How to Prepare for the 2026–2027 Study in Canada Scholarships
If you're a student from these select Asian, European, Middle Eastern, African, and American countries, then this scholarship is for you.
For the majority of learners everywhere, education in Canada is not only a dream but a launchpad to high-quality education, rich cultural experiences, and global career opportunities. However, dreams need funding, and that is when the Study in Canada Scholarships move into the centre stage.
Each year, Global Affairs Canada offers scholarships to international students from eligible countries, covering tuition, living expenses, and other things for brief programs or full studies. The catch? You're not allowed to apply directly. Your Canadian host institution makes the application for you. That's why early planning is the name of the game.
Here's how you can put yourself in contention for the 2026–27 cycle.
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1.) Know if You're Eligible
Too many students dive into the benefits without confirming the basics, such as eligibility. It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many waste time chasing opportunities they’re not even eligible for. The Study in Canada Scholarship is designed specifically for short-term study or research exchanges at Canadian institutions—not full degree programs.
The award is targeted for students from specific Asian, European, Middle Eastern, African, and American countries. The selected countries include Bangladesh, Nepal, Taiwan, Türkiye, Ukraine, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda.
But aside from nationality, you must be:
- A full-time student at a home country post-secondary institution.
- Your institution needs a formal collaboration with a Canadian university/college.
- You cannot hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency.
This isn’t for everyone, so checking eligibility early saves you time.
2.) Talk to Your Institution Early
Students can't apply directly, so it won't hurt to find out if your institution qualifies for this. That means the first step is to talk to your international office or program director to learn basic things. Some things you should ask are:
- Does our school have an exchange agreement with a Canadian institution?
- Are we eligible to nominate students for the Study in Canada Scholarships?
- Who in the institution handles applications for international programs?
If your school doesn’t have a partnership yet, you’ll know right away that building those connections is the biggest barrier.
3.) Research Canadian Partner Institutions
Taking things a step further, preparations go beyond your home school. Look for programs that fit your academic goals. Canadian institutions like the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, and Carleton University regularly participate in exchange agreements, but they may not be the best fit for you.
Spend time exploring:
- Programs that align with your academic goals.
- Research supervisors in your field (for graduate-level exchange).
- Which schools have active agreements with your home institution?
This research strengthens your case when approaching your school’s exchange coordinator.
4.) Prepare Your Documents Early
As my nana always reminded me: “It’s better to be over-prepared than just barely ready when the time comes.” That advice fits perfectly here. Even though your institution applies for you, you’ll need to provide strong supporting materials. Your institution may ask for other specific documents, but common requirements include:
- A statement of interest or study plan.
- Academic transcripts.
- Proof of enrollment at your home institution.
- A résumé or CV (for graduate study vacancies).
- A valid passport.
If you're starting from scratch, these take a long time to obtain, so don't leave them until deadlines are close. If possible, just have them because why not?
5.) Align Your Academic Goals with the Scholarship
Since this technically counts as an exchange program depending on how you look at it, Canadian institutions (and Global Affairs Canada) want students who will benefit academically and contribute to knowledge exchange. Your study plan should reflect this.
For your study plan, you should:
- Highlight how studying in Canada fits into your degree.
- Hammer on skills or research you’ll bring back to your home country.
- Show how your academic goals align with Canada’s focus on global partnerships.
You're basically pitching yourself as a global collaborator, not just as a student.
6.) Watch the Timeline Closely
The window of opportunity typically opens between January and March annually. But since your institution would like to have time to prepare its nominations, you should approach them months in advance, ideally during the autumn of the previous year.
A realistic schedule could look something like this:
- September–November 2025: Talk to your institution, finalise partnerships.
- December 2025: Prepare documentation and draft your study plan.
- January–February 2026: Distribute materials to your institution.
- March 2026: Your university sends in your application to Global Affairs Canada.
Conclusion
Study in Canada Scholarships are competitive, but not impossible, especially if you organise ahead of time and work closely with your university. Far too many students lose out on this opportunity simply because they do not realise that they cannot apply on their own.
So if studying in Canada is part of your career vision, begin the groundwork now: talk to your school, map out your goals, and get your documents ready. When the call for applications opens again in early 2026, you’ll already be steps ahead.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
Editing by Emmanuel Oyedeji
