Scholarship in Canada for Indian Students: Fully Funded & Government

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. 

If you want to pursue your education in Canada as well but don’t know where to begin, you’ve landed at the right place! Yocket, India’s most popular platform, offers unbiased counseling and end-to-end guidance on everything you will ever need for international education. Head over to PC Booking to schedule a FREE consultation call with a Yocket’s expert.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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:

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.

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.

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!