You might be wondering if it is possible to receive free money in Canada for education, we’re here to tell you it’s totally possible and true. Canada is not just a land of maple syrup, majestic mountains, and breathtaking landscapes, it’s also a country with an amazing educational system with universities consistently ranking among the best globally.
There are lots of free scholarships in Canada which will serve you properly whether you’re a high school senior intending to start your undergrad journey in Canada, a seasoned professional seeking upskilling, or simply someone passionate about learning, Canada has a scholarship for you.
Some of their scholarships like Aeronautical Engineering, computer science, and even Nursing are program-related. Moreover, there are also some athletic-related scholarships in Canada such as Rugby, Soccer, track and field, basketball, etc.
In these scholarships we’ll be listing shortly, you don’t need to pay a dime to apply, and the best part is there are no hidden charges.
Table of Contents
Free Scholarships in Canada
Note that all the scholarships we have provided here have zero hidden costs and their application process is entirely free
1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
This free Canadian scholarship is exclusively for highly qualified doctoral students which is worth $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies. Applicants have to be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or foreign citizens and have to focus their research on Health, Natural sciences and/or engineering, or Social sciences and humanities.
2. The Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships
This is one of the free scholarships in Canada provided by the University of Toronto which is Canada’s largest university for outstanding international students. The scholarship is awarded annually and international high school students in Canada can also benefit from it.
Out of so many applicants, only 37 scholars will be chosen making it very competitive.
3. Canadian Imperial College Scholarships
This is another college in Canada that awards their new and current students scholarships. The merit-based automatic scholarship is awarded to new students if found eligible for any.
Similar to other Soccer scholarships in Canada, Canadian Imperial College also provides a 50% entrance scholarship for exceptional soccer players.
4. The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
This is among the free scholarships in Canada that focus on the leadership development of their Scholars, that’s one of the reasons they have the Foundation’s leadership program. The foundation provides a three-year leadership program for 15 outstanding doctoral candidates.
The scholarship is provided annually which is worth up to $60,000 per scholar.
5. EduCanada – Study in Canada Scholarships
This scholarship focuses on helping international students from a wide range of countries enroll in Canadian postsecondary institutions with less financial burden. Besides being an international student to be eligible, you also need to be enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country/territory.
6. Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development
This scholarship is provided by the government of Canada for students from ASEAN member states to conduct short-term study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions. The scholarships are worth between $10,200 to $15,900 depending on your level.
7. University of Saskatchewan Scholarships
USask provides several scholarships especially to students newly joining them. Their scholarships are in different categories, there is the “Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships” where students are automatically considered and the award amount varies based on the admission average.
Also, there are the “Best and Brightest Entrance Scholarships” which are awarded based on academics, leadership, and contributions to school and community life. Plus a handful of other categories.
8. Canada-CARICOM Skills Training for the Green Economy Scholarships Program
This is among the free scholarships in Canada awarded to students from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states with short-term exchange opportunities at publicly funded Canadian colleges and institutes. The scholarship is worth between $8,200 to $14,700 depending on the length of the training.
9. Lakehead University International Scholarships and Awards
This school has three categories of international scholarships which include;
- International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships
- International Graduate Scholarships
- International Lakehead-Georgian Scholarships
10. Fonds de recherche du Québec
One of the interesting things about scholarships provided by Fonds de recherche du Québec is that they update their list of scholarships to the most recent. Also, they have different kinds of scholarships depending on your level whether undergraduates, postgraduates, graduates, and even interns.
11. Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program (CCSEP)
This scholarship is basically for exchange students who are full-time, permanent teaching or research staff, master’s or doctoral graduates as well as non-academics in China holding senior professional posts. The scholarship is meant to last for 4 (four) to 12 (twelve) months for candidates in China to conduct research in Canada.
12. University Canada West (UCW) Scholarships
UCW automatically awards their new students scholarships depending on the one they are eligible for. Note that you can only receive one award, scholarship, grant, or continuing student award if eligible.
If you’re eligible for more than one award, the one with the highest value will be awarded to you.
13. University of Regina Scholarships
Just like some other free scholarships in Canada provided by schools, URegina scholarships are awarded automatically to outstanding international students. There is the International Entrance Scholarship ($3,000) and the International Student of Distinction Scholarship $80,000 ($20,000 x 4 years).
14. Organization of American States (OAS) Academic Scholarship Program
OAS provides multilateral scholarships on behalf of all participating OAS member states. Their awards permit graduate students from an OAS member state to apply for scholarships to study in another OAS member state.
15. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
This is one of the free fellowships in Canada that provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally. 70 scholars are chosen annually for this award and are distributed by three different research institutions.
The scholarship is worth $70,000 per year and lasts for two years.
16. Government of Canada’s Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP)
These scholarships were established in 2009 by the government of Canada with the purpose of supporting the development of human capital and the next generation of leaders in the Americas. These scholarships are meant for students from post-secondary institutions located in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The scholarships are worth between $8,200 to $11,100 depending on your level.
17. Niagara College International
This college awards more than $4 million in free scholarships in Canada and bursaries annually to qualified students. Their scholarships are categorized into;
- Entrance Bursaries
- Returning Student Scholarships
- International Student Awards
- Other Scholarships
18. Humber International Student Scholarships
Humber provides different kinds of scholarships for international students which include;
- International Entrance Scholarships
- Bachelor’s Degree Scholarships
- Awards for EAP Graduates
19. Barbados Canada Foundation Scholarships
If you’re of Barbadian heritage and you’re pursuing post-secondary education at Canadian universities and colleges, then this scholarship is for you. Each of their scholarships is worth $4,000, and the funds available from donations will determine the number of scholarships awarded.
20. McGill Entrance Scholarships for Future Undergraduates
McGill offers several scholarships including this merit-based entrance scholarship to first-time university students entering a full-time undergraduate degree program. McGill provides two kinds of entrance scholarships which are;
- One-year Scholarships, valued at $3,000 (non-renewable)
- Major Scholarships, valued between $3,000 and $12,000
21. McGill’s Merit-based Awards For Current Undergraduates
This is among the free scholarships in Canada awarded by scholarship committees of individual faculties, this also means that each faculty has its own set of criteria for distribution of in-course awards. One of the important eligibility criteria is that applicants must complete at least 27 graded credits in a McGill degree program during the regular academic session.
22. The University of Winnipeg
Similar to most other universities that provide scholarships on our list, this school also provides different categories of scholarships which include;
- Automatic Entrance Awards
- Application-Required Entrance Awards
- In-Course Awards for Continuing Students
- Government Student Aid
- Other Services and Support Programs
23. St. Lawrence College Scholarships for International Students
St. Lawrence College provides four types of merit-based scholarships to future and current international students, which include;
- Canadian Experience Scholarship
- SLC Loyalty Scholarship
- IEOP/IEOC Academic Achievement Scholarship
- Academic Excellence Entrance Scholarship
Key Takeaway
Now that you have a plethora of scholarships on your table, you need to turn the knowledge into action! It’s advisable to bookmark this scholarship website so as to apply appropriately. Also, you need to set calendar reminders for deadlines and polish your application essays.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to universities and scholarship providers for guidance. Remember, the more proactive you are, the higher your chances of landing that dream scholarship.
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