Named after Ontario, the same-named province is Canada’s most populous area. It is the location of the capital, Ottawa – and the home of more than 38% of Canadian residents. This density has made this place a hotbed of higher education institutions. After all, the province hosts 22 public universities, 24 public colleges, and 17 private religious universities.
Ontario’s wide range of educational options and widespread usage of the English language make it a favorite destination among foreigners. In fact, it has the greatest number of international students, at over 223,000. Given the vast number of foreign enrollees, it’s unsurprising that many scholarships are available for out-of-country learners in Ontario.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best scholarships in this province that students can look into before enrolling in their chosen university. So, make sure to read the information carefully below!
Top Scholarships in Ontario for International Students
1. Ontario Trillium Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Up to CA$40,000 per year
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
The Ontario Trillium Scholarship is an entrance award given to full-time Ph.D. students with Canadian study permits. It is worth CA$40,000 and is funded by the government of Ontario and the participating university. The latter may provide funding in the form of a monetary scholarship or teaching/research assistantships. To qualify for this scholarship, the applicant must have a first-class average (the equivalent of A) in the two years of study before the doctorate program.
Should the scholar become a permanent resident of Canada during their studies, they must pay the amount sponsored by the school. Furthermore, students studying in an Ontario institution will not be eligible for the award. Likewise, students who hold other scholarships will be deemed ineligible as well. The participating universities will carry out the selection process. They will be in charge of picking the awardees from their pool of top-ranked nominees.
2. Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Up to CA$15,000 per term for up to four years
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, Ph.D.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship or OGS Program is a merit-based scholarship in Ontario offered to foreign graduate students who wish to study in participating provincial institutions. Like the Trillium scholarship, the government will shoulder two-thirds of the amount while the institution will cover the remaining fees.
OGS can be issued for a minimum of one academic year. Conversely, it is offered for a maximum of two years for master’s students and four years for Ph.D. students. That said, applicants who wish to apply for the OGS program must be enrolled in a full-time Master’s/Ph.D. program for at least two years.
The student should expect to be admitted to any participating institution in Ontario, where they’ll need to submit their application packets. Scholars will also be awarded according to the university’s selection process and requirements.
3. Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship (University of Toronto)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition with accommodation and other miscellaneous fees (books and materials)
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s
The University of Toronto, founded in 1827, is Canada’s top-ranked university. A global leader in teaching and research, it continues to attract talented foreigners through its various scholarships, one of which is the Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship. Named after the former Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the scholarship is given to accomplished students recognized as school leaders.
This financial aid covers the full tuition, as well as incidental fees, study materials, and accommodation. The international student must be currently enrolled in secondary school to be eligible for this Ontario scholarship program. Despite this ruling, new graduates will be considered as well.
Unlike other scholarships, students may not apply for themselves. Their respective schools need to nominate them to be included in the pool. Likewise, the scholarship will only be given to students who have listed U of T as their first choice in the application. Results are released at the end of April every year.
4. International Doctoral Student Award (University of Waterloo)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Up to CA$15,420 per year
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
The University of Waterloo is a public research institution in Waterloo, Ontario. Founded in 1959, it is a local university offering various scholarships for foreign graduate students. The International Doctoral Students Award (IDSA) is included in the list of Ontario scholarships for international students.
The waiver amount is based on the program, with Ph.D. students getting partial funding of CA$5,140 per term. This bursary, however, will vary according to the scholar’s educational record. Students are not allowed to receive more than the minimal amount for a Ph.D. program from any government or industry sponsorship at the same time, including tuition awards or financing that surpasses this minimum amount.
Nevertheless, IDSA is open to students with a Canadian study visa. However, do note that the selection process will depend on whether their department or faculty automatically chooses them.
5. Global Leadership Award (Ontario Tech University)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: funding of CA$30,000 a year for four years
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s
Ontario Tech University, formally known as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, is a public educational institution based in Oshawa. As the name suggests, it offers engineering and computer-related courses. This school offers various scholarships for foreigners, the most prestigious of which is the Global Leadership Award. It’s an application-based bursary granted to promising undergraduate students from outside Canada.
The fund, worth $30,000 a year for four years, is a competitive type of scholarship. As such, it is awarded to talented applicants who demonstrate strong academic and leadership skills. To be eligible for this Ontario scholarship, the applicant must have yet to attend a post-secondary institution previously. Additionally, the student should plan to take a minimum of 80 course loads per term. As with most awards, Global Leadership scholars should not hold another form of financial award.
If you want to study in Ontario with excellent grades and meritorious records, you can probably apply for many of the province’s scholarships! These financial aids may help you fund your studying and living costs while in Canada, so make sure to take advantage of them when you can. For more information on these scholarships, click on the links provided above!
We hope this article on Ontario’s best scholarships was helpful. To know more information on studying in this country, feel free to check out our Canada Page and the Canada Programs for International Students.
