International Graduate Scholarships in Canada: When compared to the high number of scholarships offered to international students by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the number of scholarships offered to international students in Canada is relatively low.

Government-Funded Scholarships

2.1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

One of the most prestigious scholarships available to international graduate students in Canada is the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. This program is funded by the Government of Canada and aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students. The scholarship provides financial support of $50,000 per year for up to three years.

To be eligible for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, candidates must demonstrate excellence in academics, research potential, and a commitment to leadership and community engagement. The application process is highly competitive, so it is essential to start early and prepare a compelling application package.

2.2. Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program

The Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program offers scholarships to students from Commonwealth countries who wish to pursue their graduate studies in Canada. This program is administered by the Canadian Bureau for International Education and is supported by the Government of Canada.

Recipients of this scholarship receive financial assistance for their tuition fees, living expenses, and airfare to Canada. It is a highly sought-after opportunity for students from Commonwealth nations, as it allows them to experience Canada’s diverse culture while pursuing their academic goals.

Details about International Graduate Scholarships in Canada

Scholarships for Canadian Graduates Awarded by Vanier Canada:

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) was established with the goals of establishing Canada as a global center of excellence in research and higher education as well as attracting and retaining Ph.D. students of world-class caliber. The scholarships can be applied toward a doctoral degree (or a combined MA/Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. degree) at one of the partnering universities in Canada. This scholarship will provide an award of $250,000 over the course of three years.

Institution Host:

Universities in Canada have Vanier CGS allotment. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is only tenable at the Canadian institution that filed the nomination.

Degree/Subject of Study:

Ph.D. programs (or combined MA/Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. degrees) in health research, natural sciences and/or engineering research, social sciences, and/or humanities research.

Eligible doctoral programs must involve a strong research component that leads to the completion of a merit/expert-reviewed thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital, or exhibit as a condition for program completion.

Joint graduate research programs with a professional degree (e.g., MD/Ph.D., DVM/Ph.D., JD) and clinically-oriented programs of study, including clinical psychology, are also eligible if they feature a substantial independent research component, as mentioned above.

Quantity of Scholarships:

Annually, up to 166 scholarships are offered.

Target Audience:

Citizens of Canada, permanent residents of Canada, and foreign nationals may be nominated for a Vanier CGS.

Scholarship value and length:

The scholarships are valued at $50,000 annually for three years.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for a Vanier CGS, candidates must:

• be nominated by a single Canadian institution that has earned a Vanier CGS quota.
• be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including combination undergraduate/graduate research programs such as MD/Ph.D., DVM/Ph.D., JD/Ph.D. – if it has a major research component). Note that funding is only available for the Ph.D. element of a combined degree;
• full-time doctoral (or a combination graduate program such as MD/Ph.D., DVM/Ph.D., JD/Ph.D.) studies and research at the nominated institution during the summer semester or academic year after the release of findings; Note that funding is only available for the Ph.D. element of a combined degree;
• not have completed more than twenty months of Ph.D. study as of 1 May 2023
• having completed no more than 32 months of full-time Ph.D. study by May 1, 2023, if they:
• engaged in a dual doctoral program, such as MD/Ph.D., MA/Ph.D., or DVM/Ph.D. Applicants in this category have access to the 32-month window regardless of whether they were previously enrolled in a Master’s program; accelerated directly from a Bachelor’s to a Ph.D. (no time spent in a Master’s program); or accelerated from a Master’s degree into a Doctoral program without earning the Master’s degree.
• having earned a first-class average in each of the last two years of full-time study or its equivalent, as decided by your school. Candidates are recommended to contact the school for its definition of an A-average; and
• cannot currently possess or have previously had a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC.

Application instructions

Graduate Student Fellowships at the University of Manitoba:

The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF) are awards given out on the basis of merit to students of any nationality who will be enrolled as full-time graduate students (Master’s or Ph.D.) at the University of Manitoba. Eligibility requirements for the UMGF include full-time enrollment in a graduate program at the University of Manitoba. The fellowships are awarded for a duration of one year and have a value of $18,000 for doctoral students and $14,000 for master’s degree candidates.

Institution Host:

Canada’s University of Manitoba

The domain of study:

Any graduate degree programs that the University offers (except those in the Faculty of Medicine and in the Master of Business Administration – MBA).

Target Audience:

Students of all nationalities are eligible to apply.

Scholarship benefits and inclusions:

Master’s awards from the UMGF are valued at $14,000 per year for 12 or 24 months for a maximum of $28,000.

Doctoral grants from the UMGF are valued at $18,000 each year for 12, 24, 36, or 48 months, for a maximum of $72,000.

Eligibility:

Students must have an entrance GPA of at least 3.0 to be eligible for the scholarship. Please contact your Department, as they may require a higher GPA.

As a Master’s or Ph.D. student in a graduate program at the University of Manitoba, students must have been enrolled as full-time students without provision or have cleared provisional admission.

For additional information, please consult the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF) Award Holder’s Guide.

Application instructions

Doctoral Scholarships from the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation:

Foreign citizens applying to or enrolled full-time in the first or second year of a doctoral program in the social sciences and humanities at a Canadian university are eligible for the scholarships, with applicants from the developing world given preference. For a maximum of three years, each scholar will receive an annual value of up to $60,000.

Institution Host:

Participating Universities in Canada

Degree/Subjects of Study:

Ph.D. Research Programmes in Social and Human Sciences, focusing on one or more of the following areas: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada in the World, and People and their Natural Environment are the four pillars of the Canadian Constitution.

The number of honors:

Up to 15

Target group:

Canadian citizens and permanent residents as well as students from abroad

Scholarship value, benefits, and duration:

Scholarships from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation provide $40,000 per year for three years, up to $20,000 per year for three years (as a research and travel allowance), membership in a community of Scholars, Mentors, and Fellows who are all leaders and change-makers in their respective fields and sectors, and Leadership training from Mentors and Fellows.

Please visit the official website for a comprehensive list of scholarship perks.

Eligibility:

You must have been accepted into or be enrolled in the first or second year of a full-time Ph.D. program, and you must be on track to complete your doctoral studies in 2025 or later.

Your topic of study is broadly related to the humanities or human sciences that have a direct bearing on Canada’s future; (please refer to the FAQ for more details and read up on past scholarship recipients)

Your dissertation must address at least one of the Foundation’s four themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, and People and the Natural Environment.

Be a Canadian citizen attending a Canadian or foreign institution, or a non-Canadian (permanent resident or foreign national) enrolled in a Ph.D. program at a Canadian institution.

Application instructions

Conclusion

Getting a graduate degree in Canada can be very rewarding, and scholarships can help foreign students reach this goal. There are many ways to get money to help pay for your studies in Canada. These include government-funded grants, university-specific awards, and organization-sponsored fellowships.

Remember that scholarship applications can be competitive, so it’s important to start early, meet all deadlines, and send in a good application package. By using the tips given and doing thorough research on scholarship options, you can increase your chances of getting the money you need to go to school in Canada and reach your academic goals.

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