Canada continues to be a prime destination for international students seeking quality higher education, a multicultural environment, and strong research opportunities. However, tuition, living costs, and other expenses can be significant. Thankfully, several fully funded scholarships in Canada for 2025 aim to ease or eliminate these financial burdens. Whether you're interested in undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, or postdoctoral study, these scholarships offer comprehensive support—often including tuition, living stipends, travel, and research funding. Below are some of the top fully funded scholarships to apply to in 2025, along with eligibility tips and strategies.
What Defines a Fully Funded Scholarship in Canada
A fully funded scholarship typically covers:
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Full or near-full tuition fees
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A stipend for living expenses
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Health insurance or medical coverage
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Travel or relocation grants (in some cases)
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Additional allowances for books, research, or conferences
These scholarships are most competitive but offer great value. Most are awarded based on merit—academic excellence, research potential, leadership—and sometimes financial need or community involvement.
Top Fully Funded Scholarships in 2025
Here are some of the most prestigious, competitive, and generous fully funded scholarships in Canada available for international students in 2025:
1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
The Vanier CGS is among Canada’s top scholarship programs for doctoral students. Wikipedia+3Study Abroad Portal+3Heritage Plus+3
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Level: PhD
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Value: CAD $50,000 per year for up to 3 years. Study Abroad Portal+2Wikipedia+2
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Fields: Health, natural sciences & engineering, social sciences & humanities. Study Abroad Portal+1
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Eligibility: International students must be nominated by a Canadian university with a Vanier quota; must show leadership and research excellence. Study Abroad Portal+2Wikipedia+2
2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto)
An undergraduate scholarship designed to recognize exceptional students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership. CampusCybercafe+3Heritage Plus+3Fully Scholarships+3
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Level: Undergraduate
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Value: Full tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence support for four years. Heritage Plus+2Fully Scholarships+2
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Eligibility: Outstanding international high school students; requires school nomination and a strong profile of leadership and creativity. Heritage Plus+1
3. UBC International Scholars Program (University of British Columbia)
UBC offers several entrance awards recognizing both merit and financial need. Heritage Plus+2upGrad+2
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Level: Undergraduate
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Value: Covers tuition and some living expenses depending on the award (e.g., International Leader of Tomorrow, Donald A. Wehrung Awards) Heritage Plus+2Scholarship Laden+2
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Eligibility: International students with strong academic achievement, leadership, and sometimes financial need. Heritage Plus
4. McCall MacBain Scholarships (McGill University)
This is a highly selective scholarship for master’s and PhD programs at McGill. Skilled Immigrations+1
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Level: Master’s & Doctoral
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Value: Full tuition and a stipend; includes a relocation grant and other research/travel support. Skilled Immigrations
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Eligibility: Applicants must show leadership, academic excellence, and research potential. Skilled Immigrations
5. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
These focus on social sciences and humanities and emphasize public engagement and leadership. upGrad+1
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Level: PhD
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Value: Covers a significant stipend, research funds, travel grants, etc. upGrad+1
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Eligibility: International students pursuing research with emphasis on public policy, ethics, and human rights in eligible Canadian universities. upGrad
Other Notable Funding Opportunities
Beyond these flagship scholarships, there are additional opportunities that may either be fully funded or nearly so:
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Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) – Merit-based funding for graduate students in Ontario. While sometimes it needs to be combined with other awards, it provides a strong support base. ScholarWaka
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UBC Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) – For doctoral students whose research connects to the public benefit, offering additional funding. ScholarWaka
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University-Alberta Graduate Scholarships – Several awards that help cover tuition and living expenses for international graduate students. Scholarship Laden
Eligibility, Application & Competition
These scholarships are highly competitive. Here are factors to understand & prepare for:
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Academic Excellence – High grades, strong transcripts, sometimes standardized test scores or proof of research ability.
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Research Potential & Fit – Especially for PhD or doctoral level scholarships, having a clear research proposal and connection with faculty or supervisors at the Canadian institution helps.
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Leadership & Impact – Many scholarships seek candidates who show leadership, community service, public engagement, or social impact.
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Nominations – Some scholarships like Vanier require that the student be nominated by the institution; this makes institutional choice and early contact with mentors important.
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Deadlines are Strict – Many of these programs have fixed annual timelines (often in late fall or early winter). Missing the deadline can mean waiting an entire year.
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Additional Requirements – May need English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent), proof of financial statement or minimum funding requirements, letters of recommendation, and sometimes interviews or essays.
Tips to Maximize Your Chances
To give yourself the best shot at winning a fully funded scholarship in Canada:
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Start Early – Begin preparing materials, reaching out to potential supervisors, and planning applications many months in advance.
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Maintain Strong Grades and Academic Profile – Excellence matters, especially if competing with global applicants.
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Build a Research or Leadership Portfolio – Publish, participate, volunteer, lead projects if possible.
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Tailor Applications Towards Scholarship Goals – Show alignment with the values of the scholarship: research excellence, leadership, public engagement, or community benefit.
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Apply Widely – Don’t put all hope into one scholarship; apply to several qualifying ones to increase your overall chances.
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Reach out for Mentorship – If possible, talk to past recipients, professors, or institutional financial aid offices to learn what made successful applications stand out.
Conclusion
Canada offers some of the most generous and prestigious fully funded scholarships in 2025 for international students. From the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and McCall MacBain for postgraduate research to the Lester B. Pearson and UBC International Scholars Program for undergraduates, there are excellent options across levels of study.
Securing such a scholarship demands excellent academic performance, strong leadership qualities, careful preparation, and well-crafted applications. But for those who succeed, the rewards are significant—not just financial relief, but access to top-tier education, leading research environments, global networks, and life-changing opportunities.