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Deadline: October 10, 2025
The Lester B Pearson International Scholarship Program 2026 is now accepting nominations! Hosted by the University of Toronto, this prestigious, fully funded undergraduate scholarship is aimed at exceptional international students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, creativity, and leadership within their school and community.
This is one of Canada’s most competitive and globally renowned scholarships, Lester B Pearson International Scholarship Program, designed to recognize students who can make a real difference in the world. Each year, approximately 37 students are selected as Pearson Scholars.
Awarded annually, these scholarships recognize outstanding students from around the world, including international students studying at Canadian high schools. This is U of T’s most prestigious and competitive scholarship for international students. The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships will cover tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. The scholarship is tenable only at the University of Toronto for first-entry, undergraduate programs. Each year approximately 37 students will be named Lester B. Pearson Scholars.
Benefits
Successful recipients of the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship will receive:
- Full tuition coverage for four years
- Full residence support throughout the undergraduate program
- Books and incidental costs fully covered
- A chance to study at Canada’s leading university with a diverse, international student body
SEE ALSO: 2025 UNESCO Prize for Global Citizenship Education – Win $50,000 for Impactful Initiatives
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply to the Pearson International Scholarship, you must be:
- an international student (i.e. a non-Canadian requiring a study permit);
- enrolled in your final year of senior secondary school in 2025/2026 or have graduated no earlier than June 2025
- beginning your studies at the University of Toronto in September 2026 (students already attending post-secondary studies cannot be considered; students starting their post-secondary studies in January 2026 at another post-secondary institution cannot be considered).
Application Process and Documents Required
The 2026 Competition opens on July 1, 2025. To apply, you will need to:
- Receive a nomination from your school. High schools not already contacted/verified are asked to submit an application to participate in our program, available here.(external link) High schools who have participated in a previous year will receive their nomination access starting July 1, 2025.
- Apply to study at the University of Toronto(external link) by October 17, 2025 in order to begin your studies in September 2026 . Please be advised that you will be considered for the Pearson Scholarship for your first choice of program at U of T. You may apply for several programs and may receive admission to them all; however, the Pearson Scholarship, if awarded to you, would be restricted to your first choice of program at U of T at the time our scholarship decisions are made.
- Once we’ve received a nomination and you’ve applied to the university, you can complete the online Lester B. Pearson Scholarship application by November 7, 2025. You will receive a private link to the scholarship application when you are successfully nominated by your school.
- Submit all necessary documentation online by November 7, 2025.
Pearson Scholarship Deadlines
- School nomination deadline: October 10, 2025
- Student OUAC admission application deadline: October 17, 2025
- Student scholarship application deadline and documentation submission deadline: November 7, 2025
