In 2026, several top-tier Canadian universities continue to offer automatic entrance scholarships for international students. These awards are unique because they do not require a separate application; you are considered the moment you submit your application for admission. These are primarily based on your final admission average or high school grades at the time of your offer.
University of Ottawa (uOttawa)
The University of Ottawa is one of the most generous institutions for automatic funding, especially for international students studying in English or French.
- International English Admission Scholarship: An automatic renewable award for students with an 80% average or higher. It is valued at $7,500 per term, totalling up to $60,000 for a four-year degree.
- International English Academic Excellence Scholarship: A one-time award that can be combined with the admission scholarship. It is valued at $10,000 ($5,000 per term) for those with an admission average of 90% or higher.
- Differential Tuition Fee Exemption: Students who choose to study in French may be eligible for a significant reduction in tuition fees, bringing them closer to domestic rates.
Carleton University
Carleton offers a highly structured and reliable entrance scholarship programme that scales according to your grades.
- Renewable Entrance Scholarships: Automatically awarded to students with an 80% average or better.
- 95% – 100%: $16,000 ($4,000 per year)
- 90% – 94.9%: $12,000 ($3,000 per year)
- 85% – 89.9%: $8,000 ($2,000 per year)
- 80% – 84.9%: $4,000 ($1,000 per year)
- President’s Welcome Award: For 2026, international students are automatically considered for an additional $2,000–5,000 based on their grades at the time of admission.
University of Waterloo
Waterloo provides a straightforward entrance award for all international students meeting the eligibility criteria.
- International Student Entrance Scholarship: Valued at $10,000, this is awarded to international fee-paying students admitted to a first-year degree programme.
- Faculty-Specific Awards: Many faculties offer additional automatic awards. For example, the Faculty of Mathematics offers global scholarships valued at $12,000 to $40,000 without a separate application.
University of Guelph
Guelph provides both one-time and renewable automatic awards to support international students.
- President’s International Entrance Scholarship: A one-time award for the first year.
- 95.0%+: $7,500
- 90.0% – 94.9%: $6,500
- 85.0% – 89.9%: $5,500
- University International Scholarship: A renewable award of $20,000 ($5,000 per year) for students who maintain an 80% average during their degree.
University of Regina
For 2026, the University of Regina offers one of the best long-term bursaries for international students.
- International Undergraduate Tuition Credit: A bursary valued at up to $20,000 ($5,000 per year for 4 years). It is assessed automatically for all new international students.
- Entrance Scholarship Choice: Students with an 85% average or higher can choose between a $3,000 tuition credit or a housing credit.
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta rewards top-tier international students through several automatic categories.
- International Admission Scholarship: Up to $5,000 based on admission average.
- Regional Excellence Scholarship: Up to $5,000, specifically for students from regions like Africa, Asia, and India.
- Gold Standard Scholarship: Awarded to the top 5% of students in each faculty, valued at up to $6,000.
Strategic Advice for 2026 Applicants
Application Timing: While these awards are “automatic,”, they are often distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applying before March 1, 2026, ensures you are in the pool before the primary budget for the Fall intake is allocated.
Grade Maintenance: These awards are typically offered based on your predicted or mid-term grades. If your final high school grades drop below the required threshold, the university may reduce or withdraw the scholarship.
Are you targeting a specific field of study, such as engineering or computer science, where additional faculty-specific automatic awards might be available?
