Q&A: Scholarships for international students in Canada

Studying abroad in Canada is an exciting decision – but it can also be intimidating. There are lots of things to consider: what are you going to study, which school will you attend – and how are you going to pay for it?

The good news is, there are many ways to make your education more affordable. There are more than $ 33 million worth of scholarships available for international students – and a surprising amount goes unclaimed, just because nobody applies for them.

Don’t leave money on the table. There’s help available – all you have to do is ask.

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about scholarships for international students in Canada.

What kinds of scholarships are available for international students?

The short answer: all kinds!

No matter what you’re studying and what level of education. Most are awarded on merit, so the better your grades, the better your chances of getting one. However, it’s not all about your academic score; many are also given out based on other factors, such as volunteer experience and extracurricular activities (clubs, sports, etc.).

There’s also a range of amounts available, so you’re not limited to just getting one scholarship or bursary. Some will cover your entire tuition, while others might just cover part of your living expenses while studying.

As for where the money comes from, some scholarships are given out by federal organizations, so they’re available no matter where you study; others are specific to certain provinces or are only available to applicants from specific countries, or are given out by the colleges and universities themselves.

What are the most popular scholarships?

Here are just a few of the top scholarships available for international students in Canada.

• Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan – Available to students from Commonwealth countries pursuing graduate or postgraduate degrees.

• Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute – Offers many different grants and awards to Indian students in Canada.

• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council – These two federal bodies offer many scholarships and grants for students in graduate or post-graduate programs.

• Ontario Trillium Scholarship – Worth $40,000 annually, with 75 scholarships available.

The Government of Canada has an online portal where you can see which scholarships might be available to you.

How do I apply for scholarships and bursaries?

That depends on where you’ll be studying. The application process and requirements vary based on which college or university you attend.

However, there are some documents that are almost universally required, so getting these together would be a good start:

• Copy of your academic transcripts/diplomas

• Copy of your passport/ID

• Statement of purpose or letter of motivation

• Recommendation letter

• Proof of your language proficiency, like an IELTS test.

How can IDP help?

IDP’s counsellors can help you through every step of the process, giving you the kind of personalized advice that Google will never be able to provide. And they’re not just scholarship experts – they can help you with every step in the process of studying in Canada. Sign up for counselling today!