Scholarship in Canada has become a blessing for Indian students as it benefits them to take admission in universities and colleges by easing the financial burden. Unfortunately, it becomes hard for Indian students to survive in Canada for the duration of their education due to ever-increasing tuition fees and living expenses. Tuition cost for international students is often much higher than for domestic students.
Here, receiving a scholarship becomes a need for an hour for them. By being a part of the Canadian community, Indian students receive quality education, which enhances their profile, making quality education more accessible. There are variety of scholarships available for international students in Canada, such as merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships, country-specific scholarships, program-specific scholarships, research scholarships, and government-funded scholarships.
Now, this blog will cover the types of scholarships available in Canada and how to be eligible for the scholarships.
Types of Scholarships in Canada
Let’s dive into the types of scholarships available for international students in Canada to support them financially:
Merit-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are based on academic excellence or talent. It includes the University of Toronto National Scholarship, Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, and Ubc International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES). You need to show High GPA, strong extracurricular involvement, and recommendation letters to receive merit-based scholarships.
Need-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are designed for students who show financial instability. For example, the University of Calgary Bursaries, Trent University International Student Financial Aid, and the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students. Proof of low income or financial hardship, and possibly alongside academic performance, are required to be eligible for need-based scholarships.
University-Specific Scholarships: These scholarships are directly offered by the university to attract talented students to be a part of the institution. These totally depend on academic excellence, leadership quality, social involvement, and financial need of the students. It includes the University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson Scholarship and UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award.
Government-Funded Scholarships: This kind of scholarship is offered by federal and provincial governments to support international and domestic students. For instance, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED), Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS).
Private and External Scholarships: Private and External scholarships are funded by private organisations, foundations, or businesses. This sort of scholarship is provided to international students who are on the merit list, have participated in community service, or come from a minority status. To exemplify, Trudeau Foundation Scholarships, TD Scholarships for Community Leadership, and scholarships from companies like RBC or Scotiabank.
Top Scholarships for Indian Students in Canada
Here is a brief overview of the top scholarships for Indian students in Canada:
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto): It is awarded to international students who have come with leadership quality and academic excellence. It covers full tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence for four years. Awarded
UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award: It is offered to the students who come with high-achieving personality and have leadership and community service experience. It includes full tuition and living expenses as per the financial requirement.
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (for postgraduates): It is awarded to the PhD students for three years with strong academics, research potential, and leadership qualities.
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Scholarships: How much funding will be given to students, depends on the program opted by the student. It supports Indian students and researchers for academic exchange, internships, and research in Canadian institutions.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) : This scholarship is offered to the master’s and PhD students in Ontario universities, depending on academic merit and available across multiple disciplines.
University-Specific Entrance Scholarships (McGill, University of Calgary, etc.): Funding amount varies by university and the level of the program. This scholarship is awarded depending on academic performance, leadership, or other criteria.
What are the criteria for applying for scholarships to study in Canada for Indian students?
The eligibility criteria for scholarships to attain education in Canada completely depend on the specific scholarship. Generally, it takes into consideration the following factors:
1. Academic excellence (typically 80 %+ or equivalent)
2. English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL scores)
3. Extracurricular involvement and leadership
4. Community service or special achievements
5. Financial need (for certain scholarships)
What amount of money is available through Canada scholarships?
International students in Canada are awarded a wide range of scholarships. The funding amount varies by the specific program and the level of study. Let’s have a look at the scholarship amount:
| Name of scholarship | Amount of money awarded |
| 1. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship | Full tuition fee |
| 2. UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award | Full coverage of tuition fee and living expenses |
| 3. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships | Award CAD 50,000 per year for up to 3 years to doctoral students in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, or humanities. |
| 4. Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Scholarships | Varies by program |
| 5. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) | Offers CAD 5,000 per term, up to CAD 15,000 annually, for graduate students in Ontario. |
| 6. University-Specific Entrance Scholarships
(McGill, University of Calgary, etc.) |
CAD 3,000–12,000 for 1-4 years (McGill University)
CAD 5,000–20,000 4 years (University of Calgary), etc. |
Some popular government-funded Canadian scholarships available for Indian students
Let’s break down the most popular government-funded scholarships available in Canada for Indian students:
| Government-funded scholarship | Description |
| 1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
(Vanier CGS) |
Attract incredible doctoral students with outstanding academic excellence having leadership potential. The scholarship offers CAD 50,000 annually for up to three years |
| 2. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships | Support the most promising postdoctoral researchers by awarding CAD 70,000 per annum for two years. |
| 3. Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Scholarships | Aims at capacity-building and fostering long-term academic linkages and offers short-term fellowships, research internships, and institutional partnerships. |
| 4. Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program | Supports students with incredible academics from Commonwealth nations, covering tuition, travel, and living expenses, enabling recipients to pursue master’s or doctoral studies in Canada. |
| 5. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) | Co-funded by the Government of Ontario and participating universities, offering up to CAD 15,000 annually to master’s and doctoral students with high-achieving academics and research potential. |
Some non-government scholarships are also available for you to study in Canada
Let’s have a look at the description of non-government scholarships for Indian students in Canada:
| Non-government funded scholarship | Description |
| 1. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship | Awarded by the University of Toronto, covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence for students exhibiting academic excellence and leadership potential. |
| 2. UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award | Awarded by the University of British Columbia, covering tuition and living costs proportionate to financial need, with superior academic standing, notable leadership skills, and active community engagement. The award covers |
| 3. University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship | Covers up to CAD 60,000 over four years, with outstanding academic records and proven extracurricular involvement. |
| 4. McGill University Scholarships | Covers CAD 3,000 to 12,000, based on academic excellence and faculty recommendations. |
| 5. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship | Offers CAD 60,000 annually for up to three years to PhD candidates in the social sciences and humanity having public engagement and social innovation. |
| 6. University of Waterloo International Master’s
Award of Excellence |
Aims to support academically distinguished individuals contributing to the university’s research excellence. It provides CAD 2,500 per term for up to five terms to international students enrolled in research-oriented master’s programs. |
Application Process
1. Research thoroughly and shortlist scholarships
2. Prepare essential documents:
- Academic transcripts
- IELTS/TOEFL scores
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume/CV
3. Application portals (university sites, scholarship boards)
4. Watch out for deadlines and early applications
How can you find scholarships to study in Canada?
The ways to search for scholarships to pursue your education in Canada include online scholarship databases, checking with your desired university’s website, or by contacting the Canadian embassy or consulate in your country.
How do I apply for scholarships to study in Canada?
The application process for scholarships to study in Canada varies depending on the scholarship. Generally, it includes some important steps, as explained below:
1. Identify suitable scholarships for you, whether government-funded scholarships, university-specific scholarships or private scholarships.
2. Check eligibility criteria, which include Academic excellence (minimum grade or GPA), Proof of language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL), Research proposal or field of study relevance, Financial need (for need-based scholarships), and Leadership, volunteerism, or extracurricular achievements
3. Prepare the important documents required for the specific scholarships, which generally includes Academic transcripts, English language proficiency test scores (IELTS or TOEFL), Statement of Purpose (SOP) or Personal Statement, Letters of Recommendation (usually 2–3 from teachers or mentors), Updated CV/Resume, Research proposal (for graduate programs), and Portfolio (if applying for creative programs).
4. Submit your application through Official Portals, which include University application portals (for institution-specific scholarships), Scholarship-specific websites (e., Vanier), and Government portals (e.g., EduCanada or provincial funding sites)
5. Pay great attention towards deadlines, applying well in advance will bring more chances for you.
6. After the submission of the application, the candidates who are selected receive an offer letter or scholarship confirmation.
Tips to Strengthen Your Scholarship Application
1. Maintaining a high GPA throughout school/college: Academic excellence throughout your education in your home country, especially incredible performance in subjects relevant to your intended field of study, will boost your profile, and there will be more chances to get the scholarship.
2. Getting involved in community service or leadership roles: Engagement in community service or taking on leadership roles adds a great weightage to your application.
3. Drafting an eye-catching and unique SOP: A well-structured and engaging SOP (Statement of Purpose) that demonstrates your academics, career objectives, compelling reasons for selecting Canada, and how the scholarship benefits you in achieving your goals.
4. Choose recommenders who truly know your strengths: Strong recommendations from your school/college teachers in detailed writing will highlight your academic strength, personal qualities, and potential to succeed in a competitive academic environment.
5. Tailor your application to each scholarship: Prepare your SOP, CV, and references to match the specific goals, values, and requirements of each scholarship.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Applying after the deadline, as the late submission is not allowed at any cost
2. Submitting a generic SOP
3. Ignoring smaller or lesser-known scholarships
4. Not double-checking eligibility requirements
When should I apply for scholarships to study in Canada?
Apply for the scholarship well in advance to avoid any type of delays. Ideally, 6-12 months is the best time before your program gets started. Make sure to check the deadlines for specific scholarships you are interested in, as the time frame can vary. Many Canadian institutions also have their list of scholarships for Indian students. For any kind of confusion or lack of knowledge, you can take the assistance of international education experts.
Need help to fulfil your study in Canada dream?
We are at Abroad Gateway, helping you professionally with a Canada study visa with comprehensive, personalised services. Our team of experts has long experience of 15-20 years and will assist you everywhere from zero to zenith, whether it is Student visa application, SOP, Tailored advice for achieving a scholarship, University and Program selection, and the entire documentation. This is how your dream of attaining a Canadian education with a scholarship will come true smoothly within a short period of time.
