Canada is an excellent option to consider for a PhD Degree. A PhD degree is a costly yet worthwhile investment. However, it is difficult for students to choose the right and affordable country to pursue a PhD. It is a well-known fact that Canada is among the most preferred study destinations in the world. PhD in Canada is a lot more affordable than in other countries like the US or the UK. To make it more affordable for international students who are excellent in their academics, the Canadian Government offers a lot of PhD scholarships. This blog includes everything you need to know about PhD Scholarships in Canada!
This Blog Includes:
- PhD Funding in Canada
- PhD Scholarships in Canada for International Students
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- The University of British Columbia Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship
- Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Ontario Trillium Scholarship
- The Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships
- The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
- IDRC Research Awards
- The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
- University of Alberta Scholarship
- Know the Admission Requirements
- Why Study PhD in Canada?
- FAQs
PhD Funding in Canada
Before discussing PhD scholarships in Canada, let’s take a look at the means of funding available to PhD students.
- Canada offers student loans, but these are mostly available to Canadian citizens or other students with a PR (Permanent Residence) in Canada only.
- You can expect some funding options to vary for different universities in different states. This variation is because Canada is divided into 10 provinces that are allowed to determine their own educational policies.
- Some universities in Canada impose funding for PhD students so that everyone pursuing a PhD program can be provided with a minimum amount of support either by their graduate school, department or research group.
PhD Scholarships in Canada for International Students
Mentioned below is a list of PhD Scholarships in Canada offered by the Canadian Government to international students:
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are awarded to international and native students who are highly qualified in the following fields:
Award Grant: CAD 50,000 (INR 29.791 Lacs) per year
The University of British Columbia Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship
The University of British Columbia offers this scholarship to excellent international and home students who are pursuing a PhD Degree. The scholarship is fully funded, and students are also provided with a yearly stipend of at least CAD 18,200 (INR 10.88 Lacs).
Also Read: Cost of Living in Canada
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
This Scholarship is offered to Canadian as well as International students as the PhD scholars contribute to the fields of healthcare, natural science, social science, and economics through research.
Under this fellowship scheme, the Canadian university offers funding to 70 students worth CAD 70,000, the amount is taxable for two years.
The application deadline for this PhD fellowship is in September every year, and the results are declared in mid-January or February.
Also Read: Part-time Jobs in Canada
Ontario Trillium Scholarship
The University of Waterloo offers the Ontario Trillium Scholarship to international students who hold a valid Canadian study permit and who have achieved a minimum of 80% in each of their last 2 years of full-time study. The student must be registered in a full-time degree-granting program in any Faculty to be eligible for this PhD scholarship in Canada.
Award Grant: CAD 40,000 (INR 23.93 lacs)
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship
This scholarship is offered to international and home students in all disciplines who have attended any one of the following universities in Ontario:
- Brock University
- Carleton University
- University of Guelph
- Lakehead University
- Laurentian University
- McMaster University
- Nipissing University
- OCAD University
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
- University of Ottawa
- Queen’s University
- Ryerson University
- University of Toronto
- Trent University
- University of Waterloo
- Western University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- University of Windsor
- York University
Award Grant: CAD 5,000 (INR 2.97 Lakhs) per term
University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships
The University of Calgary offers a Doctoral Recruitment scholarship that is available for international and home students who meet the eligibility criteria set by the University.
Award Grant: CAD 12,000 to CAD 35,000 (INR 7.17 lacs- 20.94 lacs)
The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
This PhD scholarship in Canada is open to students from all nationalities. The scholarship is valued for a period of 12 months.
Award Grant: CAD 18,000 (INR 10.76 lacs)
Also Read: Brock University Graduate Programs
IDRC Research Awards
The IDRC Research Awards is awarded by the International Development Research Center to candidates who wish to pursue a master’s or doctorate in Canada. This financial aid is awarded to the permanent residents of Canada, Canadian citizens, and the candidates of the developing countries.
Award Grant: CAD 20,000 per year (INR 1211258.80 Lakhs)
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
The University of Waterloo offers the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships to international students enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian institution. The student must be already enrolled in a 2-3 year doctoral program in the following subjects:
In order to apply for this PhD scholarship in Canada, the doctoral work done by the student must be related to the following:
- Human Rights and Dignity
- Responsible Citizenship
- Canada and the World
- People and their Natural Environment
Award Grant: The scholarship includes the following awarded for up to 3 years of study:
- CAD 40,000 (INR 23.92 Lacs) per year to cover tuition and reasonable living expenses
- CAD 20,000 (INR 11.96 Lacs) per year as a research and travel allowance
Also Read: Fully-funded PhD in Canada
University of Alberta Scholarship
The University of Alberta provide scholarships for graduate and PhD courses to all eligible students. Students are automatically considered for the scholarships as soon as they enrol for the course. Students can also seek external funding such as teaching assistantships and research assistantships.
Award Grant: CAD 21,000 for international students
Know the Admission Requirements
The eligibility requirements for obtaining a PhD Degree may vary for different courses and universities in Canada. Mentioned below are the general admission requirements for students who are considering Canada for their PhD studies:
- The students must have obtained a master’s degree in a related field. The degree must come with good grades and demonstrate the student’s research ability and potential.
- Proof of English Language Proficiency is a must. The student must take English Language Proficiency tests such as IELTS, PTE or TOEFL to prove their English proficiency.
- The student must obtain an excellent score in graduate admissions tests such as the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) or GRE ( Graduate Record Examination).
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Why Study PhD in Canada?
Top-Class Universities
Canada is home to many universities that rank among the top 100 universities in the world. It provides students from around the world with excellent academic and research facilities.
Work Opportunities
PhD students are paid during their PhD studies. However, in Canada, students can work for up to 10 hours a week and stay for up to 3 years after completing their PhD studies in Canada using the post-graduation work permit.
Affordable Option
PhD in top countries like the US or the UK is a bit expensive. While in Canada, tuition fees for pursuing a PhD are quite affordable, ranging from CAD 6,000 to 30,000 (INR 3.58 lacs -17.94 Lacs).
Scholarships and Grants
Canada offers a variety of scholarships to highly qualified international students who want to pursue any doctoral degree in a Canadian University.
Relevant Blogs
FAQs
Ans. A PhD Program in Canada is 4-6 years long.
Ans. Various Canadian Universities offer full scholarships to PhD candidates on the basis of their academic achievements and the objective of their research work in Canada for developmental purposes.
Ans. Yes, you can get a fully funded PhD in Canada worth $50,000 for a period of 3 years to fund your research. The scholarship amount is awarded on the basis of academic excellence, research proposal, financial needs, as well as leadership skills. 1 May 2024 is the deadline to apply for the PhD scholarships in Canada 2023-2024.
Ans. An overall score of 6.5 with no components less than 5.0 is the minimum IELTS requirement to study PhD in Canada.
Ans. Yes, Canada offers fully-funded PhD programs under some scholarships and funding schemes. Some of the fully-funded PhD schemes are Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships, NSERC Postgraduate scholarships, Anne Vallee Ecological Fund, Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships, McGill University Scholarships and Student Aid.
We hope that, this blog helped you explore PhD scholarships available in Canada for Indian students. If finding the right scholarship still confuses you, feel free to call our Leverage Edu experts. We are here to help you select the best scholarship and funding options available to finance your dream of pursuing a PhD abroad! Sign up for a free career counselling session with us today. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.