Fully Funded Scholarship in Canada – 2026 Guide

Deadline: Varies by university and award (undergraduate entrance awards usually follow the admission deadline; graduate awards are set by your university or department)

Host country: Canada

Starting date: Varies by program (most students start in the fall term)

Monthly stipend: Varies by award. From about $1,667/month (UM Master’s fellowship) to about $3,333/month (CGRS-D for PhD students). The Pearson scholarship covers tuition and residence instead of paying a stipend.

Most “fully funded” listings for Canada overpromise. The real numbers rarely match the label. So let’s be straight about it from the start: there isn’t one scholarship that pays for everything in Canada. What exists is a patchwork of entrance awards, fellowships, and research funding, plus a very small number of full-ride awards. How close you get to “fully funded” depends mostly on your level of study.

This guide is the starting point. It shows which routes are realistic at each level, what they actually cover, and where to read the detailed breakdown for each university. Amounts and deadlines change, so always confirm on the official page before you plan a budget.

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Is anything in Canada actually fully funded?

Short answer: almost never at the Bachelor’s level (with one famous exception), sometimes at the Master’s level, and most realistically at the PhD level.

• Bachelor’s: Most entrance scholarships are partial. They reduce tuition, but they don’t cover rent, food, flights, or insurance. The exception is the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto, which is a full four-year award, but your high school has to nominate you and each school can nominate only one student a year.
• Master’s: Funding usually comes from your supervisor’s research money, assistantships, and university fellowships, not from one big award. Thesis-based programs have far more funding than course-based ones.
• PhD: This is where “fully funded” is most realistic, through a mix of university fellowships, supervisor funding, and national awards.

If you see a page promising full funding for any Canadian degree with a simple application, be skeptical and look for the official source.

Real funding routes at a glance

These figures come from official university and tri-agency pages (checked October 2026). They show the kind of money that actually exists.

None of these list an airfare allowance, a book allowance (except Pearson), or health insurance. Budget for those separately.

Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships in Canada: What Actually Exists

Canadian universities offer entrance scholarships to international students, usually based on your high school grades. They help, but they rarely come close to covering international tuition on their own. At the University of Manitoba, for example, the general entrance awards were $1,000 to $3,000 in 2024-25, with a small number of larger awards for top applicants.

The Pearson scholarship at the University of Toronto is the one that really is a full ride, but it’s built for school leaders, not just top grades. You can’t apply on your own. Your school has to nominate you first, and the nomination window closes in early October, so it’s worth asking your school counselor early in your final year. If you’re reading this after the deadline, check the official page for the next cycle.

Read the full breakdown for each school before you build your list:

• University of Manitoba Scholarships Guide
• University of Alberta scholarships 2027
• Toronto Metropolitan University scholarships 2027
• University of Calgary vs Saskatchewan: scholarships compared
• Best Canadian universities for international students: scholarships compared

Fully Funded Masters & PhD Scholarships in Canada

Master’s: where funding depends on your supervisor

There’s no single Master’s scholarship that most international students can count on. Funding usually comes from a research assistantship, a department award, or a university fellowship, and often a supervisor has to back you. That’s why emailing professors before you apply matters. Our guide on how to cold email professors for funding is a good place to start.

Be careful with awards that look great on a university page but are limited to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Check the citizenship line before you spend time on any application.

If you only hold an HND and wonder whether a Canadian Master’s is realistic, read our guide: Can you do a Master’s in Canada with an HND?

PhD: the most realistic path to full funding

For PhD applicants, the usual package combines a university fellowship, supervisor funding, and sometimes a national award. The main national award is now the CGRS-D, worth $40,000 a year for up to three years.

Here’s the catch most blogs skip. International students can apply, but only if they’re already registered in a PhD program at a Canadian university when they apply, and only a limited share of awards (up to 15%) goes to international applicants. So it’s not something you can win from your home country before you’ve been admitted. Treat it as a bonus once you’re in, not as your plan to get in. We explain it in detail here: Canada Graduate Research Scholarship (CGRS-D) guide.

One more thing: the Vanier scholarship, which older guides still list, was replaced by the CGRS-D after its final competition in fall 2024. If a page tells you to apply for Vanier now, it’s out of date.

English tests: IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo?

Requirements vary by university and program. At the University of Manitoba, for example, IELTS Academic 6.5 overall is the standard for admission. Some Canadian universities also accept the Duolingo English Test, usually at a score between 105 and 120. Check our guide on Duolingo accepted universities in Canada before you book an exam.

How to build a realistic Canada funding plan

1. Decide your level first. Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD funding work very differently.
2. Shortlist 5 to 8 universities and read the verified scholarship breakdown for each.
3. Check the citizenship line on every award.
4. For graduate programs, contact supervisors first and ask about funding directly.
5. Sort your English test early. It can hold up an application.
6. Apply before the admission deadline. Many entrance awards are decided based on that application.
7. Budget for the gap. Even a good award rarely covers rent, flights, insurance, and books.

Common mistakes

• Believing every “fully funded” headline without opening the official page
• Applying for awards limited to Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Waiting for a scholarship before applying for admission
• Using last year’s amounts and deadlines
• Following guides that still list the Vanier scholarship as an open option
• Counting on a partial entrance award to cover living costs

FAQs

Is there any fully funded scholarship in Canada for international students?
Not one that works for everyone. At the Bachelor’s level the Pearson scholarship at the University of Toronto is fully funded, but it needs a school nomination and is extremely competitive. PhD students have the best chance overall, usually through a mix of fellowships and supervisor funding.

Can I apply for the CGRS-D from outside Canada?
No. International applicants need to be enrolled in a PhD program at a Canadian university at the time they apply.

Do I need a separate scholarship application?
It depends on the university and the award. Some entrance awards are considered automatically with your admission application. Others, like department-recommended fellowships or special excellence awards, have their own process. Always check the official page.

Which Canadian university is best for scholarships?
There’s no single answer. Compare the verified guides above for the schools you’re considering.

Can I get a scholarship without IELTS?
Some universities accept other tests, and some waive the test for applicants from certain countries. Read the specific university’s page and our Duolingo guide.

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