Canada offers a diverse scholarship landscape for international students, with funding coming from three main sources: the Canadian federal government (through Global Affairs Canada and the tri-agency research councils), independent foundations (such as the Trudeau Foundation and IDRC), and individual universities.
Government-funded scholarships in Canada tend to focus on graduate and doctoral study, particularly research-intensive programmes. At the undergraduate level, funding for international students comes primarily from individual universities through merit-based entrance scholarships and need-based financial aid.
Unlike some countries where a single flagship scholarship dominates (such as Chevening in the UK or Australia Awards), Canada’s system is more distributed — meaning you need to explore multiple programmes and university-specific options to maximise your chances of funding.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada through the Academic Relations Program, the Study in Canada Scholarships provide short-term exchange opportunities for international students at Canadian post-secondary institutions.
| Level | Duration | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| College / Undergraduate | 4 months (1 academic term) | 10,200 |
| Graduate (Master’s / PhD) | 4 months (1 academic term) | 10,200 |
| Graduate (Master’s / PhD) | 5–6 months | 14,000 |
Source: EduCanada (educanada.ca — Study in Canada Scholarships). Funded by Global Affairs Canada.
Coverage: The scholarship covers airfare, living expenses, health insurance, visa or study/work permit fees, and other eligible expenses.
Eligibility: International students from Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas who are enrolled full-time in a college, undergraduate, or graduate programme in their home country. Students cannot apply directly — a Canadian host institution must apply on their behalf.
Important: These are exchange scholarships for up to 8 months, not full-degree scholarships. You remain enrolled at your home institution while studying in Canada.
The CGRS-D programme is the tri-agency successor to the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships. Administered jointly by NSERC, CIHR, and SSHRC, it supports outstanding doctoral students — both Canadian and international — conducting research at Canadian institutions.
Key details:
Source: NSERC (nserc-crsng.canada.ca — Canada Graduate Research Scholarship — Doctoral Program).
Also funded by Global Affairs Canada, ELAP enables Canadian post-secondary institutions to award scholarships to students from Latin America and the Caribbean for short-term study or research exchanges in Canada. This programme is not open to students from other regions.
Source: EduCanada (educanada.ca — ELAP).
The Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship is one of the most generous and prestigious doctoral awards in Canada. It targets future leaders pursuing research on pressing societal issues.
| Component | Annual Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Stipend | 40,000 |
| Research and travel allowance | 20,000 |
| Total per year | 60,000 |
| Duration | Up to 3 years |
Source: Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation (trudeaufoundation.ca).
Eligibility: Open to Canadian and international doctoral students. Applicants must be enrolled (or about to enrol) in a doctoral programme at a Canadian university and demonstrate a commitment to engaged scholarship, leadership, and public engagement. The Foundation looks for scholars whose research addresses social issues of importance to Canadians.
Application: Candidates are typically nominated by their university, though the process varies. Deadlines usually fall in December or January.
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), a Canadian Crown corporation, offers research awards to doctoral students conducting research on development challenges. The programme prioritises applicants from the Global South.
| Component | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Annual stipend | 42,000–48,000 |
| Research areas | Climate-resilient food systems, inclusive governance, global health, sustainable economics, policymaking |
| Duration | Varies (typically 1–2 years) |
Source: IDRC (idrc.ca).
Canadian universities offer some of the most generous entrance and merit-based scholarships in the world. These are often the most accessible funding source for international students, especially at the undergraduate level.
| University | Scholarship Name | Level | Value (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill University | McCall MacBain Scholarships | Graduate | Fully funded (tuition + living) | Covers master’s and professional programmes |
| University of British Columbia | International Major Entrance Scholarships (IMES) | Undergraduate | 10,000–25,000/year | Renewable for up to 4 years; requires separate application |
| University of British Columbia | International Leader of Tomorrow Award | Undergraduate | Up to full tuition | Need-based; for exceptional students with financial need |
| University of Toronto | Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships | Undergraduate | Full tuition + books + living (4 years) | School nomination required; extremely competitive |
| University of Waterloo | International Student Entrance Scholarship | Undergraduate | 10,000 (first year) | Automatic — no application required |
| University of Alberta | International Student Scholarships | UG / Graduate | 5,000–9,000 | Merit-based; strong research funding for graduate students |
| Carleton University | International Entrance Scholarships | Undergraduate | 4,000–16,000 | Merit-based; renewable |
| Dalhousie University | International Chancellor’s Awards | Undergraduate | Up to 10,000/year | Renewable for 4 years with maintained GPA |
Source: Individual university scholarship pages (mcgill.ca, ubc.ca, utoronto.ca, uwaterloo.ca, ualberta.ca, carleton.ca, dal.ca). Values are for 2026/27 entry where published.
| Scholarship | Funder | Level | Value | Full Degree? | Nepal Eligible? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study in Canada Scholarships | Global Affairs Canada | UG / Graduate exchange | CAD 10,200–14,000 | No (exchange only) | Yes |
| CGRS-D (successor to Vanier) | NSERC / CIHR / SSHRC | PhD | TBC (Vanier was CAD 50,000/year) | Yes | Yes |
| Trudeau Foundation | Trudeau Foundation | PhD | CAD 60,000/year | Yes (3 years) | Yes |
| IDRC Research Awards | IDRC | PhD | CAD 42,000–48,000/year | Yes | Yes (Global South) |
| ELAP | Global Affairs Canada | UG / Graduate exchange | Varies | No (exchange only) | No (Americas only) |
| McCall MacBain (McGill) | McGill University | Graduate | Fully funded | Yes | Yes |
| Pearson (U of T) | University of Toronto | Undergraduate | Full tuition + living | Yes (4 years) | Yes (nomination required) |
| IMES (UBC) | University of British Columbia | Undergraduate | CAD 10,000–25,000/year | Partial (tuition discount) | Yes |
| Entrance Scholarship (Waterloo) | University of Waterloo | Undergraduate | CAD 10,000 | First year only | Yes (automatic) |
Fully funded undergraduate scholarships in Canada for international students are rare but do exist. The most notable is the University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, which covers full tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. However, it requires nomination by your school and is extremely competitive.
More commonly, Canadian universities offer partial tuition scholarships of CAD 5,000 to CAD 25,000 per year for high-achieving international students. Some of these are automatic (like Waterloo’s CAD 10,000 entrance scholarship), while others require a separate application.
Strategy: Apply to multiple universities and compare their financial aid packages. Some universities with strong scholarship programmes for international undergraduates include UBC, University of Toronto, Waterloo, Carleton, Dalhousie, and University of Calgary.
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| June – August (previous year) | Research scholarship options; prepare English test (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL); gather academic documents |
| September – October | Begin university applications; check CGRS-D and IDRC deadlines; prepare scholarship essays |
| November – December | Trudeau Foundation deadline; many university scholarship deadlines begin; submit applications |
| January – February | Study in Canada Scholarships institutional deadline (varies); remaining university scholarship deadlines |
| March – April | Scholarship decisions begin arriving; compare financial aid packages |
| May – June | Accept scholarship offer; apply for study permit (include scholarship letter with application) |
| July – August | Arrange accommodation; complete pre-departure preparations |
| September | Arrive in Canada; begin studies |
Source: trudeaufoundation.ca; educanada.ca; individual university websites.
Research fit matters. For graduate scholarships (especially Trudeau and IDRC), your research topic must align with the funder’s priorities. Demonstrate that your research addresses real-world challenges and has potential for social impact.
Academic excellence is the baseline. Most Canadian scholarships require at least a high GPA (equivalent to a Canadian A or A-). If your grades are strong but not outstanding, highlight research experience, publications, and leadership to strengthen your profile.
Secure strong nominations. Many Canadian scholarships (CGRS-D, Trudeau, Pearson) require nomination by a university or school. Build relationships with professors and advisors early so they can advocate for your candidacy.
Apply broadly. Unlike systems with one dominant scholarship, Canada’s distributed funding means you should apply to multiple programmes and universities simultaneously. Cast a wide net and compare offers.
Tailor every application. Generic essays will not win Canadian scholarships. Each application should reflect specific knowledge of the programme’s values, the university’s strengths, and how your goals align with both.
Include your scholarship letter with your study permit application. A confirmed scholarship strengthens your study permit application by demonstrating financial capacity and institutional support.
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The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship is one of the most prestigious, providing CAD 40,000 per year in stipend plus CAD 20,000 per year for research and travel, totalling CAD 60,000 annually for up to three years. The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship — Doctoral (CGRS-D) is the tri-agency successor to the Vanier CGS and also supports doctoral students, including international students. (Source: trudeaufoundation.ca; nserc-crsng.canada.ca)
Yes. Nepali students are eligible for several Canadian government-funded scholarships, including the Study in Canada Scholarships (funded by Global Affairs Canada), the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships, and the IDRC Research Awards. The Study in Canada Scholarships provide CAD 10,200 to CAD 14,000 for short-term exchange programmes of 4 to 6 months. (Source: educanada.ca; Global Affairs Canada)
Some do. The University of Waterloo automatically awards CAD 10,000 to all international students admitted to full-time first-year degree programmes. The University of Toronto automatically considers international applicants for most admission awards during the admissions review — no separate application is required. Other universities such as UBC and McGill have dedicated scholarship programmes that require separate applications. (Source: uwaterloo.ca; utoronto.ca)
The Study in Canada Scholarships (SICS), funded by Global Affairs Canada, offer international students from eligible countries short-term exchange opportunities at Canadian institutions. Awards range from CAD 10,200 for one academic term to CAD 14,000 for 5 to 6 months at the graduate level. The scholarship covers airfare, living expenses, health insurance, and visa fees. Students cannot apply directly — a Canadian host institution must apply on their behalf. (Source: educanada.ca)
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships programme is no longer accepting new applications. It has been succeeded by the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship — Doctoral (CGRS-D) programme, administered by the three federal research agencies (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC). The CGRS-D programme supports both Canadian and international doctoral students. Previously, the Vanier provided CAD 50,000 per year for three years. (Source: vanier.gc.ca; nserc-crsng.canada.ca)
Most Canadian scholarship deadlines fall between October and February for the following academic year. Government scholarships like the Trudeau Foundation typically have deadlines in December or January. University-specific scholarships vary but often close between January and March. Start your research and preparation at least 12 to 18 months before your intended study start date. (Source: trudeaufoundation.ca; educanada.ca; individual university websites)
Official Sources Referenced:
EduCanada — Study in Canada Scholarships: educanada.ca — SICS
EduCanada — International Scholarships: educanada.ca — Scholarships
Vanier CGS: vanier.gc.ca
CGRS-D (NSERC): nserc-crsng.canada.ca — CGRS-D
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation: trudeaufoundation.ca
IDRC: idrc.ca
