York University International Student Scholarship Program.
The York University International Student Scholarship Program offers international students an opportunity to reduce the cost of undergraduate study in Canada through a range of merit-based scholarships and prestigious awards.
York University, located in Toronto, Ontario, provides several scholarships for international students based on academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular involvement and other accomplishments. Some awards are automatically considered through the admission process, while others require a separate scholarship application.
For Nigerian students planning to study in Canada, York University is worth considering because international applicants can access scholarships ranging from smaller entrance awards to the highly competitive President’s International Scholarship of Excellence, which is worth up to $180,000 over four years.
However, not every York international scholarship is fully funded. Students should understand the differences between the awards before planning their finances.
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York University International Student Scholarship Program
York University does not operate just one international scholarship. Instead, it offers a collection of entrance scholarships and awards for international undergraduate students.
For the Fall/Winter 2026–27 academic year, automatic international entrance awards include:
- York International Scholarship of Distinction
- York International Merit Award
- York International Entrance Award
- York International Transfer Award
There are also competitive scholarships requiring an application, including the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence.
The amount a student receives depends on academic performance, admission status, programme and the specific scholarship.
York International Scholarship of Distinction
The York International Scholarship of Distinction is one of the main automatic scholarships for international undergraduate applicants.
For Fall 2026 admission, students with a final admission average of 90% or higher, or the equivalent determined by York based on the applicant’s curriculum, can receive:
- $15,000 in the first year
- $7,500 in each of years two, three and four
- Up to $37,500 over four years
The scholarship is renewable and regainable when the student meets the required academic and credit conditions.
There are programme-specific restrictions. For example, students entering Computer Science, Cybersecurity or Engineering are generally not eligible for the Scholarship of Distinction under the current international scholarship rules, although specific exceptions apply to certain Fall 2026 applicants completing high school under the Ontario curriculum.
Students should therefore check the current rules for their programme before relying on this award.
York International Merit Award
The York International Merit Award is available to eligible international high-school applicants with a final admission average between 80% and 89.9%.
For Fall 2026, the award provides:
- $10,000 in the first year
- $5,000 in years two, three and four
- Up to $25,000 over four years
Like the Scholarship of Distinction, the award is renewable and regainable when the student satisfies the applicable requirements.
No separate scholarship application is required for this award.
The student’s final admission average is used to determine eligibility.
York International Entrance Award
Students with a final admission average between 75% and 79.9% can qualify for the York International Entrance Award, provided they satisfy the other conditions.
The award is worth $5,000.
Unlike the renewable Scholarship of Distinction and Merit Award, this is a one-time award.
It can therefore reduce the student’s first-year financial burden but does not provide four years of scholarship funding.
The award is available to eligible international high-school applicants and certain transfer applicants with fewer than 24 transfer credits.
York International Transfer Award
International students transferring to York University can also receive an entrance award.
The York International Transfer Award is worth $2,500 and is available to eligible international transfer applicants who have 24 or more transfer credits and a minimum final admission average of 75% or equivalent.
This is also a one-time award.
Students transferring from another institution should therefore check the number of transfer credits York will recognise before determining which scholarship category applies to them.
President’s International Scholarship of Excellence
The President’s International Scholarship of Excellence is the most valuable international undergraduate scholarship highlighted by York University.
The award is worth $45,000 per year, renewable for up to four years.
This gives the scholarship a potential total value of $180,000.
It is designed for exceptional international high-school students who demonstrate:
- Outstanding academic achievement
- Leadership ability
- Volunteer or community involvement
- Extracurricular achievements
- Strong overall potential
Unlike the automatic entrance scholarships, the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence requires a separate application.
Only a select number of students are awarded the scholarship each year, making it highly competitive.
Is the President’s International Scholarship Fully Funded?
The President’s International Scholarship of Excellence is one of York’s most substantial international awards, but applicants should carefully distinguish between a high-value scholarship and a guaranteed “everything covered” package.
The award is valued at $45,000 per year for up to four years, for a maximum of $180,000.
Depending on the student’s tuition and other costs, this can cover a very substantial portion of the cost of an undergraduate degree.
However, students should still review the current award conditions and calculate their expected tuition, accommodation, food, transportation, books, health-related expenses and other personal costs.
The scholarship should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every cost of living in Toronto will be covered.
Can Nigerian Students Apply?
Yes.
Nigerian students can apply for eligible York University international scholarships as international students.
The automatic entrance scholarships are particularly relevant to Nigerian students completing secondary education and applying directly to an undergraduate degree.
A Nigerian applicant with a very strong academic record can potentially qualify for the York International Scholarship of Distinction or York International Merit Award.
Students with exceptional academic achievement combined with leadership and community involvement can also compete for the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence.
General Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility varies according to the award, but international undergraduate applicants generally need to meet conditions such as:
- Being an international student.
- Paying international tuition fees.
- Applying to an eligible York University undergraduate programme.
- Meeting the academic requirements for admission.
- Entering York as a new undergraduate student or satisfying the relevant transfer requirements.
- Meeting the minimum admission average for the specific scholarship.
- Completing any required scholarship application before the deadline.
The university evaluates international applicants according to the grading system and curriculum used by their secondary school.
Therefore, applicants should not simply convert their Nigerian examination results into a Canadian percentage themselves. York determines equivalencies according to its admission assessment processes.
How to Apply for York International Scholarships
The application process depends on the scholarship.
Automatic Entrance Scholarships
For scholarships such as the York International Scholarship of Distinction, York International Merit Award and York International Entrance Award, eligible students are automatically considered.
You first need to apply for admission to York University.
Your final admission average is then used to determine eligibility for the applicable award.
No separate scholarship application is required for these automatic awards.
Competitive Scholarships
The President’s International Scholarship of Excellence requires a separate application.
For the 2027 entry cycle, the international scholarship application opens on November 1, 2026.
Students must submit their scholarship application by January 27, 2027, while required nominations and reference submissions are due by February 4, 2027.
Applicants need a York University reference number to access the scholarship application, so it is important to submit the university admission application early enough to receive that number.
What Does the President’s Scholarship Application Require?
The competitive scholarship application asks applicants to provide information that demonstrates why they deserve the award.
This can include:
- A personal statement
- Leadership experience
- Community involvement
- Extracurricular activities
- Previous awards
- Information about the student’s financial resources
- School nomination
- Reference information
The personal statement is particularly important because it gives the applicant an opportunity to explain their goals, achievements and leadership experience.
Students should focus on measurable impact rather than simply listing activities.
For example, instead of saying that you volunteered in your community, explain what you did, who benefited and what changed because of your involvement.
Do You Need a School Nomination?
For the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence, yes.
The applicant must be nominated by an appropriate school official such as a guidance counsellor, principal or senior school official.
York limits the number of students that each school can nominate.
Students interested in the scholarship should therefore contact their school well before the application deadline.
Your school should have enough time to evaluate your achievements, complete the nomination and provide the required supporting information.
Can the Scholarships Be Renewed?
Some York international entrance scholarships are renewable.
The York International Scholarship of Distinction and York International Merit Award can continue into subsequent years if students satisfy the required academic and credit conditions.
For the current programme, renewable and regainable scholarships require students to complete at least 24 credits during the academic year and maintain a minimum 7.5 GPA, equivalent to a B+.
A student who loses the scholarship because of academic performance may be able to regain it in a later academic year after meeting the applicable requirements.
The President’s International Scholarship of Excellence is also renewable for up to three additional years, subject to maintaining good academic standing.
Can Scholarships Be Combined?
Not all York scholarships can be combined.
For example, the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence cannot be held together with the York International Scholarship of Distinction, York International Merit Award or York International Transfer Award.
However, the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence can be combined with certain faculty-specific awards.
Applicants should therefore examine the terms of each award rather than adding the maximum value of several scholarships together.
Is There Financial Support Beyond Entrance Scholarships?
Yes.
York University has other scholarships, awards and bursaries for international students.
Current students can access additional financial support through York’s Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships system.
Some funding is based on academic performance, while other awards can consider financial need, faculty, programme or other circumstances.
However, international students should not assume that substantial financial assistance will automatically be available after they arrive in Canada.
York itself advises international applicants to be prepared to support themselves throughout their studies because scholarships and awards for international students are limited.
Important Advice for Nigerian Applicants
Nigerian students should begin the York application process early.
First, identify the undergraduate programme you want to study and confirm its admission requirements.
Next, prepare your academic documents and submit the admission application.
If your academic average is high enough, you may automatically qualify for one of York’s entrance scholarships.
If you have exceptional academic performance combined with leadership and community involvement, investigate the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence and prepare a separate application.
You should also create a realistic financial plan.
Even a $37,500 scholarship spread over four years does not necessarily cover the entire cost of an international education in Toronto.
The cost of tuition, accommodation, food, transportation and other expenses should be considered before accepting an offer.
Final Thoughts
The York University International Student Scholarship Program provides several opportunities for international students seeking undergraduate education in Canada.
The automatic scholarships range from a $2,500 transfer award to the York International Scholarship of Distinction worth up to $37,500 over four years.
The York International Merit Award can provide up to $25,000 over four years, while the York International Entrance Award provides a one-time $5,000 award.
For exceptional international students, the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence is worth $45,000 per year and up to $180,000 over four years, making it York’s most significant international undergraduate scholarship.
Nigerian students are eligible to compete for the relevant awards provided they meet the admission and scholarship requirements.
The key is to understand that not all York scholarships are fully funded. Some are partial tuition awards, while the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence provides substantially greater financial support.
Students should apply early, maintain excellent academic results and, for competitive awards, demonstrate genuine leadership, community involvement and meaningful achievements.
