta distributes roughly $52 million annually across undergraduate scholarships. Most recently confirmed awards (2025/26 cycle, now closed):

• President’s International Distinction Scholarship: up to $120,000 over 4 years, 25 awards/year.
• International Leader Scholarship: up to $15,000.
• International Admission Scholarship: up to $5,000, based on admission average.

The most recent application window ran 1 October 2025 to 15 February 2026 — that window is now closed. Alberta has not yet published 2027 entry dates; check back closer to autumn 2026 rather than relying on the 2025/26 dates.

University of Regina

• International Entrance Scholarship: $5,000 tuition credit for an 83%+ admission average, automatic.
• International Student of Distinction Scholarship (Tier 1): free on-campus housing + meal plan, valued at $80,000 over 4 years, 90%+ average.
• International Student of Distinction Scholarship (Tier 2): free on-campus housing, valued at $40,000 over 4 years, 85–89.99% average.

Other Universities to Watch

• Lakehead — International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships: $40,000 (90%+ average), $30,000 (80–89.9%), or $6,000 one-time (75–79.9%). Automatic.
• Victoria — $15,000 one-time award for an A- or equivalent admission average.
• Western — International President’s Entrance Scholarships: 3 awards of $50,000 ($10,000/year + $10,000 toward first-year residence).
• Toronto Metropolitan University — President’s Entrance Scholarships: $40,000 total ($10,000/year, renewable).
• Université de Montréal — tuition exemption scholarship reducing international fees by up to $14,436/year for top applicants.

🎯 Automatic Scholarships — No Separate Application

Many Canadian scholarships are awarded automatically from your admission application — no essays, no extra forms, no separate deadline to track. Most recently confirmed examples:

Figures above reflect the most recently confirmed cycle for each university — verify current amounts on the official page before relying on them for 2027 planning.

📋 Common Requirements for Canadian Undergraduate Scholarships

There’s no single universal requirement — some scholarships are automatic, some need a nomination, some are need-based. But most fall into these categories. For a broader breakdown of eligibility criteria that applies across countries, see our undergraduate scholarship requirements guide.

Academic Requirements: Grades and Admission Averages

Canadian universities evaluate your high school grades converted to a Canadian equivalent. Rough bands from the scholarships in this guide:

• 80–83%: minimum for many entrance scholarships (Ottawa, Regina, Waterloo)
• 85–90%: higher-value awards (Regina Tier 2, Western Scholarship of Excellence)
• 90%+: top-tier awards (Lakehead $40,000, Ottawa Academic Excellence, U of T Pearson)

For IB students, thresholds are typically stated separately — for example, Lakehead’s top scholarships have historically required 35+ points.

English Proficiency

These are university admission requirements, not scholarship-specific ones — a scholarship generally doesn’t set its own English threshold beyond what your program already requires. Typical university minimums:

Do You Need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)?

Usually, yes. Since its introduction in 2024, most international undergraduate applicants need a PAL confirming their study permit application falls within their target province’s allocated quota — a scholarship doesn’t change this requirement. There are specific exemptions (for example, some students already in Canada or in particular programs), so treat “do I need a PAL” as a dedicated question to answer early, not an optional extra to check later. Confirm your situation on the IRCC study permit page.

💰 Study Permit Proof of Funds — What a Scholarship Doesn’t Replace

Even when a scholarship covers your tuition, you’ll likely still need to show proof of funds for your study permit. The core figure:

Recent update to flag: IRCC issued new guidance on 24 July 2026 extending the standard bank statement lookback from four months to six months, and directing officers to more closely verify the source of your funds (not just the balance) — pension income and rental income are now accepted, while some previously accepted document types have been dropped. This is a genuinely recent change, so if you’re reading this guide more than a few months after publication, double-check the current figure on the official IRCC study permit page rather than relying on this guide alone.

Your scholarship award letter counts toward this requirement — but if your scholarship doesn’t cover living expenses, you’ll need to show additional funds separately.

🚀 Tips for a Successful Application

❌ Common Reasons Applications Get Rejected

❓ Frequently Asked Questions