Fully Funded Masters Programs in Canada for International Students

It's no secret that Canada has some of the most reasonably priced and highly regarded higher education options available anywhere around the globe. Studying in Canada can be a great way to learn essential skills, gain expertise in your field of study, and explore a variety of cultures while also developing lifelong friendships with individuals from all over the world.

Three of the top five universities in the world are located in Canada, and the country's educational system provides many alluring and affordable possibilities for overseas students who want to earn their master's degree from one of the top universities.

Scholarships for International Students at Canadian Universities 

Universities in Canada currently provide scholarships to students from abroad, including those from Turkey, China, Pakistan, and India. High-achieving foreign students are targeted by these scholarships, which offer total funding at some of the best universities in Canada. Before applying, candidates must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 in their most recent undergraduate program or 2.8 in their most recent postgraduate program.

The award pays for tuition, living costs, travel, and other costs associated with pursuing an education. As a result, foreign students studying in Canada won't have to pay any tuition. One such institution is the University of British Columbia, which charges overseas students an annual tuition cost as low as CAD 6,600 (about $4,500) for fully-funded master's degrees. Furthermore, there are no additional fees that must be paid.

Fully-Funded Master's Programs in Canada for International Students

Only three nations in North America have bilingualism as their official language policy, including Canada (the other two being Mexico and Haiti). In Canada, English and French are treated equally at all levels of government. A whopping 20% of Canadians identify as multilingual. Furthermore, they claim to be able to communicate in both languages effectively. This refers to if you want to relocate and immerse yourself in a society that is different from your own. Your best bet might well be Canada.

The nation is home to some of the best colleges in the world, many of which offer fully-funded master's programs tailored expressly for students from other countries. Some colleges offer scholarships only available to people from abroad, while others can ask that international students submit applications with those from domestic applicants. In either case, Canadian universities strive to entice applicants who will enrich their campuses' diversity.

But how can you tell which institution is best for you? Let's examine each choice in detail so you can decide which school best suits your requirements and interests. Before getting into the details, let's examine what elements decide whether a program is fully funded. For these purposes, we refer to fully funded tuition as being paid for the entire academic year without needing contributions from students or families.

What You Should Know About Studying in Canada

Consider applying to one of our top institutions' Master's Degree programs if you're a student wishing to enhance your education. You can enter a sector of work that is expanding swiftly and offers plenty of prospects with a master's degree.

If obtaining employment after graduation worries you, you should be aware that the U.S. A Canadian degree is valuable because the News & World Report recognized Canada as having one of the highest employment rates among all nations. These programs offer an outstanding education in addition to that. However, they also provide financial aid through scholarships and bursaries to students from outside. Even if you already hold a bachelor's degree, you might be qualified for funding.

How to Get Fully-Funded Master's Programs in Canada

Scholarships are non-repayable cash awards that international students can use to assist finance their studies in Canada. Scholarship financing is scarce, fiercely competitive, and primarily available to postgraduate students from outside who want to study in Canada. Here are some advice and tools to assist you in investigating this possibility.

Start at home

The initial step for students should be to look into scholarships and other funding options in their nation. Make contact with the education department in your nation of residence.

Researching Schools

The first step in obtaining an overseas degree is selecting a program that fits your objectives, academic background, and available money. Additionally, it's one of the more difficult missions you'll do. There are thousands of colleges to select from, and each has its own admissions policies. Generally speaking, it's advisable to begin by investigating suitable programs before getting in touch with them personally if you have any questions.

The QS World University Rankings® is an excellent place to start because it ranks universities based on six factors, including research impact (25%), citations per faculty (20%), faculty to student ratio (20%), employer reputation (10%), the percentage of international students (5%) and the percentage of international faculty (5%). See here for a complete list of Canada's top universities. If your institution isn't listed, visit its website or contact the admissions department to see if it provides fully-funded master's programs for overseas students. If not, consider whether it provides financial help or scholarships specifically for international applicants.

Tips on How to Get Accepted

Applying to graduate programs might take a lot of time and effort. However, there are several things you can do to make sure a Canadian university will accept your application. Let's say a post-secondary college has offered you admission. Undergraduate loans that will assist with paying tuition may be available to you. Some foreign students can also be eligible for financial aid from the government to study in Canada.

It's significant to note that if you don't satisfy these standards, most graduate programs require a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher. Then, before applying to a master's program in Canada, consider enrolling in additional courses at your present university or signing up for one or more summer sessions at a different school. Finally, be sure to submit your application with all the necessary materials. Adding test results, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, and submitting everything on time. The sooner you apply, the higher your chances are of being accepted into a great Canadian university!

List of Fully-Funded Master's Programs in Canada for International Students

Here are a few sugges­tions to help you get started. You can also check out other articles on scholarships on offer to international students to study in Canada.

Government of Canada International Scholarships Program

Global Affairs Canada is responsible for the government’s participa­tion in major international scholarship programs. This website enables users to search for awards for study and research by country of origin.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Open to both Canadian and international Ph.D. students studying at Canadian universities. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is worth $50,000 annually for three years. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) was created to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and to establish Canada as a global center of excellence in research and higher learning. The scholarships are towards a doctoral degree (or combined MA/ Ph.D. or MD/ Ph.D.). Canadian Universities with Vanier CGS allocation. Without exception, the Vanier CGS is tenable only at the eligible Canadian institution that submitted the nomination.

Fonds de recherche du Quebec Scholarships and Grants

The Quebec government offers scholarships and grants through its research funds FRQNT (nature et technologies), FRQS (santé), and FRQSC (société et culture) for doctoral studies, postdoctoral fellowships, and short-term research or professional development.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral scholarships

Each year, the Trudeau Foundation rewards up to 15 outstanding doctoral candidates who are enrolled or about to be enrolled in a social sciences and humanities program. The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation awards up to fifteen doctoral scholarships to Canadian and foreign doctoral candidates pursuing humanities and social sciences research. The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation scholarships provide $40,000 per year for three years; up to $20,000 per year for three years (as research and travel allowance), and membership in a community of other Scholars, Mentors, and Fellows, all of whom are leaders and change-makers in their respective disciplines and sectors; and Leadership training from Mentors and Fellows.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

The University of Toronto is making Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) available for students who wish to undertake Master's and Doctoral degree programs at the University. The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program encourages excellence in graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario. Since 1975, the OGS program has been providing merit-based scholarships to Ontario’s best graduate students in all disciplines of academic study. The Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto jointly funded the scholarship program. The Province allocates OGS awards to universities, specifying the annual number of awards each may offer to their students.

The value of the OGS is $5,000 per session. Thus, awardees may receive $10,000 for 2 consecutive sessions or $15,000 for 3 consecutive sessions. In all instances, the awarding graduate unit will contribute to one-third of the cost of the total award received by the students. Each scholarship is tenable for one year (i.e., two consecutive or three academic sessions). 

The awarding graduate unit will determine the value and duration of each OGS award and detail it in the offer letter. Students are limited in the number of years they may hold an OGS. Master’s students may receive a maximum of 2 years of OGS awards. Doctoral students may receive a maximum of 4 years of OGS awards. Both are subject to a lifetime maximum of 6 years per student. In addition, OGS guidelines restrict students to a lifetime maximum of 6 years of government-funded awards and prohibit students from holding an OGS and another government-funded award concurrently.

Canadian Study Permit

International students must obtain a study permit from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada program in order to study in Canada (IRCC). You must meet a few requirements to demonstrate your eligibility for a study permit. Check out this post for a detailed explanation of the eligibility requirements and the application procedure.

However, you must be:

• enrolled at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI),
• prove you can fund your studies and life in Canada
• have no criminal record and produce a police certificate to prove this,
• are in good health as shown via a medical exam,
• can prove to a Canadian officer that you will leave as soon as your study permit expires and if you're unable to get a job in Canada

Bottom Line

In Canada, there are a variety of ways to earn a diploma. No matter if you're enrolling in a postgraduate program at one of the best universities in Canada or studying abroad at one of the many foreign institutions in the region. However, only Canadian citizens and permanent residents can enroll in most master's programs. This implies that international students frequently require out-of-state tuition fees, which can cause their education costs to double or even triple. Students who want to pursue an international education can access various government financial aid programs. Such as job study and funding programs. Checking your eligibility for these options is crucial if you want to pursue a degree in Canada.