Queens university international student awards

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For international students, studying at Queen’s can be expensive, but the university offers a range of international student awards, scholarships, bursaries, and external funding opportunities. While fully funded undergraduate scholarships are limited, Queen’s provides multiple funding pathways to reduce costs significantly.

This guide explains the latest Queen’s University international student awards for 2026, including entrance scholarships, major awards, graduate funding, and government scholarships.

Overview of Queen’s International Student Awards

International students at Queen’s can access:

  • Admission scholarships (automatic)
  • Major admission awards (application-based)
  • Faculty-specific awards
  • Graduate funding (Master’s & PhD)
  • Government and external scholarships

Scholarships are mainly:

  • Merit-based (academic excellence)
  • Leadership-based
  • Need-based (limited bursaries)

1. Dean’s International Award Program (Automatic Scholarship)

This is the main scholarship for international undergraduate students.

Key Features:

  • Automatically awarded (no application required)
  • Available to first-year international students

Eligibility:

  • Strong academic performance
  • Admission into eligible faculties such as:
    • Arts & Science
    • Engineering
    • Commerce
    • Health Sciences

Queen’s confirms that students are automatically considered for this award based on academic achievement.

Benefits:

  • Reduces tuition cost significantly
  • Easy to obtain for high-performing students

2. Major Admission Awards (High-Value Scholarships)

These are the most prestigious and competitive scholarships at Queen’s.

Key Features:

  • Value: CAD $10,000 to $50,000+
  • Some awards renewable for up to 4 years

Application:

  • Requires a separate Major Admission Award application
  • One application = multiple scholarships considered

Examples of Major Awards:

1. Chancellor’s Scholarship

  • Value: Up to CAD $48,000
  • Renewable over 4 years

2. Principal’s Scholarship

  • Value: Around CAD $7,000–$10,000

3. Commerce and Engineering Awards

  • High-value faculty-specific awards

Eligibility:

  • Outstanding academic results
  • Leadership and extracurricular achievements

Benefits:

  • Long-term funding
  • Prestigious recognition

3. Automatic Admission Scholarships

In addition to major awards, Queen’s offers automatic entrance scholarships.

Key Features:

  • Value: CAD $1,500 – $5,000+
  • Based on admission average

Benefits:

  • No application required
  • Awarded with admission offer

4. Faculty-Specific International Awards

Different faculties provide additional scholarships.

Examples:

Smith School of Business Awards

  • Value: Up to CAD $20,000+

Engineering Scholarships

  • Value: CAD $10,000–$30,000

Arts & Science Awards

  • Merit-based funding

Benefits:

  • Program-specific funding
  • Additional financial support

5. In-Course Scholarships (After Enrollment)

Once enrolled, students can apply for additional funding.

Key Features:

  • Based on academic performance (GPA)
  • Awarded during study

Benefits:

  • Rewards high-performing students
  • Provides ongoing financial support

6. Government of Canada Scholarships

Queen’s participates in major government-funded programs.

Key Programs:

1. Study in Canada Scholarships (SICS)

  • Value: Up to CAD $10,200 per term
  • Covers travel, living expenses, and tuition support

2. Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP)

  • Value: Around CAD $8,600 for short-term study

3. SEED Program (ASEAN & Pacific Countries)

  • Value: Up to CAD $10,200+

Benefits:

  • Fully funded short-term study opportunities
  • Covers:
    • Travel
    • Living expenses
    • Health insurance

Important Note:

  • Requires nomination from home institution
  • Based on exchange agreements

7. Graduate Scholarships (Master’s & PhD)

Graduate students at Queen’s have strong funding opportunities.

Types of Funding:

1. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

  • Value: CAD $5,000 per term

2. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

  • Prestigious fully funded PhD scholarship

3. Research & Teaching Assistantships

  • Paid positions

Funding Value:

  • PhD students: Often CAD $25,000–$35,000 per year (combined funding)
  • Master’s students: Varies by program

Benefits:

  • Tuition support
  • Monthly stipend
  • Research funding

Graduate programs at Queen’s can be partially or fully funded, especially for PhD students.

8. External Scholarships

Students can also apply for:

  • Commonwealth scholarships
  • Private foundation scholarships
  • International exchange funding

Queen’s recommends exploring Government of Canada scholarship programs for additional funding opportunities.

Scholarship Benefits Summary

Queen’s University international student awards provide:

  • Automatic entrance scholarships
  • High-value major admission awards (up to CAD $50,000+)
  • Government-funded scholarships (up to CAD $10,000+)
  • Graduate funding (stipends + tuition support)
  • Faculty-specific scholarships

Important Reality: Fully Funded Scholarships

  • Fully funded undergraduate scholarships are rare
  • Most funding is partial (merit-based)

However:

  • Graduate programs (especially PhD) can be fully funded
  • Government scholarships can cover full costs for short-term programs

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Requirements:

  • High GPA (85%–95%+)
  • Strong academic performance

Admission Requirements:

  • Offer of admission
  • Full-time enrollment

Additional Criteria:

  • Leadership and extracurricular activities
  • Community involvement

Application Process (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Apply for Admission

Submit your application through OUAC.

Step 2: Automatic Scholarship Consideration

You’ll be automatically considered for:

  • Dean’s International Award
  • Admission scholarships

Step 3: Apply for Major Awards

  • Complete Major Admission Award application

Step 4: Submit Documents

Include:

  • Transcripts
  • Personal statement
  • References

Step 5: Receive Offer

Scholarships are announced with admission decisions

Required Documents

  • Academic transcripts
  • Passport copy
  • English proficiency scores
  • Personal statement
  • Recommendation letters

Important Dates (2026 Intake)

  • Admission deadline: January 2026
  • Major Admission Award deadline: February 2026
  • Government scholarship deadlines:
    • SEED: March 13, 2026
    • ELAP/SICS: March 20, 2026

Cost of Studying at Queen’s University

Tuition Fees:

  • Undergraduate: CAD $45,000–$65,000 per year

Living Costs:

  • CAD $15,000–$20,000 annually

Scholarships help reduce these costs significantly.

Challenges and Competition

  • Highly competitive scholarships
  • Limited fully funded options
  • Strong global applicant pool

Students must present strong academic and leadership profiles.

Tips to Win Queen’s Scholarships

1. Maintain High Academic Scores

Aim for 90%+ averages.

2. Apply for Major Admission Awards

These offer the highest funding.

3. Build Leadership Profile

Participate in:

  • Community service
  • Student leadership
  • Extracurricular activities

4. Apply Early

Meet all deadlines.

5. Apply for Multiple Funding Sources

Combine:

  • University scholarships
  • Government programs
  • External funding

Why Study at Queen’s University?

1. Global Reputation

Top-ranked Canadian university.

2. Strong Academic Programs

Especially in business, engineering, and health sciences.

3. Career Opportunities

Excellent employability outcomes.

4. Campus Experience

Historic campus with vibrant student life.

5. Scholarship Opportunities

Wide range of funding options.

Conclusion

The Queen’s University international student awards (2026) provide a wide range of financial support options, from automatic entrance scholarships to prestigious major admission awards worth over CAD $50,000.

While fully funded undergraduate opportunities are limited, students can significantly reduce costs through:

  • Merit-based scholarships
  • Government-funded programs
  • Graduate funding opportunities

To maximize your chances:

  • Maintain strong academic performance
  • Apply early
  • Build a strong leadership profile

With the right strategy, studying at Queen’s University can become a valuable and achievable international education opportunity, opening doors to global careers.