10+ Highest Paying Ontario Scholarships

There are many high-paying scholarships in Canada but this blog focuses on the highest-paying Ontario scholarships so that residents of Ontario or students from abroad and other parts of Canada who want to study in Ontario can find scholarships specific to that location.

Ontario is the most populated province in Canada and home to Ottawa, the capital of Canada. The province is the economic hub of Canada and home to a natural diversity including vast forests, beautiful provincial parks, four of the five Great Lakes, and the world-famous Niagara Falls.

Of all the provinces in Canada, Ontario has the largest number of post-secondary institutions which includes some of the best universities in Canada and in the world. Nearly, if not all, of the post-secondary institutions in Ontario admit international students in various diploma, undergraduate, and graduate programs.

If you are a prospective international student, Ontario would be such a great place to study. It’s got the academic quality and the right environment to help you grow in your chosen field.

Some of the highest-paying Ontario scholarships I have curated in this blog are provided by universities and colleges in Ontario and international students qualify for most of these awards. Also, governmental and non-governmental organizations, businesses, professional associations, corporate organizations, etc. in Ontario and beyond provide some of these Ontario scholarships.

You can also find athletic scholarships in Ontario and even PhD scholarships in Canada that you can apply for, win, and use to study in Ontario.

Also Read: How to Find & Apply for Available Scholarships in Canada

If you see any Ontario scholarships provided by universities, colleges, or other academic institutions you have to be applying for admission to pursue an academic program at the institution or be currently enrolled in the institution to be eligible for the provided scholarship. Applying for an Ontario scholarship offered by a school you are not attending or do not plan to attend is an automatic rejection.

General Requirements to Apply for Ontario Scholarships

Below is a general requirement to apply for Ontario scholarships:

  • Be planning to attend or already attending a post-secondary institution in Ontario to pursue or pursuing a diploma, undergraduate, or graduate degree.
  • Demonstrate excellent academic performance and/or financial need
  • International students who are non-native English speakers must provide English language proficiency test scores like TOEFL or IELTS.
  • Must have completed high school or be a high school senior with an intent to enroll in a post-secondary institution in the next academic year.
  • Satisfy the eligibility criteria of the scholarship you wish to apply for.
  • Community involvement, volunteering, and extracurricular activities are crucial in Ontario scholarship application.
  • Demonstrate leadership abilities
  • Provide the necessary documents for the scholarship application like a statement of purpose or personal statement, essay, resume or CV, study permit or student visa, transcripts from previously attended schools, proof of enrollment into a college in Ontario, recommendation or reference letter, financial statement, health record, etc.

Note that the eligibility criteria and requirements for scholarships vary by scholarship donor, this is just a general requirement so that you can know what to expect.

Having said that, let’s dive into the main topic.

Ontario Scholarships

Highest Paying Ontario Scholarships

1.     Brock University Awards, Bursaries, and Financial Aid

Starting with a scholarship from a prestigious university in Ontario – Brock University. An institution that recognizes the achievements of its students and offers financial assistance as a way of investing in students. Brock University offers one of the best scholarship programs in Ontario, with guaranteed scholarships beginning at 80 percent which is why it made the top list of Ontario scholarships.

The following awards are offered at Brock University:

·       Brock Scholars Awards

The Brock Scholars Awards are under automatic admission awards which are very popular among Canadian universities. The Brock Scholars Award is automatic for all incoming students entering their first undergraduate program directly from high school. There are awards here that can cover the entire cost of your studies at Brock University. To learn more, click here.

·       Transfer Scholars Awards

This is also under the automatic admission awards. The awards are specifically for Ontario college graduates with an average of at least 85% and 4.5 or fewer transfer credits. Click here to learn more.

·       International Awards and Bursaries

There are several scholarships and bursaries available only to international students coming to study at Brock University. It consists of both automatic awards and application awards. To learn more, click here.

·       Prestige Awards

The Prestige Awards is set aside to recognize exceptional students in academics, volunteering, community involvement, or an interest. The awards in this category are often huge and renewable for the duration of the recipient’s academic program. Under this award category, there are a range of scholarships like the Goodman Scholarships, Chancellor’s First Nations Award, and many others.

You will apply for any of the awards whose requirements you meet. To learn more about Prestige Awards, click here.

These are all the major scholarships offered by Brock University, follow their respective links to get more information. However, if you are not a student of Brock University or have no interest in applying for admission at Brock University, then check the next scholarship.

2.     Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence

The Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence is one of Ontario’s highest-paying scholarships, and here is how it works:

The Vector Scholarship in AI is an annual scholarship provided by Vector Institute, a globally-renowned AI institute that empowers researchers, businesses, and governments, to develop and adopt AI responsibly. The instate was launched in 2017 with generous support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, private industry, and in partnership with universities in Ontario.

The Vector Scholarship in AI was established in 2018 and has been ongoing to date. The scholarship is an entrance award designed to offer financial assistance to exceptional students entering an AI-related master’s program in an Ontario university recognized by Vector Institute. It is a merit-based award and therefore takes into account the academic performance of candidates.

To be eligible for the Vector Scholarship in AI scholarship award, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Entering a full-time master’s program in an AI-related field at an Ontario university. The program must be Vector-recognized or you must be pursuing an individualized study plan that is demonstrably AI-focused.
  • Hold first-class standing (minimum of A- or equivalent) in the last two years of full-time equivalent study from a recognized university (typically 20 half-courses). Students’ transcripts should reflect preparedness for the proposed master’s program.
  • Consideration will be given to nominees with upper second-class standing (B+) and relevant work experience, only if the rationale for consideration is included in the nomination package.

Students shall not apply directly for this scholarship, rather, they will be nominated by an Ontario university where they are enrolled for a master’s program in AI. Nominees will then provide the following documents to their institution:

  • Copies of all recent transcripts
  • Two references, at least, one of which is academic. The complete referee forms should be sent by the referee directly to the nomination program office and not to the student.
  • A recent CV or one to two pages.
  • A 250-word statement outlining your reason for pursuing a master’s in AI, relevant AI-related experience, and career aspirations
  • Self-identification form
  • If your GPA in the last two years of study is below A-, the rationale for consideration of your nomination (i.e. describing extenuating circumstances).
  • If not enrolled in a vector-recognized program, an approved study plan including a course list and a description of the thesis/capstone project.

All the necessary forms for the Vector Scholarship in AI can be found in the link below.

Scholarship Link

3.     Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program

This is one of the highest-paying and most popular graduate scholarship programs in Ontario and in Canada. The OGS is for students in master’s and doctoral programs in any discipline of an academic student at participating schools in Ontario. To see the participating Ontario schools in the OGS program, click here.

To be considered for the OGS, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be in graduate studies at the master’s or doctoral level
  • Be enrolled in a full-time program for 2 or more terms (21 to 52 weeks in total) for the academic year you’re submitting your application.
  • Plan to attend one of the participating Ontario schools.

However, because the OGS is a merit-based scholarship, each participating school has its criteria used to assess and rank your application.

To apply, you will have to use the OGS application of your school which is usually open in October. To know when it will open, contact the graduate studies office at any of the participating schools you are planning to attend for details on their application process. Also, the application, document, and review details for OGS vary by school, the graduate studies office will also be providing you with details on that.

The awards from the OGS are based on the number of terms of your consecutive studies within an academic year. If it is two (2) consecutive study terms, the award will be $10,000 or $15,000 for three (3) consecutive study terms. Each OGS award is issued for a minimum of one academic year and a maximum of 2 years.  

4.     Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) Program

This scholarship is similar to the OGS Program in nearly everything. The only difference is that the QEII-GSST Program is for students in science and technology at the master’s and doctoral levels. The awards are available to graduate students in approved research programs in science and technology disciplines at participating schools in Ontario.

The participating schools in Ontario for the QEII-GSST Program and OGS Program are the same. The reward amount, eligibility criteria, and application process are also the same.

5.     Ontario Tech University Scholarships for International Students

Are you looking to study abroad in Canada? Then you should already know how expensive it can be. International students pay about twice or thrice the amount in tuition that domestic students in Canada pay but you can cut down on the cost by receiving scholarships, and here is one that you should not miss out on.

If you would like to study at Ontario Tech University, there are several generous scholarships and awards available every year for new incoming international students, namely;

·       Global Leadership Award

For international students with excellent academic performance and leadership abilities entering an undergraduate program. The reward is CAD 120,000 ($30,000 a year for 4 years).

·       International Merit Awards

For international students with a GPA of 80% or higher calculated at the time of admission. It is valued at CAD 20,000 over four years (CAD 5,000 a year for 4 years).

·       English Language Center (ELC) Scholarship

International students who have completed the ELC program of study are entering an undergraduate program at the university. It is valued at CAD 1,000.

·       Awards of Recognition

The Awards of Recognition are to recognize the academic accomplishments of recent international students at Ontario Tech. The following amounts are automatically awarded in your first year based on your best six 4U/4M courses (or equivalent).

  • $4,000 – 95 percent or higher
  • $2,000 – 90 to 94.9 per cent
  • $1,000 – 85 to 89.9 per cent

·       In-course Scholarships

This scholarship is also to recognize your academic achievements during your undergraduate studies at Ontario Tech.  If you have achieved a minimum 3.7 GPA (on a 4.3 scale) during the previous year and you are returning to full-time study, you will be automatically awarded a scholarship and notified through your student email account.

  • $1,500 – 4.0+ GPA
  • $1,000 – 3.7 – 3.99 GPA

Follow the link below to see the conditions that all of these awards are subject to.

Scholarship Link

6.     Ontario College of Teachers Scholarships

Every year, the Ontario College of Teachers offers four awards to provide financial support to teacher candidates. These awards are:

  • Joseph W. Atkinson Scholarship for Excellence in Teacher Education
  • Ontario College of Teachers Primary/Junior or Junior/Intermediate Scholarship
  • Ontario College of Teachers Intermediate/Senior Scholarship
  • Brian P. McGowan Scholarship for Resilience

You can apply for up to two of the scholarships at the same time but you will only receive one of the awards if you are selected.

To be eligible, you must have an excellent academic record, a high level of preparedness for teacher education through leadership, community and/or extracurricular activities participation, have relevant work experience, and provide academic, professional, and personal references.

Scholarship Link

7.     Niagara University in Ontario Teacher Education Fund

Every year, Niagara University in Ontario offers three $2,000 scholarship awards each to students who are in their first semester of study in the Bachelor of Professional Studies program. To be eligible, you must be enrolled as a full-time student in the above-mentioned program, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the end of the first semester, and be in good academic standing.

Scholarship Link

8.     4-H Ontario Scholarships

4-H is a non-profit youth development organization that spans 10 provinces across Canada and 70 countries across the world. The organization is on a mission to build youth into leaders in their respective communities who will then become positive contributors to the world.

The 4-H branch in Ontario provides several scholarships, bursaries, and awards to members and a few to non-members. The scholarships are provided to offer financial assistance to youths who want to pursue post-secondary education. This organization holds multiple Ontario scholarships, follow the link below to get access to all of them.

Scholarship Link

9.     Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded each year to six student-athletes (three male and three female) in memory of Brian Maxwell, a successful distance runner, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Power Bar. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes whose character is reflective of qualities that Brian Maxwell demonstrated in his life: honesty, integrity, compassion, and an unwavering quest to accomplish the best they can, academically and athletically, while supporting his fellow team members.

The applicants will also be pursuing a post-secondary education in Canada. Applicants must be identified by their teacher-coaches, if they meet the criteria before they can apply for the scholarship. Download the application form, complete it, and send it as one attachment via email to rianmaxwellscholarship@gmail.com.

The scholarship value is $5,000 each for six student-athletes.

10.  P.A.J. Clarke Family Scholarship

This scholarship was established to honor the late Jack Clarke, a Blenheim area farmer. It is an endowment for entrance scholarship at the University of Guelph. Students with a minimum 80% average with a record of leadership and community participation are eligible to apply. However, preference will be given to candidates from Blenheim district or Kent County who were raised, or have worked, on a farm.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, apply by April 15 by submitting the P.A.J. Clarke Family Scholarship application and the online Financial Need Assessment Form for Entrance Awards (E.N.A.F.) as soon as the acknowledgment email from Admission Services (this will come automatically after an application for admissions has been submitted by the student) is received. Financial need will be considered but is not a requirement.

The scholarship value is one award of $12,000 payable over 4 years. Also, you must be a registered student of the University of Guelph pursuing an undergraduate program, this is one of the highest-paying Ontario scholarships you should not miss out on.

Most of the scholarships on this list are offered by universities, just as I mentioned earlier. Now, during my research to compile and gather this information I found out that nearly all the universities and colleges in Ontario offer entrance scholarships, awards, and bursaries to offer financial assistance to international and domestic students enrolled at the respective institutions.

However, it would be impossible for me to compile all the details on each of the scholarships, bursaries, and awards offered by each university and college in Ontario under this blog but it is still important that you get access to the information since it is detrimental to your academic and career success.

So, in order for you to access information on all the financial aid opportunities offered by every single post-secondary institution in Canada, I compiled a list of Ontario college and university links for financial aid. What you need to do is to click on any of the links and it will take you to the financial aid page of that particular school where you will see the information on all the scholarships, bursaries, and awards that the school has to offer.

List of Universities in Ontario with Links for Financial Aid

Arranged in alphabetical order, below is a list of universities in Ontario with links leading to information on each of the university’s financial aid pages:

List of Colleges in Ontario with Links for Financial Aid

Arranged in alphabetical order, below is a list of universities in Ontario with links leading to information on each of the university’s financial aid page:

Conclusion

With all the information and resources I have provided in this article, this should be your final stop regarding Ontario scholarships. Take your time to go through each of the scholarship information so that you can make the best decision. Then make a list of your top 5 or 10 and research deeper by contacting the school or organization providing the scholarship.

Also, you can apply to more than one scholarship, this increases your chances of being selected for, at least, one, and if you win more than one, you can combine the funds. However, some scholarships do not permit you to hold one scholarship and then apply for theirs. Read every scholarship requirement carefully, missing a line could cost you an application or a lot of scholarship money.

And finally, good luck with your applications!

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