Eligibility
- You are an international student on a Canadian study permit.
- You are entering UBC from an accredited secondary school.
- You must have graduated from high school no earlier than November 2024.
- You are applying for your first undergraduate degree.
- You can prove a significant level of financial need.
- Your family is not able to afford your educational costs and does not have access to external funding.
- You must meet UBC’s admission requirements and demonstrate superior academic achievement.
- A high school may nominate up to two students for UBC Vancouver (including Vantage College), and one student for UBC Okanagan.
Important Dates
- Applications for 2026 are now open.
- You’ll need 1 nominator (guidance counsellor, principal, administrator, etc.) and 1 teacher referee. Their recommendations need to be completed and submitted by November 15, 2025.
- Submit your International Scholars Program application by November 15, 2025. (Start gathering all relevant information like sources of financial support, family wealth and assets, extra curricular activities, awards, essays, etc. before hand)
- Apply to UBC by December 1, 2025.
- Submit your required documents (transcripts/certificates) by January 31, 2026.
- In mid-April, check your email to learn if you have received an award.
Check out a previous sample ILOT (International Leader of Tomorrow) application document for your reference. Please check the university website for your current dates and other information.
Note:
- If you apply to the International Scholars Program, you will not be considered for other merit-based awards.
- The following degrees are not eligible for UBC International Scholars Program awards: Bachelor of Nursing degree (Okanagan and Vancouver), Bachelor of Dental Science in Dental Hygiene, Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor + Master of Management degree, dual degrees, joint degrees between UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, and joint degrees with other post-secondary institutions.
- There are four categories of prestigious need-and-merit-based awards available through UBC’s International Scholars Program. You won’t select which award you wish to receive when you submit your application. The university will automatically consider you for the awards that you are eligible for.
