University of Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships 2026

The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships at the University of Toronto provide an unparalleled opportunity for outstanding international students to study at one of the world’s best universities in one of the world’s most multicultural cities. The scholarship program is intended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and creativity and who are recognized as leaders within their school. A special emphasis is placed on the impact the student has had on the life of their school and community, and their future potential to contribute positively to the global community.

Awarded annually, these scholarships recognize outstanding students from around the world, including international students studying at Canadian high schools. This is U of T’s most prestigious and competitive scholarship for international students. The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships will cover tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. The scholarship is tenable only at the University of Toronto for first-entry, undergraduate programs. Each year approximately 37 students will be named Lester B. Pearson Scholars.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirments
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineOctober 10, 2025
• Study LevelUndergraduate
• SponsorUniversity of Toronto
• City to studyToronto
• School to studyUniversity of Toronto
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto covers full tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years of undergraduate study.

Requirements

To be eligible to apply to the Pearson International Scholarship, you must be:

• an international student (i.e. a non-Canadian requiring a study permit);
• enrolled in your final year of senior secondary school in 2025/2026 or have graduated no earlier than June 2025
• beginning your studies at the University of Toronto in September 2026 (students already attending post-secondary studies cannot be considered; students starting their post-secondary studies in January 2026 at another post-secondary institution cannot be considered).

Interview Dates and Process

The selection criteria for the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto include:

1. Exceptional Academic Achievement – Top-performing students with excellent academic records.

2. Creativity and Intellectual Energy – Demonstrated originality, innovation, and intellectual curiosity.

3. Leadership and Impact – Recognized as leaders within their school and community, with a clear, positive impact on others.

4. Broad Interests – Involvement in extracurricular or community activities showing initiative and depth.

5. Potential to Contribute Globally – Strong future potential to make meaningful contributions to the world.

6. First-Entry Undergraduate Program – The scholarship is only awarded for a student’s first undergraduate degree at U of T.

Pearson Scholarship Deadlines

• School nomination deadline: October 10, 2025
• Student OUAC admission application deadline: October 17, 2025 
• Student scholarship application deadline and documentation submission deadline: November 7, 2025

Application Deadline

How To Apply

The 2026 Competition opens on July 1, 2025. To apply, you will need to:

1. Receive a nomination from your school. High schools not already contacted/verified are asked to submit an application to participate in our program, available here.(external link) High schools who have participated in a previous year will receive their nomination access starting July 1, 2025.
2. Apply to study at the University of Toronto(external link) by October 17, 2025 in order to begin your studies in September 2026 .  Please be advised that you will be considered for the Pearson Scholarship for your first choice of program at U of T.  You may apply for several programs and may receive admission to them all; however, the Pearson Scholarship, if awarded to you, would be restricted to your first choice of program at U of T at the time our scholarship decisions are made.
3. Once we’ve received a nomination and you’ve applied to the university, you can complete the online Lester B. Pearson Scholarship application by November 7, 2025.  You will receive a private link to the scholarship application when you are successfully nominated by your school.
4. Submit all necessary documentation online by November 7, 2025.

For more details, visit University of Toronto Scholarship webpage