Top Canadian scholarship programs to know about for your Master’s studies

While the vast majority of scholarships for universities are administered directly by specific departments within the universities themselves, external scholarships exist that can be applied for in order to assist your Master’s studies.

If you’re thinking of applying for a Canadian scholarship program, it is worth researching ones that will be available at the universities to which you’re applying, so that you can tailor your application. However, remember that you must first hold an offer from the university in order to apply for their internal scholarships.

Aside from university scholarships, others exist that you should keep in mind. Here are the top 4 Canadian scholarships to know about for your Master’s studies:

Santander Scholarship Scheme

Since 2007, the Santander Scholarship Scheme has helped many students achieve their educational goals, including studying abroad. The grants from Santander apply only to students who want to study at a university within the Santander Universities network. This scheme offers a small sum towards your tuition costs and is available through a number of our partner universities. More details can be found here.

Commonwealth Scholarship

This is an international program where member governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other commonwealth countries to aid career development opportunities.

The Commonwealth Scholarship is mainly offered to students wishing to study a graduate degree at either the Master’s or Doctoral level. It is offered to undergraduate students, too. However, this is determined on a case by case basis.

Chevening Scholarship

The Chevening Scholarship is awarded to Canadian students who are described as ‘outstanding emerging leaders’ and seek to pursue a one-year Master’s degree at any university within the UK.

This scholarship not only offers financial support to the students chosen but also offers students the opportunity to become part of the influential Chevening Global Network, a highly regarded global network that increases a student’s exposure on the international stage.

While Canadian students can choose any course of study, the Chevening Scholarship looks favourably upon a particular number of fields: a list of these can be found here.

Canadian Federation of University Women

The Canadian Federation of University Women Award was designed to honour Dr. Marion Elder Grant’s lifelong commitment to the education of women. The CFUW will only be granted for women who choose to study specific programs, including Law, Medicine, Nurse Practitioner or a Master’s in Aboriginal studies.

CFUW has been working to improve the status of women and ensure that all girls and women have equal opportunities and equal access to education. Further details on how to apply for this scholarship can be found here.

Want to study in the UK?

Please note that while scholarships can be an option for funding your study abroad experience, they are extremely competitive. Even if you are accepted for one, they tend to only cover a portion of your fees. The standard range that you could receive from being accepted onto a scheme is between £1,000 and £3,000, although in some cases it can be more.

There is no question that obtaining your graduate degree in a different country will set you apart from other graduates, but studying in the UK is a huge decision to make and isn’t something that you have to do alone.

From applying to scholarships, or seeking different funding options, Across The Pond can be there for you every step of the way. Speak to one of our Advisors, Or, if you’d like more information on funding your Master’s studies, why not download our eBook, the Graduate’s Guide to Funding your UK Master’s Degree.

Photo credit: Mike Mozart