Western University Scholarships for International Students

The University of Western Ontario (UWO), commonly stylized as Western University, is located in Ontario, Canada. The research-intensive school is bisected by the Thames River on the eastern side. Founded in 1878, school alumni include government officials, Nobel Laureates, and business leaders.

Every year, hundreds of students from around the globe attend Western University in search of a degree. With 400 combinations of majors and minors in 12 faculties and more than 90 undergraduate programs, anyone can find their ideal course of study at the university. The prestige it carries makes Western University a coveted destination for international undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. To aid in building a diverse pool of talent and achievement, Western University provides several scholarships for international students.

Western University Scholarships for International Students

Undergraduate Degrees

1. Western Scholarship of Excellence

• Scholarship Amount: $8,000, plus a $2,000 grant for travel purposes.
• Eligibility Criteria: This scholarship is available to all international students who have maintained a 90% to 94.9% overall average through their senior year of high school.
• Scholarship Link

The deadline for early consideration is March 1st. High school students who have achieved top marks in their high school careers and wish to attend Western University are eligible for this scholarship. Students must be applying to the school intending to be full-time students. Changing to or applying for a part-time course load or enrollment will negate eligibility. If awarded, the scholarship will be applied to the student’s fee account before the first installment is due.

2. Western International Admission Scholarship

• Scholarship Amount: $10,000 CAD in the first year and an additional $5,000 CAD annually for the remaining three years
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be pursuing full-time enrollment and course load at Western University, and have shown significant academic achievement in their secondary school years.
• Scholarship Link

The Western International Admission Scholarship was designed to aid exemplary international students in attending Western University. On top of a strong academic history, applicants must have previously displayed a sense of leadership and have taken part in community activities. To retain this scholarship, awardees must maintain a yearly academic average of 80% or higher.

3. Western Scholarship of Distinction

• Scholarship Amount: $2,500
• Eligibility Criteria: Must be an international student that has earned a minimum final admission average of 92% to 100%
• Scholarship Link

This scholarship is awarded to first-year students who are entering Western University in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Students must be enrolled full-time. Those who have already been awarded a National Scholarship or Schulich Leader Scholarship are not eligible for this award.

It is the student’s obligation to confirm that their high school has submitted all final transcripts and reference letters to the Admissions Office. Admission averages are not rounded to the nearest whole percentage for consideration.

International undergraduate students with hopes of attending Western University will find an abundance of scholarships available to fund their studies. Students with high marks in secondary school especially will benefit from the awards focusing on academic potential.

Postgraduate Scholarships

1. Ontario Graduate Scholarship and QEII Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology

• Scholarship Amount: $15,000 for one year.
• Eligibility Criteria: International postgraduate students must apply for and be accepted into a graduate program at Western University.
• Degree Offered: Master’s and Doctoral
• Scholarship Link

In order to be eligible for this Western University scholarship, awardees will have achieved an academic average of at least 80% in a Science or Technology related program. The application is divided into five sections, which must be completed in order for the student’s application to be considered. One section included is a proposal outlining the applicant’s proposed research trajectory. Potential candidates must also obtain references from two professors in support of their application.

2. Ontario Trillium Scholarship

• Scholarship Amount: $40,000 per annum for up to four years.
• Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility depends on a Ph.D. student having shown exceptional research experience and potential, on top of demonstrating outstanding academic ability.
• Degree Offered: Doctoral
• Scholarship Link

To hold the Ontario Trillium Scholarship, doctoral candidates must first be nominated by the Graduate Chair at Western University. A completed file will include a nomination letter of no more than two pages, outlining the student’s academic excellence, research prowess, interpersonal qualities, and reputation within their respective college and degree program. In addition, an admission application with transcripts, references, and a CV must be included in the final submission.

Nominations must be submitted for consideration by August 31st. Those applying for the Ontario Trillium Scholarship must not have been awarded a scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), or the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

3. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

• Scholarship Amount: $50,000 per annum for three years of doctoral studies.
• Eligibility Criteria: Students must be in the process of obtaining their first doctoral degree, and have completed no more than 20 months of full-time matriculation in their respective doctoral program.
• Degree Offered: Doctoral
• Scholarship Link
  

Offered by the Canadian government, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, a scholarship available at the Western University, seeks to attract competent, exemplary talent from around the world. The weighted criteria considered by the scholarship board at Academic Excellence, Research Potential, and Leadership. Four assessments are required: two from academic referees, and from two leadership referees.

Students must have accelerated directly from a bachelor’s degree to a Ph.D., without enrolling in a master’s program, or have gone from a master’s program into a doctoral one, without obtaining a master’s degree.

As part of their application, candidates must detail how identifying factors such as sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability affect the outcomes of research. They will be required to consider the Sex and Gender-based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) principles when proposing their research.

There are quite a few scholarships at Western University, designed to attract talent, leadership, and overall excellence to Canada. As an attractive destination for potential alumni, Western University’s website provides a convenient award search function to help incoming students choose the best scholarship for their academic journey.

I hope that this article on studying was helpful! If you are interested, visit the Canada Scholarships Page!