University of Alberta Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most University of Alberta scholarships are tied to being admitted to (and usually studying full-time in) a University of Alberta program, so “online-only course” scholarships are less common.

Scholarships at the University of Alberta aren’t limited to one subject area. You’ll find awards across many faculties and programs, including engineering, business, STEM fields (science, computing, data/AI, etc.), and humanities/arts, as well as other areas. The University of Alberta Awards Hub can be searched “by faculty,” which is helpful if you want funding that matches your major. For medicine, while there are scholarships across health-related fields, the University of Alberta MD Program states that it is unable to admit international students, so international applicants typically should not plan on UAlberta’s MD route.

Many University of Alberta scholarships are open broadly to international students (i.e., not restricted to one nationality), alongside separate awards for domestic students. Example from a recipient: Felix Ayiera is from Kenya and received funding for graduate study at the University of Alberta.

Often yes, University of Alberta admissions commonly require proof of English proficiency (such as IELTS or TOEFL) unless you qualify for an exemption. Some UAlberta pages list benchmarks like IELTS Academic 6.5 (with minimum band requirements) and TOEFL iBT around 90 with minimum section/band thresholds, but the exact rule depends on your level (undergraduate/graduate) and your education history.

Recipient example: Felix Ayiera noted, “Kenya is exempted from the English language requirement, so I didn’t need to submit a test score.” If you’re from an exempt country or have prior education in English, you may not need IELTS/TOEFL; confirm using your program’s current rules.

Yes, there are minimum academic thresholds, but admission is often competitive and program-specific. For undergraduate admission, University of Alberta calendar information references a minimum average (commonly shown as 70% on required admission subjects), while competitive admission averages can vary year to year by program. For many graduate admissions, a common minimum is a GPA of at least 3.0 on the University of Alberta’s 4-point grading system (programs may set higher requirements).

It depends on the scholarship, but strong academics and a solid overall profile matter most. Many entrance and admission-based scholarships weigh your admission average heavily, while graduate funding (like assistantships/fellowships) often depends on research fit, supervisor support, and departmental selection.

As an example, Felix Ayiera reports graduating from his master’s with a GPA of 4.77/5.00 and describes the reality of research funding: “Then came the hard part, cold emailing.” For research-based scholarships/assistantships, a “good background” often means strong grades plus evidence you can do research (projects, publications, lab/work experience) and a clear match with a supervisor’s work.

Document requirements vary by program, but applicants commonly prepare: transcripts/mark sheets (and certified translations if needed), graduation certificates, English proficiency results (if required), passport ID page, CV/resume (especially for graduate programs), letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose/motivation (and sometimes a research proposal for thesis-based programs).

As an example, Felix Ayiera described uploading “academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a motivation letter” during his scholarship applications, and noted that applying involved “an online application” and “document submission.”

Yes. University of Alberta admissions information commonly lists a non-refundable application fee for new applicants (often shown as CAD $150 for new applicants and CAD $100 for current/former UAlberta students). For many graduate applications, University of Alberta graduate policy pages commonly show an application fee of CAD $135. Always confirm the exact fee for your program and term before you submit.