5 exciting tech scholarships in Canada for international students

If you’re a tech fan who wants to study for free in Canada, you’re in luck. Start with the fact that you’ve made the right choice of course and country.

Canada’s tech sector is emerging as an industry with significant impact. A survey of more than 500 English and French-speaking Canadians working within the technology industry earlier this year found that four out of five Canadian tech workers believe that their industry is contributing to global tech innovation, placing Canada in the top four of the 22 most technologically innovative countries.

There’s better news for international students: 83% of Canadian workers believe the tech industry supports diversity and inclusion efforts. You can join this highly-skilled talent pool — and be one yourself! — with a degree from one of Canada’s top-ranked universities. Check out the scholarships below to study for free in Canada (or almost free) in what is, arguably, one of the most exciting countries in the world today.

When you’re not busy with your study for free in Canada adventure, immerse yourself in the finest of Canadian diversity. Source: Ian Willms/Getty Images via AFP

Ontrario Tech University

If you seek programmes that emphasise on tech with a conscience, consider Ontario Tech. It offers scholarships awarded based on academic achievement as well as personal excellence. The Global Leadership Award is valued at 72,000 Canadian dollars (CA$18,000 a year for four years), one of its most prestigious entrance awards.

Generation Google Scholarship (North America)

Valued at CA$5,000, this programme is awarded based on the strength of each candidate’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, demonstrated leadership, and academic performance. Applicants must plan to or are currently studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field at the bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD level at an accredited university or college.

Milliman Opportunity Scholarship

Milliman, a global leader in risk management and related technology and data solutions, launched this programme to help students of ethnic groups who have been under-represented in the fields of actuarial science, data science, computer science, economics and programming. 

This programme takes place in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and South Africa. The application process will reopen in March 2022. Between 10 t0 20 awards of no less than US$5,000 are offered to eligible undergraduates.

York University

International students can apply for several awards and bursaries at York, including Entrance Scholarships, York University Continuing Student Scholarship, as well as International Undergraduate Student Bursary.

As a new student to York University, you’ll be considered automatically for an entrance scholarship based on your admission average. This scholarship is open to international students at undergraduate level programmes of all subjects taught here. 

A family wears Christmas outfits as they pose for a photograph with Santa with plexiglas in between to keep safe from Covid-19, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on November 28, 2020. Source: Lars Hagberg/AFP

Anita Borg Memorial Canada

Dr. Borg was a computer scientist from the US who founded the Institute for Women and Technology (now called the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology). She paved the way for women to enter the computing and technology field. 

This scholarship is offered by Google in her memory. You must have plans to join a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD programme — in computer science, computer engineering or a closely related technical field — at a university in the US or Canada.

The scholarship awards US10,000 for the upcoming academic year to recipients with a strong academic background and leadership potential. The best part? An invitation to attend the Annual Google Scholars’ Retreat in Mountain View, California.