Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships 2026 (Fully-funded)

The Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship is the University of Toronto's most prestigious award for international undergraduate students. It recognizes exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and leadership potential. This is one of Canada's largest scholarship programs for international students, with approximately 37 scholars selected annually.

This is a fully-funded scholarship covering tuition fees, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. It is exclusively for first-entry undergraduate programs at the University of Toronto.

To be eligible, you must be an international student (not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, requiring a study permit). You must be in your final year of senior secondary school in 2026/2027 or have graduated no earlier than June 2026. You must also be starting your studies at the University of Toronto in September 2027. Students already enrolled in post-secondary studies or starting post-secondary studies in January 2027 at U of T or another institution are not eligible.

You must be nominated by your high school. Each high school can nominate only one student per year. You must also apply to at least one undergraduate program at the University of Toronto.

1. **Confirm Eligibility**: Ensure you meet all the eligibility criteria. 2. **School Nomination**: Speak with your guidance counsellor, principal, or head of school to see if your school is eligible to nominate students for this scholarship. Eligible schools will receive access to the nomination form starting July 6, 2026. If your school has not participated before, they can apply to join the program by noon (EST) on October 9, 2026. Your school must submit your nomination by October 9, 2026. 3. **University Application**: Apply to at least one undergraduate program at the University of Toronto through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). The deadline for this admission application to be considered for the Pearson Scholarship is October 16, 2026. You must intend to begin your studies in September 2027. 4. **Scholarship Application**: After submitting your OUAC application, you will receive instructions to log into the U of T applicant portals. Here, you will complete your scholarship application and submit any required documentation. The deadline for the student scholarship application and documentation submission is November 6, 2026.

Specific required documents beyond the initial application will be requested through the U of T applicant portals. Language proficiency requirements are not explicitly stated but are generally part of university admission for international students.