The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is the University of Toronto’s most prestigious undergraduate award for international students. It recognizes exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and creativity, along with meaningful contributions to school and community life. Approximately 37 scholarships are awarded each year.
Benefits
Pearson Scholars receive a fully funded scholarship that covers:
- Full tuition for four years
- Books and incidental fees
- Full residence support (accommodation) for the duration of study
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify, you must:
- Be an international student (non-Canadian, requiring a study permit)
- Be in your final year of secondary school for 2025/2026, or have graduated no earlier than June 2025
- Be starting your undergraduate studies at U of T in September 2026 if you’ve already started post-secondary education (even in January), you’re not eligible
- Be nominated by your high school only one nomination per school is allowed, and schools must be verified by U of T to participate
Application Process
Request Nomination
Ask your school principal or counselor to nominate you. If the school isn’t yet verified, it must apply to participate before nominating students.
Apply to University of Toronto
Submit your application through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) by October 17, 2025. If offered admission to multiple programs, only your first-choice program will be considered for the scholarship.
Complete Scholarship Application
Once your school has nominated you and U of T has received your admission application, you’ll receive a private application link. Submit your Pearson Scholarship application by November 7, 2025.
Await Decision
Selection is based on your academic excellence, leadership qualities, creativity, and impact on school and community.
Why is it special?
It supports academic excellence with full financial backing tuition, books, accommodations, and more.
The University of Toronto ranks among the world’s leading institutions, offering over 700 undergraduate programs across diverse fields: engineering, life sciences, computing, humanities, architecture, music, commerce, and more.