As one of the oldest postsecondary Canadian institutes in British Columbia, the University of Victoria is known to offer various entrance and in-course scholarships to international candidates with outstanding academic performance. The scholarships and awards are available for both undergraduate as well as postgraduate coursework programs at the University of Victoria.

Some of the general requirements and details for the University of Victoria scholarships are as follows:

  • Incoming or continuing students in a UG/PG degree program at the University of Victoria.
  • International students must be studying at the university on a Canadian study permit.
  • Majority of Undergraduate scholarships are awarded on the basis of admission applications.
  • Eligible UG and PG students must have an outstanding academic standing in the previous qualifications.

The number of studentships offered every year varies and ranges somewhere between 2,250 and 7,500. Each year more than 8 million CAD are awarded through these scholarships. In addition, the University of Victoria awards over 4 million CAD annually in the form of bursaries for students in financial need.

University of Victoria Scholarships for Bachelor Programs

The University of Victoria awards both entrance and in-course scholarships to academically excellent international undergraduate students. The number of scholarships distributed each year varies, depending on available funding. Scholarships for international undergraduate students range in value from 3,000 CAD to 10,000 CAD.

The general eligibility criteria for UG scholarships are:

  • International students must send in an interim transcript or a final transcript by March.
  • Eligible candidates are automatically referred to Student Awards & Financial Aid by Undergraduate Admissions.

Eligibility criteria and application requirements may vary depending on different awards, so students are requested to kindly read the details of each award carefully before applying for a scholarship.

Scholarship Benefits (in CAD) Eligibility Application System
Aga Khan Academy Renewable Scholarship 22,500/year "A" average, or minimum of 32 IB points; Community service; School involvement and leadership Online Application; Deadline: January 01 and March 15
East China Normal University Renewable Scholarship 5,000/year Entering the University of Victoria from the No. 2 Secondary School attached to East China Normal University Admission Application
International Entrance Scholarship 10,000/year Academic Merit Admission Application
President's Vietnam Scholarship 10,000 Academic merit; Entering from Vietnam Online Application
President’s Beyond Border Funding 5000 Academic achievers from the Asia Pacific region entering an undergraduate program Admission Application

Note: Undergraduate applicants must maintain registration in a minimum of 4.5 units for credit in each term (3.0 units for students with a permanent disability) for which they have been awarded the scholarship.

University of Victoria Scholarships for Postgraduate Programs

For Masters and Doctoral program students, there are a number of scholarships and awards. Normally, the minimum requirement for consideration is an A- average, and whatever additional criteria have been established by the sponsor. 

Most of the University of Victoria scholarships for PG students are assigned based on nominations from eligible academic units. Some of the awards require an application and some do not require any separate application. They are offered to students who have demonstrated

  • Exceptional academic achievement
  • Leadership skills
  • Community presence
  • Long-term goals

Few of the Graduate scholarships at University of Victoria are mentioned in the table below:

Scholarship Benefits (in CAD) Eligibility Application System
University of Victoria Graduate Awards 10,000/year A- average on the last two years of course work; Full-time or part-time registration of 1.5 units Admission Application
University of Victoria Graduate Fellowships

17,500/year (master's);
20,000/year (PhD)

A- average on the last two years of course work; Full-time or part-time registration of 3.0 units Admission Application
Jane Zhu MBA Cross-cultural Integration Award 1000 Encourage and promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding Admission Application
President's Research Scholarships 4000 Must hold awards from: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) Nominations by Department
Dr. Margaret “Marmie” Perkins Hess Graduate Fellowships in Earth, Ocean, Astronomy, and Environmental Sciences 15,000 Research focus is on earth, ocean, astronomy and environmental sciences Completion of online application by July 31st

University of Victoria External Awards & Scholarships

In addition to the University of Victoria scholarships mentioned above, there are a number of external scholarships for international students awarded by the national and provincial granting agencies that annually fund graduate students and their research. These are merit-based fellowships that must be applied for individually.

Some of the external scholarships available to international students at University of Victoria are as follows:

Scholarship Benefits (in CAD) Eligibility Application System
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships 50,000 First-class average in recent study Nomination by a Canadian university with a Vanier CGS allocation
The Rhodes Scholarship 20,883 GPA of 8.0 or higher; Consistent and ongoing participation in community and volunteer activities Completion of Online Application by July 24
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship 60,000 Enrolled in a full-time doctoral program in the humanities or social sciences Completion of Online Application by 5th January 2021
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) – Graduate Fellowships 12,000 - master's 18,000 - PhD A grade of "A-" in at least the last 12-24 months of current or previous studies Completion of Online Application

The University of Victoria offers numerous awards for international undergraduate and graduate students with outstanding academic merit but are experiencing a financial crisis during their school year. The eligibility criteria, application process, and selection criteria are different for different scholarships. Hence, it is important for students to verify the same before applying for any scholarship.