Every year, thousands of high-achieving students apply to the University of Toronto and wonder the same thing: will anyone help pay for it? The answer is often yes. U of T administers more than 7,100 admission awards worth tens of millions of dollars, and many University of Toronto entrance scholarships require no extra essay, no separate portal, and no extra fee. Your admission application is the application.
That is the part most applicants miss. Domestic students from Canadian high schools and international students from every region of the world are automatically considered for a large share of U of T’s entrance funding. A smaller set of flagship awards, including the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship and the National Scholarship Program, can cover tuition, residence, and more for four years. This guide explains what exists, who is eligible, how much money is on the table, and which deadlines actually matter.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: Canada
- Host University: University of Toronto (St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough campuses)
- Scholarship Type: Undergraduate Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Scholarship Benefits: Full tuition fee and Partial tuition fee, Living stipend, etc.
Why University of Toronto Entrance Scholarships Attract So Many Applicants
U of T is consistently ranked among the world’s top public research universities, with campuses in downtown Toronto (St. George), Mississauga (UTM), and Scarborough (UTSC). Tuition for international undergraduates is high. Entrance awards are one of the few ways to close that gap before you arrive.
The university reports roughly $55 million in admission awards for about 7,100 undergraduate students, plus thousands of in-course awards after first year. Most first-year awards are merit-based and assessed from the grades used in the admission decision. Some campus awards start at a 88–90% admission average. The most competitive awards look for leadership, creativity, and community impact as well as marks.
Two facts shape strategy:
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- Transfer students and anyone who has already attended a post-secondary institution are generally not eligible for U of T Scholars or the President’s Scholars of Excellence Program.
- International students paying domestic fees are usually excluded from international-specific awards.
Automatic University of Toronto Entrance Scholarships (No Separate Application)
If you apply to a first-year, direct-entry undergraduate program from secondary school, you are already in the pool.
President’s Scholars of Excellence Program (PSEP)
About 150 of the highest-qualified first-year students across all campuses receive this distinction.
- Value: $15,000 in first year (non-renewable)
- Open to: outstanding domestic and international secondary school applicants
- Selection: automatic, based on admission average
- Details: President’s Scholars of Excellence Program
Divisions sometimes attach extra opportunities, such as research exposure. The offer is campus- and faculty-specific and requires full-time fall and winter registration.
U of T Scholars Program
This is one of the largest automatic pots.
- Value: $10,000 in first year (non-renewable)
- Volume: about 900 awards
- Open to: outstanding domestic and international secondary school students
- Details: University of Toronto Scholars Program
A Scholars award can sometimes be held with certain campus or college awards. It cannot always be stacked with a campus renewable entrance scholarship. Read the terms in your offer letter.
U of T Mississauga automatic entrance scholarships
UTM publishes clear grade bands for domestic students and a separate international award ladder.
Domestic (typical published bands):
- 95.0% and above: up to $12,000 ($3,000 x 4 years, renewable)
- 92.0–94.9%: $3,000 (non-renewable)
- 90.0–91.9%: $2,000 (non-renewable)
International Scholar Award – UTM (committee-selected, renewable):
- Up to $180,000 ($45,000 x 4 years)
- Up to $100,000 ($25,000 x 4 years)
- Up to $60,000 ($15,000 x 4 years)
Source: UTM entrance scholarships
U of T Scarborough automatic entrance scholarships
Domestic published bands (2026–2027):
- 95% or higher: $12,000 ($3,000 x 4 years), renewable with a CGPA of at least 3.70
- 92–94.9%: $2,000
- 90–91.9%: $1,500
- 88–89.9%: $1,000
International Scholar Award – UTSC:
- $45,000 or $25,000 per year, renewable for three additional years (higher totals apply to some longer programs)
- Cannot be combined with the Pearson Scholarship
- Not transferable to other campuses
Sources: UTSC automatic entrance scholarships and eligibility and conditions
Notification usually arrives with the offer of admission in the Join U of T portal.
Faculty and Campus Awards International Students Should Know
Automatic university-wide awards are only part of the picture. Faculties add their own packages.
Faculty of Arts and Science (St. George)
Selected international admits may receive:
- Arts and Science Global Scholarship: international tuition, incidental fees, and UHIP for up to four years or until degree completion
- International undergraduate entrance / merit awards: commonly described as up to $50,000 over four years, or in some cases up to $100,000 over four years
Students are automatically considered. Financial need may be a factor for the Global Scholarship. See Arts and Science incoming awards.
Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
U of T Engineering International Scholarships can reach up to $35,000 per year for four years. Applicants who want consideration should complete the Financial Information section of the Engineering Applicant Portal, typically by mid-January. Engineering also offers targeted entrance awards for Black and Indigenous domestic students.
Details: Engineering finances
Most international awards reduce tuition. They rarely cover the full cost of living in Toronto. U of T itself notes that international entrance awards are competitive and that students should have a plan for the balance.
See Also:
- Ashinaga Africa Initiative Scholarship: Your Complete Guide to Applying for This Fully Funded Leadership Opportunity
- Maldives National University Fully Funded Scholarships
- India-Africa Maitri Scholarship: Fully Funded Study Opportunities in India for African Students – Complete Guide
Flagship Awards That Can Cover Almost Everything
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
This is U of T’s premier award for international undergraduates and one of the largest international scholarship programs in Canada. About 37 Pearson Scholars are named each year.
What it covers for four years:
- Tuition
- Books
- Incidental fees
- Full residence support
Who can be considered (2027 intake):
- International student who requires a study permit
- In the final year of senior secondary school in 2026/2027, or graduated no earlier than June 2026
- Starting studies at U of T in September 2027
- Nominated by their high school (one nominee per school per year)
Key dates for September 2027 entry:
- School nomination deadline: October 9, 2026
- U of T admission application deadline for Pearson consideration: October 16, 2026
- Pearson scholarship application and documents: November 6, 2026
The scholarship is tied to your top program choice at decision time. Official page: Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships
U of T has warned applicants about fraudulent emails claiming to offer Pearson help. Use only university channels.
National Scholarship Program (domestic)
This is U of T’s flagship award for Canadian high school students. It recognizes original thinking, leadership, and academic excellence, not grades alone.
What it covers:
- Tuition, incidental fees, and residence for up to four years
Runners-up often receive an Arbor Scholarship: $7,500 in year one and $1,500 in each of the next three years.
Process:
- Each Canadian high school may nominate one student for the National Book Award
- The nominee then submits a separate National Scholarship application and a referee letter
- Finalists are interviewed
Dates for the 2027 cycle:
- School nomination: October 9, 2026
- Admission application: October 16, 2026
- National Scholarship application: October 30, 2026
- Referee letter: November 6, 2026
Eligibility: Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, in the final year of a Canadian secondary school or first-year CEGEP. Official page: National Scholarships
Other high-value domestic routes
- Awards Profile: Required for many need-, leadership-, and identity-based admission awards. Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons in their final year of high school, including Canadians studying abroad. Access it in Join U of T after you apply. The usual deadline is early February (the 2026 deadline has already passed; watch Join U of T for the next cycle). Profile page: Awards Profile
- C. David Naylor University Scholarships: $20,000, non-renewable, for domestic students with a minimum 95% admission average and demonstrated leadership
- Schulich Leader Scholarships: School-nominated STEM awards; U of T typically receives several awards in the $100,000–$120,000 range over four years. See Schulich Leader Scholarships
- UTAPS: Need-based grant support for eligible domestic students after government aid is calculated. See Ontario financial aid
Click Here to See other Scholarships.
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How to Position Yourself for University of Toronto Entrance Scholarships
Automatic awards reward the admission average on file when the offer is made. That means early, clean transcripts and meeting English-language requirements on time still matter.
For Pearson and National Scholarships, grades are the floor, not the story. Nomination packets that work usually show:
- Academic distinction in a demanding course load
- A specific contribution to school or community, not a long list of clubs
- Evidence of initiative you started, not only roles you held
- A referee who can describe impact in concrete terms
Practical checklist:
- Apply to U of T early enough for the October scholarship windows if you want Pearson or National consideration
- Ask your counsellor in September whether your school can nominate
- Domestic applicants should complete the Awards Profile even if they expect an automatic grade-based award
- International applicants to UTSC are encouraged to complete the International Financial Aid Profile in Join U of T
- Engineering applicants should fill the Financial Information tab by the faculty deadline
- Search Award Explorer for college- and faculty-level awards after you have an offer
Awards are credited to your student account after full-time registration, typically in September. Outstanding fees are deducted first. Keep banking details current in ACORN.
What These Awards Do Not Cover, and What Comes After First Year
International tuition at U of T still leaves a gap for most recipients of partial awards. Residence, food, health insurance, and travel add up quickly in the Greater Toronto Area. Plan as if the scholarship is a discount, not a full budget, unless you hold Pearson or an Arts and Science Global Scholarship.
After first year, in-course awards, college awards, and research stipends open another stream of funding. Admission awards that are renewable usually require a high CGPA (UTSC’s top domestic renewable award, for example, asks for at least 3.70). Terms and conditions live on the University Registrar awards pages.
Graduate study is a different system. Master’s and PhD students are not selected through undergraduate entrance awards. They compete for departmental funding packages, tri-council awards, and internal fellowships after they apply to a graduate unit. If your goal is an MSc or PhD at U of T, start with the graduate unit’s funding page rather than the undergraduate admission-awards site.
Common Questions
Can I hold more than one award? Sometimes. Stacking rules differ by campus and award. PSEP and U of T Scholars often cannot be combined with certain UTSC entrance scholarships. Pearson cannot be combined with the UTSC International Scholar Award.
When will I find out? Automatic awards are usually listed in the offer package. Pearson and National decisions follow their own interview and selection calendars.
Do I apply separately for most entrance awards? No. Apply for admission. Add the Awards Profile if you are a domestic high school applicant. Seek a school nomination only for Pearson, National, and Schulich.
University of Toronto entrance scholarships will not make every offer affordable. They do, however, create a real path from a strong secondary-school record to a funded first year, and in a few cases to a fully funded degree. Treat the admission file as the scholarship file, watch the October nomination deadlines if you are in the running for Pearson or National, and read the exact wording on your offer before you assume two awards can sit together.
Official starting points: