Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships

The Pearson Scholarship recognises international secondary school students who show exceptional academic achievement and creativity and who are seen as leaders in their schools — and it is one of the few full undergraduate awards of its scale in Canada. Around a few dozen scholarships are awarded each cycle across the university.

Candidates must be nominated by their school and then apply to the University of Toronto; the scholarship application follows the nomination. For strong school-level candidates the practical step is approaching the school early, since each school nominates only one student per cycle.

The University of Toronto's flagship undergraduate award for international students — very small in number and among the most competitive undergraduate scholarships anywhere.

• An international student requiring a study permit, applying for a first undergraduate degree.
• Currently in the final year of secondary school, or graduated no earlier than the previous year.
• Nominated by your school — the school must be recognised by the programme, and each is allocated a limited number of nominations.
• Applying to Toronto for the coming autumn, as a first-entry undergraduate programme.
• Exceptional academic achievement and creativity, together with recognised leadership and a demonstrated impact at school.
• Not eligible if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or a current or transfer university student.

The school nomination is a hard requirement and it comes first — the school must nominate you before you can apply. That process starts very early, so the conversation with your school needs to happen at the beginning of your final year.

A genuinely comprehensive undergraduate award, which is rare — most undergraduate international awards are partial.

• Full tuition for four years.
• Books and incidental fees.
• Full residence support for four years — accommodation and meal plan.
• Awarded for the duration of the degree, subject to maintaining the required standing.
• Recognition as a Pearson Scholar, and the community around it.

This covers essentially the whole cost of the degree, which is why the field is so strong. It does not cover travel to Canada or personal spending, and those still need budgeting.

A two-stage submission: the school's nomination first, then your own application.

• A school nomination, submitted by your school through the programme's portal.
• A University of Toronto undergraduate application, submitted separately.
• Academic transcripts and predicted or final results.
• A personal profile and essays on your achievements, leadership and impact.
• Evidence of extracurricular and community activity, described concretely.
• English proficiency evidence where required.

The essays are looking for evidence of impact rather than a list of activities. A single initiative you genuinely changed reads far more strongly than a long list of memberships.

Nomination, then application, then a single selection round — all on Toronto's own early timetable.

• Ask your school to nominate you, well before the nomination deadline in the autumn.
• Apply to the University of Toronto for an eligible undergraduate programme.
• Submit the Pearson application once nominated, by its deadline.
• Selection, with a small number of awards made in the spring.

Dates move every cycle, so treat the University of Toronto's Pearson Scholarship pages as the authority on them rather than any second-hand summary — including this one. We will confirm the current timeline with you before you commit to a plan built around it.