Canada offers some of the most generous scholarship programs worldwide—spanning undergraduates through doctoral studies. Below are the 10 most notable opportunities, blending prestige, financial value, and accessibility.
1. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto)
One of Canada’s most prestigious undergraduate awards, this scholarship covers full tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. Only about 37 scholarships are granted annually to students who demonstrate academic excellence, creativity, and leadership, and who are nominated by their schools. Scholarships for DevelopmentScholarships & VisaAfter School Africa
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2. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Targeted at doctoral students, the Vanier CGS program awards CAD 50,000 per year for up to three years. It supports exceptional candidates in social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering, or health-related fields. Applicants must be nominated by their institution. Wikipediarankingright.comassuredstudy.com
3. UBC International Leader of Tomorrow (ILOT) / International Major Entrance Scholarships (IMES)
At the University of British Columbia:
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ILOT: Offers substantial funding (tuition, fees, living costs minus family contribution) for outstanding undergraduates with leadership credentials. Renewable up to the degree completion. After School AfricaNationwide Visas
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IMES: Awards CAD 10,000–20,000 per year, renewable for up to four years. Covers partial tuition and living costs; awarded to high-performing students upon admission. Scholarships & VisaScholar Sail Immigrate
4. Schulich Leader Scholarships
Geared toward STEM undergraduates, this program awards up to CAD 120,000 for engineering students and CAD 100,000 for other STEM disciplines, at selected universities. Nominees are chosen by their secondary schools, prioritized for academic prowess, leadership, and entrepreneurship. WikipediaReddit
5. TD Scholarships for Community Leadership
This prestigious scholarship awards up to CAD 70,000, including tuition for up to four years, CAD 7,500 per year for living expenses, and a summer job at TD. It supports high school and CEGEP students who show outstanding community leadership. WikipediaReddit
6. Loran Scholars Foundation Award
One of Canada’s largest merit scholarships, the Loran Award provides approximately CAD 100,000 over four years, including living stipends, tuition waivers, summer internships, mentorship, and retreats. Up to 36 scholars are selected annually. Wikipedia
7. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
Open to doctoral students in social sciences and humanities, this scholarship offers up to CAD 40,000 per year, plus CAD 20,000 research/travel support. It includes leadership training and mentoring opportunities. Scholarships & Visarankingright.com
8. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
The OGS supports graduate students (master’s and doctoral) in Ontario, providing CAD 5,000 per term, up to CAD 15,000 annually. Around 3,000 scholarships are awarded each year. Open to international students enrolled full-time—students with disabilities may be part-time. Wikipediablog.onlinegoacady.comUniScholars
9. University of Waterloo International Student Scholarships
For outstanding international undergraduates, this scholarship offers CAD 10,000, automatically awarded to students with admission averages of ~90%+, without needing a separate application. Additionally, Waterloo offers numerous other awards ranging from CAD 1,000 to CAD 40,000. Graduate scholarships offer additional per-term amounts. Scholar Sail Immigrate+1blog.onlinegoacady.comUniScholarsassuredstudy.comReddit
10. University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarships
These scholarships recognize top-performing international undergraduates. Awards can total up to CAD 60,000 over four years, with some sources citing amounts up to CAD 80,000. Renewable based on academic performance. Scholarships for DevelopmentScholarships TodayReddit
Honorable Mentions & Regional Awards
Beyond the top 10, several noteworthy scholarships and fellowships exist:
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Canadian Commonwealth Scholarships & Fellowships for students from Commonwealth nations. rankingright.com
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Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program (CGS-M), and Ontario Trillium Scholarship (OTS) – high-value awards for graduate students, up to CAD 40,000 per year. assuredstudy.com+1Reddit
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University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships: CAD 14,000 for master’s and CAD 18,000 for PhD students. Nationwide VisasReddit
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University of Alberta, York University, McGill, and Carleton all offer major scholarships and funding opportunities for undergraduates and graduates. blog.onlinegoacady.comUniScholarsScholarships TodayReddit
Ranking by Value + Prestige
| Rank | Scholarship | Type | Value Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lester B. Pearson (U of T) | Undergraduate | Full tuition + residence (4 yrs) |
| 2 | Schulich Leader | Undergraduate STEM | Up to CAD 120,000 |
| 3 | Loran Scholars | Undergraduate | ~CAD 100,000 + extras |
| 4 | UBC ILOT / IMES | Undergraduate | Up to CAD 20,000/year |
| 5 | TD Scholarship | Undergrad | Up to CAD 70,000 + summer job |
| 6 | Vanier CGS | PhD | CAD 50,000/year (3 yrs) |
| 7 | Trudeau Foundation | PhD (SSH) | CAD 40,000 + CAD 20,000 research |
| 8 | OGS | Grad in Ontario | Up to CAD 15,000/year |
| 9 | Waterloo Entrance Award | Undergraduate | CAD 10,000 automatic |
| 10 | Calgary Entry Award | Undergraduate | CAD 60,000–80,000 |
Canada’s commitment to global education shines through its generous scholarship offerings—from fully funded undergraduate programs like the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship to prestigious doctoral awards like the Vanier CGS and Trudeau Foundation Scholarships. Whether you're pursuing STEM at UBC, leadership through Loran, or community impact with TD, there's a scholarship tailored for top-performing international students. Graduate students can explore additional support via OGS, Vanier, or provincial options like OTS, while universities such as Waterloo, Calgary, York, and Manitoba also host compelling awards.
To maximize your chances:
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Aim for academic excellence (high GPAs, standardized test scores)
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Demonstrate leadership, entrepreneurship, community service
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Mind nomination requirements (e.g., Pearson, Schulich, Loran)
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Apply early, and explore university-specific awards alongside national options.
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August 20, 2025
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