Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and is home to Ottawa, Canada’s national capital. The province has 23 publicly assisted universities, 24 publicly assisted colleges, nine Indigenous Institutes, and more than 500 registered career colleges and institutions.
Ontario’s wide range of educational options makes it a popular destination for students from Canada and abroad. International students may also be eligible for university, provincial government, and externally funded scholarships, although eligibility rules and application deadlines vary by institution.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best scholarships in the province that international students can consider before enrolling at their chosen university. Make sure to review each scholarship’s current requirements and deadlines carefully.
Top Scholarships in Ontario for International Students
| Scholarship Name | Provider | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| International Scholar Award | University of Toronto | Bachelor’s | Campus-dependent; U of T Mississauga offers awards of up to CAD 180,000 over four years |
| Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program | Government of Ontario and participating Ontario universities | Master’s, Ph.D. | CAD 10,000 for two consecutive terms or CAD 15,000 for three consecutive terms |
| Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship | University of Toronto | Bachelor’s | Tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years |
| International Doctoral Student Award | University of Waterloo | Ph.D. | Typically CAD 5,140 per term for eligible students; value and duration vary |
| Global Leadership Award | Ontario Tech University | Bachelor’s | CAD 120,000 over four years, or CAD 30,000 per year |
1. International Scholar Award (University of Toronto)
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount for Bachelor’s: Campus-dependent; U of T Mississauga currently offers award tiers of up to CAD 60,000, CAD 100,000, or CAD 180,000 over four years
- Meet the International Scholar Award Recipients: Explore scholarship journeys, including those of Nadya from Indonesia and Seemal from Pakistan
The International Scholar Award is a merit-based entrance scholarship for eligible international undergraduate applicants. The award is campus-specific, and its value and conditions may differ between U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough.
International students applying directly from secondary school to U of T Mississauga are automatically considered. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement and overall academic competitiveness, so a separate scholarship application is not required. At U of T Mississauga, current award tiers are worth up to CAD 60,000, CAD 100,000, or CAD 180,000 over four years.
Renewal requirements are campus-specific. At U of T Mississauga, the award is contingent on full-time registration, satisfactory academic performance, good academic standing, and completion of the required number of credits. Applicants should consult the conditions attached to their admission and scholarship offers.
Here is what past U of T International Scholar Award recipients say:
“I was also offered the University of Toronto International Scholars Award, worth $100,000 over four years.”
Seemal Sheikh
“For your information, I didn’t apply for any scholarships; these offers were awarded upon admission and are merit-based.”
Nadya Heryanto
“Build as many experiences as you can! Whether it’s joining clubs or organisations, or even starting your own. Start early and learn from the best!”
Ella Suita
2. Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: CAD 10,000 for two consecutive terms or CAD 15,000 for three consecutive terms
- Eligible Degrees: Master’s and Ph.D.
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship, or OGS Program, is a merit-based scholarship for master’s and doctoral students in any academic discipline at participating Ontario universities. Each award is funded jointly by the Province of Ontario, which provides two-thirds of the funding, and the participating university, which provides the remaining one-third.
An OGS award is worth CAD 10,000 for two consecutive academic terms or CAD 15,000 for three consecutive academic terms. Master’s students may receive OGS funding for a lifetime maximum of two academic years, while doctoral students may receive it for a maximum of four academic years. The combined lifetime maximum for government-funded graduate awards is six academic years.
International-student eligibility and the number of available awards vary by university. For example, international applicants at the University of Toronto and University of Waterloo generally need a valid Canadian study permit and must satisfy the institution’s additional requirements. Some universities restrict international awards to students who are already registered.
Applicants must apply through each participating university rather than through a single province-wide application. Deadlines, required documents, academic criteria, and selection procedures are established by the individual university.
3. Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship (University of Toronto)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s
- Meet the Lester B. Pearson Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys, including those of Ahnaf from Bangladesh and Tina from Vietnam
The University of Toronto, founded in 1827, is a public research university. Its Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship recognizes international students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, leadership, and positive contributions to their schools and communities.
The scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. Approximately 37 students are selected as Pearson Scholars each year.
For September 2027 entry, applicants must be international students requiring a study permit, be enrolled in their final year of secondary school during 2026–2027 or have graduated no earlier than June 2026, and begin their studies at U of T in September 2027. Students who are already attending a postsecondary institution, or who begin postsecondary studies in January 2027, are not eligible.
Students cannot begin the scholarship application independently. Their secondary school must first nominate them, after which the nominee receives access to the scholarship application. Each participating school may nominate one student per year.
Here is what Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship scholars say:
“It covers full tuition, books, incidental fees, and four years of on-campus housing.”
Haris Malik
“The nature of the scholarship is such that you must be nominated by your school in order to apply, and each school can only nominate one candidate per year.”
Ahnaf Rahman
“Although the UofT portal does not ask for standardized test scores, I feel that having a standardized test score was able to provide the credibility required for a merit scholarship, so I would suggest taking the SAT or the ACT for any prospective applicants.”
Seemal Sheikh
4. International Doctoral Student Award (University of Waterloo)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: Typically CAD 5,140 per term for eligible students; the value and duration vary by academic history and time in the program
- Eligible Degree: Ph.D.
The University of Waterloo is a public research university that opened in 1957. Its International Doctoral Student Award, or IDSA, helps offset the difference between domestic and international doctoral tuition.
The IDSA is automatically provided to eligible international students who hold a valid Canadian study permit, are registered full-time in a Ph.D. program, are assessed international tuition, and meet their program’s academic-progress requirements. Students do not submit a separate application because Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs determines eligible recipients automatically.
The award’s value and duration depend on the student’s previous degree, route of admission, time in the doctoral program, and number of terms for which the award has already been received. Under rates effective May 1, 2025, many eligible students receive CAD 5,140 per term, equivalent to CAD 15,420 over three terms.
Students may become ineligible if they are self-funded, have outstanding probationary admission requirements, receive another tuition award, or concurrently receive certain government, industry, or external funding that exceeds Waterloo’s minimum Ph.D. funding level. Exceptions may apply to specified scholarships and formal funding agreements.
5. Global Leadership Award (Ontario Tech University)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Amount: CAD 120,000 over four years, or CAD 30,000 per year
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s
Ontario Tech University is the brand name used by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, a public research university based in Oshawa. It offers technology-focused education and research across a range of undergraduate and graduate disciplines.
The Global Leadership Award is an application-based entrance scholarship for an international secondary-school student who is entering a first undergraduate degree. One award is valued at CAD 120,000, paid as CAD 30,000 per year over four years.
Applicants must be in their final year of secondary school, be studying at a secondary school outside Canada, have an excellent academic record equivalent to an A average, and demonstrate leadership through extracurricular activities or contributions to their community or family. The award is available only to students beginning their studies in the fall semester.
General scholarship conditions include not having previously attended a postsecondary institution, maintaining at least an 80% course load per term, remaining in good academic standing, and not holding more than one university scholarship simultaneously. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are not eligible for the Global Leadership Award.
International students with excellent grades, leadership experience, and strong academic records may qualify for several scholarships in Ontario. These awards may help cover study and living costs in Canada, but values, eligibility requirements, and deadlines can change. Always review the university’s current scholarship conditions before applying.
We hope this article on Ontario’s best scholarships was helpful. For more information, visit our Canada Page and explore Available Programs for International Students.
