EDUCATION

Canada Scholarships for Engineering and Medical Students

If you’re planning to study engineering or medicine in Canada, you probably already know these fields can be some of the most expensive — but also the most rewarding. The good news is, there are scholarships designed specifically to help engineering and medical students manage tuition costs and focus on their studies.

Canada wants to attract talented students who can solve tomorrow’s problems in health, technology, and innovation. Many universities, government programs, and private organizations offer funding that can help you get there. Here’s how you can tap into these opportunities and make your Canadian study plan more affordable.

Scholarships for Engineering Students

Several universities offer specific funding for international students pursuing engineering.

University of Waterloo, well known for its engineering faculty, provides a range of entrance scholarships for international students. These include the International Student Entrance Scholarship and the President’s Scholarship of Distinction.

The University of Alberta runs the Faculty of Engineering International Student Entrance Scholarships. Students with strong high school grades and leadership activities can get up to CAD 5,000.

University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering awards various scholarships to outstanding students. Some are automatic entrance scholarships, while others require a separate application with essays and recommendation letters.

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships also welcome top-tier doctoral candidates in engineering fields. These awards offer CAD 50,000 per year for up to three years and focus on students with exceptional academic and research potential.

If your research contributes to innovation or sustainable development, you may also qualify for grants under programs like the NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada).

Scholarships for Medical Students

Medical degrees are demanding — financially and academically. While there are fewer fully funded scholarships for undergraduate medicine, there are ways to fund your medical education in Canada, especially at the graduate and postgraduate levels.

University of Toronto and McGill University, both home to top medical schools, have awards and entrance scholarships for international medical students.

At the postgraduate level, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) offers funding for medical research students. This is highly competitive but can support master’s and doctoral students in health sciences.

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships help medical researchers continue their studies with CAD 70,000 per year for two years.

Students focusing on public health, global health, or specialized medical research can also apply for the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, which helps students from Commonwealth countries, including those in Africa and Asia.

Field-Specific Awards and Bursaries

Many scholarships are awarded based on specific research topics within engineering or medicine. For example, if you’re working on renewable energy, biomedical engineering, or community health, you’ll find additional grants available through partnerships between universities and industry.

Some schools also offer bursaries based on financial need, which can be combined with merit-based scholarships. Always check what your target faculty or department offers — many students miss out because they don’t ask.

Tips for Winning an Engineering or Medical Scholarship

Grades matter, but so do other qualities. Many scholarships want to see leadership, research potential, and a clear vision for how you’ll use your degree.

For engineering students, showing involvement in science fairs, innovation competitions, or community tech projects can help your application stand out.

Medical students benefit from showing volunteer work in hospitals, public health projects, or non-profits.

Strong references are important too. Pick referees who know your work well and can highlight your potential to contribute to the field.

Your essay or statement of purpose should clearly connect your goals to the scholarship’s mission. Explain how your studies will solve real problems in health or engineering.

Can You Combine Awards?

Many students in Canada do exactly that. You can receive a university entrance award, then apply for departmental or faculty-specific scholarships. You can also combine research grants and bursaries if the funding rules allow it.

For postgraduate students, working as a research or teaching assistant can add extra financial support.

Studying engineering or medicine in Canada can open doors to a rewarding career, but you don’t have to shoulder the costs alone. Whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, there are scholarships to help make your studies affordable.

Start early, stay organized, and prepare applications that show you’re not just another student — you’re someone who can use your skills to make an impact.

Ready to find the right funding for your dream program? Here are useful official links to get started: