Students who wish to pursue higher education in Canada but hesitate due to financial constraints. Here is the good news: Scholarships are available to support students who want to pursue higher education in Canada.

There are government-funded scholarships, non-government scholarships, and institute-specific scholarships available, which provide financial aid to students and encourage them to achieve their academic dreams.

In this blog, we will discuss different types of scholarships available to study in Canada, along with other essentials.

Types of Scholarships in Canada

As we previously discussed, Canada offers various scholarships and supports international students, including Indians. Below are the categories for which scholarships are provided based on the providers.

Government-Funded Scholarships

  • These scholarships are provided by the Canadian Federal Government to attract talented international students and support research initiatives.

Non-Government Scholarships

  • As the title mentions, Non-government scholarships are not funded by the government but offered by private organisations, foundations, NGOs, etc. These scholarships support international students to study in Canada.

Institution-Specific Scholarships

  • These are merit-based and need-based scholarships provided by institutions such as Canadian Universities, colleges, etc.

Government Scholarships to study in Canada

Many prestigious scholarships are available for international students, including Indians. The following are the government-funded scholarships for international students in Canada.

  1. Scholarship: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
    Funded by: Canadian Government
    Discipline: Health Research, Engineering, Natural Sciences
    Amount: INR 30 LPA
    Duration: 3 years
    Eligibility: The scholarship is available for doctoral students who are Indian citizens and must be nominated by a Canadian institution.
    Application: Click here to Apply

  2. Scholarship: Educanada Exchange Scholarships
    Funded by:     Canadian Government
    Discipline:     Undergraduates, Graduates, cross-cultural academic experiences
    Amount:     INR 6 - 8 L
    Duration:     4 - 6 months
    Eligibility:     You must be an undergraduate Indian citizen participating in an exchange agreement with Canadian institutions.

  3. Scholarship: Ontario Graduate Scholarships
    Funded by: Canadian Government
    Discipline: Master's and Doctoral
    Amount: INR 6 - 9 L
    Duration: 4 - 6 months
    Eligibility: Enrolled in an eligible graduate program, hold a study permit, and demonstrate academic excellence.

  4. Scholarship: McGill University Entrance Scholarships
    Funded by: Canadian Universities
    Discipline: Undergraduate programs
    Amount: INR 1.8L -7 L
    Duration: 3-4 years
    Eligibility: Candidates must have a strong academic background, be Indian students, and demonstrate financial need.

  5. Scholarship: Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships
    Funded by: Private entity
    Discipline: Master's or Postgraduate programs
    Amount: Partially funded
    Duration: Course duration
    Eligibility: Strong academic background required. The applicant must be an Indian student and demonstrate financial need.

  6. Scholarship: Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
    Funded by: Private entity
    Discipline: Doctoral programs
    Amount: Fully funded up to 31 L
    Duration: Course duration
    Eligibility: Applicants must be Indian citizens and doctoral candidates in the humanities or social sciences, with research aligned to The Trudeau Foundation's themes.

The Required Eligibility to get Scholarships in Canada

Each scholarship has different eligibility requirements. However, the basic eligibility requirements to get a scholarship in Canada are given below.

Academic Qualifications

  • A relevant undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree, typically with good grades, enhances scholarship approval.
  • For Merit-Based scholarships, academic performance matters. Maintaining a consistent academic record is required to get the scholarships.
  • For Need-Based scholarships, student is required to demonstrate financial challenges to be eligible for the scholarship.

Citizenship

  • Some scholarships have citizenship specified in their eligibility criteria. It is recommended to thoroughly study the eligibility requirements before applying for a scholarship.
  • This will reduce the scholarship rejection chances.

Age Requirement

  • Some scholarship providers impose restrictions on the age criteria of students.
  • Oftentimes, students overlook the factor and face rejection later. So, check the age limit while applying for a scholarship.

Letter of Recommendation

  • Letters of recommendation, typically from a research supervisor or professors, support the efficiency of the students.
  • This is done to demonstrate the research ability of the student.

Standardised Test Score

  • Some scholarships have standard tests to evaluate the eligibility of the scholarship applicants.
  • A good score in these tests can help students get scholarships that they have applied for.

Apart from these are other requirements that typically depend on the scholarship provider, type of scholarship, etc. Students must make sure that they meet all the eligibility requirements to be eligible for the scholarship.

Because of the heavy competition associated with the scholarships, only a small percentage of students can secure scholarships successfully. It is recommended for students to have education loans as an alternative option.

Documents Required to Get a Canadian Scholarship

Below are the documents required to get a scholarship in Canada.

  • Documents proving the identity/citizenship of the student.

  • Previous academic records(undergraduate/graduate, doctoral degrees, etc) of the students.

  • For Merit-based scholarships, the score cards of standardised tests(if required)

  • For Need-based scholarships, the documentary proof of financial requirements, such as family annual income.

  • Any extra documents as required by the scholarship provider, based on the scholarship type.

How to Apply for Scholarships in Canada

Below are the steps to apply for scholarships in Canada.

Start Early: It is recommended to start the process early, considering the heavy competition for scholarships.

Find the Right Scholarship: Not all scholarships match every student. As previously discussed, various scholarships are available to pursue higher education in Canada. Often, students face rejection while applying to the wrong scholarship. For a successful scholarship process, it is important to find a scholarship that suits the student.

Know the Eligibility Requirement: This should be one of the primary concerns for students before applying for a scholarship. Many scholarship applicants are rejected after the scholarship providers evaluate their profiles and check their eligibility.

Keep the Documents Handy: Students are advised to keep all the necessary documents ready to avoid rejection. Documents such as academic documents, statement of purpose, etc, are required to be submitted.

Apply through the Right Platform: Many students make mistakes by approaching the wrong platform. Apply through the official websites of the scholarships, such as the Canadian Scholarship Website or WeMakeScholars, for authentic information and application.

Track the Deadline and Submit on Time: Missing one deadline means waiting another year. Therefore, it is important to keep a check on the deadline and submit before the date expires.

Follow-up: After the application is submitted, a time-to-time follow-up is important to fill in any missing information. Keep a track of the email to know the status of your scholarship application. This reduces scholarship rejections.

Conclusion

Scholarships are an incredible financial support to students who want to pursue their higher education but lack finances. In this blog, we have covered a few of the scholarships that are available to study in Canada. In addition, we have also discussed how to apply along with the documents required for the same.