Canadian graduate funding is usually assembled from several sources rather than granted as one award: a university entrance scholarship, a supervisor's research grant and sometimes a national award such as Vanier. Understanding that a package is built, not won in one step, changes how you should approach applications here.
University of Toronto's major international undergraduate scholarship for school-nominated students entering in September 2027, covering tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years.
University of Toronto's major international undergraduate scholarship for school-nominated students entering in September 2027, covering tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years.
DestinationCanadaStudy levelUndergraduateFundingTuition and stipendApply byNov 6, 2026
Renewable Schulich School of Engineering entrance scholarship for high-achieving students whose home address and graduating high school are at least 100 km outside Calgary city centre. International students are eligible.
Renewable Schulich School of Engineering entrance scholarship for high-achieving students whose home address and graduating high school are at least 100 km outside Calgary city centre. International students are eligible.
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship recognises graduating high-school women in the United States or Canada who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and community service.
The P.E.O. STAR Scholarship recognises graduating high-school women in the United States or Canada who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and community service.
The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education provides need-based grants to women in the United States or Canada returning to education to gain skills or credentials leading to employment.
The P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education provides need-based grants to women in the United States or Canada returning to education to gain skills or credentials leading to employment.
P.E.O. Scholar Awards provide substantial merit-based support to women pursuing a doctoral-level degree in the United States or Canada and approaching completion of their programme.
P.E.O. Scholar Awards provide substantial merit-based support to women pursuing a doctoral-level degree in the United States or Canada and approaching completion of their programme.
AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship provides competitive 2027–2028 support for united States women entering approved professional or STEM programmes in fields where women remain underrepresented. The application is assessed under AAUW's programme-specific eligibility and selection criteria.
AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship provides competitive 2027–2028 support for united States women entering approved professional or STEM programmes in fields where women remain underrepresented. The application is assessed under AAUW's programme-specific eligibility and selection criteria.
The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship provides need-based support to women from outside the United States and Canada who are pursuing full-time graduate study in the United States or Canada.
The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship provides need-based support to women from outside the United States and Canada who are pursuing full-time graduate study in the United States or Canada.
Doctoral funding commonly combines a guaranteed minimum funding package from the department, a research or teaching assistantship, and any external awards you hold. Some universities charge international doctoral students domestic tuition rates, which materially reduces the amount you need to fund.
Eligibility
Eligibility patterns to check first
Major national awards require nomination by the university, so an internal deadline precedes the public one.
Supervisor agreement is normally required before a doctoral application is competitive for funding.
Several awards require you to begin the programme within a set number of months of the award.
Language requirements differ between Anglophone and Francophone institutions and are not interchangeable.
Provincial awards are usually restricted to students already enrolled at an institution in that province.
Deadlines
How the deadlines work
Nomination-based awards have internal university deadlines from September to November, months before the national deadline. Departmental funding decisions generally follow admission deadlines in December and January.
Applying
Application advice for this search
Find the internal nomination deadline, which is the one that actually applies to you.
Ask departments directly about their guaranteed minimum funding for doctoral students.
Check whether the university charges international doctoral students domestic tuition.
Prepare research proposals to the national award format, which is often stricter than departmental requirements.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for Vanier directly?
No. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships require nomination by a Canadian institution, so you must contact the university's graduate faculty and meet their internal deadline first.
Is funding available for coursework master's in Canada?
Much less than for research degrees. Thesis-based master's programmes are usually funded through supervisors and departmental packages, while course-based master's are largely self-funded with partial entrance scholarships.
Do Canadian scholarships cover a work permit or immigration costs?
Generally no. Study permit fees, biometrics and provincial health coverage are usually your responsibility, and only a small number of awards include a settlement or travel allowance.
