Canada is well-known for being a safe, stable, open and welcoming country. The country is ranked the ninth best study-abroad destination in the world, according to the US News & World Report.
That, however, is not all the Great White North is known for.
Canada offers many beneficial opportunities for international students — from affordable universities to post-study work opportunities to seize.
If you’re looking for PhD scholarships in Canada, you’re in luck! There are over 800 scholarships available for international students for the term 2025 to 2026.
With these many scholarships available, there may even be scholarships that you are eligible for that you didn’t know existed.
So, don’t worry — we have listed down the top 10 PhD scholarships in Canada for international students for you.
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The University of Alberta is a comprehensive academic and research university established in 1908.
The university consistently ranks as one of Canada’s top destinations for international students due to the many funding opportunities available.
Among the scholarships offered is the Graduate Entrance Scholarship, available to all students enrolled in a master’s or doctoral programme.
Recipients of the scholarship pursuing a PhD will receive a stipend of 21,000 Canadian dollars (US$15,178), and an additional CA$10,000 (US$7,227) will be given to international students to help cover the cost of their fees.
The deadline for the scholarship varies throughout the year, depending on your admission period.
The University of Waterloo is a public research university in Ontario, Canada, and is ranked seventh as the Best Global Universities in Canada, according to US News & World Report.
The university offers scholarships for all international students in undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes. The University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship awards CA$1,000 (US$722) per term for up to three terms. Students must have a minimum first-class (80%) cumulative average in their current programme or over the last two full-time academic years and be within the time limits of their graduate programme.
The best thing? No application is required as graduate departments will nominate eligible students automatically based on their allocation of funds.
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The University of Saskatchewan is renowned for its highly collaborative research environment and is ranked number one in Canada for water research.
Here, you’ll find numerous awards, scholarships, and bursaries to help fund your postgraduate education. The College of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS) alone administers over CA$14 million in scholarships yearly.
In fact, a majority of USask’s PhD programmes now offer a guaranteed funding package of CA$20,000 (US$14,455) per year for four years for newly admitted PhD students. Prospective applicants are encouraged to talk to the programme for information on entrance funding opportunities.
McGill University is a leading university, placing second in all of Canada and ranking #29 globally according to the QS World University Rankings 2025. The best news? Funding packages are offered to all PhDs, and 95% of PhD students have their full tuition costs covered.
Even better — all international PhD students receive funding to cover the difference between Quebec resident and International tuition. Most PhDs will also receive funding to offset other university fees, health insurance and living costs.
The university has a comprehensive list of funding opportunities that you can find here.
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If you’ve got any proficiency in French or wish to truly immerse yourself in the unique culture of Montréal, Québec, the University of Montréal (UdeM) is the place to be. Note that to be eligible for a graduate programme, you must demonstrate that your knowledge of French meets the requirements for your study programme.
Here, you’ll find the UdeM exemption scholarship programme, designed to ensure students from all over the world can attend one of the top research universities in Canada.
For PhD students, a complete waiver of the additional tuition fees normally charged to international students is available, allowing you to benefit from the same tuition fees as Québec graduate studies students.
A full-time programme of 45 credits will be CA$22,908 (US$16,557), and the amount of the scholarship is deducted from the tuition fees.
Canada’s best university, according to the QS World University Rankings 2025, is the University of Toronto, located in Ontario.
As a PhD student, you will receive a base funding package for up to five years of your study period. If selected, international recipients will receive CA$40,756 (US$29,457) and a University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) of CA$756 (US$546).
Applicants would need to maintain their academic performance in their programme to remain eligible for the funding throughout the five years.
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The University of Ottawa offers an International Doctoral Scholarship to all international students enrolled in a PhD programme.
Students get CA$45,000 (US$32,524) over five years — a maximum value of CA$3,000 (US$2,168) per term, for 15 consecutive terms, which will be credited to the student account.
The university also offers a Special Merit Scholarship that you won’t have to submit an application for; you will be automatically considered at the time of admission, and if chosen, you will receive a scholarship offer along with your admission offer.
The value and duration of this scholarship vary depending on the programme you enrol in.
The University of Lethbridge is one of Canada’s top three research universities and is ranked among the 6% of world universities for research performance.
The Graduate Research Award aims to provide financial support to all graduate students at the university. This financial support is provided to all students except those within the Faculty of Education.
Applicants will be considered upon admission and can receive up to CA$21,000 (US$15,178).
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Concordia University is one of the top public universities in Montréal, Canada.
The university offers awards and scholarships to all students pursuing a PhD programme, including ones that eliminate out-of-province fees, bringing them down to the Quebec rate, or provide a significant reduction in these fees.
The International Tuition Award of Excellence, for example, reduces tuition for international students pursuing a PhD by approximately CA$44,893 (US$32,447). Meanwhile, the Doctoral Graduate Fellowship grants exceptional doctoral students a highly sought-after entrance award that is valued at CA$14,000(US$10,118) per year for four years.
The University of British Columbia is one of the top universities in the world, ranked #38 by the QS World University Rankings 2025.
The Four Year Doctoral Fellowship is an outstanding choice for students wanting to pursue a PhD at this university. This programme ensures that students who have achieved academic excellence will receive financial support of at least CA$18,200 (US$13,154) annually on top of full tuition coverage.
This scholarship is available to all international students and is ongoing based on admission.
With over 100 postgraduate programmes across the University of Guelph‘s seven colleges, any student will find their match under the school’s halls throughout its three campuses.
Here, the International Doctoral Tuition Scholarship offers PhD students CA$12,500 (US$9,045) per year for up to four years — essentially covering the difference between international and domestic tuition. Better yet, the scholarship requires no application, as students who meet all eligibility criteria will receive it automatically.
The university also offers a range of other subject-specific scholarships, which you can learn more about here.
Ranked within the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings 2025, McMaster University is home to over 70 research institutes. In 2024, the university ranked first in graduate student research intensity and second in faculty research intensity by Research Infosource, Canada’s premier national print and digital publication.
Full-time PhD students will find plenty of financial support which meets or exceeds an annual minimum value equal to full-time tuition plus CA$17,500 (US$12,663).
For example, the Alvin Irwin Ogilvie Graduate Scholarship awards PhD candidates in the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences CA$6,000 (US$4,341) annually, while those who are pursuing their studies in social welfare policy in their thesis research might have a chance at the Dr. Richard Splane PhD Scholarship: Social Policy in Social Work, which awards approximately up to CA$2,500 (US$1,809) a year.
Aside from universities, the government offers several PhD scholarships in Canada. Source: AFP
Aside from universities, the Canadian government offers scholarships that are available for international PhD students.
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is offered to international students undertaking postgraduate programmes within the field of health research, natural sciences or engineering and social sciences and humanities.
Apply by the end of April to stand the chance to receive this scholarship of up to CA$70,000 (US$50,594) per year.
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is one of the most prominent scholarships offered by the Canadian government. This fully funded scholarship is open to all international PhD students.
Applicants will be selected based on academic excellence, research potential and leadership abilities. This scholarship is valued at CA$50,000 (US$36,138) per year for three years.
Many PhD scholarships in Canada aim to provide financial assistance to international students. Source: AFP
The scholarship application process in Canada can be a little daunting, especially for first-time applicants. Not to worry. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions to guide you through the process:
In Canada, the scholarship application process begins with first receiving an acceptance letter into a Canadian university.
Once you have that sorted, shortlist the scholarships that you are eligible for and best fit your needs. Contact your university’s financial aid representative or head over to the website for more details on deadlines and requirements before submitting your application.
Your chances of receiving a scholarship depend on the scholarship’s nature and eligibility. Most scholarships are awarded based on academic achievements.
However, you have a higher chance of receiving a scholarship if you have work or volunteer experience.
The requirement for a PhD scholarship in Canada differs for each. However, the basic requirement is first to be accepted into a PhD programme. To do so, you must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Start applying early to stand a chance at scoring a scholarship. By starting early, you will have more time and opportunities available to you.
The second tip would be to apply for as many scholarships as possible. The more you apply, the higher your chances of winning a scholarship.
As a PhD student in Canada, you will be eligible to work on and off campus as long as you have a valid study permit. However, while the semester is running, you will only be able to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week. During semester breaks, students can work full-time.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on April 23, 2025.
