Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada 2024/2025

Dreaming of studying in Canada? There are several fully funded scholarships in Canada to help international students like you achieve your dreams of a quality education. This year, many top Canadian universities are offering scholarships to international students. These scholarships can cover some or all of your tuition fees, and some even provide stipends for living expenses like housing, health insurance, and travel.

Ready to chase your dream of studying at a top university in Canada? Here’s a comprehensive list of scholarships you should check out.

1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship

   In 2008, Canada started a scholarship program called the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) to attract the best PhD students in the world to Canada. The Vanier Scholarship is only for PhD students with excellent academic records and leadership skills. These scholarships are for students in different fields, from history to engineering to medicine.

The program is actually run by the Vanier-Banting Secretariat, which works with three other important organizations to give out research funds in Canada.

Eligibility

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students are eligible to apply!

Basic Requirements

• You must be starting your PhD program full-time by January 2025 (at the latest).
• This must be your first PhD program (even if it’s combined with an undergrad degree, like MD/PhD). Only the PhD part gets funded.
• There are limits on how long you should have been studying in your PhD program:
• Regular PhD: Not more than 20 months by May 1, 2024.
• Combined PhD program (MD/PhD, etc.):No more than 32 months by May 1, 2024 (even if you didn’t do a Master’s before).
• Accelerated PhD (from Bachelor’s):No more than 32 months by May 1, 2024.
• Accelerated PhD (from Master’s without getting the Master’s degree):No more than 32 months by May 1, 2024.
• You need excellent academic records. A minimum GPA of 3.5 (on the U of A scale) in your last two years of full-time studies (or equivalent).
• You can’t be receiving another PhD scholarship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC.

2. University of Alberta Fully Funded Scholarship

The University of Alberta has been offering scholarships since it opened in 1908. These scholarships have come from donors to help talented students, just like scholarships at other universities.

New scholarships are created all the time, so it’s best to check the University of Alberta’s website to see what’s currently available.

Scholarships Offered by The University of Alberta

Here is a list of scholarships that are been offered by the University of Alberta for the 2024-2025 academic year:

• University of Alberta Graduate Entrance Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to new Master’s and Doctoral students with excellent academic standing. The value can be up to $21,000 per year for doctoral students and $17,500 for Master’s students, with additional funding available for domestic students to cover living expenses.
• Van Horne Institute International Master’s Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to international students enrolled full-time in a Master’s program in the Faculty of Business. The scholarship covers tuition and fees.
• Donald S. Fryzuk International PhD Scholarship in Chemistry: This scholarship is offered to international students enrolled full-time in a PhD program in the Department of Chemistry. The scholarship covers tuition and fees, plus a monthly stipend.

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3. University of Waterloo Scholarship

The University of Waterloo offers fully funded scholarships for international students. Every year, the scholarship is offered to Undergraduate and graduate students and the scholarship is valued at around $10,000 (Ten Thousand U.S Dollars).

Eligibility

To be eligible for a scholarship at the University of Waterloo, you’ll need to consider a few things:

• All scholarship applications and communication will be in English.
• Academic record: Strong academic performance is important. Generally, a minimum average of 70% for undergraduate and 75% for graduate studies is required.
• Open to all international students: No matter where you’re from, you can apply for scholarships!
• Focus on specific programs: Some scholarships are for research-based programs (thesis or major research paper).
• First year students get a head start: Some scholarships are only for students entering their first year (term 1.0).
• Show academic excellence: Each faculty might have its criteria for judging academic excellence.
• Stay on track: You’ll need to be making good academic progress in your program and not be on academic probation.
• Scholarships can work together: You can potentially receive a Waterloo scholarship along with other scholarships (internal or external).
• Funding restrictions: You typically can’t be receiving full funding from another source (government sponsorship, self-funding exceeding faculty minimums).
• Automatic consideration for some Candidates: Certain scholarships consider you automatically based on your admission application.

4. Université de Montréal Scholarships

The Universite de Montréal scholarships aim to inspire international students to pursue their academic goals. The grant pays for undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degree programs’ tuition up to $27,300. With over 10,000 international students, University de Montréal is ranked third in Canada and has a thriving international community (Times Higher Education).

Eligibility

For you to be eligible for this scholarship, you must take note of the following information:

• Open to international students:Applicants must be from a country other than Canada and hold a valid study permit.
• Full-time enrollment required:You must be enrolled full-time in a postgraduate taught program for the duration of your studies.
• No conflicting exemptions:This scholarship cannot be combined with other tuition fee exemption programs.

5. Douglas College International Scholarship

Douglas College offers international scholarships for undergraduates. This scholarship is worth up to CAD $7,000 and it is limited to a maximum of five (5) eligible students each year.

The Douglas College International Student Scholarship was created in 2017 to help international student-athletes bridge the tuition gap between domestic and international fees. This financial support aims to attract talented athletes and ease their financial burden.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Douglas College International Scholarship, interested candidates must take note of the following information:

• The Scholarship Is open to all international students: Students from any country are welcome to apply.
• Strong academic record: A minimum GPA of 60% equivalent in your high school diploma is required.
• English language proficiency: You must meet Douglas College’s English language requirements, which can be achieved through a TOEFL iBT score of 83 or higher or an IELTS Academic module overall band score of 6.5 or higher.

6.    Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program

The University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson offers Scholarship awards for undergraduate students. It grants full funding for four years of study to just 37 exceptional international students. The selection committee seeks candidates who excel academically, demonstrate creativity, and possess strong leadership qualities. A focus is placed on an applicant’s positive impact on their school and community, along with their potential to contribute to the world stage. The value of this scholarship covers tuition, books, fees, and even residence costs for all four years of your studies.

Eligibility

To be considered, students must meet the following requirement:

• Academic and Creative Excellence: A strong record of academic achievement and a demonstrated passion for creative pursuits is essential.
• Leadership and Community Involvement: Students who have shown leadership qualities and a commitment to making a positive impact in their school and community are highly regarded.
• Final Year of Secondary School: Applicants must be in their final year of secondary school or have graduated not earlier than June 2023.
• University of Toronto Start: The scholarship is intended for students beginning their undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in September 2024. Prior post-secondary attendance disqualifies applicants.

7. Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program

The Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program is a fully-funded program that empowers professionals from developing member countries of La Francophonie to pursue Master’s or PhD studies in Canada. Offered by the Canadian Bureau for International Education, the program awards an average of $35,000 annually to successful applicants.

The purpose of the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program is to foster a long-term development in recipient countries by:

• Empowering educators and researchers
• Building future leaders
• Enhancing expertise

Eligibility

Interested candidates must take note of the following:

• French Language Fluency: Strong French language skills are a requirement.
• Citizenship: The scholarship is open to citizens of Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Djibouti, Mauritania, Comoros, and other African nations (check with your local program contact for details).
• Field of Study: Master’s, PhD, technical/vocational training, or short-term internships are available (excluding clinical pharmacy, medicine, and dentistry).

8.    University Canada West Scholarship

The University Canada West offers scholarships worth around $20,000 for undergraduates and $10,000 for master’s programs, helping international students achieve their academic goals.

Located in the heart of Vancouver, University Canada West (UCW) is a progressive institution established in 2004. UCW focuses on career-driven programs, offering undergraduate degrees like the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication, alongside an Associate of Arts and a Master of Business Administration.

Eligibility

Candidates must take note of the following information:

• English language skills are required.
• Scholarship Is open to All: Students from any country are welcome to apply.
• UCW Admission: You must be admitted to an undergraduate or master’s program at University Canada West.
• Strong Personal Statement: Scholarship tier and amount are based on the quality and strength of your personal statement.

9. McGill University Scholarships

McGill University offers financial support to international students through scholarships for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs. Undergraduates can receive up to $8,500, while Master’s and PhD students are eligible for bursaries to supplement their existing funding sources (government aid, part-time work, etc.).

McGill University recognizes academic excellence and financial need. All newly admitted first-year undergraduate students are automatically considered for both merit-based Entrance Scholarships (up to $8,500) and need-based Entrance Bursaries.

Eligibility

Candidates must take note of the information:

• The Scholarship is open to all international students: Applicants from any country are welcome.
• Fluent English language is required.
• Full-time enrollment in a degree program is mandatory.
• Financial need must be demonstrated. This includes applying for all relevant government student aid and Indigenous Band Support Funding (if applicable).

10. Humber International Entrance Scholarships

Humber College in Canada offers fully funded scholarships for international students ranging from $3,000 to full tuition. Scholarships are been offered in January and September semesters to Undergraduates and graduate students.

More scholarships are available in September (seven at $5,000 and two at $3,000) compared to January (one full tuition and one at $5,000). Humber College, known for its diversity and variety of programs, attracts over 3,000 international students from over 130 countries.

Humber College understands the financial challenges international students face. To help, they offer a variety of scholarships ranging from one-time awards of $1,000 to a scholarship that covers your entire tuition and renews each year.

Eligibility

Candidates must take note of the following information:

• You must meet Humber’s English language requirements (check their website for details).

• Open to All Nationalities: Students from any country are welcome to apply.
• Direct Entry from High School: This scholarship is for students entering a Bachelor’s degree program directly from high school, not for transfer students.

Interested persons can now apply using this link Humber International Entrance Scholarship