Canada is one of the attractive destinations for pursuing education, with top universities offering top-class career exposure. However, with the overall development of the country’s lifestyle and technological sector, the living expenses of Canada have elevated over the years. Hence, to support financially, the government and universities initiated various scholarships for international students in Canada. These monetary aids work as a helping hand for the deserving students who dream of studying in Canadian universities.
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Eligibility Requirements for Scholarship in Canada
The eligibility criteria set down by universities and the government for a scholarship for international students in Canada varies; however, there are some standard requirements that every university seeks in the application papers. Here are the following generic eligibility requirements that a student must fulfill:
| Particulars | Details |
| Academic Requirements | The review committee generally looks for outstanding academic results like most merit-based scholarships. Hence, candidates must hold an academic background from authorized institutions. Most of the top universities consider results of marks 75-95% to be eligible for the grant. |
| English Language Proficiency Requirement | TOEFL and IELTS results hold great importance for international students who do not have English as their first language. In general, the majority of the universities set down the minimum requirement for TOEFL to 80 or more and for IELTS to 6.5 or more with no band less than 6. |
| Extra-curricular Activities | A lot of universities prefer candidates who are attached to various extracurricular activities. In addition, work experience in a particular domain acts as a brownie point to become eligible for the scholarships. |
Documents Required for Application for Scholarships in Canada
The application for scholarships for international students in Canada requires preparing and presenting vital documents. These documents are required whether the student is opting for Government scholarships, Non-Government scholarships, or university scholarships. The student must keep the following lists of documents:
- Properly filled-up scholarship application form.
- Official transcripts of academic records.
- Scanned copy of passport and other Government ID proofs.
- Recommendation letter, as per college requirement.
- Scorecards of English Language Proficiency Tests.
- Records of results of SAT, GRE, GPA, etc.
- Statement of Purpose, explaining the intention and vision clearly.
- In addition to this, few colleges may also ask for an essay, portfolio of current work or medical report based on the subjects applied for.
The application process for scholarships for international students in Canada includes a few simplified steps. According to the admission policies, students will be automatically added to the scholarship programs when they enroll for the university’s respective course. Then, the review committee will call the selected students for a screening and face-to-face interview. Upon completion, they will have to contact the financial aid representative of the university for reimbursement.
Important Scholarships for International Students in Canada
The Canadian educational scholarship structure is divided into Government scholarships, Non-Government Scholarships & Institutional Scholarships. In this blog, some of the popular scholarships from all three wings are mentioned below:
Canadian Government Scholarships
The table below provides a list of scholarships awarded by the Canadian government for higher studies.
| Name of the Scholarship | Amount Granted | Duration |
| Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship | Approximate amount is 70,000 CAD | Duration of this grant is 2 years |
| Vanier Graduate Scholarships | Approximate amount is 50,000 CAD | Duration of this grant is for 3 years |
| Ontario Trillium Scholarships | Approximate amount is 40,000 CAD | Duration of this grant is 4 years |
| Partnership Grants by Social Science and Humanities Research Council in Canada | Amount is approximately 20,000 CAD | Duration of this grant ranges from 4 to 7 years |
| Ontario Graduate Scholarships | Total allowance is 15,000 CAD | This grant is for 1 year |
| Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship | Under this scholarship programme, post-doctoral students are allowed 35,000 CAD, while doctoral students are granted 25,000 CAD. | The duration of this grant is 1-year |
Non-Government Scholarship Programmes
The table below enlists some non-government scholarships awarded by various organisations.
| Name of the Scholarship | Amount Granted | Duration |
| Anne Vallee Ecological Fund | Approximate amount is 1,500 CAD | Duration is for 1 year |
| Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships | Under this scholarship programme, almost 15 scholarships are offered for 60,000 CAD. | Duration is for a period of 1-year |
Institutional Scholarships
The table below displays some institution-specific scholarships awarded to international students.
| Name of Scholarship | Value of Scholarship | Basic Eligibility |
| University of Waterloo International Student Entrance Scholarship | This scholarship grants a sum of 10,000 CAD to each student. The total of scholarships offered is 20 | Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree with an average score of 90% |
| President’s Scholarship for World Leaders by the University of Winnipeg | Under this programme, undergraduates are granted 6 awards of 5000 CAD each. Additionally, there are 3 awards of 5000 CAD each for graduates. | Candidates must hold a degree with an average score of 80% |
| York University Automatic Entrance Scholarship | The approximate amount awarded to each student varies between 1000 CAD to 4000 CAD. | Candidates must achieve a score of 80-95% |
In addition toall the programmes mentioned above, there are other notable scholarships for international students in Canada. The current data issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states that more than 1,50,000 students choose universities in Canada to pursue bachelor’s and master’s programmes every year. Moreover, Canada is a top-class hub for a plethora of career opportunities, attracting students worldwide through top-notch education facilities and job growth.
