University of Saskatchewan Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most USask scholarships are designed for students enrolled in USask programs (undergraduate or graduate) rather than for standalone online short courses.

USask scholarships span a wide range of subjects across undergraduate and graduate study.

• STEM (science/tech/engineering/math): Engineering and many Arts & Science programs are covered by broad entrance and competitive awards, plus program- and department-administered funding at the graduate level.
• Business: The Edwards School of Business is included in major entrance scholarship streams and competitive entrance awards.
• Humanities & social sciences: Typically fall under Arts & Science and are covered by the same entrance/competitive awards structure.
• Medicine/health: USask funds many health-related areas (e.g., public health), but the MD program has citizenship/permanent residency restrictions (see nationality/eligibility notes below). In the scholarship stories, Shamsuddeen Yusuf Ma’aruf is funded in a health/STEM-adjacent area (Vaccinology and Immunotherapeutics) and describes being “currently pursuing a PhD in Vaccinology and Immunotherapeutics at the University of Saskatchewan.”

USask states that international students are considered for scholarships and awards upon admission and that, unless otherwise noted, most awards are open to international applicants (with some awards designated specifically for international students). In Global Scholarships recipient stories, Shamsuddeen Yusuf Ma’aruf (Nigeria) is an example of an international student funded at USask.

That said, eligibility can still depend on the specific program you’re entering. For example, certain professional programs (like the MD program) have citizenship/permanent residency requirements, which indirectly affects scholarship eligibility for those specific tracks.

It depends on your background and the program. USask has formal English language proficiency pathways and may require proof (such as IELTS/TOEFL) unless you qualify for an exemption (for example, certain English-medium study histories can satisfy requirements). Graduate studies may waive proof of English proficiency in specific cases (e.g., completing a minimum number of years of study exclusively in English at an eligible institution).

In a real scholarship-recipient example, Shamsuddeen Yusuf Ma’aruf shared that “instead of taking tests like TOEFL or IELTS,” he submitted “an official letter” confirming “the medium of instruction was English,” which worked for many of his applications (though he notes it affected some opportunities that required standardized scores).

Yes, but the exact minimum depends on the level (undergraduate vs. graduate) and the specific program. USask calculates an admission average for many direct-entry undergraduate programs, and each program can set its own competitiveness and prerequisites.

For graduate admissions, USask publishes minimum academic thresholds (for example, a commonly cited baseline is around a 70% cumulative weighted average in the last two years of full-time study, though some categories/programs may have different minimums). For scholarships, higher grades typically improve competitiveness because many awards are based partly or primarily on academic achievement and admission averages.

A “good” scholarship profile at USask usually combines strong academics with evidence of impact (leadership, community contributions, research, or financial need—depending on the award). USask describes competitive entrance awards as considering academic achievement and, depending on the award, may also consider leadership and community involvement and/or financial need.

From a recipient perspective, Shamsuddeen Yusuf Ma’aruf attributes his success to the “intersection of my academic excellence, real-world healthcare experience, and leadership in innovation,” and he emphasizes coherence: “my CV, motivation letter, and recommendation letters all told a connected story.”

Minimum eligibility varies by award (and by whether you’re applying as an entering undergraduate, continuing student, or graduate applicant), so the safest baseline is: (1) meet program admission requirements, (2) meet the award’s specific eligibility rules, and (3) submit complete supporting documentation on time.

The exact list depends on your program and whether you’re applying for scholarships/bursaries, but common items include transcripts and supporting documents requested in your admissions portal.

• Common admissions documents (often required): transcripts/report cards (used to calculate your admission average), plus any program-specific supplemental items requested in your application account.
• Common scholarship/award supporting documents: USask notes that competitive entrance awards can require supporting documents such as a detailed list of activities and reference letters (the exact requirements depend on the awards you select).
• Graduate application items (commonly required): transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended and referee details for letters of recommendation (programs can also require additional supplemental items).

From a scholarship-recipient example, Shamsuddeen Yusuf Ma’aruf describes gathering “academic transcripts, CV, reference letters/referee lists, and… a draft of essays,” and he recommends aligning documents so each piece reinforces the others.

Yes. USask indicates that for most programs, there is a minimum non-refundable application fee required to submit an undergraduate application (check your specific program page for the exact fee). For graduate studies, USask lists a non-refundable application fee (with a higher stated amount for international applicants).