The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship International Student Scholarships at the University of Toronto offers exceptional international students full funding for undergraduate study, recognizing academic excellence, creativity, and leadership potential through school nominations.
About Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships
- It is one of the largest and most competitive scholarship programs for international students in Canada, offered by the University of Toronto.
- It’s a school nominated scholarship; High schools can only nominate one student per year.
Award Value
- The scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years.
- It is tenable only at the University of Toronto for first-entry, undergraduate programs. Each year approximately 37 students are named Pearson Scholars.
Eligibility to become a Pearson Scholar
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).
- Be enrolled in your final year of school.
- Begin your studies at the University of Toronto in September 2026.
- Demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and potential to contribute positively to the global community.
Application process for Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship
The school nominates a student:
- The guidance counsellor, principal or head of school must check if their school is eligible to nominate students for the Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships.
- Schools that have previously participated will receive access to the nomination form beginning July 1, 2025. The deadline to nominate a student is October 10, 2025.
- If a school has not yet participated, they can apply to join the program: https://apply.adm.utoronto.ca/register/pearson-participate
- The verification process can take up to 4 weeks during peak periods. If there are any questions regarding the process, write to [email protected].
Apply to University of Toronto
- To be considered for the Pearson Scholarship, you must apply to at least one undergraduate program at the University of Toronto. The deadline to apply for admission to U of T and be considered for the Pearson Scholarship is October 17, 2025.
- You may apply to up to three areas on your application for admission, however, the Pearson Scholarship, if awarded, would be restricted to your top choice of program at the time scholarship decisions are made.
Submit your Pearson Scholarship application
- You will receive a private link to Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarship application when you have been nominated by your school. You will be able to complete the form after you have submitted your application for admission to U of T.
- The deadline to complete the Pearson International Scholarship application and submit all required documentation is November 7, 2025.
Source: University of Toronto
