Canada is a dream location for many people who want to study and live abroad. One significant impediment that many face is the difficulty in arranging finances for the fee and other expenses. Scholarships come into play here.
Scholarships are available from Canadian universities to help talented and brilliant individuals who want to further their studies. Some scholarships may also consider extracurricular activities and volunteer work experience. There are numerous scholarships available in Canada, ranging from full-cost waivers to reductions for insurance, travel, and lodging.
If an Indian student decides to study in Canada, they can apply for one of the three sorts of scholarships:
1. Government-funded scholarships:
Here the government gives awards/grants to cover the expenses of academically outstanding pupils.
2. Non – Government funded scholarships:
Non-Gov scholarships are sponsored by various trusts, charities and associations to students enrolling for specific subject courses.
3. Institutional scholarships:
These are the most frequent and easiest to obtain scholarships because they are granted by the country’s colleges and universities.
Let us look into the specifications of some government-funded scholarships for indian students:
1. Banting postdoctoral fellowship
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 42,45,756 | Students must be enrolled in a postgraduate course of study in environmental and social science or health studies. | mid-september |
The Banting fellowship is a merit-based postdoctoral scholarship. This fellowship is for a two-year period, and Indian students must be admitted to their selected institution or college in Canada to be eligible. The grantees will keep their fellowship and have their application approved by the relevant university body.
2. Vanier Graduate Scholarship
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 30,32,574 | Only one Canadian institution may nominate a student, and that institution must have obtained a Vanier CGS Quota. | First week of November |
It is a merit-based and need-based scholarship for Indian students to study in Canada. Vanier graduate scholarships are offered to PhD students enrolled in natural sciences, engineering research, health research, or social science and humanities research in Canadian institutions for three years.
3. IDRC Research Awards
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Up to INR 9,09,805 in travel and research assistance | Students pursuing master’s or doctorate degrees in developed nations | mid-September |
It is one of the master’s scholarships in Canada for Indian students who have been admitted to a recognised university in Canada and wish to pursue a master’s or post-doctoral degree. This scholarship is provided by the university or institute where the student is enrolled for one year.
4. Ontario Graduate Scholarships
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 9,09,794 | A minimum of 80% in each of the previous two full-time academic years is required. |
It is a yearly fellowship for Indian students sponsored by the provincial government to encourage excellence in master’s and doctorate studies. The government pays two-thirds of the award amount, while the university provides the remaining one-third.
To know more about the scholarship click here
5. Ontario Trillium Scholarship
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 24,26,301 | PhD scholarships in Canada for Ontario students | Refer college website |
The Ontario Trillium Scholarship is financed in a 2:1 ratio by the Ontario government and universities for PhD candidates enrolling at Ontario universities. This award is available to 75 doctoral students worldwide each year, and if your PhD course lasts longer than a year, the grant will be renewed.
6. Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral students are offered INR 21,22,993/year and Doctoral students are offered INR 15,16,269/year | Students receive merit-based rewards.Master’s students at Canadian universities in Quebec are eligible for financial support. | End of september |
It is a merit-based award available to master’s and doctoral students at Quebec universities. This fellowship is given to Indian students who are enrolled in master’s and doctorate programmes each year.
7. Canada – ASEAN SEED
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 6,06,392 for programme costs INR 3,03,327.80 for travel, visa, and health insurance INR 97,064.90 weekly allowance | Professionals in their mid-career from ASEAN countries | First week of March |
The Canada ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development programme offers students from ASEAN member countries short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at the college, undergraduate, and graduate levels.
8. University of Alberta’s India First Year Excellence Scholarships
The India First Year Excellence Scholarship is available to all Indian students enrolled in an undergraduate programme at the University of Alberta. It is available to students starting their undergraduate studies at the university. The scholarship is non-renewable and is based on the applicant’s previous academic records. It should be noted that the scholarship only covers tuition and not the cost of living in Canada.
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 3,02,057 for 4 year undergraduate study. | The student must be an Indian citizen who has been accepted into a UG course at the university. | Refer university website |
Let us take a look at several non-government financed scholarships for Indian students:
1. Anne Vallee Ecological Fund
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 90,985 | Students pursuing a doctorate in animal science at universities in British Columbia or Quebec are eligible to apply. | March |
The Anne Vallee ecological fund fellowship is available to students enrolled in animal research at the master’s or doctoral levels at the University of Quebec or the University of British Columbia. The monies will be used to support field research in animal ecology and the influence of human activities on ecology, such as agriculture, forestry, industry, and fishing.
2. Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 15 scholarship awards of INR 36,39,418 | International students looking for doctoral degrees in Canada are eligible for this award. | Mid-december |
This scholarship and fellowship are available to international doctoral students at certain Canadian institutions. This scholarship programme provides financial assistance to PhD candidates doing research in one or more of the Foundation’s Four Themes: Human Rights and Dignity, People and their Natural Environment, Responsible Citizenship, and Canada and the World.
3. Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program
The scholarship is named after two ACFE members, Larry Jennings and Tracy Ritchie, and is awarded to students enrolled in graduate or postgraduate courses linked to anti-fraud, as well as in subjects such as Criminal Justice, Accounting Majors, Business Administration, and Finance. The scholarship is a one-time payment for tuition and fees only.
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Ranges between INR 81,837 to INR 8,18,375 | Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited four-year institution or university for the academic year 2022-2023.When applying, undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 semester hours (or equivalent) per term and be in the second half of their sophomore year. | First week of february |
Let us look into the specifications of some institutional scholarships for indian students:
1. York University International Student Scholarship
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 8,253,434 | Students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 7.80. | First week of february |
International high school applicants who are entering their first year of a four-year undergraduate degree programme at York University and demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to volunteer work and extracurricular activities, and leadership skills will be considered for the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence. Recipients will come from all around the world and will be known as “President’s International Scholars.” This scholarship is renewable for an additional three years of full-time study or until degree completion (whichever comes first), as long as the student completes a minimum of 24 credits every Fall/Winter session with a sessional grade point average of 6.0.
2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| A total number of 37 scholarships is offered to students. It covers the cost of attendance and cost of living in Canada | An international student currently enrolled in a secondary school year or who has graduated no earlier than June 2021. | Mid january |
The University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson Overseas Scholarships offer a unique opportunity for excellent international students to study at one of the world’s greatest universities in one of the world’s most multicultural cities. The scholarship programme is designed to celebrate students who have demonstrated great academic achievement and innovation, as well as who are recognised as school leaders.
A strong emphasis is placed on the student’s impact on the life of their school and community, as well as their future potential to positively contribute to the global community. This is the University of Toronto’s most renowned and competitive international student scholarship. For four years, the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships will cover tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support. The grant is exclusively available for first-year undergraduate programmes at the University of Toronto.
To know more about the scholarship, check the page The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships
3. University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 8,84,296 | International students enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree programme beginning in the Fall semester. Students should have a GPA of at | First week of december |
Annually offered to undergraduate international students entering their first year of any undergraduate degree in the next fall term who have met the university’s English Language Proficiency criterion. Renewable in the second, third, and fourth years of study at the University of Calgary if recipients achieve a GPA of 2.60 or above over a minimum of 24.00 units in the prior fall and winter terms and continue to pay an international differential tuition fee as an international student.
To know more about the scholarship, check the page UCalgary International Entrance Scholarship
4. University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s: ₹8,25,343Doctoral: ₹ 10,61,155 | To be considered for this award, students must have a minimum admission GPA of 3.0. | Refer university website |
To acknowledge and promote academic brilliance, universities provide more than $2 million in graduate fellowships to full-time master’s and PhD students each year. The grants are available to individuals who have showed exceptional intellectual capacity and academic achievement. The maximum UMGF support available to any individual graduate student is five years (60 months). This means that a student who received UMGF funding for two years during their master’s programme will only be eligible for three years of UMGF funding during their doctoral program.
5. University of British Columbia Scholarship
The University of British Columbia offers two outstanding scholarships: the International Major Entrance Scholarship and the Outstanding International Student Award.
- International Major Entrance Scholarships (IMES) are given to outstanding international students entering UBC’s undergraduate programmes. Students get their IMES when they begin their first year at UBC, and the scholarships are renewable for up to three years. Each year, the quantity and level of these scholarships offered change based on available resources.
- The Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award is a one-time, merit-based entrance scholarship given to qualified candidates upon acceptance to UBC. Students chosen for this award demonstrate academic strength as well as involvement outside of the classroom.
| Award amount | Eligibility | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| INR 23,58,124 | It is eligible for new international students who are on a study permit, and not be nominated for a need-and-merit-based International Scholars award. Demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and intellectual promise, as well as impressive extracurricular and community involvement. | Mid-January |
Many more universities offer institutional scholarships to students who enroll. Let’s take a quick look at a couple more university-based scholarships
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dalhousie University Scholarship | the Dalhousie Scholarship is purely merit-based and open to UG, PG and doctoral students | INR 23,28,259 |
| Carleton University Scholarship | You must have a good academic record to be eligible, and this scholarship is available to all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. | INR 3,87,236 |
| University of Winnepeg Scholarships | Students with a strong academic record, as well as all students applying | INR 3,87,236 |
| University of Victoria Scholarship | To be eligible for the scholarship, you must have a GPA of at least 7.5 out of 9.0. The scholarship is available for UG, PG, and PhD programs. | INR 3,87,236 |
| Brock University Scholarships | It is a public research university that provides scholarships for all programmes and is open to students with good academic records. | INR 12,38,961 |
| University of Saskatchewan Scholarships | When you apply to the institution, you will be automatically considered for the scholarship, which is available for all UG, PG, and Diploma programmes. | INR 30,96,749 |
| University of Waterloo Scholarships | It is a purely merit-based scholarship and there are scholarships for UG, PG, & PhD Programs | INR 7,74,142 |
It should be noted that the Award amount may fluctuate depending on exchange rates, and Application dates may vary from year to year. If you intend to apply for a scholarship, investigate and understand the types of scholarships you are eligible to apply for, as well as the deadlines, so that you can confirm that you will submit your applications before the deadline.
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FAQ on Canada Scholarships
Is getting a scholarship in Canada difficult?
It will be incredibly difficult for you to obtain a prestigious scholarship since there will be an inflow of highly talented individuals with whom you will have to compete. Still, if you have an outstanding academic record or the required experience, you have a decent chance of getting in.
Can I earn a scholarship after finishing 12th grade?
Yes, you are eligible for a scholarship for an undergraduate course after completing your 12th grade. However, keep in mind that you must have received at least 80% on your 12th grade exam.
Can I study in Canada for free?
There are numerous scholarships available that will cover the entire cost of the training. However, you would not be able to study for free because you would still have to pay for travel, insurance, and lodging.