Canadian scholarships for Ghanaian students
Yes, a few Canadian universities fully fund international undergraduates, but the places are very few and the deadlines come early. The two best known are the University of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson Scholarship, which needs your school to nominate you by early October, and UBC's International Scholars Program, due in mid-November. Most other Canadian awards are partial, so apply to Canada alongside US universities that meet full need.
Can a Ghanaian student study in Canada on a full scholarship?
Yes, but only a handful of awards fund the whole cost, and each takes a small number of students from around the world. The two you should know are the University of Toronto's Lester B. Pearson Scholarship and UBC's International Scholars Program.
Most other Canadian money for international undergraduates is partial: an entrance scholarship worth a few thousand dollars a year, or a bursary that covers part of your need. At a leading Canadian university, that leaves a large bill. Arts and Science at the University of Toronto costs CAD 69,158 in tuition and compulsory fees for an international student in 2026-27, before housing and food.
What are the full scholarships for international undergraduates?
Two stand out. They differ in how you enter, what they pay and when they are due:
| Lester B. Pearson Scholarship | UBC International Scholars Program | |
|---|---|---|
| University | University of Toronto | University of British Columbia |
| What it pays | Tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence, for four years | Up to the full cost of study, based on your family's need |
| How you enter | Your school nominates you | You apply, with a school nominator and a teacher referee |
| Key date for September 2027 | School nomination by 9 October 2026 | Application by 15 November 2026 |
| Who can apply | Final-year secondary students, or those who graduated no earlier than June 2026 | Students entering a first degree straight from secondary school |
Both look for strong grades and clear leadership, meaning work that changed something for other people, not a list of titles. Both are open to Ghanaian students, and both admit very few each year.
- July
Toronto opens the Pearson nomination form to schools that have nominated before. Ask your school whether it will nominate you.
- 9 October
Pearson school nomination deadline.
- 16 October
Apply for admission to Toronto through OUAC, the Ontario application system.
- 6 November
Pearson scholarship application and documents due.
- 15 November
UBC application and International Scholars application due. Supporting documents follow by 31 January.
How does the Pearson Scholarship work?
Your school nominates you, then you apply for admission and for the scholarship. You cannot apply for Pearson without that nomination, so the first step is a conversation with your headteacher or counsellor, months before October.
For students starting in September 2027, there are three deadlines:
- 9 October 2026. Your school submits its nomination.
- 16 October 2026. You submit your admission application through OUAC.
- 6 November 2026. You submit the scholarship application and its documents.
You must be in the final year of secondary school in 2026-27, or have finished no earlier than June 2026, and start at Toronto in September 2027. A student already at university, in Ghana or anywhere else, is not eligible. That matters for a student who has started a degree at home while waiting.
If your school has never nominated a student, it may not have received the form. Ask it to contact Toronto's admissions office early, rather than assuming you cannot apply.
How does UBC's International Scholars Program work?
You apply for admission to UBC, then complete the scholarship application with your family's financial information, your essays, a nominator from your school and a separate teacher referee. UBC considers you for every award you qualify for. You do not choose one.
The awards in the program include the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, which is based on need and can cover up to the full cost of study. For September 2027 entry, the application opened on 5 October 2026 and closes on 15 November 2026, with supporting documents due by 31 January 2027.
Because the award is based on need, your family's figures matter as they do on the CSS Profile. Gather the same documents: a year of income records and a list of what the family owns. Our checklist of documents for parents covers them.
What about Mastercard Foundation scholarships in Canada?
Check each university's current intake before you plan around one. McGill, UBC and the University of Toronto joined the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in 2013. UBC's 2027 intake is for selected Master's programmes, not first degrees.
So for an undergraduate, the Mastercard places that matter most may be at partner universities in Africa and elsewhere. Our guide to scholarships for Ghanaian students covers how that program works.
Which Canadian universities give need-based aid?
A few, in part. McGill is the clearest example. It considers financial need for all students, international students included, through its Entrance Bursary Program. In a recent cycle it gave entrance bursaries to 550 new undergraduates, with an average offer of about CAD 19,000 for international students.
McGill also offers Major Entrance Scholarships, for academic achievement and leadership, worth CAD 3,000 to 12,000 a year. International applicants from schools outside Canada apply by 21 January.
These awards help, but they rarely cover the full cost. A bursary of CAD 19,000 against a much higher full cost still leaves a gap most Ghanaian families cannot meet. Run the arithmetic for each university before you rely on it.
What does the study permit need?
Three things beyond your admission letter, for a new undergraduate in 2026:
- Proof of funds. For applications from 1 September 2026, a single student outside Quebec shows CAD 23,448 for living costs, plus the first year's tuition and travel. Quebec sets its own, higher figure. A full scholarship letter can count towards this.
- A provincial attestation letter (PAL). It confirms your place counts within the province's share of Canada's study permit cap. Your university usually issues it after you accept.
- Your documents in order. Passport, offer letter and the evidence behind your funds.
Canada has capped study permits since 2024, so a permit is not automatic even with an offer. A full scholarship makes the funds question far easier.
What should I do this week?
If you are in your final SHS year and want the Pearson Scholarship, speak to your headteacher this week, because the nomination deadline is 9 October. Then put 15 November in your calendar for UBC, and check McGill's 21 January date.
If you would like help deciding whether Canada belongs on your list beside your US universities, you can book a call with us.
Questions people ask
Can a Ghanaian student get a full scholarship in Canada?
Yes, but very few are offered. The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship at the University of Toronto covers tuition, books, fees and residence for four years. UBC's International Scholars Program can cover up to the full cost, based on need. Both are highly competitive.
How do I get nominated for the Pearson Scholarship?
Your secondary school nominates you. For students starting in September 2027, the school nomination deadline is 9 October 2026, then you apply for admission by 16 October and submit the scholarship application by 6 November. Ask your headteacher or counsellor early.
Do Canadian universities give need-based aid to international students?
Some do, but less than the US universities that meet full need. McGill, for example, considers financial need for international students through its Entrance Bursary Program, with an average offer of about CAD 19,000 for international students in a recent cycle.
How much money do I need to show for a Canadian study permit?
For applications from 1 September 2026, a single student outside Quebec shows CAD 23,448 for living costs, on top of the first year's tuition and travel. Quebec sets its own figure. A full scholarship letter can count towards this.
Do I need a provincial attestation letter?
Yes, as a new undergraduate in 2026. The PAL confirms your place counts within the province's share of Canada's study permit cap. Your university usually issues it after you accept your offer.