Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded University of Toronto Scholarship for International Students

The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is the University of Toronto's most prestigious and competitive undergraduate scholarship for outstanding international students. Established to recognize exceptional academic achievement, creativity, leadership, and meaningful contributions to school and community, this scholarship provides one of Canada's most comprehensive financial support packages for students pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Every year, approximately 37 exceptional students from around the world are selected as Lester B. Pearson Scholars after a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process. Unlike many scholarships that focus primarily on academic grades, the University of Toronto evaluates applicants based on academic excellence, leadership potential, creativity, integrity, community involvement, initiative, and their ability to create positive impact within their schools and society. The scholarship covers full tuition fees, compulsory incidental fees, textbooks, learning materials, and full residence support for up to four years of undergraduate study. This allows recipients to focus on academic achievement, research, innovation, leadership development, and campus engagement without the financial burden associated with studying abroad. Applicants cannot apply directly for this scholarship at the beginning of the process. Every candidate must first be officially nominated by their current secondary school. Each eligible school may nominate only one student each year, making the nomination stage one of the most competitive parts of the entire application process. After nomination, students must apply for admission to an eligible undergraduate program at the University of Toronto before receiving access to the separate Pearson Scholarship application. The scholarship is available only to international students who require a Canadian study permit and who are entering their first undergraduate degree directly from secondary school. Students who have already begun studies at a college or university are generally not eligible. The University of Toronto consistently ranks among the world's leading research universities and offers hundreds of undergraduate programs across engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, medicine, life sciences, business, economics, humanities, social sciences, architecture, education, environmental studies, mathematics, physics, chemistry, arts, and many other disciplines. Pearson Scholars become members of an international community of outstanding young leaders and gain access to world-class academic resources, internationally recognized faculty members, advanced research facilities, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and extensive global networking opportunities. Selection is extremely competitive and based on much more than grades alone. Successful applicants usually demonstrate exceptional academic performance throughout secondary school, sustained leadership, meaningful extracurricular activities, volunteer work, creativity, initiative, strong communication skills, and the ability to positively influence others. The selection committee also considers each student's future potential to contribute to the global community. Because only a small number of scholarships are awarded annually from thousands of international nominations, applicants should begin preparing well before the application deadlines by discussing nomination with their school, strengthening their leadership portfolio, preparing admission documents, and researching suitable undergraduate programs.

• Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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• Academic Excellence and Competitive Selection: The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is awarded to students who have consistently demonstrated exceptional academic excellence throughout their secondary education. Although the University of Toronto does not publish a minimum GPA requirement, successful applicants are generally among the highest-performing students in their graduating class. However, academic performance alone is not enough to secure this scholarship. The selection committee carefully evaluates the overall strength of an applicant's educational journey, including the rigor of courses completed, consistency of grades over multiple years, intellectual curiosity, commitment to learning, and the student's potential to succeed within one of the world's leading research-intensive universities. Applicants should understand that the scholarship is designed to identify future global leaders rather than simply rewarding high examination scores. A balanced profile combining outstanding academics with leadership and community engagement is significantly more competitive than academic achievement alone.
• Leadership, Initiative and Community Impact: Leadership is one of the most important selection criteria for the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship. The University of Toronto seeks students who have demonstrated the ability to create meaningful and measurable impact within their schools, communities, or broader society. Effective leadership does not necessarily require holding an official title. Applicants may demonstrate leadership by initiating community projects, organizing educational activities, mentoring younger students, volunteering for social causes, conducting research, launching entrepreneurial initiatives, promoting environmental sustainability, supporting disadvantaged communities, or contributing to cultural and scientific development. The selection committee values long-term commitment, genuine initiative, measurable outcomes, and positive influence on others rather than simply participating in numerous extracurricular activities. Quality, consistency, and real-world impact are significantly more important than the number of certificates included in an application.

• Tuition coverage: 100%

• International Students Beginning Their First Undergraduate Degree: The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is intended exclusively for international students who plan to begin their first undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree at the University of Toronto. Applicants must require a Canadian study permit and must not already be enrolled in a post-secondary degree program. Students who have previously started university or college studies are generally not eligible unless the University of Toronto specifically states otherwise for a particular admission cycle. This scholarship is designed to support exceptional young students at the very beginning of their higher education journey, making it unsuitable for applicants seeking funding for master's, doctoral, transfer, or second bachelor's degrees.
• Students Nominated by Their Secondary School: A valid school nomination is a mandatory eligibility requirement. Applicants cannot submit an independent scholarship application without first being officially nominated by their current secondary school. Because each participating school may nominate only one student each year, schools normally conduct an internal selection process before deciding which student will represent the institution. Applicants are therefore encouraged to speak with school administrators, guidance counsellors, or principals several months before the nomination deadline and prepare evidence of their academic performance, leadership achievements, and community contributions. Failure to obtain an official nomination automatically makes an applicant ineligible, regardless of academic excellence.
• Students with Outstanding Academic Achievement: Applicants should have demonstrated consistent academic excellence throughout secondary school rather than achieving strong results only during their final year. The University of Toronto does not publish a minimum GPA or examination score for this scholarship. Instead, reviewers assess the applicant's overall academic record, the level of challenge in completed coursework, consistency of performance, intellectual curiosity, and readiness to succeed within a highly demanding academic environment. Students ranked among the strongest performers in their graduating class are generally the most competitive candidates.

• Application deadline: Oct 6, 2026

• Accounting
• Actuarial Science
• Aerospace Engineering
• Agribusiness
• Agricultural Engineering
• Agriculture
• Animal Science
• Anthropology
• Applied Linguistics
• Applied Mathematics
• Applied Physics
• Architecture

1. 1

   Confirm your eligibility for both University of Toronto undergraduate admission and the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship.

   Carefully review the official scholarship eligibility requirements before beginning your application.

2. 2

   Request an official nomination from your current secondary school.

   Only officially nominated students can continue to the scholarship application stage.

3. 3

   Choose your intended undergraduate program at the University of Toronto.

   Research admission requirements, prerequisite subjects, and any supplementary application requirements.

4. 4

   Submit your undergraduate admission application before the official deadline.

   Admission and scholarship applications are separate processes, and both must be completed.

5. 5

   Wait for confirmation that your school nomination has been accepted.

6. 6

• English Language Proficiency Evidence (If Applicable) — Applicants whose previous education does not satisfy the University's English language requirements must provide an accepted English language test according to University of Toronto admission policies.
• Passport or National Identity Information — Applicants should possess a valid passport or other acceptable identification for admission processing and future Canadian study permit applications.
• Additional Faculty Documents (If Required) — Some undergraduate programs may require supplementary applications, portfolios, interviews, auditions, or prerequisite documentation. Applicants should carefully review the admission requirements of their chosen academic program.
• Secondary School Nomination — Applicants must receive an official nomination from their current secondary school before they can access the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship application. Without an approved nomination, applicants cannot proceed to the scholarship selection stage.
• University of Toronto Admission Application — Applicants must submit a complete undergraduate admission application to the University of Toronto before the official admission deadline. Admission and scholarship evaluations are conducted separately, but both are mandatory.
• Official Academic Transcripts — Applicants must provide complete and accurate secondary school transcripts according to the University of Toronto admission requirements. Academic records should clearly demonstrate consistent academic excellence throughout secondary education.

• Website
• Official Scholarship Page
• Official University Page