The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship: A Gateway to Fully Funded Canadian Government Scholarships for Students
Are you a Canadian or international student looking to study in Canada on a scholarship? This article is your starting point for securing a fully-funded scholarship. I have compiled a list of fully funded Canadian government scholarships for which you may be eligible.
Canada is known as one of the most academically friendly countries in the world. It offers more scholarships than many similarly developed nations and is safe for both citizens and foreigners studying there. Additionally, the presence of diverse cultures and lifestyles makes the country an exciting and appealing place to study.
About Fully Funded Canadian Government Scholarships
The Government of Canada offers fully-funded scholarships as a means of attracting the brightest minds to its institutions. These students come to pursue their academic goals and achieve their dreams in one of the best places in the world to study. These government scholarships are just one of the many sources of scholarships in Canada. There are also other fully-funded scholarships in Canada provided by organizations, universities, colleges, and other entities.
Studying abroad in Canada as an international student will undoubtedly enhance your academic and professional life and elevate your career. However, it can be very expensive, which is why you need to seek out scholarships and apply for them. Canadian scholarships like the fully funded Canadian government scholarships will help offset the cost of education for you and make your studies in Canada more affordable.
Some of the scholarships listed here are also featured on our list of full-tuition scholarships in Canada.
We’ve also compiled a list of the best postgraduate scholarships in Canada and a separate list of the best undergraduate scholarships in Canada.
Before I begin to list these fully-funded scholarships offered by the Canadian government and other bodies, I’ll ask:
Do you have the necessary documents to apply for Canadian scholarships?
Do you know how to apply for a Canadian government scholarship or any other fully-funded scholarship in Canada?
If not, I’ll be happy to provide answers to these questions for you.
Requirements for Canadian Government Scholarships Application
- Student visa (for international students only)
- A completed scholarship application form
- International or National Passport or another valid form of identification
- Statement of purpose
- Curriculum vitae or Resume
- Standardized test scores (IELTS/TOEFL) – You can find free IELTS courses here.
- A letter of recommendation
- Copies of transcripts or Diplomas
These are the common documents you should have before you begin applying for a scholarship. Remember to directly contact your university of choice for more details regarding other documents they may require.
How To Apply For The Canadian Government Scholarship
- Conduct thorough research, including direct contact with the appropriate officials regarding the scholarship applications.
- Understand and prepare all necessary requirements and documentation.
- Choose your course and institution.
- Take the language proficiency test (IELTS/TOEFL).
- Begin the scholarship application.
- Apply to universities.
- Meet the scholarship application deadline.
Fully Funded Canadian Government Scholarships
(Sponsored by the government, private bodies, and collaborations between government and private organizations)
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program – University of British Columbia
- Lester B. Pearson Scholarships
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program – University of British Columbia
Would you love to study at UBC? Achieve your dream of studying at UBC with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which has been in existence since 2013 and has become one of the largest scholarship programs in the world. Through this program, scholarships are offered to academically talented, yet economically marginalized youth from Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is not specifically a scholarship from the Government of Canada but partners with the Canadian government and other universities in the country to provide scholarships to deserving students. UBC is one of its partner schools.
Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship
If you are looking to study abroad in Canada, you should have heard about the Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship. It is one of the most prestigious and continuous scholarships offered each year to international students who wish to study at the University of Toronto. The scholarship is tenable only at the U of T.
The Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship is awarded annually to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and creativity and who are recognized as leaders within their school.
While the Lester B. Pearson scholarship is mainly for international students, Canadian students can obtain free student loans and grants through the Canadian government at the university.
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, also known as Vanier CGS, is one of the fully-funded Canadian government scholarships offered each year to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students who meet the requirements. However, Vanier CGS is only for those pursuing Ph.D. research programs in health research, natural sciences and/or engineering, and social sciences and humanities.
The scholarship offer is $50,000 per year for three years of doctoral studies. Applicants are considered based on academic excellence, research potential, and leadership capability.
Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholars Program
Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholars Program is more than a scholarship. It is a program that offers students the opportunity to undertake a fully-funded three-year leadership program at partner universities in Canada. The program is for doctoral candidates within and outside Canada, but they must study in Canada.
The program will provide you with a total of $60,000 per year for three years to cover tuition, living expenses, travel, and accommodation.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is another fully funded Canadian government scholarship offered to graduate students in master’s and doctoral degree programs at partner institutions in Ontario. It is for all academic disciplines. OGS is a merit-based scholarship; therefore, your application will be assessed and ranked using criteria determined by the school you’re planning to attend.
The scholarship award depends on the number of terms of your consecutive studies within an academic year: $10,000 for two consecutive study terms or $15,000 for three consecutive study terms. The maximum is two academic years for master’s and four academic years for doctoral students.
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is similar to the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. It is also for Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and international students who wish to pursue doctoral research in health, natural sciences and/or engineering, and social sciences and/or humanities.
The main difference between the Vanier CGS and the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is the scholarship value of $70,000 per year for two years.
Conclusion
Canada is known to offer numerous scholarship opportunities to citizens and international students. This list I have compiled will help you find what you are looking for, which is a convenient place to study for free. Get started on the scholarship applications, and I wish you good luck.
