Scholarships in Canada for International Students (2027 Guide)

The scholarships international students can realistically get in Canada are university entrance awards for undergraduates and graduate funding packages for research master's and PhD students. Federal scholarships exist, but most are short exchanges for specific regions or doctoral awards for students already enrolled in Canada.

Fully funded bachelor's scholarships are rare and very competitive. Plan your budget without assuming a scholarship, then apply for every award you are eligible for, on time.

Government of Canada scholarships: what's real

EduCanada lists federal programs such as ELAP (Latin America and the Caribbean), Study in Canada Scholarships, SEED-2 (ASEAN, Pacific and Mongolia), Canada-China, Canadian International Development Scholarships 2030 and OAS scholarships. Most are short-term exchanges applied for by Canadian institutions, not full degrees, and none names Afghanistan (EduCanada).

Undergraduate entrance awards (fall 2027)

These awards are open to international students according to each university's official page. Some are automatic; others need a separate application.

Others worth checking: McGill offers merit-based entrance scholarships and need-based entrance financial aid to all new first-year students regardless of citizenship; Carleton gives automatic entrance scholarships to international students with strong averages; the University of Saskatchewan considers international students for most entrance scholarships automatically; and UPEI gives automatic international entrance awards of CAN$1,000 to 3,000.

More renewable awards at mid-size universities

Some of the most generous awards for international undergraduates are at mid-size universities, where fewer applicants compete for them:

Read the renewal rules carefully. Most renewable awards require you to stay full-time and keep a minimum average every year, and some amounts change if your immigration status changes.

Graduate funding: your best chance

Research master's and PhD students are often funded through a mix of scholarships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. Funding is usually decided at admission, so applying by the first deadline matters.

• University of Alberta: minimum guaranteed funding for PhD students, plus recruitment scholarships.
• UBC: International Tuition Award and a minimum funding policy for PhD students.
• University of Ottawa: International Doctoral Scholarship of CAN$45,000 over five years.
• University of Manitoba: International Graduate Student Entrance Scholarship (needs a GPA of at least 3.75 on 4.5 in the last two years) and the UM Graduate Fellowship.
• Concordia: thesis-based graduate students are automatically considered for entrance awards and usually receive funding packages.
• Dalhousie: international PhD students pay domestic tuition.

Federal and provincial doctoral awards

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral

This federal award pays CAN$40,000 per year for 36 months. Up to 15% of awards go to international applicants, who must already be registered in a doctoral program at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline. Applications sent directly to the agency are due 17 October before 8:00 pm ET (the page does not state a year), and institutional deadlines are often much earlier (NSERC).

Quebec Merit Scholarship Program (PBEEE)

Quebec's merit program offers doctoral researchers CAN$25,000 per year for up to three years, plus exemption from differential tuition fees and RAMQ health coverage. Universities preselect candidates, so contact your university; eligible countries and deadlines are not stated on the page (Quebec).

Scholarships for students from Afghanistan

We found no federal scholarship that names Afghanistan. But some universities make it easier:

• UBC's graduate school waives its application fee for applicants whose citizenship and correspondence address are in Afghanistan.
• Yorkville University, a private university, says Afghanistan qualifies as a UN Least Developed Country for its CAN$10,000 LDC International Bursary for on-campus students. Compare its total fees with public universities first.
• Memorial University says it will consider Afghan applicants who face challenges getting official documents, which matters if you want to be considered for its entrance scholarships (deadline 1 March for high-school applicants).
• Acadia University lists 85% for internal and 86% for external graduate scholarships for Afghan applicants.

Tuition reductions and guarantees also save money

Not every saving is called a scholarship. Some universities cut the international price directly or protect you from big increases:

• University of Ottawa: the International English Admission Scholarship takes CAN$15,000 per year off tuition for newly admitted international students in eligible English-taught undergraduate programs, renewable under its conditions.
• University of Regina: a bundle that saves up to CAN$21,000 in tuition and fees over four years for international undergraduates.
• Wilfrid Laurier University: renewable entrance scholarships for international undergraduates and a tuition guarantee that limits increases for continuing students to a maximum of 5% per year.
• Dalhousie: international PhD students pay domestic tuition, which is a large saving over a four-year doctorate.

When you compare offers, look at the total cost over the full degree after all awards and guarantees, not just the headline scholarship amount. A CAN$5,000 award at a university that is CAN$15,000 cheaper per year can be a better deal than a larger award at an expensive one.

Mistakes that cost students scholarships

• Missing the separate award deadline. UBC's award application (15 November 2026) and SFU's window (closing 15 December 2026) are well before their admission deadlines.
• Applying late for admission. Automatic awards depend on your admission and average; late applicants may find funds already committed.
• Ignoring renewal conditions. A four-year award can stop after year one if your grades drop or you go part-time.
• Counting on an award in your visa file before it is confirmed. IRCC accepts scholarships as proof of funds, but only with an official award letter.
• Assuming graduate funding is automatic. At many universities, funding is offered by the department or supervisor, so apply by the first deadline and ask what the offer includes.

How to apply: step by step

1. 1

   List awards when you shortlist programs

   Write down every award, whether it is automatic, and its deadline. Some close before the admission deadline.

2. 2

   Apply early for admission

   Many automatic awards are given to students admitted early with high averages.

3. 3

   Prepare a strong award application

   Typical items: personal essay, leadership and community activities, references and transcripts.

4. 4

   For graduate funding, contact supervisors

   Research programs often fund students through a supervisor's grant. A good fit with a supervisor improves your chances.

5. 5

   Keep your proof of funds ready anyway

   IRCC accepts scholarships as proof of funds, but if an award covers only tuition you must still prove living and travel money.

Set reminders for each deadline when you track deadlines for free on FindUniPath. See also cost of studying in Canada and how to apply to universities in Canada, or the Canada country hub.