Can international students get financial aid in Canada?
Exceptional international students may be able to obtain scholarship funding, which is available both from the Canadian government and individual universities. Examples include the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, and the ‘International Tuition Award’ offered by many Canadian universities. The latter aims to assist international graduate students registered full-time in research-oriented master’s and doctoral programs. International students are automatically considered for this award if they meet certain criteria.
When searching for funding, check each university website for details of available scholarships, grants, assistantships, fellowships and bursary opportunities. You may also find it useful to consult the information provided by the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website (CICIC), or the Canadian government’s dedicated website for international scholarship programs. Your study permit entitles you to work up to 20 hours a week alongside your studies, and full-time during semester breaks.
Canada might be one of the most coveted destinations for international students, but unfortunately studying here doesn’t come cheap. For those keen to study in Canada but in need of financial support, we’ve rounded up a selection of scholarships for international students, provided by the Canadian government, individual Canadian universities, and other organizations.
Canadian government scholarships
For more information on Canadian government scholarships and for more external funding opportunities, visit the Government of Canada’s scholarship homepage or contact the Canadian Ministry of Education in your home country.