Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

Tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Toronto. About 37 scholars are named each year.

Fields: Any field

Open to most nationalities

• International student: not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and needs a study permit to study in Canada.
• In the final year of senior secondary school in 2026/2027, or graduated no earlier than June 2026 (for September 2027 entry).
• Must start a first-entry undergraduate programme at U of T in September 2027; students already in post-secondary study are not eligible.
• Must be nominated by your secondary school; each school can nominate only one student per year.
• Selection looks for outstanding academic achievement, creativity and leadership potential.

For September 2027 entry: school nomination deadline 9 October 2026, U of T admission application by 16 October 2026, and scholarship application with all documents by 6 November 2026. In the last cycle, notifications started at the end of January and all nominees were informed by April; confirm the 2027 decision dates on the official page.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• School nomination submitted by your school through the U of T online nomination process
• U of T undergraduate admission application (through OUAC) for at least one programme
• Pearson Scholarship application, completed through a private link sent after nomination
• Academic records and other documents requested in the admission and scholarship applications
• Proof of English proficiency if required for U of T admission

1. 1

   Step 1: Ask your school to nominate you

   Speak to your principal or counsellor early. Schools that took part before receive the nomination form from July; new schools must register to participate by 9 October 2026.
2. 2

   Step 2: Apply to U of T

   Submit your undergraduate admission application by 16 October 2026, listing your top programme choice first, as the scholarship is tied to it.
3. 3

   Step 3: Complete the scholarship application

   After nomination you receive a private link; complete it only after your admission application is in, by 6 November 2026.
4. 4

   Step 4: Wait for the decision

   Shortlisted candidates are contacted and decisions are released in the new year; check your email and the U of T applicant portal.

• Tenable only at the University of Toronto for a first-entry undergraduate programme, for up to four years.
• Generative AI tools must not be used to write any part of the application; doing so leads to disqualification.
• You must begin studies in September of the entry year; deferral or January entry is not covered.

• Your school, not you, makes the nomination. Many Nigerian and African schools have never taken part, so ask your counsellor to register the school well before 9 October.
• U of T does not work with agents for this scholarship. Ignore anyone who charges a fee to help you get nominated or apply.
• Show leadership and creativity beyond grades: community projects, initiatives you started, and the concrete impact they had.
• Apply to other funded options too, since only about 37 students worldwide are selected each year.

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• Canada student visa

Checked against these official pages on 16 Oct 2026.

• University of Toronto: Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
• University of Toronto: About the Pearson Scholarship (opens in a new tab)