Every year, around 2,00,000 Indian students go to Canada to pursue higher education. Canada is one of the most sought-after countries for international education, just after the USA. But studying in Canada is not cheap. This is why many of the universities offer various kinds of financial aid, in the form of scholarships, to help students pursue their studies.
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What are the Types of Scholarship for International Students in Canada?
There are 4 types of scholarships to study in Canada:
- Canadian government funded scholarships: These are the scholarships that grant awards that encourage students to study in Canada.
- Non-government scholarships: There are various trusts, charities, and associations offering scholarships to students following a specific course.
- Institutional scholarships: Universities and colleges providing scholarships for studying in Canada for Indian students.
- Fully Funded scholarships: These comprehensive financial aid packages cover all expenses related to education, including tuition, accommodation, living costs, and sometimes even travel expenses, making studying in Canada more accessible for international students.
Government Funded Scholarship for Indian Student in Canada
There are different scholarships to study in Canada for Indian students that are government funded and help Indian students manage their cost of studying in Canada efficiently. The following scholarships are available:
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Vanier Graduate Scholarships
- IDRC Research Awards
- Ontario Graduate Scholarships
- Ontario Trillium Scholarship
- Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship
- Canada- ASEAN SEED
Let us discuss the specifications of these universities one by one:
1. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
It is a merit-based scholarship for postdoctoral students. This fellowship is granted for a tenure of 2 years and to be a fellow under the program, Indian students need to get admitted to their desired university or college in Canada. The awardees will hold their fellowship and get their application permitted by the concerned authority of the particular university.
Scholarship Name |
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship |
Amount Awarded |
INR 42,45,760 |
Eligibility criteria |
Students must be registered for a postgraduate degree in environmental and social science or health studies. |
Application Deadline |
End of September |
2. Vanier Graduate Scholarships
It is a scholarship to study in Canada for Indian students according to merit-based and need-based. Vanier graduate scholarships are awarded to doctoral students for three years who are enrolled in areas of study such as natural sciences, engineering research, health research or social science and humanities research at Canadian institutions.
Scholarship Name |
Vanier Graduate Scholarships |
Amount Awarded |
INR 30,32,570 |
Eligibility criteria |
Students should be nominated by only 1 Canadian institution, which must have received a Vanier CGS Quota. |
Application Deadline |
Early November |
3. IDRC Research Awards
It is one of the scholarships for masters in Canada for Indian students who are interested to pursue master’s degree or post-doctoral degree and are admitted to a recognized university in Canada. This scholarship is supported for one year by the university or institute in which the student is acknowledged.
Scholarship Name |
IDRC Research Awards |
Amount Awarded |
Travel and research support of up to INR 9,09,800 |
Eligibility criteria |
Students participating in master's or doctoral programs in developed countries |
Application Deadline |
Mid September (Tentative) |
4. Ontario Graduate Scholarships
It is a yearly scholarship for Indian students and is funded by the provincial government to inspire excellence in graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral levels. The government pays two-thirds of the value of the awards and the university offers the remaining one-third.
Scholarship Name |
Ontario Graduate Scholarships |
Amount Awarded |
INR 9,09,790 |
Eligibility criteria |
The student must have scored a minimum of 80% in each of the last two full time academic years |
5. Ontario Trillium Scholarship
Ontario Trillium Scholarship is funded by the government of Ontario & university in a 2:1 ratio for PhD students enrolled at universities in Ontario. This scholarship is offered to 75 doctorate students yearly across the world, and if the term of your PhD course is more than 1 year, the scholarship will be renewed.
Scholarship Name |
Ontario Trillium Scholarship |
Amount Awarded |
INR 24,26,300 |
Eligibility criteria |
PhD scholarships in Canada for students in Ontario |
6. Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship
It is a merit-based scholarship offered to master’s & doctoral students studying in Quebec universities. This scholarship for Indian students is awarded yearly for those who are pursuing a course in master’s and doctoral programs.
Scholarship Name |
Quebec Provincial Government Scholarship |
Amount Awarded |
Postdoctoral students are offered INR 21,22,990/year and Doctoral students are offered INR 15,16,270/year |
Eligibility criteria |
Merit-based awards are declared to students. Master's students studying at Quebec Canadian universities are eligible for financial assistance. |
Application Deadline |
End of September |
Suggested: Best 5 Universities in Quebec for International Students!
7. Canada - ASEAN SEED
The Canada ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development program provides students, from member states of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at the college, undergraduate and graduate levels.
Scholarship Name |
Canada- ASEAN SEED |
Amount Awarded |
INR 6,06,390 for cost of program ₹3,03,330 for flight, visa, health insurance ₹97,060 weekly allowance |
Eligibility criteria |
Mid-career professional from ASEAN countries |
Application Deadline |
Early March |
Non-Government Scholarship for International Students in Canada
The non-government organizations offer scholarships in Canada for Indian students if they are willing to pursue a specific course. They cover tuition, travel, health insurance, lodging costs, and monthly allowances.
- Canada Memorial Scholarship
- Anne Vallee Ecological Fund
- Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships
1. Canada Memorial Scholarship
It is one of the fully funded scholarships for Indian students in Canada pursuing courses at Canadian universities. Students applying for courses of more than one year may be required to offer declarations that they have sources of extra funding available to them that will enable them to complete the course.
Scholarship Name |
Canada Memorial Scholarship |
Amount Awarded |
INR 10,32,160 |
Eligibility criteria |
Accessible to UK students seeking postgraduate studies in Canada. The scholarship includes tuition, airfare, and lodging costs. |
Application Deadline |
End of January |
2. Anne Vallee Ecological Fund
The Anne Vallee ecological fund scholarship is offered to students registered in Quebec or University of British Columbia in animal research at the master or doctoral level. The funds are awarded to provision of field research work in animal ecology and the impact of human activities, like agriculture, forestry, industry, and fishing, on ecology.
Scholarship Name |
Anne Vallee Ecological Fund |
Amount Awarded |
INR 90,980 |
Eligibility criteria |
Students doing animal science at the doctoral level at universities in British Columbia or Quebec are eligible to apply. |
Application Deadline |
Likely March |
3. Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships
This scholarship and fellowship are offered to international students at doctorate level for some particular Canadian institutions. This scholarship program supports doctoral students pursuing research in one or more of the Foundation’s Four Themes: Human Rights and Dignity, People and their Natural Environment, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World.
Scholarship Name |
Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships |
Amount Awarded |
15 scholarship awards of INR 36,39,420 |
Eligibility criteria |
International students looking for doctoral degrees in Canada are eligible for this award. |
Application Deadline |
End of December |
Institutional Scholarships for Indian Students in Canada
Qualifying for an institutional scholarship to study in Canada involves a lot of factors and an international student needs to ensure the eligibility and deadline before applying for any scholarship. The following institutional scholarshipsare availablee:
Institutional Scholarship Name |
Amount Awarded |
Eligibility Criteria |
Application Deadline |
INR 8,253,430 |
Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 7.80 |
Early February |
|
|
The total number of 37 scholarships is offered to students. It covers the cost of attendance and cost of living in Canada including other expenses like books, incidental fees, and others. |
An international student currently pursuing year of secondary school or have graduated no earlier than June 2021 |
Mid-January |
INR 8,84,290 (Renewable) |
International students who are registered full-time in an undergraduate degree program that begins in the Fall term. Students should have a minimum GPA of 3.20. |
Early December |
|
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships |
Master’s: ₹8,25,340 |
Students must have a minimum admission GPA of 3.0 to be measured for this award. |
N/A |
University of British Columbia Scholarship |
INR 2,358,120 |
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. |
Early December |
Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada for International Students in 2024
Here is the list of top fully funded scholarships in Canada:
- York University's President's International Scholarship of Excellence
- University of British Columbia's (UBC) International Leader of Tomorrow Award
- Distinction Scholarship in International Graduate Student Recruitment, University of Alberta President’s Council
- Scholarship from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
- Graduate Scholarship Vanier Canada
Let's learn about each of them in detail now
1. York University's President's International Scholarship of Excellence
For non-Canadian students, such as Indians studying towards four–four–year bachelor’s degrees, York University offers the President's Foreign Scholarship of Excellence - a fully supported chance. This merit-based scholarship gives 20 students grants of up to CAD 45,000 annually.
Qualifications & Eligibility for this Scholarship
- He has to have finished the 12th grade
- At least 80% on the final average of admission
- Standardised tests of English language competency (PTE 60, IELTS 6.5, and TOEFL 88)
- Apply directly to York within two years of graduating from high school
- Exclusion if you've applied for or been awarded a free bursary at another institution
Coverage: Tuition expenses up to INR 27,36,985 (CAD 45,000), helping gifted students achieve their academic objectives without tension.
Who is this for?
Every overseas student enrolled in a four-year bachelor's programme.
2. University of British Columbia's (UBC) International Leader of Tomorrow Award
UBC offers a fully funded scholarship for masters in Canada, the Karen McKellin Foreign Leader of Tomorrow Award, for international undergraduate students showing academic excellence, leadership potential, and community service.
Qualifications & Eligibility for this Scholarship
- finished high school in a year of vacation
- applying to get a bachelor's degree
- exceptional academic performance (A grades)
- evidence of a financial necessity
- Competency in English (IELTS 6.5, PTE 65, TOEFL 90)
Coverage: ₹21,12,640 each (CAD$35K), perform-based annual renewals with deduction of family support commitment.
Who is this for?
International applicants to UBC undergraduate programmes.
Suggested: Cost of Studying in Canada
3. Distinction Scholarship in International Graduate Student Recruitment, University of Alberta President’s Council
The President’s Foreign Distinction Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students of up to CAD 12,000 that the University of Alberta gives distinguished international students pursuing undergraduate degrees.
Qualifications & Eligibility for this Scholarship
- applying to attend an undergraduate school
- outstanding achievement in the classroom
- English proficiency (IELTS - 6.5, PTE – 65 or TOEFL –90)
- obtained honours from a prestigious college
Coverage: The cost for four years is CAD 12,000 (₹ 7,29,862)
Who is this for?
All international students are enrolling in the University of Alberta undergraduate programmes.
4. Scholarship from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
This unique scholarship, administered by many Canadian institutions, such as Ryerson and McGill, assists international students enrolled full-time in a humanities or human sciences doctorate programme.
Qualifications & Eligibility for this Scholarship
- Admitted to a PhD programme that runs full-time
- Study area pertinent to Canada's future
- Human rights, law-abiding individuals, Canada and the globe, and people and their environment are among the themes.
Coverage: Pays for all living expenses, travel, research, and other costs associated with a PhD programme.
Who is this for?
International students studying in Canada for doctorates.
5. Graduate Scholarship Vanier Canada
An exceptional, fully supported fellowship covering living costs and tuition for PhD programmes, offered in collaboration with CIHR IRSC, NSERC CRSNG, and SSHRC CRSH.
Qualifications & Eligibility for this Scholarship
- Possibilities for research, leadership, and academic greatness
- superior UG and PG degrees
- enrolled in a PhD programme in a particular field of study
Coverage: Up to 50,000 CAD (₹ 30,41,095) annually may be claimed for three years.
Who is this for?
Primarily PhD candidates with an emphasis on the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and health research.
How to Apply for Scholarships in Canada?
Applying for scholarships in Canada involves several steps, including:
- Researching Scholarship Opportunities: Explore various scholarship programs offered by Canadian universities, government agencies, and private organizations.
- Preparing Application Materials: Gather required documents such as transcripts, recommendation letters, and personal statements.
- Submitting Applications: Adhere to application deadlines and submission guidelines outlined by each scholarship provider.
- Interview (if applicable): Some scholarships may require candidates to participate in interviews as part of the selection process.
- Await Notification: Once applications are submitted, applicants must patiently await notification regarding the status of their scholarship applications.
From the Desk of Yocket
Getting scholarships as an Indian student in Canada can be very competitive. This is why you must pay extra attention to crafting your essays, SOPs, and LORs in a way that demonstrates your competence and proves your worth as a candidate. If it doesn’t work out, you can definitely avail loans from the suitable banks, for which Yocket Finance will help you.
In the meantime, you can connect with Yocket Counselors for a much more detailed and personalized guiding session!