Top 20 Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada for International Students 2025
Top 20 Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada for International Students 2025
Are you dreaming of studying in Canada but worried about the cost? Good news — many Canadian universities and government bodies offer fully funded scholarships for international students. These scholarships can cover tuition, living expenses, travel, and even research grants.
In this post, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the top 20 fully funded scholarships in Canada for 2025, along with essential details and direct links to official sources to help you get started.
1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships were launched by the Canadian government to attract and retain world-class doctoral students. These scholarships are designed to help and promote Canada become a global center for research and higher learning by helping students who shows leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies. The Vanier CGS is one of Canada’s most prestigious scholarships, offering $50,000 per year for 3 years for doctoral studies.
- Open to: International PhD students
- Selection is based on academic excellence, research potential, and leadership
- Must be nominated by a Canadian university
2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship – University of Toronto
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is the University of Toronto’s most exemplary and demanding scholarship for international undergraduate students. It recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, leadership within their school, and a commitment to community service. The scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years.
The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years.
- For exceptional students entering undergraduate programs
- Only students nominated by their high school can apply
3. University of British Columbia (UBC) International Scholars Program
The UBC International Scholars Program gives four prestigious, fully funded scholarships to exceptional international undergraduate students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, and a commitment to community service. These scholarships cover tuition, living expenses, and other costs for the duration of the undergraduate program.
UBC offers the International Scholars Program including the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, which covers full financial need.
- For undergraduate international students
- Based on academic merit, leadership, and financial need
4. University of Alberta Scholarships
The University of Alberta (U of A) Provides over $50 million annually in scholarships, awards, and financial help to undergraduate students. These opportunities are designed to recognize academic excellence, leadership, community involvement, and financial need. International students are encouraged to apply for both admission-based and application-based scholarships. The University of Alberta offers multiple scholarships for master’s and doctoral students, some of which are fully funded.
Benefits:
- You are automatically considered when you apply for admission
- Funding ranges from $17,500 to $29,000+
5. University of Waterloo International Master’s and Doctoral Awards
At the University of Waterloo, international students enrolled full-time in research-based master’s and doctoral programs may be eligible for funding ranging from $12,000 to $30,000+ annually. These awards help support students while they engage in innovative research across various disciplines, particularly in engineering, science, and business. The funding can be used for tuition, living expenses, and other academic costs.
Check Waterloo funding programs
6. McGill University Scholarships and Fellowships
McGill University offers a wide array of graduate funding options for international students through departmental scholarships, research stipends, and teaching assistantships. These opportunities provide financial support for students pursuing graduate degrees in various fields, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Scholarships can be merit-based or need-based, ensuring that talented international students are supported throughout their studies.
7. University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF)
The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF) provide financial support for international students enrolled in both Master’s and PhD programs. The UMGF awards $18,000 per year for PhD students and $14,000 per year for Master’s students. These fellowships are intended to support students’ academic work and research initiatives, with a focus on students who demonstrate high academic performance and research potential.
8. York University Global Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship
York University offers fully funded undergraduate scholarships for international students through its Global Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship. This prestigious scholarship covers full tuition and provides $10,000 annually towards living expenses for students pursuing undergraduate degrees. The scholarship is aimed at students who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills, academic excellence, and a commitment to global change.
Visit the York scholarships page
9. University of Ottawa Scholarships
The University of Ottawa offers various scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate international students. These include automatic entrance scholarships for undergraduate students and merit-based awards for graduate students. The university’s scholarships help cover tuition costs and living expenses, making it easier for international students to focus on their studies and research.
10. Trudeau Foundation Scholarships
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship offers up to $60,000 annually for 3 years, including research and travel allowances, to support PhD candidates in the humanities and social sciences. This scholarship is designed for students who show exceptional research potential and a commitment to public service, enabling them to pursue their research and academic goals while contributing to the greater good.
11. Carleton University Entrance Awards
Carleton University provides renewable scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $16,000 for top-performing undergraduate students. These awards are based on academic excellence and extracurricular achievements and are available to international students entering their first year at Carleton. The scholarships support students with high academic potential, helping them cover tuition fees and living costs.
12. Dalhousie University Scholarships
Dalhousie University offers financial support for master’s and PhD students through internal fellowships, bursaries, and research assistantships. These awards are designed to help graduate students focus on their research and academic goals. The university’s commitment to supporting students is reflected in its robust scholarship program, which helps cover tuition fees and living expenses for high-achieving graduate students.
13. Concordia University Entrance Scholarships
Concordia University offers fully funded presidential scholarships and departmental awards for international undergraduate students. These awards cover tuition fees and provide additional financial support for students with exceptional academic achievements and leadership potential. Concordia’s scholarship programs are highly competitive, offering significant financial assistance to students who demonstrate excellence in academics, community involvement, and extracurricular activities.
14. Simon Fraser University Scholarships
Simon Fraser University offers graduate scholarships up to $35,000 along with research and teaching assistantships. These scholarships are available to graduate students pursuing various disciplines and are intended to support both academic work and research. SFU provides generous funding to help cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other academic costs, ensuring students can focus on their research and academic goals.
15. University of Saskatchewan International Scholarships
The University of Saskatchewan offers fully funded graduate scholarships through its Dean’s Scholarship and International Dean’s Scholarship programs. These awards support high-achieving international students enrolled in graduate programs at the university. They help cover tuition fees, living costs, and research expenses, enabling students to fully dedicate themselves to their academic work and research endeavors.
16. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded to international postdoctoral researchers. These fellowships provide $70,000 annually for two years to researchers who demonstrate leadership potential and excellence in their field. Banting Fellowships are highly competitive and aim to support talented researchers as they conduct innovative research in Canada.
17. Mitacs Globalink Research Award
The Mitacs Globalink Research Award funds international research collaborations between Canada and other countries, offering $6,000 in travel and research support. This award is available to undergraduate and graduate students who wish to work on research projects with Canadian faculty members. It helps cover travel and living expenses, enabling students to gain international research experience in Canada.
18. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) awards up to $15,000 per year for graduate students studying in Ontario. The award is available to both domestic and international students who have demonstrated academic excellence in their studies. The OGS helps support graduate students’ research and academic goals by providing financial support for tuition fees, living costs, and research expenses.
19. Western University International Student Scholarships
Western University offers a mix of fully funded scholarships and assistantships to international graduate students. These scholarships help cover tuition fees and living expenses, ensuring that graduate students can focus on their studies and research without financial stress. The university provides funding opportunities to students in various graduate programs, including those in engineering, sciences, and social sciences.
20. HEC Montréal Foundation Scholarships
HEC Montréal offers fully funded scholarships for master’s and MBA students. These scholarships are designed to support international students pursuing graduate degrees at one of Canada’s top business schools. Scholarships cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other academic costs, helping students focus on their studies and professional development.
Each of these scholarships offers a unique opportunity for international students to pursue their academic and research ambitions in Canada, covering a wide range of fields and funding needs.
Final Thoughts
Canada continues to be one of the best destinations for quality education, and these scholarships can significantly ease the financial burden. Always start early, double-check deadlines, and apply to multiple opportunities to increase your chances of success.