International Student Leadership Award (ISLA)

What you will need

• ✓ TMU Student Number
• ✓ Activated online identity
• ✓ Personal statement
• ✓ International visa student status and authorization when you register and during your first semester at TMU
• ✓ A final admission average of at least 86%, an A, or an equivalent

About this award

You can receive $10,000 CAD. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. Up to 53 students receive it. It is an entrance award only and is not renewable. This is for you if you are an international student who balances strong grades with a commitment to volunteering, joining clubs, and taking on leadership roles. You must apply through AwardSpring by February 16, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET. No deadline is posted for when you will be notified of the result — when you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back via email, portal, or phone. TMU looks for students who do well academically, volunteer, join clubs and show leadership qualities, and you must write a personal statement. It does not publish how applications are ranked. Ask Toronto Metropolitan University during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed because this award is entrance-only and non-renewable. You will not be able to apply for this specific funding again in future years.

Who qualifies

You must be an international student with a valid visa and authorization at the time you register and during your first semester. You must be starting your first year of a full-time 4-year (or 5 year co-op) undergraduate degree at Toronto Metropolitan University and be required to pay international student fees. You cannot have previously attended a Canadian post-secondary institution on a full-time basis. Your final admission average must be at least 86%, an A, or an equivalent. If you took a gap year, it must be no longer than one academic year.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ International student
• ✓ Open to high school students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

3. 3

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Personal StatementAvoid writing a generic list of your achievements. Instead, tell a specific story about a time your leadership helped a club or volunteer group reach a goal. Describe the exact impact you made.
• SupportAvoid writing your personal statement alone at the last minute. Instead, ask a teacher or club supervisor to read a draft and check that it shows your leadership clearly.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until you have an official offer of admission to start your application. Since you can apply before receiving an offer, prepare your personal statement and gather your transcripts now to beat the February 16 deadline.
• RealismAvoid assuming that a high GPA alone is enough to win the award. Because this targets leadership and volunteering, ensure your application shows as much evidence of your community involvement as it does of your academic success.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityTMU Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship (86-89.99%)$3,000
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityTMU Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship (90-94.99%)$6,000
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityTMU Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship (95%+)$3,000
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityTerence Grier Entrance Scholarship
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityTMU Communication and Culture Graduate Awards$20,000
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto Metropolitan University President's Entrance Scholarship$40,000
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityBridging Divides Scholarship$45,000
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityISLA Winter Intake Award$10,000