Fully Funded Scholarships for Graduate Students in Canada 2025-26

With world-renowned universities, a diversified culture, and high standards of living, Canada is one of the favorite destinations for international students to complete advanced degrees. In fact, a lot of graduate students consider the cost of education as a major factor in their decision.

Thankfully, Canada has a variety of graduate scholarships that are fully funded to support the students so that they can focus on study and research rather than finance. This guide has discussed some of the best fully funded graduate student scholarships in Canada for the 2025-26 year, underlining useful insights on their eligibility, their benefits, and how one can apply.

1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)

Among the most prestigious awards in Canada are the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships. In an attempt to attract and retain world-class doctoral students, much promise is accorded to Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, both to Canadian and international students.

Key Details:

• Value: $50,000 CAD for up to three years.
• Eligibility: To all Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign students wishing to pursue a doctoral level degree in Canada.
• Fields of Study: Social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and health.
• Selection Criteria: Academic excellence, research potential, and leadership qualities.

Application Procedure: Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian institution with which they would like to study. Since the competition for this scholarship is very intense, it is imperative that the applicant cooperate as much as possible with the selected university.

Deadline: Usually in November; however, one should take note that the individual institution deadlines might vary.

2. Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are targeted toward postdoctoral researchers, planned to support the best international and domestic talent. This program is intended to make a significant contribution to developing leadership potential among scholars who will become the next generation of academic and research leaders in Canada and around the world.

Details:

• Value: CAD 70,000 per year for two years.
• Eligibility: This award is open to Canadian and International Postdoctoral students that must have already completed a PhD or its equivalent in Health, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, or Humanities. The candidate should select based on research excellence, leadership qualities, and how the research interests align to Canada’s priority.

Application Procedure: An applicant must apply directly with details related to the research project, academic achievements, and leadership potential. This is a highly competitive fellowship; the applicants should ensure that their research proposal corresponds closely with Canada’s strategic priorities for research.

Deadline: Usually in September, announcements in the following spring

3. Trudeau Foundation Scholarships

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation has a few post-doctoral scholarship opportunities available for the best scholars in the social sciences and humanities. This program brings into being leaders committed to important problems facing all Canadians and the world.

Key Information:

• Amount: Up to CAD 60,000 for three years, plus allowance for travel and research.
• Eligibility: Available to international and Canadian students.
• Focus Areas: Human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada in the world, and people and their natural environment.

Application Process: The nomination has to come from the Canadian institution which the student applies to. It involves a personal statement, a research proposal, and the submission of supporting documents such as letters of reference.

Deadline: Typically in December.

4. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

The OGS is one of the best sources of funding for students in Ontario Universities. While this scholarship is not meant for international students, many Canadian universities have accepted international applications into this fund; therefore, it is worth considering for those who wish to study in Ontario.

Details:

• Value: CA$ 5,000 per session; up to three sessions (one year), CA$ 15,000.
• Eligibility: It is meant for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students at the master’s or doctoral level in the participating Ontario institutions.
• Selection Criteria: Academic excellence, research experience, and leadership.

Application Procedure: The application happens through the selected institution itself as each university decides upon its selection process. In many universities, a student is required to submit a research proposal, transcripts, and letters of reference.

Time: Depends on the institution but usually falls between January and March.

5. University-Specific Scholarships

Most Canadian universities welcome graduate students with fully funded scholarships. Some notable ones are as follows:

• University of Toronto Fellowships: The University includes different fellowship programs aimed at international graduate students, including Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Provost’s Graduate Scholarships, and so on.
• UBC Graduate Scholarships: The University of British Columbia offers International Tuition Award and Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship, tuitions covered with living stipends to the students upon meeting the eligibility criteria.
• McGill University Graduate Scholarships: McGill has varying graduate scholarship opportunities, including the Tomlinson Doctoral Fellowships, intended to assist McGill in attracting exceptional doctoral students with an excellent grant offer.

6. Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program (CGS-M)

The CGS-M is intended to help fund meritorious students in Canada who want to pursue a master’s degree. Funding is sourced through three federal granting agencies: CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC. Funding agencies at the individual levels are responsible for areas of study as listed below:

Key Information:

• Value: CAD 17,500 for one year
• Eligibility: Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible international students
• Areas: Natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities.

Application Procedure: Applications must be sent in via the Research Portal, where students would state their host institutions. In applying for this scholarship, such students must have a good academic standing and a clearly outlined research proposal.

Deadline: December, but with instructions to apply is forwarded by the selected Canadian university or institution.

7. Mitacs Globalink Research Award

Although not strictly a scholarship, the Mitacs Globalink Research Award provides the opportunity for international students to take part in research work in Canada under the supervision of a Canadian faculty member. Mitacs collaborates with numerous universities in order to allow world research collaboration.

Key Details:

• Value: CAD 6,000 toward research placements of 12–24 weeks.
• Eligibility: graduate students from eligible countries with research in Canada in collaboration with a Canadian faculty member.
• Area of Study: All Disciplines Welcome

Application Procedure: Applications must be made in collaboration with a Canadian university faculty supervisor, and the home institution is required to formally indicate its support for the student’s application. The program promotes cross-border collaboration; hence, this is a good opportunity if the research interests are international.

Deadline: Varies: depends on the specific agreement between Mitacs and the university or country concerned.

Application Tips for Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada

Keeping that in mind, here are a few tips that would raise your chances of landing a fully funded scholarship:

1. Research Early: Begin at least a year early to research available scholarships. Many fully funded scholarships are very competitive and take some serious preparation.

2. Understand the Requirements: Each scholarship has its particular criteria for eligibility, along with the requirements for application. Ensure that you meet each one of the set criteria and prepare your application materials with care.

3. Demonstrate Your Leadership and Research Potential: A lot of scholarships place a high premium on applicants showing leadership potential and research potential. Show this in your application.

4. Develop Good References: Approach professors, mentors, or supervisors who can write you detailed letters of reference. Letters of recommendation make all the difference in highly competitive selections.

5. Work with Your Chosen Institution: Most scholarships require nominations to be made by Canadian institutions. It pays to cultivate a good relationship with your institution.

Canada has an array of fully funded graduate scholarships that make the country very appealing to students from every part of the world. Whether your interest is in a research-based doctoral program or a master’s in a professional field, there’s likely a scholarship available to support your academic journey.

With thorough research, early preparation, and a strong presentation of application, you will be in an excellent position to win a prestigious fully-funded scholarship to pursue your graduate studies in Canada for the academic year 2025-26.