University of Toronto Scholarships for International Students
The University of Toronto is consistently ranked among the top 25 universities in the world and offers a wide range of scholarships for international students — from full four-year awards covering tuition, books, and residence to automatic merit awards requiring no separate application. Many undergraduate scholarships are considered automatically when you apply for admission.
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Scholarships overview
The University of Toronto is Canada’s highest-ranked university and one of the top research institutions in the world. For international students, it combines academic prestige with a broader scholarship portfolio than most Canadian universities — offering automatic admission awards, competitive full-ride scholarships, merit-based departmental funding, and graduate fellowships across all faculties.
The most important thing to understand upfront: many undergraduate scholarships at U of T require no separate application. When you submit your admission application, you are automatically considered for most merit-based awards. This removes a significant barrier for international applicants who may not be aware that scholarship consideration is built into the admissions process.
Types of funding available
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is U of T’s flagship full-ride award — covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence for four years. Extremely competitive, requires school nomination.
Several awards (International Merit Admission Award, University of Toronto Scholars Program, President’s Scholars of Excellence) are automatically granted to high-achieving students at the time of admission. No separate application needed.
Individual faculties and departments offer their own scholarships. The Engineering International Scholar Award and John Hirschorn Memorial Scholarship are examples. Values and renewal conditions vary by faculty.
Graduate students can access Connaught International Scholarships, Mackenzie King Open Scholarships, and departmental fellowships that may cover tuition, living stipends, and research expenses. Most require departmental nomination.
Major scholarship programs
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
The most prestigious scholarship U of T offers to international undergraduates. Named after Canada’s former Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, it recognises outstanding students who demonstrate not just academic excellence but meaningful impact on their school and community.
- Covers full tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence for all four years
- Open to international students or those studying outside Canada
- Requires nomination by your secondary school — you cannot self-nominate
- Selection criteria include academic achievement, leadership, and global potential
- One of the most competitive scholarships in Canada — very few awards granted annually
University of Toronto Scholars Program
An automatic admission scholarship awarded to outstanding secondary school students entering U of T. No separate application is required — your admission file is reviewed and top students are selected.
- Value: CAD $7,500 in the first year
- Awarded automatically — no separate scholarship application
- Available to both domestic and international applicants
- Recognises exceptional academic achievement at secondary school level
President’s Scholars of Excellence Program
Awarded to a select group of the top applicants entering their first year at U of T. Like the Scholars Program, it is granted automatically at admission without requiring a separate application.
- Value: CAD $10,000 in the first year
- Includes work-on-campus opportunities and possible international learning access
- Available to international students
- Automatic consideration through the admissions application
International Merit Admission Award
One of the strongest ongoing merit awards for international students entering specific faculties including Arts & Science. The award is renewable over multiple years, making it one of the highest-value automatic awards available.
- Value: up to approximately CAD $50,000 over four years depending on merit
- Awarded based on academic merit — no separate application
- Renewable subject to maintaining academic performance
- Available in certain faculties — confirm with your intended faculty
Engineering International Scholar Award
Specific to the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, this award supports international students entering engineering programmes and is renewable based on academic performance.
- Value: up to CAD $20,000 or more, renewable in subsequent years
- High academic requirement for initial award and renewal
- Available to international students entering engineering programmes
Award values at a glance
| Scholarship | Level | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship | Undergraduate | Full tuition + books + residence (4 years) |
| International Merit Admission Award | Undergraduate | Up to CAD $50,000 over 4 years |
| President’s Scholars of Excellence | Undergraduate | CAD $10,000 (first year) |
| Engineering International Scholar Award | Undergraduate | Up to CAD $20,000+ (renewable) |
| University of Toronto Scholars Program | Undergraduate | CAD $7,500 (first year) |
| John Hirschorn Memorial Scholarship | Undergraduate | CAD $15,900–$16,300 (renewable) |
| Connaught / Mackenzie King / Departmental | Graduate | CAD $5,000–$10,500+ per year |
Values are approximate and subject to annual review. Verify exact amounts on U of T’s official scholarships page before applying.
Explore all U of T scholarships
U of T’s official awards database lets you search by faculty, level, and eligibility to find every scholarship you qualify for.
Graduate & PhD funding
Graduate funding at U of T operates differently from undergraduate scholarships. Most graduate awards are department-based — meaning the faculty or research group you join determines what funding is available and how it is structured. International students should research funding separately for each programme they are considering.
Connaught International Scholarship
One of U of T’s most significant graduate fellowships, the Connaught International Scholarship supports international doctoral students. Awards typically include a stipend component in addition to tuition support. Candidates must be nominated through their department — there is no direct application.
Mackenzie King Open Scholarship
A competitive graduate award open to graduates of Canadian universities (including international students who completed an undergraduate degree in Canada) pursuing graduate study. Awards are based on academic excellence and personal qualities.
Departmental fellowships and assistantships
Many PhD programmes at U of T guarantee a minimum funding package to admitted students, combining internal fellowships, teaching assistantships (TAs), and research assistantships (RAs). The value and structure varies significantly by department — STEM programmes typically offer stronger guaranteed packages than humanities programmes.
- Contact your target department directly to ask about guaranteed funding for international PhD students
- Ask specifically about TA and RA availability and whether they count toward the minimum package
- Some departments offer top-up fellowships for students with external awards (e.g. from home country governments)
- Graduate funding packages typically range from CAD $15,000 to $35,000+ per year depending on programme
Eligibility requirements
Requirements vary by scholarship but these are the criteria that appear across most U of T international student awards:
Most awards require very strong grades — typically top percentile performance, equivalent to an A or high A grade average. Competitive scholarships like Pearson are seeking students in the top tier of global applicants.
You must be an international student — not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Some awards are open to all applicants, but several are specifically restricted to international students.
You must be admitted to the University of Toronto. For most automatic undergraduate awards, your admission application is the scholarship application. For graduate awards, admission is required before departmental nomination.
Awards like the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship give significant weight to demonstrated leadership, community engagement, and global potential — not just academic grades. Evidence of meaningful impact on your school or community is essential for these awards.
Renewal conditions
Most renewable scholarships require maintaining full-time enrollment and a minimum academic standing (typically a B+ or higher GPA). Check the specific renewal terms for each award — some require an annual review, others renew automatically if conditions are met.
How to apply
Step 1 — Apply for admission to U of T
Undergraduate applicants apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) or directly through U of T’s admissions portal. Graduate applicants apply directly to their department. Your admission application is automatically reviewed for most scholarship consideration — there is no separate scholarship form for the majority of awards.
Step 2 — Ensure your application is complete
Missing transcripts, test scores, or supporting documents can prevent scholarship consideration even if you are academically eligible. Submit all required documents well before the deadline. For international students this includes:
- Official academic transcripts from all previous institutions
- Proof of English proficiency — TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo
- Letters of recommendation (required for specific awards)
- Personal statement or essay (for awards like Pearson that assess leadership and impact)
- Standardised test scores where required by the programme
Step 3 — Follow nomination procedures where required
The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship requires nomination by your secondary school — you cannot apply directly. Contact your school counsellor well in advance to confirm whether your school participates in the nomination process and what their internal deadline is. School nomination deadlines are typically earlier than the university’s own deadline.
Step 4 — Apply separately for awards that require it
While most undergraduate awards are automatic, some departmental and graduate awards require a separate application or departmental nomination. Contact the admissions office or graduate coordinator of your specific department to ask what awards require active applications and what their deadlines are.
Step 5 — Review and formally accept your award
Once admitted and awarded, review the full terms: what costs are covered, whether the award is renewable, what GPA or enrollment requirements apply, and whether there are any obligations attached. Accept the award formally within the window specified in your offer letter.
Key application deadlines
Deadlines shift year to year. Always verify exact dates on the U of T official admissions and scholarships pages before planning your application timeline.
Tips for a strong application
Maintain the strongest academic record possible. Most competitive awards at U of T are looking for top-percentile performance. Even automatic awards weight grades heavily — a higher average increases both your admission chances and award value.
For awards like Pearson that consider leadership and community engagement, document your contributions early. Specific examples of impact — not just participation — are what distinguish strong applicants from average ones.
Missing documents are a common reason students miss scholarship consideration even when academically eligible. Submit everything — transcripts, test scores, references — well before the deadline. Scholarship review often happens in parallel with admissions decisions.
Toronto has one of the highest costs of living in Canada. Even if tuition is covered, housing, food, and personal expenses in Toronto can run CAD $15,000–$20,000 per year. Understand what your award covers and plan additional funding for expenses not included.