For talented international students, the University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships offer a unique opportunity to attend one of the top universities in the world and live in one of the most diverse cities in the world.
The goal of the scholarship program is to honor students who stand out for their outstanding academic performance, ingenuity, and leadership qualities within their school. Particular attention is given to how the individual has impacted their school and community as well as how they may go on to positively impact the world in the future.
These annual awards honor deserving students from all across the world, including foreigners enrolled in Canadian high schools. For overseas students, this is the most prestigious and competitive award offered by U of T.
Let’s dive right in.
SEE ALSO: Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program
University of Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships
You must apply to the University of Toronto for undergraduate study after being nominated by your school to be considered a Pearson Scholar.
Find out about nominations from the guidance counselor at your school. You will receive secure access to the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship application once you have applied to the University of Toronto and been nominated.
Below is all you need to know about bagging this prestigious scholarship.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the Pearson International Scholarship:
- You must be an international student (a non-Canadian who requires a study permit);
- Also, you must be enrolled in the final year of senior secondary school in 2024/2025 or have graduated no earlier than June 2024
- Lastly, you must begin your studies at the U of T in Sept 2025.
NOTE: Any student attending post-secondary studies already is not considered eligible, and students beginning their post-secondary studies in Jan 2025 at another post-secondary institution are not eligible either.
How Much Do You Get if Awarded the Scholarship
The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship covers tuition, incidental fees, books, and full residence support for 4 years and is valued at over CAD – 50,000.
The only downside is that the scholarship is only available at the University of Toronto for first-entry, undergraduate programs.
Application Process
The 2025 Scholarship opportunity opens on July 1, 2024. To apply, you will need to:
- Be nominated by your school. High schools not already verified should apply to participate in this program, available here. High schools that have participated in a previous year will receive their nomination access starting July 1, 2024.
- Submit an application to study at the University of Toronto latest by Oct 18, 2024, to begin your studies in September 2025.
- Once your nomination is received and you’ve applied to study at the university, you can complete the online Lester B. Pearson Scholarship application before November 8, 2024. If successfully nominated by your school, you will receive a secure and private link to the scholarship application.
- All necessary documentation must be submitted online by Nov 8, 2024.
Pearson Scholarship Deadlines
- Student scholarship application deadline and documentation submission deadline: November 8, 2024
- Student OUAC admission application deadline: October 18, 2024
- School nomination deadline: October 11, 2024
Checking Your Application Status
If you are awarded the scholarship, you will be duly informed via mail and through your school.
NOTE: The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship Program at the U of T doesn’t interact with agencies or educational “agents” to recruit students or offer scholarships.
Also, They frown greatly at the use of AI like chatGPT and the likes for creating content for the scholarship.
If you have any questions, please contact them at pearson.scholarship@utoronto.ca