Best Scholarships to Study in Canada for Pakistani Students (2026)

Can Pakistani students get scholarships in Canada?

Yes, and many do every year. Canada is one of the more scholarship-friendly destinations because funding comes from three directions at once: the federal government, provincial governments, and the universities themselves. Pakistani students are eligible for most international awards as long as they meet the academic and admission requirements.

The reality is honest, though. Full scholarships are competitive and limited in number, especially at the undergraduate level, while partial awards and graduate funding are far more common. A smart plan is to target one or two flagship awards while also lining up the partial and entrance scholarships that most applicants can realistically win. Before you start, it helps to understand the wider cost you are trying to cover, which our guide on how much it costs to study in Canada from Pakistan lays out clearly.

What are the top fully funded scholarships?

A handful of Canadian awards cover most or all of your costs. These are the ones worth building an application around.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The Vanier is the headline federal award for doctoral students. It provides around 50,000 CAD per year for up to three years, which comfortably covers tuition and living. It targets strong research and leadership, and you usually need a university to nominate you, so you apply through the department, not directly.

University of Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

This is one of the few fully funded undergraduate awards in Canada. It covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years at the University of Toronto. It is highly competitive and requires a school nomination, but for a top undergraduate applicant it is life-changing.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

For those a step further along, the Banting supports postdoctoral researchers with around 70,000 CAD per year. It is research-heavy and prestigious.

Which government scholarships should you know?

Beyond the Vanier, the Canadian government funds several graduate awards that Pakistani students can access after admission.

• Canada Graduate Scholarships, Masters (CGS-M): around 27,000 CAD for one year of masters study, awarded through the university.
• NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR grants: research council funding tied to science, social science, and health fields, often paid through your supervisor.
• Canada-ASEAN and bilateral awards: occasional exchange and short-term study grants announced through official channels.

Many of these are paid as part of a funded graduate offer, so the smartest move is to apply to research programs where funding is built into the admission. For a broader menu of options across countries, our complete list of fully funded scholarships for Pakistani students is a good companion to this page.

Which universities offer the best scholarships?

University-specific awards are where most Pakistani students actually find money, because they are more numerous than the national flagships. The table below highlights strong options for 2026. Amounts vary each year, so confirm figures on each university page.

Most of these are automatic or semi-automatic, meaning a strong application for admission also puts you in the running for the award. Always read whether a separate scholarship form is needed. You can see how these institutions fit into the bigger picture on our Canada study page.

What provincial and graduate awards exist?

Provinces run their own schemes, and Ontario is the most active for international students.

• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS): around 15,000 CAD for masters and doctoral students at participating Ontario universities.
• Ontario Trillium Scholarship: a larger doctoral award of roughly 40,000 CAD per year for international PhD students.
• Quebec and Alberta provincial awards: smaller merit and research grants tied to specific institutions.

Provincial awards usually require you to already hold or be applying for admission to a university in that province, so pick your target early.

Are there scholarships for undergraduate students?

Yes, though full undergraduate funding is rarer than graduate funding. The University of Toronto Pearson is the standout full award. Beyond it, most undergraduate money comes as entrance scholarships from individual universities, ranging from a few thousand to over twenty thousand Canadian dollars, often renewable if you keep strong grades. UBC, Waterloo, Calgary, and Dalhousie all run these. A high school average, strong test scores where required, and a clear application improve your odds. Undergraduate applicants should apply widely, because a partial award at three or four universities gives you real choices.

Who is eligible for Canadian scholarships?

Eligibility varies by award, but the common threads are academic strength, a genuine admission or offer, and meeting any field or research requirements. For graduate awards, research potential and reference letters carry a lot of weight. Most scholarships expect proof of English proficiency, a solid academic record, and for many, a statement of purpose that connects your goals to the program. Financial need plays a smaller role in Canadian merit awards than in some other countries, so your academic profile is the main lever.

How do you apply for a Canada scholarship?

The process usually runs in this order:

• Research and shortlist: pick programs and note which scholarships attach to them.
• Check the route: confirm whether the award is automatic with admission, needs a separate form, or requires a university nomination.
• Apply for admission early: most scholarships depend on an early, complete admission application.
• Prepare your documents: transcripts, references, English scores, and a strong statement of purpose.
• Submit scholarship forms: where required, before the specific deadline, which is often earlier than the admission deadline.
• Follow up: stay in contact with the department, especially for nominated awards.

A convincing statement of purpose often decides close cases. Our guide on how to write a strong SOP for studying abroad from Pakistan shows you how to make yours stand out.

What documents do you need?

A typical Canadian scholarship application asks for:

• Academic transcripts and degree certificates.
• Proof of English proficiency, usually IELTS, TOEFL, or an accepted equivalent.
• Two or three reference letters, ideally academic.
• A statement of purpose or personal statement.
• A research proposal for graduate and doctoral awards.
• A CV highlighting achievements, projects, and leadership.

Quality matters more than quantity. Strong, specific references and a focused statement beat a long list of average documents.

When are the deadlines?

Scholarship deadlines usually fall earlier than you expect, often in the autumn or early winter for the following academic year. The Vanier and many graduate awards close months before term. University entrance awards frequently share the admission deadline but sometimes have their own earlier cutoff. A safe habit is to begin at least a year ahead so nothing slips. If you are also planning your study permit in parallel, our guide on applying for a Canada study permit from Pakistan after SDS keeps the two timelines aligned.

What costs will scholarships not cover?

Even a full scholarship rarely covers everything. Partial awards leave a gap you must fund yourself, and your study permit still requires proof of funds. You will typically need to show tuition plus living costs for the year, and many students open a Guaranteed Investment Certificate to prove living expenses. Our posts on what a GIC is and how to open one and on how much bank statement is needed for a Canada study visa explain exactly what the visa officer expects, scholarship or not.

Common mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is starting late and missing scholarship deadlines that close before admission. Another is chasing only full scholarships and ignoring the many partial awards that add up. Students also submit generic statements of purpose, weak references, or apply to a single university and lose flexibility. Some assume a scholarship removes the need to prove funds for the study permit, which is not true. Careful, early planning fixes almost all of these.

A realistic example for 2026

Consider Hira, a strong student from Faisalabad applying for a masters in environmental engineering starting in 2026. She targets one ambitious award, the CGS-M, and applies to four universities, three of which offer partial entrance awards. She does not win the CGS-M, but she receives a departmental funding package worth about 12,000 CAD a year at one university, plus a teaching assistantship that adds more. Combined, this covers a large share of her tuition. She still shows proof of funds for the remaining costs through a bank statement and a GIC. Her early start, a focused research statement, and two strong academic references made the partial funding possible. The lesson is that a realistic, layered plan often beats waiting for one perfect full scholarship.

How Border and Bridges helps

Border and Bridges is a study abroad and immigration consultancy based in Johar Town, Lahore, guiding Pakistani students since 2016. We are registered with the SECP and FBR, accredited by ICEF, and a verified British Council partner, so you receive advice built on real credentials rather than promises.

Our counsellors match you to Canadian scholarships that fit your grades and field, help you meet the early deadlines, sharpen your statement of purpose and references, and prepare your study permit funds correctly. Explore our Canada page, browse all study destinations, and contact our team to begin with a free consultation.

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