Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada
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Getting a 100% scholarship is not impossible, but it is difficult. Every year, 1 out of 100 students gets this scholarship to study in Canada, which covers their room rent, health insurance, daily expenses, along with their tuition fees. This article lists out such 5 fully funded scholarships for you to study in Canada.
It is amazing to imagine yourself in top Canadian universities. Along with this, studying in Canada is indeed expensive. It is not only about tuition fees but also includes cost of living in Canada.
Is it impossible to study in Canada for a middle class Indian students? Definitely not! There are multiple options for fully funded scholarships in Canada. It covers 100% of your tuition fee and cost of living. Yes, from your books expenses to house rent, everything will be sponsored. Only if you are eligible and know how to apply for it.
"Fully funded scholarships in Canada" isn't a fairy tale but a reality. Every year, hundreds of Indian students land in Canada with scholarships that cover not just their tuition, but their rent, books, and food.
Want to be one of them? This article will help you to know about available scholarships in Canada for you. In short, by the end of this article, you will have an idea to study in Canada for free in 2026.
- Types of Scholarships in Canada
- Top 5 Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada (2025-2026 Intake)
- What is Eligibility for Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada?
- Hidden Cost to Study in Canada
Types of Scholarships in Canada
Excited to know about scholarships that can cover your 100% cost of studying in Canada?But first know about types of scholarships in Canada. They generally fall into three buckets:
- Government of Canada Scholarships: These are big and popular financial aid. They are highly competitive but offer a big amount.
- University Scholarships: These are offered directly by universities in Canada. It is easy to find. To get these scholarships you need to be a topper student in your school.
- Private Foundations: These are specific to certain fields. These institutions only offer scholarships to those they find to be "future leaders."
Want to pursue MS courses? Check out best scholarships for MS in Canada for you.
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Top 5 Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada (2025-2026 Intake)
These are the specific scholarships you need to target for the upcoming academic year 2026-27.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Undergraduate Students (After Class 12) |
| What it Covers | All expenses for 4 years, including:
|
| Key Deadlines |
|
| Application Tip | You cannot apply alone. Your school principal must nominate you. |
Vanier CGS Scholarship
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | PhD Students (Doctoral). For world-class students with demonstrated leadership. |
| What it Covers | CAD 50,000 CAD per year (approx. INR 30 Lakhs) for 3 years. |
| Eligibility | Must be pursuing a doctoral degree in
|
| Deadline | Nominations usually close by October 30, 2025. |
| Tip | This scholarship judges you on "Leadership" as much as marks. Highlight aggressively any non-academic leadership roles (college fest head, NGO work, community projects, etc.). |
3. UBC International Scholars Program
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Includes | Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, Donald Wehrung Award, etc. |
| Best For | Undergraduates (after Class 12) who genuinely can't afford the fees. |
| What it Covers | This is a "need-based" full-ride. They calculate your financial gap (Tuition + Living costs minus what your family can contribute) and pay the rest. |
| Deadline | November 15, 2025. |
| Application Tip | Honesty is key. If you hide family assets, they will reject you. Show them that you have the talent but lack the funds. Nomination is required. |
4. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | PhD Students in Humanities & Social Sciences (or related fields). |
| What it Covers | Up to CAD 60,000 CAD per year for 3 years, which includes:
|
| Focus | Research related to the Foundation's four themes. |
| Deadline | Typically mid-November (e.g., November 17, 2025). |
| Application Tip | They love "bold" research that challenges the status quo and has public engagement potential. If your research topic is safe and boring, you won't get it. |
5. University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Masters & PhD (The "Safety" Option). Open to all nationalities. |
| What it Covers |
|
| Eligibility | Minimum admission GPA of 3.0 or 3.75 (depending on department) on a 4.0 scale. |
| Deadline | Varies by department. Often early 2026 for the September intake. |
| Application Tip | Manitoba's cost of living is much cheaper than Toronto/Vancouver. |
Check out scholarships to study abroad from Indian government.
What is Eligibility for Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada?
You have information about popular scholarship options. Let have have a look on eligibility to get scholarships:
-
Academic Score: 90% or above score is mandatory in your class 12th. If applying for MS, then a good score in UG.
-
English Proficiency: While admission might only require IELTS 6.5 or above.
-
Leadership: Score can help you to make yourself eligible, but leadership skills can give you advantage. The institution wants to see that you are active outside the classroom (Sports, Arts, Volunteering) at the time of scholarship.
Hidden Cost to Study in Canada
Even with a full scholarship, you need to arrange some cash upfront before your stipend arrives.
- GIC Amount: To get your Canadian student visa approved, you usually need to buy a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC). It is CAD 22,895.
-
University Application Fees: Applying is not free. Each university charges a non-refundable fee just to look at your documents. Minimum CAD 100 to 150 per university. So if you are applying in 4 universities then minimum CAD 600 as application fee.
-
The Winter Survival Kit: Your jackets from India won't work in Canadian winters. So, get new one. Keep aside at least CAD 500.
In short, you need CAD 23,995 just to reach Canada (except flight ticket). In Indian rupees, it is INR 15.52 lakhs.
McMaster University acceptance rate is around 59%, whereas, that of Wilfrid Laurier University is 89%. A comparison of these 3 universities for reference is given below:
Particulars | UNF | McMaster University | Wilfrid Laurier University |
|---|---|---|---|
No. of Courses offered | Around 5 | 280+ | 75+ |
Annual tuition fees | Between INR 12.08 L – INR 19.3 L | Between INR 2 L - 58 L | Between INR 9 L - 32 L |
Location | Niagara Falls, Ontario | Hamilton, Canada | Waterloo, Canada |
Shiksha Popularity Ranking | - | #6 | #30 |
Yes, you can work off-campus in Canada even if you don't have a study permit, but only if the requirements mentioned below are met:
- Should be studying at a designated learning institute
- Must be enrolled in either a post-secondary, vocational or professional training program or a secondary-level vocational training program
- Must be enrolled in a course that is at least 6 months long & results in a degree, Diploma or certificate
- The course you have enrolled in, must have begun
- Must have a Social Security Number
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For FDU Vancouver, the acceptance rate has not been mentioned but, this is one of the campuses of FDU New Jersey University, so, the acceptance rate can be considered as 87%. The acceptance rate signifies that the university is less selective during admission, but, there are a few of the master’s programs of the university that are highly competitive to get into such as MSc in Applied Computer Science.