How a Nigerian Engineer Secured the Fully Funded Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship for a PhD in Sustainable Engineering at Université de Sherbrooke, After Completing a Triple Erasmus Mundus Master's in the UK, Slovenia, and Sweden

My name is Seunnla Adelusi. I had my bachelor’s degree in metallurgical and materials engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, in Nigeria. After this, I worked a bit in engineering and then ran my own business for some months. However, I knew that I wanted to pursue further studies in engineering, and I also knew that I didn’t want to pay for my studies. So, I prepared my documents and created a strong application for a few fully funded scholarships (I wasn’t interested in partial or tuition-only scholarships). In 2020, I moved to Europe and completed my master's at the University of Leeds (England), the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), and Lulea University of Technology (Sweden). Towards the end of my program, I had developed an interest in sustainable engineering, renewable engineering, and projects that focused on creating a sustainable environment. I was also interested in academic-industrial research, so I started to seek out calls for doctoral students in projects that would allow me to gain some sort of industrial experience. This led me to Université de Sherbrooke, where I am currently a doctoral candidate.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Details

In this article, I’ll be sharing information about the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Canada's most prestigious national award for highly qualified doctoral students. “The Vanier scholarship is judged based on academic excellence, research potential, and leadership ability. It is awarded to a select group of accomplished individuals who have shown leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies.” This scholarship is highly competitive and starts with an internal competition at the university, after which the selected students are nominated by their university for the national competition. I was nominated by Université de Sherbrooke at the beginning of my second year of PhD. The Vanier Scholarship is worth $150,000 over three years.

Were You Offered any Other Scholarships?

Before I applied for the Vanier Scholarship, I was funded by the MITACS Accelerate Grant for industrial-academic PhDs. In 2020, I received 2 full scholarships for the Erasmus FAME programme and the TRIBOS Joint Master’s Degree programme. I was also shortlisted for the Chevening scholarship to study in the UK. During my master's studies, I received the STLE Jeanie McCoy Award worth $5,000 in the US and other recognitions within Europe. In Canada, I have received other scholarship awards at my university and from other external organizations. This includes the Gold Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement from the Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Graduate Student Award of Merit from the Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada, and the BASF Graduate Scholarship from the Black Academic Scholarship Fund.

Educational Background

Winning scholarships that are based on merit, leadership, and research demands relevant experiences and excellence in the three areas. My grades in my bachelor’s and master's studies definitely played a strong part in getting the Vanier scholarship. As described in the scholarship details, applicants needed to have academic excellence in addition to having a track record of leadership with impact and accomplishments. Hence, my volunteering experiences and taking up leadership roles mattered greatly.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Vanier Scholarship?

I watched a lot of videos that explained the scholarship review process from the perspective of the reviewer. I also connected with past scholars to learn from their experiences while leveraging the scholarship support officer. I needed about 5/6 recommendations, so I had to reach out to referees early on and also start preparing my documents in time for the internal competition.

How Does the Université de Sherbrooke Support International Students?

There are associations and events to help students engage and collaborate. My faculty (engineering) also has an integration program where new students are partnered with mentors to facilitate their arrival and settling in Sherbrooke. The mentors help with several aspects of life, from finding an apartment to support for courses. Furthermore, the university provides free French classes to help students learn French at a steady pace that complements their main studies schedule.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or French?

My university is a French-speaking university; however, there are certain courses in English for graduate students, so it was not a problem for me, who arrived with zero French proficiency.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically, Not Knowing French (University located in Quebec)

This is highly dependent on the program being applied to. For PhDs and most graduate students, it’s not a problem.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

According to my faculty in charge of scholarships, my leadership and volunteering experiences were a strong selling point. It was also the area where I had the highest score, although my research potential, as described by my project proposal, and my consistently excellent grades really had an impact.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would start preparing earlier.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

It’s never too early to start planning. The time to build your profile is now.