Financial Aid for Undergraduate Students in Alberta

Financial aid for undergraduate international students can be in the form of scholarships and aid.

Scholarships and awards
Undergraduate international students applying to university or community college are eligible for scholarships available to new students based on various criteria, such as academic success, community involvement, athletic excellence, references from instructors/ employers or financial need.

The main types of undergraduate scholarships for international students in the province are:

Undergraduate entrance (new student) scholarships

International entrance scholarships

International student athletic scholarships

Academic scholarships

Many universities and colleges administer scholarships just for incoming international students, and sometimes international students can apply for the same general entrance awards as local students. In some cases, international students are automatically considered for these entrance scholarships and awards when they submit their general application. In other cases, scholarships are competitive and international students must apply by a specific deadline, or the award may only be open to students who have already received acceptance from the school. Eligibility and application requirements vary from one institution to another; therefore, it's important to consult the international student section and/ or the scholarship and financial assistance section of individual university and college websites. Some scholarships are available to international students entering a particular program of study, so check with the program department as well.

International entrance scholarships can be full-tuition or partial. Be sure to check with the Ministry of Education (or similar agency) in your home country for international scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship and award programs for international students are also administered by the federal government of Canada, the provincial government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The government of Canada maintains a database of scholarships for non-Canadians, which is searchable by your country of origin.

Examples of some undergraduate international student scholarships available across Canada:

Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program is available to citizens of Commonwealth Countries for study and research in Canada.

International Student Humanitarian Award awarded to a student from impoverished or war-torn areas.

International Leader of Tomorrow Award

National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Ambassadorial Scholarships are awarded through the Rotary Foundation

Financial assistance for international students
Bursaries ranging from $500 to $1,000 are also sometimes available for undergraduate international students who demonstrate financial need and who have maintained good academic standing. Bursaries may be given out as emergency assistance for basic educational expenses if the student's original financial sources have fallen through.

Visa students are not eligible for loans run by the province's student aid office. However, loan assistance may be available through the International Education Finance Corporation (IEFC).