International Student Entrance Scholarship — Bachelor's Scholarship

The International Student Entrance Scholarship is an undergraduate entrance award from the University of Waterloo. It provides CAD 10,000 to eligible international fee-paying students admitted to full-time, first-year degree studies beginning in September 2026.

The award applies across most undergraduate programs and does not require a separate scholarship application. Eligible students are granted it automatically through the Waterloo applicant portal.

Benefits & funding

CAD 10,000 toward first-year tuition.
CAD 5,000 is made available in late July for first-term tuition.
CAD 5,000 is made available in late November for second-term tuition.
The award can be held alongside other Waterloo entrance scholarships.
Funding cannot be paid directly to the student or spread across later years.

Eligibility

Applicants must be international fee-paying students admitted to a full-time, first-year Waterloo degree program starting in September 2026, including eligible CEGEP applicants.
Medical Sciences at Waterloo, the Doctor of Medicine program at St. George’s University, Bachelor of Social Work, Doctor of Optometry, and Doctor of Pharmacy are excluded.
Transfer students admitted with transfer credits, students who deferred admission from September 2025 to September 2026, and students in 2+2 or similar x+y programs are excluded.
Recipients must remain international fee-paying students and take at least three courses in each of their first two terms.
No separate scholarship documents, bank details, or minimum grade average beyond the conditions of the admission offer are required.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

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Education required
High School

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Application process

1
Review the admission requirements for an eligible full-time undergraduate program.
2
Apply to Waterloo through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre and submit any admission documents required for the chosen program.
3
Meet the conditions of the Waterloo admission offer and retain international fee-paying status.
4
Eligible students receive the scholarship automatically in the Awards and financial aid section of the Waterloo applicant portal.

Program timeline

Eligible students begin seeing the scholarship in the Waterloo applicant portal.
Mid-April 2026
The first CAD 5,000 installment becomes available for first-term tuition.
Late July 2026
Eligible recipients begin full-time, first-year degree studies.
September 2026
The second CAD 5,000 installment becomes available for second-term tuition.
Late November 2026