Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

What you will need

• ✓ Official nomination from your high school (submitted by the school by October 9, 2026)
• ✓ Application for admission to at least one undergraduate program at the University of Toronto (submitted by October 16, 2026)
• ✓ Completed Pearson Scholarship application via the private link sent after nomination
• ✓ All required supporting documentation (submitted by November 6, 2026)

About this award

You receive a full 4-year scholarship that covers your tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are an international leader with exceptional academic achievement and a desire to contribute positively to the global community. Your high school must nominate you by October 9, 2026. You must apply for admission to the University of Toronto by October 16, 2026, and submit your final scholarship application and documents by November 6, 2026. You will hear back from the university after these deadlines, though the exact notification date is not posted publicly — ask the University of Toronto when you can expect a decision. The University of Toronto looks for exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and potential to contribute positively to the global community; approximately 37 students are named Pearson Scholars each year. Ask the University of Toronto how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the University of Toronto 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. The scholarship covers four years of study; ask the University of Toronto what you need to maintain each year to keep it.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be an international student (meaning you are a non-Canadian who requires a study permit). You must be enrolled in your final year of senior secondary school in 2026/2027 or have graduated no earlier than June 2026. You must also be beginning your studies at the University of Toronto in September 2027. You are not eligible if you are already attending post-secondary studies or if you are starting your post-secondary studies in January 2027 at the University of Toronto or any other institution.

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

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• NominationAvoid waiting until the last minute to talk to your school. Instead, proactively ask your guidance counsellor, principal, or head of school if they can nominate you, as high schools can only nominate one student per year. Schedule a meeting with them this week.
• SupportAvoid assuming your school knows how to apply. Instead, direct your principal to the resources for counsellors on the official website so they can successfully submit your nomination by October 9.
• StrategyAvoid applying to too many random programs. Instead, focus on your top choice, because while you can apply to three areas, the scholarship is restricted to your top choice of program at the time decisions are made.
• RealismAvoid counting on this award alone. Instead, remember that only about 37 students are selected globally each year, so you should apply for other funding options alongside this one.

Questions students ask

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