Top 7 Scholarships for African Students in Canada

» Last updated on November 16th, 2023 at 11:16 pm

If you are an African student and looking for scholarships in Canada, this blog post is for you. In this blog post, you are going to learn about the topmost scholarships for African students in Canada.

There is a wide range of scholarships and opportunities for African students in Canada to choose from. However, you will have to choose the right one according to your merit and skills.

In this blog post, I will let you know how you can get a scholarship in Canada and what type of profile you should have.

Scholarships for African students in Canada

There are lots of Scholarships for African students in Canada. But here we will let you know the top 7 scholarships that can help you to build a successful career in Canada. You can pick and apply for any of these according to your need and eligibility.

1. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program
2. Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG)
3. Vanier Canada Graduate
4. Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Program
5. University of Toronto
6. Dalhousie University
7. University of British Columbia (UBC)

We will be discussing these scholarships briefly below.

Types of Scholarships for African Students in Canada

Scholarships for African students in Canada come in various forms, each catering to different needs and talents. Let’s check the most common types:

• Government Scholarships
• University-Specific Scholarships
• Field-Specific Scholarships
• Full and Partial Scholarships

Top 7 Scholarships in Canada for African Students

Canada offers numerous scholarships to African students to foster international education. These scholarships empower students with financial aid. Not only that, it enabling them to pursue higher education in Canadian institutions. Moreover, these opportunities strengthen cultural exchange and create lasting connections between African nations and Canada, promoting global understanding.

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program

This is a mesmerizing scholarship for African students with leadership and community service skills. Moreover, this scholarship will cover tuition fees, accommodation, books and living-related expenses.

This is the largest scholarship and leadership initiative for African students. This is more than just a Scholarship. It is a combination of mentoring, leadership skills development, tutoring, internship opportunities and career services adding covering tuition fees and basic living expenses. This is one of the reasons it comes in the first place.

Eligibility

You may think that if you are eligible for this scholarship program or not. Nothing to worry, now this scholarship has doubled its impact by adding 60000 scholarships and partnered with new universities and ecosystem’s. So, here you will find what you are searching for.

• If you are an undergraduate student and applying for bachelor’s degree you must have to be 29 years old or under at the time of applying.
• If you are a graduate student and applying for master’s degree you must have to be 35 years old or under at the time of applying.

Carefully read application instructions on the University programs. You will see some partners will only accept online applications and some others will require paper-based application. However, note the deadline of applying and don’t wait for it. Be careful when submitting the documents. For more details check the website.

Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG)

AIG scholarships started providing opportunities for West Africans interested in a career in public service to pursue master’s in public policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, in 2017.

As you know Oxford University is one of the top Universities in the world, so, you won’t want to waste the opportunity to gain knowledge from the best academic faculty, best practitioners and future leaders from around the world.

Eligibility

• You should be a Nigerian currently working in the public sector (Ministries, Departments, Agencies & Parastatals) at either Federal or State levels.
• You should be between 25 and 45 years old.
• You should have a minimum of seven (7) years (combined private & public sector) work experience.
• You should have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of second-class upper qualification.

But be cautious when applying and try to understand the terms carefully. Always note the deadline for the application. Visit the website to learn more and apply for the AIG Scholarships.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship is for doctoral students with excellence in demonstrating research and academics. This will help you build your career with excellent doctoral background.

This scholarship is named after the Canadian first francophone Governor General Major-General Georges P. Vanier. This scholarship attracts highly qualified doctoral students.

Eligibility

• You can only be nominated by only one Canadian institution which received Vanier CGS quota.
• You should be pursuing your first doctoral degree.
• Already completed no more than 20 months of full-time study in your doctoral program.
• You should have achieved a first-class average, as determined by your institution, in each of the last two years of full-time study or equivalent.
• You cannot have already received a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC to undertake or complete a doctoral program.

Before applying, please read the application form carefully and also note down the deadline at first. Submit the documents as asked to do so. Visit the website to learn more and apply for the Vanier scholarships.

Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Program

The Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Program is a prestigious scholarship and fellowship program offered by the Canadian government to students and researchers from Commonwealth countries. The program aims to promote academic excellence and foster international collaboration by providing financial support to individuals pursuing post-secondary education or conducting research in Canada.

The Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Program typically covers the following expenses:

• Tuition fees
• Living allowance
• Travel expenses to and from Canada
• Health and wellness coverage

Eligibility

1. You must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country.
2. The program offers scholarships and fellowships at various levels of study, including Master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral levels.
3. You must have a strong academic record, often with a minimum required grade point average (GPA) or equivalent, as specified by the scholarship or fellowship you are applying for.
4. Depending on the scholarship or fellowship, you may be required to demonstrate proficiency in English or French by submitting standardized test scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, or DELF/DALF.

For detailed information on eligibility, application procedures and deadlines can be found on the official website of the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Program.

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is really looking forward to African students. They are not bound to the African students with excellence they promise undergraduate students with partial funding.

Scholarship program of University of Toronto is featured by The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program. They are targeting exceptional academic achievement and creativity and them who are recognized as leaders within their school.

Eligibility

• You should be an international student. This means you must be a non-Canadian and you should have a study permit
• Should be an original and creative thinker committed to school and community
• You should be enthusiastic about learning and intellectual exploration
• Have to have demonstrated strong leadership skills
• You should be in final year of secondary school
• Intend to begin university in the upcoming academic year

To learn more about The Lester B. Pearson International Students Scholarship, Canada you can visit this link.

Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University offers a wide range of scholarships for international students to suite individuals’ necessity and eligibility. As an international student African Students can also apply for the entrance or in-study scholarships.

Eligibility

The eligibility to apply for the scholarships vary program to program. To learn more details about eligibility and application process visit the website of Dalhousie University.

University of British Columbia (UBC)

If you are an African student seeking for the tag International Student, UBC is looking for you. They welcome both undergraduate and graduate African students.

There are lots of scholarships for African students in Canada. Under this program every scholarship has different benefits and criteria. I am stating some basic eligibility.

Eligibility

• You should be new to UBC, entering directly from secondary school
• You should be an international student who will be studying at UBC on a Canadian study permit (student visa). (Changes to your citizenship status will affect your IMES eligibility.)
• You should be Demonstrating exceptional academic achievement and intellectual promise, as well as impressive extracurricular and community involvement.

These are the basic eligibility criteria. Visit the official website of UBS for more information about the eligibility and process of application for the scholarship.

If you want to study in Canada then you can check these:

Scholarships for African Students in Canada-related FAQs

Conclusion

Finally, I would like to say, as an African student looking to get scholarships in Canada, you may have got what you need. These scholarships will help you to achieve your goals whether it is undergraduate, graduate or doctorate studies. But don’t forget to check eligibility and deadline of application of these scholarships. That is all for scholarships for African students in Canada today.