York University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most York University entrance scholarships are tied to being enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree program (not a standalone online course).

York offers scholarships across a wide range of subjects, including humanities, social sciences, business, STEM and engineering, plus creative disciplines (arts/media/design). As one example, Ari Santi is funded while studying Sociology, explaining she chose it because “Sociology covers a wide range of topics” connected to social development. York’s international entrance scholarships are broadly based on your final admission average (with some program-specific exceptions), and there are also faculty-based awards (for instance, talent entrance scholarships for arts/design applicants).

Many York scholarships are designed for international students generally (rather than only a specific nationality), meaning applicants from a wide range of countries can be eligible as long as they meet the criteria (international tuition status, full-time enrolment, academic performance, etc.). Ari Santi is an example of a recipient from Lesotho, and York’s President’s International Scholarship of Excellence is positioned as a global award whose recipients “represent a variety of regions around the world.”

Often yes, but it depends on your background and the program’s rules. York lists IELTS Academic/TOEFL (and other accepted tests) as standard ways to meet English requirements, but some students can be exempt depending on prior education in English. Ari Santi shared a practical example of an exemption pathway: “I took Higher Level English, so the IELTS was not necessary.”

Yes, York has minimum academic requirements, and the competitive average can vary by program and by year. A useful “real-world” benchmark is scholarship cut-offs: York’s international automatic entrance scholarships start at a 75%+ final admission average (with higher awards at 80%–89.9% and 90%+), and the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence requires at least an 80% (A) or equivalent to be eligible (while being far more competitive in practice). In Ari Santi’s case, she reported an IB final score of 40/45, which she said put her “in a very good academic standing.”

For many entrance scholarships, the baseline is your final admission average (for international automatic entrance scholarships, 75%+ is the starting point). For major competitive awards like the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence, York looks for a strong academic profile plus leadership, volunteer work and extracurricular impact; you also need an official nomination from your school for that award. Ari Santi emphasized the “well-rounded” angle, explaining how IB higher-level courses and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) helped her show both academics and community engagement, and she believes her application stood out because “I put a lot of heart into it” and tried to present herself genuinely.

Exact documents vary by program and applicant type, but you should expect academic records (transcripts/grade reports), proof of graduation (if applicable), and English proficiency results if required. For major scholarships, there are usually additional components. For example, the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence application requires a personal statement (up to 500 words), a shortlist of extracurricular/community activities, a shortlist of previous awards, and a nominator who submits a reference letter; York may also ask for a financial profile. This lines up with Ari Santi’s experience: she highlighted a major writing component (“a letter of intent”) explaining why she wanted the degree and why she was a strong scholarship candidate.

Yes. For undergraduate applicants using the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), you pay the OUAC application fees (base fee plus any add-ons, including an international service fee if you’re not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident). For graduate applications submitted directly to York, York lists a non-refundable application fee (commonly shown as CAD $140 on York’s graduate admissions pages). Always check the specific application route and your program for the exact current fee.