How to apply for scholarship in Canada – the right way

However, the good news is that Canadian universities and colleges have various scholarship opportunities that you can take advantage of. 

Canada is home to some of the world’s top universities and colleges, and guess what, they have many funding opportunities for students.

These scholarship opportunities are open to both domestic and international students.

If you want to study in Canada, applying and getting a scholarship will help you reduce the financial burden of studying here. 

Some scholarship opportunities cover your tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses, so you have fewer financial issues to worry about.

The opportunities are already there for you, but, navigating the scholarship application process may be overwhelming – especially if it’s your first time.

With so many scholarship opportunities available, it can be difficult to know where to start. 

What to look out for and what to avoid. How do you prepare your application package? What should you include in your essays and letters of recommendation? 

These are just a few of the questions that may be running through your mind but not to worry, we are here to guide you, this article will share with you, the exact way to apply for a scholarship in Canada. 

How to apply for a scholarship in Canada

To apply for scholarships in Canada, you must (first) search and identify scholarships that best fit your qualifications and needs – this is the first step you need to take.

• Search for available scholarships in Canada

To identify the scholarship opportunities that fit your needs (it could be fully funded scholarships or partially funded scholarships), you need to carry out thorough research.

Search for available scholarships to apply for. How do you do this? Very simple, start by visiting the websites of Canadian universities – open the scholarship section on each website.

Additionally, use scholarship search engines like Google.com, or contact your country’s embassy in Canada. 

These three steps when put together will get you a list of available scholarships in Canada (scholarships that are still accepting applications) that you can apply for.

You can also check the Bursaries Canada scholarship page, or Educanada.ca for a list of available scholarships.

You will find both fully funded and partially funded scholarships – Make a list of all the scholarships that fit your profile and eligibility criteria.

Your target is scholarships that accept students in your program of study and are currently accepting applications from students.

• Study each scholarship’s eligibility requirements

You have just concluded the first step – finding scholarship opportunities that are currently accepting applications, being eligible for such scholarships is a different ball game altogether.

If you are not eligible for a scholarship, there is no need to apply for it, it’s a waste of your time.

A scholarship can fit your target but you may not be eligible for the scholarship – in this case, there is no need to apply for it.

Before you apply for any scholarship in Canada, take your time and study the eligibility criteria carefully. 

Some scholarships require you to have specific academic achievements, language proficiency, or other qualifications. 

Some may even want you to have a certain level of involvement in social or volunteer activities

Make sure you meet “all the requirements” before you apply – applying when you do not meet the requirements is a waste of time.

If you do meet the requirements (even if it’s one scholarship opportunity out of your list), then prepare your application package.

• Prepare your application package 

Once you’ve identified the scholarships you want to apply for and you are eligible for the scholarship, it’s time to prepare your application package. 

Each scholarship has the documents they want you to submit – they also have different application procedures.

To get your application right, go to the scholarship application portal, and read the application guidelines thoroughly – some scholarships only want you to send your application letter and other documents like your academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, medical reports, and essays to their email address.

For some scholarships, you need to fill out the application form online and attach your documents, whatever is the application procedure of your chosen scholarship, kindly, follow it carefully.

Always remember to attach a statement of purpose to your application. A statement of purpose is a document that outlines your academic and career goals, as well as your motivations, for pursuing higher education. 

This document will give the scholarship committee a better understanding of who you are as a person, what drives you, and how you intend to use your education to make a positive impact in your field of study or community.

Make sure your statement of purpose is very convincing, make it worth it. 

• Submit your application

Now that you have everything ready, you have your SOP (statement of purpose), and your academic documents and you have filled out the application form, it’s time to submit your application.

Before you do that, you can go through the application guideline one more time and check if you are missing any step, remember, you don’t want to appear as a student who don’t obey instruction. 

If nothing is missing, submit your application through the channel provided by the scholarship committee.  

In some scholarships, you will be asked to submit online through a portal – do as you are instructed.

If they said you should submit it through mail, kindly do so.

Make sure you follow the instructions carefully and submit your application before the deadline.

• Follow up

After submitting your application, follow up with the scholarship committee, and make sure that they have received your application. 

Sometimes you will get an automatic confirmation email after you submit your application, in case, you didn’t get that, you can follow them up.

To follow up, send an email to the scholarship board – following up helps you keep track of the status of your application.

It will also be helpful should they require additional information or documents from you. You will be able to respond promptly.

• You need to wait for a decision 

Now is the waiting – so far, you have submitted your application, followed up, and confirmed that your application was well received.

It’s time to wait – allow the scholarship committee to decide on your application.

At this point, you need to be patient and not get discouraged while you waiting. 

You can also use your waiting period to apply for other scholarships – yes, it’s possible. There are many other available scholarships, so go for them – maybe you can get more scholarships.

The more, the better.

Conclusion

Getting a scholarship in Canada is a nice way to fund your education if you want to study in the country, rightly so, scholarships don’t come easy but that’s life, nothing comes easy especially when money is involved. 

Be intentional with what you want to do, search for the right scholarship, and when you find them, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements.

If you do, submit an outstanding application and follow up if possible – not all scholarship opportunity requires a follow-up.

If you are an international student, do not sleep on scholarship opportunities, they are helpful. Go for them.

Cheers!