The University of British Columbia's International Scholars Program is the West Coast equivalent to Toronto's Pearson Scholarship. It is a highly competitive, dual-criteria (merit and financial need) award program for incoming international undergraduate students who demonstrate superior academic achievement and leadership.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- No Minimum Requirement
- Offer Degrees
- Bachelors
- Subjects
- Agriculture, Arts, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Psychology
- Seats Available
- Roughly 50 annually across various awards
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- No
- Work Experience
- No
- Age Range
- No Age Limit
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Min. 6.5
- TOEFL
- Min. 90.0
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- English
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- Proportional to financial need (can cover full tuition + living expenses)
- Monthly Stipend
- CAD 0/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- No / None
- Application Fee
- 125
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
UBC consistently ranks among the top three universities in Canada and the top 40 globally, situated in the breathtaking city of Vancouver. However, Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities on the planet, and international tuition at UBC is very high. This program is designed to completely remove the financial barrier for elite students from developing or under-resourced backgrounds.
Under this umbrella are several awards, including the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award and the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award (specifically for students from war-torn or politically unstable regions). The value of the award is precisely calculated based on your demonstrated financial need; if your family can contribute zero, the scholarship will cover your full tuition, fees, and provide a comprehensive living allowance to cover housing and food.
It is renewable for up to three additional years.
Application Process
Like the Pearson Scholarship, you cannot just submit a form. You must be nominated. However, UBC is slightly more flexible: you can be nominated by your high school OR by a recognized non-profit organization.
The timeline is aggressive. The scholarship application is usually due in mid-November, well before the standard January admissions deadline. You must submit the massive International Scholars Program application, which requires detailed financial documentation to prove your 'need,' and deeply personal essays demonstrating your leadership and community impact.
Separately, you must apply for academic admission to UBC by December 1st.
How to Win This Scholarship
You must perfectly balance the narrative of 'extreme academic excellence' with 'extreme financial need.' The committee is looking for students who have changed their local communities despite having limited resources. If you are applying for the Donald A. Wehrung award, your narrative must authentically reflect how you have achieved academic excellence under severely difficult circumstances (e.g., conflict zones, refugee status).
For the Leader of Tomorrow award, your extracurriculars must show sustained, high-level leadership—not just participating in a club, but founding an initiative that had measurable impact. Because you must prove financial need, ensure your family's financial documents are organized, translated, and accurately reflect your situation, as UBC will scrutinize them heavily.
Benefits After Completing Study
Graduating from UBC fully debt-free is a massive financial advantage. Vancouver is a major hub for tech (Amazon and Microsoft have massive presence), film, and green engineering. Like all Canadian university graduates, you will be eligible for the 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
A critical catch: if you apply for the International Scholars Program, UBC will NOT consider you for their standard, merit-based entrance scholarships (like the OIS award). You are putting all your chips on winning this specific need-based full ride. Therefore, only apply if you truly cannot afford UBC without it.
You must be entering your first undergraduate degree directly from high school or transferring from your first year of college. The scholarship does not cover the initial $125+ CAD application fee to the university.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source