Most scholarships make you write an essay, chase a nomination letter or sit an interview. The University of Toronto International Scholar Award asks for none of that. If you are admitted as an international undergraduate to one of the qualifying faculties or campuses, a selection committee looks at your admission file and decides whether to attach the award to your offer. You can read the full scholarship details on our site, but this guide is about how the award actually works and what a Pakistani applicant should do differently because of it.
The short version: the award is worth up to CAD 100,000 across four years of a bachelor's degree. It is partial funding, it is merit-based, and the only way to compete for it is to submit the strongest possible admission application. There is no second form where you can make up for a weak one.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Funding type | Partial funding, merit-based entrance scholarship |
| Total value | Up to CAD 100,000 over four years |
| Study level | Bachelor's |
| Country | Canada |
| Provider | University of Toronto |
| Deadline | Automatic consideration upon admission; regular application deadline typically mid-January for September intake |
| Official site | U of T scholarships for international students |
How the CAD 100,000 is split across four years
The headline figure is a maximum, and it is front-loaded. The structure is up to CAD 40,000 in the first year, then CAD 20,000 renewable in each of years two, three and four. Add those up and you reach the CAD 100,000 ceiling.
Two words in that sentence matter a lot. "Up to" means the first-year amount is a ceiling, so do not assume you will receive the full CAD 40,000 until you see the number in your offer. "Renewable" means the later payments are conditional. You keep them only if you meet the renewal rules every year, which are covered below.
Because this is partial funding, plan as if you will still be paying a meaningful share of tuition and all of your living costs in Toronto. For a Pakistani family, that has a direct effect on the study permit stage, where you will need to show funds for whatever the award does not cover. Our guide to bank statements and proof of funds is worth reading early, before you are holding an offer and racing a visa timeline.
Which faculties and campuses qualify
This is where many applicants go wrong. The award is not available across the whole university. You are considered only if you are admitted as an international student to one of these:
- Faculty of Arts and Science, including Rotman Commerce
- Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
- University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)
- University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)
If you are aiming at a program that sits outside these, check the official scholarships page before counting on this award. Within the list, the fields span arts, sciences, commerce and engineering, so most students interested in a general undergraduate degree will find a route in.
The award is open to international applicants, which includes students applying from Pakistan. There is no published grade cutoff. The committee assesses academic achievement and the overall competitiveness of your admission file, which means your marks, your test scores and any supplementary components all feed into the same decision.
Why the 4.0-credit rule decides whether you keep the money
Winning the award in year one is only the first step. To renew the CAD 20,000 in each later year, you need to:
- stay registered full-time
- complete at least 4.0 credits by the end of the Fall/Winter session
- meet all Guaranteed Admission (GA) requirements by the end of the Summer session
The credit rule is the one that catches students out. A first-year international student adjusting to a new country, a new grading culture and Toronto winters may be tempted to drop a course to protect their GPA. Dropping below 4.0 credits for the Fall/Winter session can cost you the next year's payment. Plan your course load in year one with the renewal rule in mind, and if you are thinking of withdrawing from anything, find out first how it affects your credit count.
The Guaranteed Admission requirements vary by program, so ask your faculty what they are for you specifically once you are admitted. Do not guess.
What goes into the application (because it is the scholarship application)
Since there is no separate scholarship form, the documents are the standard undergraduate admission documents:
- The University of Toronto undergraduate application through OUAC (the OUAC 105 form for international applicants)
- Official secondary school transcripts
- English proficiency test scores (IELTS or TOEFL) if applicable
- Supplementary application materials for specific programs, such as Engineering or Rotman Commerce, if required
For Pakistani students, the transcript step is where delays usually happen. Get your board results, school transcripts and any attestation sorted well before the cycle opens. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers the paperwork side in more detail.
The supplementary materials deserve real effort. They affect scholarship consideration as well as admission. A rushed supplementary submission for Engineering or Rotman Commerce weakens the exact file the committee uses to pick award winners.
The application path from OUAC to a funded offer
- Apply for undergraduate admission through OUAC to one of the qualifying faculties or campuses.
- Submit your transcripts, test scores and any program-specific supplementary applications.
- Receive an admission offer. The selection committee automatically considers eligible students for the award at this stage.
- If you are selected, the scholarship is confirmed as part of your admission offer package, with no extra paperwork.
- Keep the required course load and academic standing each year to renew it.
Timing for a September start
The cycle typically runs like this:
- October: OUAC applications open for the following September intake
- Mid-January: application deadline, which varies slightly by program
- February-May: admission and scholarship offers go out
- September: the term begins
Treat mid-January as approximate. Confirm the exact deadline for your program on the official portal, since it can differ from one program to another. Applying early in the cycle is sensible, particularly for selective programs like Engineering and Rotman Commerce.
Who this award suits, and who should look elsewhere
It suits a strong FSc, A-level or equivalent student who already wants a University of Toronto bachelor's degree in one of the qualifying faculties and whose family can cover the remaining costs. For that student, the award is a bonus that costs nothing extra to pursue. You apply for admission anyway, and the committee does the rest.
It suits students less well if they need full funding to go abroad at all. Even the maximum award leaves a gap, and you cannot know whether you have it until the offer arrives between February and May. If your plan only works with a fully funded place, apply to this alongside other options rather than relying on it. Our guide to all Canada scholarships lists other routes worth comparing.
It is also different from the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship. Pearson requires a nomination from your high school and is more selective. The International Scholar Award needs no nomination, which opens it to a wider pool of applicants, including students whose schools do not take part in nomination processes.
Mistakes that quietly cost applicants the award
The biggest one is treating the scholarship as something separate from admission. Students sometimes put minimal effort into the supplementary components because they think the "real" scholarship application comes later. It does not come later. The admission file is the scholarship file.
The second is ignoring final-year grades. Selection rests on overall academic competitiveness, so a drop in your last year of school can matter even after you have applied.
The third is applying to a program outside the qualifying faculties and campuses and assuming you will still be considered. Check first.
The fourth happens after arrival: under-loading in first year and missing the 4.0-credit threshold. Students who attend UTM or UTSC should also look into the campus-specific in-course scholarships those campuses run, which can add to what you receive later in your degree.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fill in a separate scholarship application?
No. Eligible students are automatically considered during the standard admission review at the qualifying faculties and campuses. If selected, the award is included in your admission offer package.
Can Pakistani students receive this award?
Yes, it is for international undergraduate applicants admitted to the qualifying faculties or campuses, which includes students from Pakistan. Selection depends on the strength of your admission file.
Will I definitely get CAD 40,000 in my first year if I win?
Not necessarily. The first-year amount is up to CAD 40,000, so the figure in your offer is what counts. Later years are CAD 20,000 each, renewable if you meet the conditions.
Is there a minimum grade or test score?
There is no fixed public cutoff. A committee assesses your academic achievement and the overall competitiveness of your application. English test scores (IELTS or TOEFL) are required where applicable.
What happens if I fall below 4.0 credits in a year?
Renewal requires full-time registration and at least 4.0 credits by the end of the Fall/Winter session, along with meeting Guaranteed Admission requirements. Falling short puts the next year's payment at risk, so speak to your faculty before making changes to your course load.
Check the current rules and program deadlines on the University of Toronto official website, and keep our University of Toronto International Scholar Award page bookmarked for the key details.