Canadian scholarships: What international students need to know

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- Canada, 800px x 451px
Reading time: 7 minutes

For students wishing to study abroad, it doesn’t get much better than Canada. It is an incredible country with endless opportunities. Study in Canada and you’ll find a rich culture, world-famous universities, and generous Canadian scholarships to help you with costs and tuition.  

It’s no wonder that the North American nation is a magnet for intelligent, international students. In fact, a Statistics Canada study of the 2018-2019 school year found that Canada hosts students from 225 countries. The study also found that Chinese and Indian students represent more than 50% of that population.  

What’s more, Canada has been attracting more and more international talent in the past decade. The number of students from abroad has tripled in the past 10 years. International students account for 57.2% of the growth in all program enrollments.    

Canada is a global leader in terms of university education. But, with more than 100 universities and 15,000 programs of study, it can be difficult to know which are the best and most reputable.  

Read our guide about how to study in Canada. We’ll break down more about the best universities in Canada and their top programs. Most importantly, we’ll also explore ways to find a Canadian scholarship to fund your studies.  

Canadian scholarships: What to look for 

Of course, it’s important to have a plan to finance studies and the cost of living in Canada. That’s where Canadian scholarships come in. Whether you’re looking to fund your undergraduate program or you’re seeking a master's degree scholarship in Canada (or beyond), there are plenty of options.  

The Canadian government, foundations, and not-for-profit organizations all offer a number of scholarships and grants. The most common place to score scholarships in Canada though is likely from the university itself.  

Firstly, when looking for Canadian scholarships, international students need to know about the entrance scholarships. Most universities offer these scholarships, which are based on academic history. You’ll be pleased to read that entrance scholarships operate on an automatic consideration basis as part of the admissions process. This means you don’t have to apply for them.

To understand what those scholarships look like, consider what’s offered by top universities in Canada: 

The University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo in Ontario offers 20 entrance scholarships. These are worth $10,000 and are for international students who have at least a 90% average. In addition, you must demonstrate academic excellence and be starting year one of an undergraduate program.  

McGill University 

McGill University in Montreal, Quebec is another of Canada’s best universities. It gives entrance scholarships worth $3,000 to first-time university students starting their undergraduate program. The major entrance scholarship is worth more with some students being awarded as much as $12,000. These scholarships are renewable for three or four years for students who continue to meet scholarship criteria. International students can get this scholarship but short-term exchange students cannot.

McGill’s in-course awards are awarded automatically by each faculty. Students with excellent academic merit may earn one of these after the academic year is completed.

University of British Columbia 

The University of British Columbia is another reputable school. It gives $30 million annually in grants to international undergraduate students. Study there and you could be up for its International Major Entrance Scholarship, which is renewable for three years.  

Or you might even win its Outstanding International Student Award. This is a one-time award for a student with a strong academic background and involvement in activities beyond the classroom.  

Government grants 

The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development program gives support to students from Southeast Asian nations. To be eligible you need to be studying short-term at the college, undergraduate, and graduate levels.  

They are awarded based on applications submitted by Canadian universities on a candidate’s behalf. These scholarships are part of Canada’s effort to reduce poverty and support sustainable development in the region.  

The Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program is for academically talented students from Commonwealth countries studying at the masters or PhD level. The scholarship is worth $10,000. This helps students pay for transportation, cost of living fees, and any expenses related to their studies in Canada.  

For students studying in Ontario, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program is for those at the masters or doctoral level. To qualify, you must be attending a participating Ontario university, be enrolled for at least two consecutive terms and be studying full-time. Students can get $10,000 for two consecutive terms or $15,000 if they are enrolled in three consecutive terms. This scholarship is funded by the province of Ontario and the participating universities.

A glimpse at the top universities in Canada 

One of the best sources that ranks Canada’s best universities is Maclean’s magazine. Each year, the Canadian publication surveys faculty members, senior administration, and successful business people across the country.  

The aim of the report is to find out their opinions in regards to quality and innovation at Canada’s academic institutions. The result is a published list of rankings of the best overall universities in Canada. In addition, it shares the best programs and best schools based on students’ experiences.  

In 2021, Maclean’s found the top five Canadian universities to be: 

Top-ranking specialist schools in Canada 

Of the international students in Canada, 47% study in the province of Ontario. Their most popular areas of study are business and management, followed by engineering. Considering this, it’s worth looking at the top-ranked schools in those categories as well.  

After the in-depth surveying of 1,000 professors, deans, and chairs at 80 Canadian institutions, Maclean’s found The University of British Columbia to be the best school for business. The University of Toronto followed in second place. As for engineering, University of Waterloo and The University of Toronto tied for first place.

How PTE can help you apply for a Visa 

Canada’s student visa requirements for international students include proof that you have: 

  • a university placement; 

  • the financial ability to live in Canada;

  • your high school transcript and a high level of English.  

On that last point, you will need to have taken an English language test to prove your abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in order to get your visa.  

PTE Academic is a trusted English language test accepted by top institutions in Canada including The University of British Columbia, University of Waterloo, McGill University, and McMaster University. PTE Academic can help students study abroad in Canada because Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recognizes its tests as being one of the mandatory English tests for a study permit application.  

If you are planning to take a PTE Academic test to complete your Canada student Visa application, an exam center will not be far away. In Canada, centers currently exist in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, and Burnaby. 

Find your nearest exam center now!  

A home away from home 

There’s no doubt about it: Canada is a world-class country for getting a university education. It’s also a very multi-culturally diverse place. This means, for international students, it’s a country that offers rich experiences beyond just the classroom.  

With the recent increase in students coming from countries like India, China, and beyond, many international students find that Canada is an easy place to adjust to. It feels like a home away from home.  

Canadian universities offer not just top-quality academic institutions and programs, but also scholarships offering students a means to finance their education. That makes Canada an easy choice for furthering your education goals overseas.

Related Content

  • [Asset] Businesswomen working together
    The do’s and don’ts of the Describe Image question type in PTE Academic
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    The "Describe Image" task in the PTE Academic can be challenging, but we are here to help you prepare. Here are some key do's and don'ts: 

    What to do 

    1. Use your preparation time wisely 

    • Before the recording starts, use your preparation time to identify the key trends and the most significant trend in the image. This will help you focus your response on the most important aspects. 

    2. Speak for 30-40 seconds 

    • Aim to speak for 30-40 seconds. This duration is ideal for covering the key features without rushing or running out of time.

    3. Incorporate numbers 

    • Use numbers from the image in your spoken response. Mentioning specific data points can make your description more precise.

    What not to do 

    1. Avoid memorized responses 

    • Do not use memorized responses or templated sentences. Such responses can lead to a score of 0 for content. If this happens, your fluency and pronunciation will not be scored either. 

    2. Don't try to mention every feature 

    • Focus on the key features of the image. Prioritize the most significant trends and data points within the 40 seconds. 

    3. Don't spend too much time on labels

    • While it's important to mention labels, don't spend too much time describing them. Instead, focus on the trends and data they represent. 

    4. Avoid adding personal opinions

    • Stick to describing the elements you can see in the image.  

    By following these do’s and don’ts, you can tackle the "Describe Image" task in the PTE Academic test with confidence.    Need more help preparing for PTE Academic? Visit our PTE Academic Preparation page.

    Want to explore the other PTE Academic question types? Check out our PTE Academic Question Bank for over 300 sample questions with model answers.

  • [Asset] Confident girl smiling
    How to build confidence for the speaking section of PTE Academic
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 6 minutes

    Whether you’re looking to create a new life down under or make your own American dream a reality, one of the first hurdles is proving you’ve got the right English language skills.  

    English proficiency exams cover listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and it will come as no surprise that it’s the speaking part of the test that people worry the most about.  

    With PTE there is no face-to-face speaking test to stress about, taking away the concerns around what to wear and whether you will get on with your examiner. Also remember that PTE’s automated scoring technology is trained to understand over 120 different accents so that is one less thing to worry about.  

    However, it is still daunting, which is why we’ve put together some tried and tested top tips to help you feel confident for the speaking section of PTE.  

    What to expect in the PTE speaking section

    Learning what to expect from each section of the test can help ease anxieties and allow you to prepare properly. PTE is made up of three sections:

    1. Speaking & Writing (54-67 minutes) 

    2. Reading (30 minutes) 

    3. Listening (30 minutes) 

     The Speaking & Writing section is then split into 8 tasks: 

    1. Personal introduction  

    2. Read aloud 

    3. Repeat sentence 

    4. Describe image  

    5. Re-tell lecture 

    6. Answer short question  

    7. Summarise written text 

    8. Essay  

    For more information on specific instructions for each task, you can review the test format and scoring criteria.

    Building your English-speaking confidence

    Feeling confident speaking English takes time and patience. Here are four ways to help you feel prepared for the PTE speaking section.

    1. Complete short practice activities every day 

    When something feels new and unfamiliar it can be stressful. Build your familiarity and comfort levels by setting aside time each day to complete short practice activities. It’ll help you learn what to expect from each task, keeping you calm and giving you more time to focus on providing a clear answer on test day.  

    2. Immerse yourself in English  

    Surrounding yourself with English-speaking TV shows, audiobooks, and podcasts is a fantastic way to build your vocabulary and practice your listening skills on a daily basis. The more you listen to English, the more you familiarize yourself with the language. You may also find yourself picking up new vocab and phrases that come in handy on test day. To take your speaking and listening skills to the next level, find a range of shows with different accents — American, British, Australian — to really tune into the English language.  

    3. Find a language exchange partner  

    Having conversations in English is one of the best ways to hone your language skills and build your speaking confidence. Look online to find a language tandem or see if there are partnership opportunities in your local area to help you get that real-life “I did it” confidence of being understood and connecting in another language. 

    4. Use speech recognition technology 

    If you’re struggling to find a language partner, look for language-learning apps like Mondly by Pearson that use technology to practise speaking and pronunciation. Some people actually find it easier talking to a computer rather than having the pressure of a real human, so it can be a great way to build confidence if you’re feeling nervous about speaking up.

    There’s no need to pick just one of these ways — try out several to see which works best for you or combine multiple ways of practicing to make sure you’re at your confident best on test day.  

    Tips for during the speaking section   

    You’ve done all your preparation, you’re feeling confident, now you’re in the test center ready to show everyone what you can do.

    Here’s how to make sure that practise shines through during the speaking exam:  

    • Utilize spare time  

    During the test, make use of the few seconds before each recording begins to properly read the material and mentally prepare your answer.

    • Pay attention to punctuation

    Punctuation helps you decide where to pause and change your intonation. Good pausing techniques can help you read more fluently and give more meaning to the text.  

    • Stress the important words 

    Add more emphasis to the words you think are important. Try to copy the tone and intonation of recordings to replicate the patterns of the sentences you hear.   

    • Listen to the phrasing  

    Pinpoint the most meaningful parts of the sentence and remember those phrases. You’ll be scored on correct word sequences, so remembering words as phrases will help you.  

    • Don’t rush 

    Remember to stay calm, speak clearly and try not to rush to make sure that your recording showcases the very best of your speaking ability.

    Take advantage of our preparation resources 

    We want PTE to be the worry-free way to start your new chapter. That’s why we offer a range of preparation preparation packages, which include a mixture of Scored Practice Tests, our Question Bank and our Official Guide to PTE Academic.

    You can also make the most of our free resources, including our Taster Test, which offers five questions in five minutes with instant feedback. For those who are juggling priorities, our free Practice App is perfect for preparing on the go.  

    Looking for more PTE tips? Take a look at our guides on what to expect on test day and how to prepare for PTE Academic.

  • [Asset] Woman writing and smiling
    Answering "Retell Lecture" effectively in PTE Academic
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    With the right approach, you can answer the “Retell Lecture” question type in PTE Academic with confidence. Here are some essential tips to help you prepare: 

    Dos 

    1. Take effective notes 

    • As you listen, jot down key words and phrases. Use punctuation like ‘-, =, &, +, arrows’ and bullet points to show connections between ideas. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you cover all important points. 

    2. Highlight key points and relationships 

    • Discuss the main points, but also include characters, actions, aspects, and relationships between the information. This will make your response more comprehensive.

    3. Speak for up to 40 seconds 

    • Aim to speak for up to 40 seconds. The longer you speak, the more likely you are to cover the content requirements for this question. Ensure your response is detailed and covers all necessary aspects. 

    4. Use linking words and relative clauses 

    • Incorporate linking words (so, then) and relative clauses (which, who, that) to connect your ideas and show relationships between them. This will make your response more fluid. 

    Don'ts 

    1. Avoid memorized responses 

    • Do not use memorized responses or templated sentences. If there is a significant amount of pre-memorized content, a score of 0 will be given, and fluency and pronunciation will not be scored. 

    2. Don't just mention key words

    • Avoid mentioning key words from the lecture (e.g., recipe, food, cook) in a disconnected way. You need to describe characters, aspects, actions, and their relationships to provide a coherent response. 

    3. Don't try to mention everything 

    • It won’t be possible to mention everything the lecture covered in 40 seconds. Focus on the most important points to provide a concise and relevant summary. 

    4. Avoid filler words 

    • Do not add filler words that do not connect to the lecture. Stick to the content of the lecture to ensure your response is relevant and focused. 

    Need more advice? We have lots of official resources to help you prepare, including the chance to take a mock test with our scored practice tests. Visit our PTE Academic Preparation page to find out more.