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Towering mountains, fresh air, azure lakes, abundant wildlife, great universities...Canada attracts thousands of international students every year and for good reason. 

Canada is often considered to be a slightly more affordable option than it's neighbour, the US. Tuition fees are lower and the cost of living can be more manageable, depending on where you choose to live. However, having some financial aid or help with the cost of studying abroad will always be welcome. 

That’s where this guide to scholarships in Canada for international students comes in. There are plenty of government-funded opportunities that students can apply for as well as scholarship funds from universities. 

Sometimes universities will also set up scholarships for subjects that are in high demand such as nursing or healthcare. So if you are a bit unsure about what to study, it might be worth checking out which subjects there are scholarships for and choosing that way. 

There are many scholarships for international students so be sure to use this article as a starting point to search for the right scholarship for you. 

Here’s a broad selection of scholarships that are available to international students looking to study in Canada.

Types of scholarships

University scholarships - Most universities will offer some kind of financial aid for international students, so your institution of choice should be your first port of call when considering funding. 

Financial scholarships - These scholarships are based on the financial need of the students. The majority of these are only available for US residents but some universities will give out needs-based scholarships to international students.

Merit scholarships - For students who are either academically gifted, were top sports players in high school or excelled in community or entrepreneurial work.

Country-based scholarships - These scholarships are targeted at students from developing countries in particular.

Government-funded scholarships - The Canadian government offers many scholarship programmes for international students, some of which are listed below.

Privately funded scholarships - Sometimes private businesses or donors will fund scholarships for international students. These are also more likely to be targeted at developing countries and minority groups, or in specific areas of study.

Part scholarships -These can range from a small one-off payment students can use towards their fees or a larger payment that is staggered to cover certain costs of going to university. 

Government and private scholarships

 - These were created to attract and retain world-class doctoral students. The scholarship is worth CAD$40,000 (£31,000) per year for three years and can be used towards a doctoral degree or combined master’s and PhD. 

 - These are offered to international students doing postdoctoral research. 

-There are a number of Canadian government scholarships for students choosing to study in natural sciences or engineering.

 - These are open to international students applying to a doctoral programme in the social sciences and humanities. The annual value is up to $50,000 per year for a maximum of three years. 

University scholarships 

- These scholarships at the University of Toronto aim to recognise international students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement. The scholarship will cover tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years.

- For graduate certificate, diploma and advanced diploma students joining Humber in May, September and January. The funding equates to CAD$2,000 off student’s tuition fees over the course of their first year of studies.

-International students applying to York University are automatically considered for this scholarship based on a student's final admission average. Awards can range between $2,500 to $37,500. 

- The university dedicates more than $10 million annually towards awards, scholarships and other forms of financial assistance for international undergraduate students.

- Carleton University offers a range of scholarships for international stuents including the Entrance Scholarship and the Prestige Scholarship. 

- These awards are open to students of any nationality who have applied to be full-time graduate students at the University of Manitoba. They are valued at $25,000 a year for docctoral students or $20,000 a year for master’s students.

- The master’s of excellence awards are open to international master’s students starting a research based graduate programme. Students will receive $2,500 per term for a maximum of five months.

-There are a number funding opportunities for international students of up to $40,000.

-Scholarships are given to international students from undergraduate level up to PhD. The award is valued at $5,000. 

If you are interested in studying in Canada, then be sure to check out our Canada university rankings here. 

Please note all costs and conversion rates were correct at the time of publication. These may vary over time.