Canada is renowned for its top-notch education system, with universities ranking among the best globally. These Canadian institutions are known for their cutting-edge research, academic excellence, and student support.
Students from all over the world aspire for a Canadian scholarship as Canada is the most educated country in the world, with more than half of its population having college degrees.
Being a Pakistani student and aspiring to study in Canada can be very costly. However, a number of scholarships are available to support Pakistani students and turn their dreams into reality.
In this blog, we will explore different Canadian scholarships for Pakistani students, from university to government-sponsored ones. We will simplify the process of applying for a student visa to Canada.
Why Study in Canada?
Canada stands out as an acclaimed destination for a top-tier education system due to its institutions ranking among the best in the world. Some of these well-known Canadian institutions stand out from the rest because they are affordable, have cutting-edge research opportunities, excellent academic standards, and incredibly supportive students.
Moreover, Canada offers an outstanding educational landscape in every field, be it science, engineering, arts, or business and Technology. It offers a wide range of universities to choose from and is at the forefront of shaping the future of students.
Canada additionally promotes multiculturalism and a hospitable environment. It also offers various scholarships and grants to foreign students, along with abundant opportunities for both professional and personal growth.
Due to these reasons and others, Canada is a desired destination to study for many Pakistani students.
Steps to Obtain a Canada Student Visa for Pakistani Students
In order to travel and study in Canada on a scholarship, applying for a student visa is necessary. A step-by-step guide to a Canada student visa for Pakistani students is as follows:
- Choosing a designated DLI: Make sure that the institution you chose for studying is a designated learning institution, also approved by the government of Canada. Obtain an acceptance letter offered by a DLI.
- Create an online account on the official Canadian government website through the IRCC website: Visit the official website of the government and create an online account through the IRCC portal.
- Fill out the online form and complete the application: Fill out the form online. Collect and submit the necessary required documents to start your application process.
- Pay the required application fees and submit your application: The fees vary according to the country you are applying from; pay the fees through the IRCC portal. Submit your application and attend a biometric appointment if required.
- Wait through the processing stage and for the final decision on the application. Once your application is accepted successfully, start packing your bags and travel to Canada.
Canadian Scholarships for Pakistani Students
Here we have gathered a list of Canadian scholarships for Pakistani students divided based on government and university-specific scholarships particularly offered to Pakistani students.
Scholarships offered to Pakistani Students: Some universities in Canada offer scholarships particularly for Pakistani students and cover expenses like tuition fees, expenses and others. Some universities that offer scholarships are:
- University of Toronto
- University of Waterloo
- McGill University
- York University
These universities offer scholarships to international students based on their academic achievements. However, these scholarships are crucial in covering tuition fees and living expenses.
Government Scholarships:
Other scholarships are sponsored by the government of Canada and are offered through organizations like Global Affairs Canada. Some examples of this type of scholarship offered to Pakistani students are the SEED, the Canada-ASEAN and the ELAP program.
Commonwealth Scholarships:
Commonwealth scholarships are another avenue of getting scholarships to study in Canada if you are from Pakistan. They are funded by the UK government and are offered to commonwealth countries citizens, and cover all the expenses including the tuition fees.
Canadian Universities Scholarships:
Canadian universities are offering partial and fully funded scholarships to deserving students. These are the top universities that are giving scholarships to Pakistani students:
- The University of Alberta
- Dalhousie University
- The University of Saskatchewan
- The York University
- The University of British Columbia
- Thompson Rivers University
- The University of Toronto
- Simon Fraser University
- The University of Guelph
- The University of Waterloo.
Fully Funded Canadian Scholarships for Pakistani Students
Apart from the above-mentioned scholarships, Canada offers fully funded scholarships that cover all the expenses, from tuition fees to living expenses and other expenses. Pakistani students can get their hands on these scholarships if they fulfil the eligibility criteria.
The International Peace scholarship offers up to 12,000 USD for 12 months.
The Merit scholarship from the Quebec government is another scholarship for Pakistani students that offers up to 25,000 USD during the entire course.
Other fully funded scholarships include the University of Canada, Simon Fraser and the Vanier Canadian Scholarships that cover all the expenses during your course duration in Canada.
Scholarships for Master’s Degree:
The Ontario Trillium Scholarship: Offers around 40,000 USD to doctoral students, and it is renewable for Pakistani students for four years.
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship: This is ranked the best scholarship for Pakistani students as it offers around 10-15,000 USD for two and three terms.
The University of Calgary Graduate Awards: This scholarship is distributed in summer as well as fall semesters to Pakistani students.
The UBC Graduate Global Fellowship: This scholarship covers the tuition fees for four years and offers 18,000 USD.
The Trudeau Foundation scholarships aim at Pakistani students and cover tuition fees along with living expenses.
Conclusion
Overall, Canada is an ideal destination for Pakistani students due to its wide range of educational opportunities and high quality of education, which not only cater to students but also provide a pathway for their future trajectory due to the strong reputation of the Canadian institutes.
The Canada study visa for students allows you to embark on your educational journey in Canada by getting admitted into a Designated Learning Institute.
While studying in Canada as a Pakistani student can be a great opportunity, as it offers not only quality education but also a rewarding student life, however, the living cost and tuition fees are too high to cover, which is why scholarships are crucial in covering all the expenses and ensuring that Pakistani students can access education without any compromise.