Frequently Asked Questions

What GPA Do You Need for Scholarships in Canada?

This is the most common question we get, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on the scholarship. There's no single GPA threshold that opens or closes the door to all funding in Canada.

Academic merit scholarships

The big entrance awards at Canadian universities typically require an admission average of 80% or higher, with the largest awards (President's Scholarships, Chancellor's Awards) requiring 90-95%+. Here's a rough guide:

• 95%+ average: Eligible for the most competitive entrance awards ($5,000-$30,000+)
• 90-94% average: Eligible for strong entrance scholarships ($2,000-$10,000)
• 80-89% average: Eligible for many automatic entrance awards ($500-$4,000)
• Below 80%: Fewer automatic merit awards, but many other scholarships don't consider GPA at all

Scholarships that don't focus on grades

A significant portion of Canadian scholarships are based on factors other than academic achievement:

• Need-based bursaries — your financial situation matters more than your GPA
• Community leadership awards — some don't even ask for your transcript
• Identity-based scholarships — for Indigenous students, students with disabilities, first-generation students, etc.
• Creative and athletic awards — your portfolio or sport performance is what counts
• Employer and union scholarships — often based on a parent's or your own employment

The bottom line: Don't let a less-than-perfect GPA stop you from applying. Many of our matched scholarships have no minimum GPA requirement at all. The students who win the most funding aren't always the ones with the highest grades — they're the ones who apply the most strategically.

Are There Scholarships for International Students in Canada?

Yes — but the landscape is different from what domestic students face. International students in Canada generally aren't eligible for government student aid (OSAP, StudentAid BC, etc.), so scholarships and university awards are even more important.

University entrance scholarships for international students

Most major Canadian universities offer entrance scholarships specifically for international students. These are competitive and usually require strong academic records:

• University of Toronto: Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (full tuition + residence + books for 4 years)
• UBC: International Major Entrance Scholarship ($20,000-$40,000+)
• McGill: Entrance scholarships for international students starting at $3,000
• Waterloo: International Student Entrance Scholarships ($2,000-$10,000)
• Most universities have additional faculty-specific international awards

Government-funded international scholarships

• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: $50,000/year for 3 years for doctoral students (open to international students)
• Trudeau Foundation Scholarships: For doctoral students in social sciences and humanities
• Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED): For students from ASEAN member states
• Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP): Short-term exchanges for students from Latin America and the Caribbean

Private and foundation scholarships

Some private scholarships are open to international students studying in Canada: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (for students from Sub-Saharan Africa), the Aga Khan Foundation scholarships (for students from developing countries), and various corporate awards. Check each scholarship's eligibility criteria carefully — "Canadian student" and "student studying in Canada" are different requirements.

How to Get Strong Reference Letters for Scholarship Applications

A great reference letter can make the difference between a shortlist and a rejection. Here's how to get references that actually help you:

Who to ask

• Teachers who know you well — not necessarily the one who gave you the highest grade, but the one who can speak to your character, work ethic, and growth
• Guidance counsellors — they have context about your overall high school experience and can speak to your trajectory
• Employers or supervisors — especially for awards that value leadership or work experience
• Community leaders — coaches, volunteer coordinators, religious leaders, or mentors who've seen you in action

How to ask (and what to provide)

1. Ask in person first: "Would you be comfortable writing me a strong reference letter for [scholarship name]?" The word "strong" matters — it gives them an easy out if they can't write a genuinely positive letter.
2. Give them 4-6 weeks notice (minimum 3). Teachers are writing references for many students.
3. Provide a "reference package": Your resume, the scholarship description, any specific prompts the referee needs to address, and 2-3 bullet points of things you'd like them to highlight.
4. Send a reminder one week before the deadline — politely.
5. Follow up with a thank-you note regardless of the outcome.

Common mistakes

• Asking someone you barely know (a famous professor you took one course with won't write a compelling letter)
• Asking family members (most scholarships explicitly prohibit this)
• Not providing enough context about the scholarship
• Asking at the last minute — a rushed letter is obvious to committees

Are There Scholarships with No Essay in Canada?

Yes, and they fall into a few categories. If you hate writing essays (or just don't have time for another one), these are worth targeting:

Automatic entrance scholarships

The most common "no-essay" scholarships in Canada are automatic university entrance awards. You don't apply for these — your university automatically considers you based on your admission average. Examples:

• Waterloo: President's Scholarship of Distinction ($2,000) at 95%+
• Western: Scholarship of Distinction ($3,000) at 90%+
• Carleton: Automatic entrance awards starting at 80%+
• Most Ontario, Alberta, and BC universities offer some form of automatic entrance award

Short-form and profile-based scholarships

Some scholarships require only a short application form (no essay). These typically ask for basic information about your background, activities, and financial situation. They're often smaller amounts ($500-$2,000) but the application effort is minimal.

Provincial government grants

Government student grants (like the Canada Student Grant and provincial grants through OSAP, StudentAid BC, etc.) don't require essays. You apply through your provincial student aid portal and are assessed based on financial need. These can be worth $3,000-$6,000+ per year — far more than many essay-based scholarships.

Automatic Entrance Scholarships in Canada

Automatic entrance scholarships are awards that universities grant based solely on your admission average — no separate application, no essay, no interview. You just need to meet the grade threshold. These are some of the easiest scholarships to "win" in Canada.

How they work

When you apply to a Canadian university through the relevant admissions portal (OUAC for Ontario, ApplyAlberta, EducationPlannerBC, etc.), the university automatically evaluates your admission average against their scholarship grid. If you meet the threshold, the award is applied to your tuition account — you don't need to do anything else.

Sample automatic entrance scholarship grids

Are automatic scholarships renewable?

Most automatic entrance scholarships are one-time awards (applied to your first year only). However, many universities offer in-course scholarships for students who maintain a high GPA — these are also often automatic. Check your university's website for the specific renewal conditions.

Important: Even if you qualify for an automatic entrance scholarship, you should still apply for competitive awards at the same university. Automatic awards and competitive awards often stack — meaning you can receive both.

When Should You Start Applying for Canadian Scholarships?

The honest answer: earlier than you think, and on a rolling schedule throughout high school and university. Here is how the timing typically works in Canada.

Grade 11 and the year before post-secondary

This is when the largest national prizes open their applications. The Loran Scholarship (~$100,000 over four years) closes in October. The Schulich Leader Scholarships (up to $120,000) require school nominations in January. TD Scholarships for Community Leadership ($70,000) close in November. Most universities' top entrance awards (President's, Chancellor's, Major Entrance Scholarships) require a separate application due between November and February of your final year of high school.

During your application to the university

Automatic entrance scholarships are evaluated when you submit your university application through OUAC (Ontario), ApplyAlberta, EducationPlannerBC, or the direct portal. For most schools, applying by the early-bird deadline (December–January) is what triggers the automatic scholarship review.

Every year of post-secondary

In-course scholarships, faculty-specific awards, and external private scholarships open and close throughout the year. Set a recurring reminder each September and February to scan for awards relevant to your program, and check your university's financial aid office portal at least once per term.

Graduate-level awards

SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR doctoral applications close in fall (typically October–December) for the following September. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are nominated by your university — check internal deadlines, which can be as early as September.

Are Scholarships, Bursaries, and Grants Taxable in Canada?

For most Canadian post-secondary students, the answer is reassuring: scholarships, bursaries, fellowships, and most grants are exempt from income tax. But the exemption rules differ based on your enrolment status, so it is worth understanding the details.

Full-time students

If you are enrolled full-time in a qualifying post-secondary program (one that makes you eligible to claim the full-time education amount), the entire amount of your scholarships, bursaries, and fellowships is exempt from federal income tax under the Income Tax Act. You will still receive a T4A slip, and the amount must be reported on your return — but the exemption is then applied so that no tax is owed on it.

Part-time students

Part-time students have a more limited exemption. Generally, the exempt amount is capped at the cost of your tuition plus the cost of program-related materials. Anything above that may be taxable.

Graduate fellowships and post-doctoral fellowships

Graduate fellowships received in connection with a qualifying degree program (Master's, PhD) generally fall under the same full-time scholarship exemption. Post-doctoral fellowship income is treated differently and is typically taxable as it is generally considered employment-like income — consult the CRA's current guidance or a tax professional for your specific situation.

Employer-funded education benefits

If your scholarship comes through an employer (yours or a parent's), the tax treatment changes. These awards may be partially or fully taxable as employment income.

Can I Receive Multiple Scholarships, and How Do They Affect OSAP?

Yes — most Canadian scholarships, bursaries, and awards stack with each other. Unless a specific provider's terms say otherwise, you can receive an external scholarship, an automatic entrance award, an in-course departmental award, and a need-based bursary all in the same year. The complication is what happens when you also receive government student aid.

How OSAP and provincial aid treat scholarship income

Government grants and loans like OSAP, StudentAid BC, Alberta Student Aid, AFE in Quebec, and the Canada Student Grants treat scholarship income as a "resource" that may reduce your assessed need. The general rule across most provinces:

• The first $1,800 per study period of scholarship and bursary income is typically exempt — meaning it does not reduce your aid.
• Amounts above the exemption reduce your assessed need on a roughly dollar-for-dollar basis, which can lower your loan and grant amount.
• Indigenous-specific funding, RESP withdrawals, and certain disability-related awards are often treated differently. Check the specific rules for your provincial aid program.

What happens if you do not report

Failing to report scholarship income on a student aid application is treated as a serious misrepresentation. Provinces routinely audit recipients by comparing T4A slips against student aid records. The consequence can be repayment of the entire grant amount, suspension from future student aid, and in severe cases, fraud investigations. Always report all awards honestly.

Strategy for maximising aid

If you are between the OSAP grant threshold and a small scholarship, time the disbursement so it lands after your study period ends — many providers allow this. For larger awards that will inevitably reduce your government grants, prioritise the scholarship: it is non-repayable money in your account today, while the lost grant amount may sometimes convert to additional loan capacity, which is also non-repayable up to the loan-forgiveness thresholds in some provinces.

What's the Difference Between a Scholarship and a Fellowship in Canada?

Both are non-repayable awards, but the typical use case is different and worth understanding when you are searching for funding.

Scholarships

In Canada, the word "scholarship" is most commonly used for awards at the undergraduate level, given for academic merit, leadership, athletic achievement, or community contribution. They range from $500 automatic entrance awards to $30,000+ flagship scholarships like the Loran or Schulich. Some scholarships continue at the graduate level, but the term is less common there.

Fellowships

"Fellowship" usually refers to a graduate or post-graduate research award. The big national programs in Canada include:

• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: $50,000/year for three years for doctoral students
• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships: $70,000/year for two years
• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships: $20,000-$35,000/year for social sciences and humanities
• NSERC Doctoral Awards (PGS-D / CGS-D): $21,000-$35,000/year for natural sciences and engineering
• CIHR Doctoral Awards: Comparable amounts for health sciences
• Trudeau Foundation Scholarships: Doctoral students in social sciences and humanities

Fellowships often include not only a stipend but also research allowances, travel funding, and access to a community of scholars. Many also cover or offset tuition.

What Does Canadian Scholarship Helper Actually Do, and Is It Free?

Canadian Scholarship Helper is a free, account-free scholarship matching tool built for Canadian post-secondary students. There is no subscription, no upsell, and no paid placement.

How the matching works

1. You answer a 5-step quiz: province, field of study, year of study, identity-related criteria, and financial need.
2. Our matching engine scores every scholarship in our database against your profile, weighting eligibility, fit, and award value.
3. You receive a ranked shortlist with direct links to the official application pages.
4. Your answers stay in your browser session only — we do not store, sell, or share them.

What is in the database

Federal programs (Canada Student Grants, Canada Learning Bond, Vanier CGS, SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR), provincial aid for all 10 provinces (OSAP, StudentAid BC, AFE Quebec, etc.), university entrance and in-course scholarships across the country's major institutions, and identity-based, program-based, and community-based awards.

Editorial standards

Every listing is fact-checked against the official provider page before publication and re-verified on a rolling basis. We do not accept payment from providers for inclusion or ranking. Provider links go directly to the official application page — no tracking redirects, no affiliate links, no lead-generation forms. See the About page for the full editorial policy.