“Fully funded” should be used carefully. Some Canadian awards can cover most or all demonstrated financial need or major study costs, while others are partial awards or short-term exchanges. This guide focuses on substantial funding opportunities that African students can verify through official sources.
African students looking for substantial funding in Canada should distinguish between three things: scholarships that can meet major financial need, large merit scholarships, and Government of Canada exchange programmes that cover specific short-term costs. They are not interchangeable.
Canada’s official EduCanada service confirms that international-student funding is available through the federal government, provinces and territories, and individual educational institutions. Use the programme’s official page to confirm whether the award actually covers your full cost of attendance.
1. UBC International Scholars Program
The University of British Columbia International Scholars Program is one of the strongest undergraduate options for international students who have outstanding academic achievement and leadership but cannot attend UBC without significant financial support.
UBC conducts a financial assessment as part of the selection process. Applicants must be international students entering directly from an accredited secondary school, be applying for their first undergraduate degree and demonstrate significant financial need.
Current 2027 intake: UBC says applications open in early October 2026. The deadline to apply to UBC and submit the International Scholars award application is 15 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Applicants also need a school nominator and teacher referee.
Official source: UBC International Scholars Program.
2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship — University of Toronto
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is a major undergraduate scholarship for exceptional international students entering the University of Toronto. African students can compete because the award is open to eligible international applicants, but candidates must first be nominated by their secondary school.
For students beginning in September 2027, the University of Toronto lists a 9 October 2026 school-nomination deadline and a 16 October 2026 admission-application deadline for Pearson consideration. The scholarship application follows after nomination and admission application.
Official source: University of Toronto Lester B. Pearson Scholarship.
3. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — Current Canadian Routes
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program works through individual partner universities, so there is no single application form or deadline for all Canadian institutions. Applicants must use the process published by the relevant partner.
McGill University: its Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports eligible African students in selected Master’s programmes and includes full international tuition, on-campus housing, a monthly stipend, academic resources and post-graduation transition support. However, McGill states that the Fall 2027 scholarship application period is now closed. Prospective applicants are advised to check again in Spring 2027 for the next recruitment cycle.
McGill’s eligibility rules include citizenship and residence in an African country, admission eligibility for an approved programme, financial need, leadership/service criteria and other programme-specific conditions. Nigerian students are represented in the current programme, but nationality alone does not guarantee eligibility or selection.
University of Toronto: the Mastercard Foundation’s official partner page describes its U of T programme as fully funded for graduate studies, but currently labels admissions as closed. Do not submit an application based on an old deadline.
Official sources: McGill Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and Mastercard Foundation — University of Toronto.
4. Study in Canada Scholarships — Short-Term Exchange Funding
The Government of Canada’s Study in Canada Scholarships programme includes eligible Sub-Saharan African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda, among others listed for the 2026/27 cycle.
This is a short-term study or research exchange, not a full bachelor’s, master’s or PhD scholarship. Canadian post-secondary institutions apply on behalf of eligible candidates. The 2026/27 institutional deadline was 31 March 2026, so that cycle is closed.
Global Affairs Canada states that eligible costs can include airfare, selected living expenses, health insurance, visa or study/work-permit fees and other eligible expenses. Duration is generally four to six months under the 2026/27 call.
Official source: Study in Canada Scholarships.
5. UBC International Major Entrance Scholarship — Substantial but Partial
UBC’s International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) is worth CAD $10,000–$25,000 per year for 2026/27 and can be renewed for up to three additional years subject to the award conditions. Eligible international undergraduate applicants are considered through admission.
This is valuable funding, but it should not automatically be described as fully funded because the award may not cover the student’s complete tuition and living costs.
Official source: UBC scholarships and awards for international students.
What Happened to the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships?
The previous version of this guide listed the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships as an active annual PhD opportunity. That is no longer correct. The official Vanier programme states that it is no longer accepting applications and directs prospective applicants toward Canada’s newer doctoral research-scholarship framework.
For current doctoral funding, check the relevant Canadian research agency and the graduate-funding office of the university where you plan to study. Do not prepare a new Vanier application based on an old scholarship article.
What About a “Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship”?
The previous article also described a broad Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program as though there were a current annual fully funded master’s/PhD scheme for African Commonwealth citizens with September-to-January applications. AfricanBase could not verify that description as a current programme on Canada’s official international-scholarship service, so it has been removed from the active-opportunity list.
Use EduCanada’s scholarships for international applicants and its scholarship search tool to find current Government of Canada opportunities matching your citizenship and study profile.
How Much Funding Do You Actually Need?
EduCanada reports average 2026 university tuition of about CAD $41,746 per year for international undergraduates and CAD $24,028 for international graduate students. It also advises students to budget at least CAD $23,000 per year for living costs, with more required for accompanying family members.
That is why AfricanBase distinguishes full or comprehensive funding from a partial entrance award. A scholarship can be generous without covering your entire cost of attendance.
How African Students Should Search for Canadian Scholarships
- Use EduCanada’s scholarship search and select your citizenship/profile.
- Check the official scholarship and financial-aid page of the Canadian university you want to attend.
- Confirm whether the award is for a full degree or only a short-term exchange.
- Check whether you apply directly, need a school nomination, or need a Canadian institution to submit the application.
- Compare the award value with tuition and living costs before calling it “fully funded.”
- Verify the current deadline and intake year on the official source.
Application Preparation for African Students
Competitive scholarship applications commonly require strong academic records, evidence of leadership or community involvement, references and written application components. Requirements vary by programme, so prepare only the documents requested by the official application.
For additional preparation, see AfricanBase’s guides on scholarship essays, recommendation letters and the pre-departure checklist for Nigerian students.
Related Canada Scholarship Guides
- Canada Scholarships for International Students: Funding & Application Guide
- Canada Scholarships for Nigerian Students With Lower CGPA
- Canada Public Health Scholarships for Nigerian Students
- Fully Funded vs Partial Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there fully funded scholarships in Canada for African students?
There are substantial scholarships and financial-aid programmes available to eligible African students, including need-based programmes that can provide major financial support. Coverage differs by award, so verify whether the specific scholarship meets your full demonstrated need or covers all required costs.
Which Canada scholarship is currently open for 2027 undergraduate entry?
As of September 2026, the University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson process is underway for September 2027 entry, with school nomination due 9 October 2026 and the U of T admission application due 16 October 2026. UBC says its 2027 International Scholars application opens in early October, with the award application and UBC application due 15 November 2026.
Can Nigerian students use the Study in Canada Scholarships programme?
Yes, Nigeria is listed among the eligible Sub-Saharan African countries for the 2026/27 programme. However, it is a short-term exchange programme and Canadian institutions apply on behalf of candidates. The 2026/27 institutional deadline has passed.
Is Vanier still accepting PhD scholarship applications?
No. The Vanier programme is no longer accepting applications. Prospective doctoral students should use the current Canadian doctoral research-funding routes and university graduate-funding information.
Final Note
The safest approach is to treat “fully funded” as a funding description, not a marketing label. Confirm exactly what tuition, living costs, travel, insurance and other expenses the award covers, and use official Canadian government or university sources before submitting an application.
