University of Toronto Scholarships: A Guide for 2026

What University of Toronto scholarships are available for international students?

The University of Toronto offers two main scholarship routes for international students in our listings. The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is for undergraduates and covers the full cost of study for four years. The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is for master's and PhD students and pays $5,000 per session, up to $15,000 for three sessions.

These are different awards with different application systems. The Pearson is run by the University and requires a school nomination. The OGS is funded jointly by the Province of Ontario and the University, and you apply through your graduate unit. Neither is automatic: you have to apply separately, and in the Pearson's case, be nominated first.

For a wider view of funding in the country, see our list of scholarships in Canada for international students. You can also browse the filtered list for this page to see current openings.

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship: who qualifies and what it pays

The Pearson is the University of Toronto's flagship undergraduate award for international students. It is open to non-Canadians who require a study permit, including students already studying at Canadian high schools. Each year about 37 students are named Lester B. Pearson Scholars.

The scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years. It starts in September 2027 for the current round. You must be in your final year of senior secondary school in 2026/2027 or have graduated no earlier than June 2026. Students already in post-secondary study cannot be considered, and neither can students starting post-secondary studies in January 2027 at another institution.

What the Pearson covers

• Tuition for four years
• Books
• Incidental fees
• Full residence support

The award is tied to your first choice of program at U of T at the time scholarship decisions are made. You may apply to several programs and receive admission to them all, but the scholarship, if awarded, is restricted to that first choice.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship at the University of Toronto: master's and PhD funding

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is a merit-based award for graduate students in any discipline at the University of Toronto. It is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and the University. It is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and international students with a valid student visa.

The value is $5,000 per session. Awardees may receive $10,000 for two consecutive sessions or $15,000 for three consecutive sessions. In every case the awarding graduate unit contributes one-third of the total award cost. The exact value and duration are set by the unit and stated in the offer letter.

Eligibility in brief

• Full-time enrolment in an eligible master's or PhD program at the University of Toronto
• At least an A- average in each of the last two completed years of full-time study, or an overall A- on all graduate courses if you have completed two years of graduate study
• Good standing with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
• For international students, a valid student visa by the graduate unit's deadline, or by 31 March 2020 at the latest at the unit's discretion

Master's students may hold OGS awards for a maximum of two years and doctoral students for a maximum of four years, subject to a lifetime maximum of six years per student. You cannot hold an OGS and another government-funded award at the same time.

Deadlines and timeline for University of Toronto scholarships

The two awards run on very different clocks. The Pearson has fixed dates for the current round, while the OGS deadline depends on your graduate unit. Use the table below to plan.

For the Pearson, the school nomination deadline comes first. Without a nomination you cannot complete the scholarship application. For the OGS, the unit deadline is the one that matters, and it can fall months before the central deadline. Results for the OGS are announced in mid-July.

How to apply for the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship step by step

1. Ask your school about nomination. You must be nominated by your school. High schools not already contacted or verified are asked to submit an application for nomination rights.
2. Apply to the University of Toronto by 16 October 2026. This is the admissions deadline for entry in September 2027. You will be considered for the Pearson for your first choice of program.
3. Complete the online Pearson application by 6 November 2026. You receive a private link to the scholarship application once your school nominates you.
4. Submit all documents online by 6 November 2026. Do not leave this to the last week.

The school nomination deadline is 9 October 2026. Work backwards from that date with your school counsellor, because the school has its own internal process before it submits your nomination.

How to apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship step by step

1. Check your graduate unit's deadline. Each unit sets its own internal deadline. Confirm it before you start.
2. Prepare your OGS application. All components are online: the OGS application form, transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, previous awards, publications, conference and research experience, a plan of study of up to two pages (one page for the plan and one for references or citations), and two academic references submitted online.
3. Submit to your proposed graduate unit through the centralized online OGS application. If you apply to more than one graduate unit or department at the University of Toronto, send a separate OGS application to each one.
4. Meet the visa condition if you are an international student. You need a valid student visa by the unit's OGS visa application deadline, or by 31 March 2020 at the latest at the unit's discretion.
5. Wait for the unit to forward applications. Graduate units select and forward a limited number of applications to the School of Graduate Studies for centralized adjudication by 1 June 2020.

Unofficial and student-issued transcripts are permitted, such as ACORN screenshots. That makes the document stage faster than it looks, but the plan of study still needs time.

Documents and selection: what the committees look at

For the Pearson, the selection looks at academic results, creativity and leadership at school, and the difference you have made to your school and community. The nomination from your school is part of the process, so your school's own assessment matters.

For the OGS, the award is merit-based and the key academic threshold is at least an A- in each of the last two completed years of full-time study. If you have completed two years of graduate study, the test is an overall A- on all graduate courses. If marks for GPA calculation are unavailable, for example pass-fail courses, the next most recent available undergraduate or graduate marks are used.

Graduate units may make exceptions for highly meritorious applicants below the GPA minimum, such as those with documented medical issues or family care responsibilities, those who have pursued alternative career paths, or mature students with professional experience. Contact your proposed unit to confirm how it applies this criterion.

Your plan of study and references carry weight in the OGS file. Write the plan yourself, keep it within the two-page limit, and choose referees who know your academic work.

Who these University of Toronto scholarships suit, and who should look elsewhere

Who the Pearson suits: international students in their final year of secondary school, or recent graduates within the eligibility window, who have a strong academic record and can show leadership and community impact. It also suits students at Canadian high schools, who are explicitly eligible.

Who should look elsewhere for undergraduate funding: students already in post-secondary study, and students starting post-secondary studies in January 2027 at another institution. The Pearson cannot consider them.

Who the OGS suits: full-time master's and PhD students at the University of Toronto with at least an A- average, including international students with a valid student visa. It suits students who can meet their graduate unit's internal deadline.

Who should look elsewhere for graduate funding: students not enrolled full-time in an eligible program, and anyone planning to hold another government-funded award at the same time. If you are still choosing a country, compare our lists of scholarships in the United States and scholarships in the United Kingdom.

Common mistakes with University of Toronto scholarship applications

• Missing the nomination. The Pearson requires a school nomination. Without it you cannot complete the scholarship application, however strong your grades.
• Applying to the wrong program choice. The Pearson is restricted to your first choice of program at the time decisions are made. Think about that choice before you apply.
• Using one OGS application for several units. You need a separate application for each graduate unit or department, and OGS awards are not transferable between universities.
• Assuming one OGS deadline. Each graduate unit sets its own internal deadline. Check yours, not your friend's.
• Leaving the visa condition late. International OGS applicants need a valid student visa by the unit's deadline, or by 31 March 2020 at the latest at the unit's discretion.
• Ignoring the plan of study limit. The OGS plan of study is a maximum of two pages, one for the plan and one for references or citations.

Alternatives and related funding to compare

If neither award fits, there are other routes. The Humber International Entrance Scholarships at Humber College, Canada are for undergraduate study at a different institution and range from $1,500 to $4,000 based on the GPA you have when you are admitted. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program for African Students provides tuition, accommodation, books and more at partner institutions. For free study options that build your profile, see edX free online courses from MIT, Harvard, UC Berkeley and more.

Country-level lists are a good next step: scholarships in Germany, scholarships in Australia and scholarships in the Netherlands. If you are still exploring fields, browse engineering scholarships or any field of study scholarships. Our guides and scholarship tips cover application basics.