5 Scholarships in Canada for International Students

International students who are enthusiastic about advancing their educational careers can find studying in Canada to be a highly exciting and fulfilling experience. Canadian universities are renowned for their exceptional academic and research standards, and they welcome students from diverse backgrounds with open arms.

Here is the list of top scholarships in Canada for international students.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

In 2008, the Canadian government initiated the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program with the aim of bolstering Canada’s capacity to draw and keep exceptional doctoral students while positioning Canada as a global hub for research and higher education excellence. The Vanier scholarship seeks out individuals who display leadership skills and achieve high scholarly standards while pursuing their graduate studies in health, engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

The scholarship provides financial support of $50,000 per year for up to three years to outstanding doctoral students who demonstrate leadership skills, a high standard of scholarly achievement, and a strong commitment to their research field. The Vanier scholarship is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students who wish to pursue doctoral studies in Canadian institutions.

Here are some of the requirements for international students who wish to apply:

1. Eligibility: International students must meet the eligibility criteria, which includes having a first-class average in their last two years of full-time study, being nominated by a Canadian institution, and intending to pursue doctoral studies in Canada.
2. Research Potential: International students must demonstrate a high level of research potential in their proposed field of study. This can be demonstrated through publications, conference presentations, and other academic achievements.
3. Leadership Skills: International students must possess leadership skills and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact in their community or field of study.
4. Academic Excellence: International students must have a strong academic record and show evidence of their ability to excel in their doctoral studies.
5. Nomination: International students must be nominated by a Canadian institution that has a Vanier Scholarship allocation. Students should contact the institution to discuss the nomination process and application requirements.
6. English Language Proficiency: For English language proficiency, a minimum score of 7.0 in each component of the IELTS test (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) or equivalent in another acceptable test such as TOEFL iBT or CanTEST. For French language proficiency, a minimum score of level B2 in the TCF test or equivalent in another acceptable test such as Test de français international (TFI) or Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF).

International students interested in the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships should carefully review the eligibility criteria and application requirements and contact the Canadian institution where they intend to study to discuss the nomination process.

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program (CGS-M) is a scholarship program offered by the Canadian government to support and promote research excellence in graduate studies at the master’s level. The scholarship aims to attract and retain top-tier students from across the world and enhance their research potential while contributing to Canada’s economic, social, and research-based growth.

Here are some important details about the CGS-M for international students:

1. Eligibility: International students must meet the eligibility criteria, which includes being enrolled or planning to enroll in a master’s program at a Canadian institution, maintaining a first-class average, and demonstrating their research potential.
2. Award amount: The scholarship provides financial support of up to $17,500 for one year.
3. Application deadline: The application deadline for the CGS-M is typically in December of each year.
4. Application process: The application process involves submitting an online application form, a research proposal, letters of reference, and academic transcripts. The research proposal should outline the research project’s objectives, methodology, and significance to the field of study.
5. Selection process: The selection process is highly competitive and based on the applicants’ academic excellence, research potential, and personal achievements.
6. Field of study: The CGS-M is available to students pursuing a master’s degree in all disciplines, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering.
7. English Language Proficiency: The minimum score requirement for IELTS Academic is an overall band score of 6.5 with no individual component less than 6.0. For TOEFL, the minimum requirement is a score of 79 or higher for internet-based test (iBT), 550 or higher for paper-based test (PBT), or 213 or higher for computer-based test (CBT).

CGS-M is among the top scholarships in Canada for international students. Winning the CGS-M is a significant accomplishment for any master’s student as it provides financial support, recognition, and opportunities for research and professional development. International students interested in the CGS-M should carefully review the eligibility criteria and application requirements and contact the Canadian institution where they intend to study for more information.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships is a highly competitive fellowship program offered by the Canadian government to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral researchers from around the world. The fellowship provides financial support to outstanding researchers who demonstrate leadership potential and excellence in their research fields, while conducting research at Canadian institutions.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships is one of those scholarships in Canada for international students which you don’t want to miss out! Here are some of the details:

1. Eligibility: To be eligible for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships, applicants must have completed their doctoral studies within the past two years or are expected to complete them by the application deadline. They must also be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or international students.
2. Award amount: The fellowship provides funding of $70,000 per year for up to two years.
3. Application deadline: The application deadline for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships is typically in September of each year.
4. Application process: The application process involves submitting an online application, including a research proposal, letters of reference, and academic transcripts. The research proposal should outline the research project’s objectives, methodology, and significance to the field of study.
5. Selection process: The selection process is highly competitive and based on the applicants’ academic excellence, research potential, leadership skills, and personal achievements.
6. Field of study: The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are available to researchers in all fields, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and health research.
7. Language proficiency: For IELTS Academic, overall band score of 7.0, with no individual score less than 6.5 is required. As for TOEFL iBT, total score of 93, with a minimum score of 20 in each component (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) is required.

Winning the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships is a significant accomplishment for any postdoctoral researcher, as it provides financial support, recognition, and opportunities for research and professional development. Applicants interested in the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships should carefully review the eligibility criteria and application requirements and contact the Canadian institution where they intend to conduct research for more information.

Mitacs Globalink Research Awards

Mitacs Globalink Research Awards is a program that offers research funding to senior undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, to conduct research in Canada in collaboration with a faculty member at a Canadian university or institution.

Here are some important details about the Mitacs Globalink Research Awards:

1. Eligibility: The program is open to senior undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, from around the world. Applicants must have a research project idea and a faculty supervisor at a Canadian university or institution who is willing to supervise their research.
2. Award amount: The program provides a research grant of up to $6,000 CAD for undergraduate and graduate students, and up to $10,000 CAD for postdoctoral fellows.
3. Application deadline: The application deadline for the Mitacs Globalink Research Awards is typically in September of each year.
4. Application process: The application process involves submitting an online application, including a research proposal, a letter of support from the faculty supervisor, and a letter of endorsement from the applicant’s home institution.
5. Field of study: The Mitacs Globalink Research Awards are available to researchers in all fields, including natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering.
6. Duration of research: The research project can last from 12 to 24 weeks and must take place between May and October of each year.
7. Travel support: The program provides travel support for successful applicants, including airfare, visa application fees, and health insurance.
8. Language proficiency: For projects conducted in English, applicants must be proficient in English and have a minimum score of 80 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For projects conducted in French, applicants must be proficient in French and have a minimum score of 780 on the Test d’evaluation de francais (TEF).

Mitacs Globalink Research Awards is among the popular scholarships in Canada for international students. Applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria and application requirements and contact the Canadian institution where they intend to conduct research for more information.

Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program

The Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program (CCSEP) is a program that provides opportunities for Canadian and Chinese students, researchers, and professionals to participate in academic exchanges and collaborative research projects. Here are some important details about the program:

1. Eligibility: The program is open to Canadian and Chinese citizens who are enrolled in a degree program at a recognized university or who are affiliated with a recognized research or professional institution.
2. Fields of study: The CCSEP covers a broad range of academic fields, including science, technology, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and the arts.
3. Duration of exchange: The program provides funding for short-term exchanges of up to four months and long-term exchanges of up to two years.
4. Funding: The program provides funding for travel, accommodation, and living expenses, as well as research-related expenses.
5. Application process: The application process involves submitting an online application, including a research proposal, a letter of support from a Canadian or Chinese institution, and academic transcripts.
6. Deadlines: The deadlines for the program vary depending on the type of exchange and the country of origin of the applicant. The application deadline for Canadian applicants is typically in January, while the deadline for Chinese applicants is typically in May.
7. Language requirements: If English or French is not the applicant’s first language, they may be required to provide evidence of their language proficiency by submitting the results of a recognized language proficiency test, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of French as a Foreign Language (TEF).

The Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program offers a valuable opportunity for Canadian and Chinese students, researchers, and professionals to engage in cross-cultural academic exchanges and collaborative research projects. Applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria and application requirements and contact their home institution or the program administrator for more information.

Apart from these, there are some of the best scholarships for international students (2023-2024). Check out more updates on scholarships at Explore It Beyond!