The Queen’s University Scholarships 2027 support international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes in Canada. International undergraduate students can receive renewable Dean’s International Awards worth up to CAD 100,000 over four years, depending on their faculty and academic achievement, while exceptionally strong applicants can also be considered automatically for the CAD 7,000 Principal’s Scholarship. At the graduate level, eligible international students can compete for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship worth CAD 15,000, while full-time PhD students can receive multi-year funding packages through scholarships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research funding. Most undergraduate awards require no separate scholarship application and are assessed automatically through admission. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the Queen’s University Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The main funding opportunities covered in this guide are:
- Dean’s International Award Program
- Principal’s Scholarship
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- Queen’s University PhD Funding
Queen’s University is located in Kingston, Ontario. Its international undergraduate awards are particularly strong for students entering Arts and Science, Engineering, Commerce, and Health Sciences.
Queen’s University Scholarships Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s / PhD
- Institution: Queen’s University
- Study Destination: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- PhD Funding Period: Normally four years
The strongest undergraduate scholarship amount currently reaches CAD 25,000 per year for four years in eligible Arts and Science, Engineering, and Commerce programmes.
Queen’s University Scholarships Application Deadline
Undergraduate applications generally open around October, with programme application periods extending into the following winter or early spring. The Dean’s International Awards and Principal’s Scholarship do not have separate scholarship deadlines because eligible students are considered automatically through their admission application.
Graduate applications generally open in September or October, with most programme deadlines falling in the early months of the following year. Queen’s does not use one common graduate deadline because each department sets its own application period.
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship also uses programme-specific application periods, which generally fall during the graduate scholarship cycle. International students should check the deadline shown in the Queen’s OGS application system for their department.
Queen’s University Scholarship Coverage
Dean’s International Award Program
The Dean’s International Award Program is the main undergraduate scholarship programme specifically designed for international students entering Queen’s University.
International students are automatically considered based on academic achievement. No separate scholarship application is required.
The programme includes several faculty-specific awards.
Arts and Science International Admission Award
International students entering the Faculty of Arts and Science can receive:
- CAD 10,000 per year
- CAD 15,000 per year
- CAD 20,000 per year
- CAD 25,000 per year
The scholarship is renewable for four years.
This gives a maximum potential scholarship value of:
CAD 100,000 over four years.
Engineering International Admission Award
International students entering the Stephen J.R. Smith School of Engineering and Applied Science can receive:
- CAD 10,000 per year
- CAD 15,000 per year
- CAD 20,000 per year
- CAD 25,000 per year
The award is renewable for four years, giving a maximum value of CAD 100,000.
Commerce International Admission Award
International students entering the Bachelor of Commerce programme at Smith School of Business can receive:
- CAD 15,000 per year
- CAD 20,000 per year
- CAD 25,000 per year
The award is renewable for four years.
The total scholarship can therefore range from approximately:
CAD 60,000 to CAD 100,000.
Health Sciences International Admission Award
International students entering the Bachelor of Health Sciences can receive:
- CAD 10,000 per year; or
- CAD 15,000 per year.
The award is renewable for four years, giving a total potential value of:
CAD 40,000 to CAD 60,000.
Bachelor of Nursing students are not eligible for this particular award.
Principal’s Scholarship
The Principal’s Scholarship is an automatic merit scholarship available across Queen’s first-entry undergraduate programmes.
It provides:
CAD 7,000 for one year.
Recipients are selected from students who rank within approximately the top 3% of the competitive admission average for their programme. The precise academic average required varies by programme and year.
No separate scholarship application is required.
Queen’s also automatically considers incoming students for a range of donor-funded admission scholarships. In some cases, an automatic scholarship can be replaced by a named donor award of equal or greater value.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) supports academically outstanding master’s and doctoral students studying at universities in Ontario.
The scholarship is worth:
CAD 15,000 for one academic year.
It is normally paid in three instalments of CAD 5,000.
International students studying in Ontario on a valid student study permit can compete for a limited number of OGS awards reserved for visa students.
The scholarship is merit-based and is not renewable automatically.
Students can compete again in a future competition if they remain eligible.
Queen’s University PhD Funding
Queen’s University provides guaranteed minimum funding packages to eligible full-time doctoral students.
For the current 2026–2027 academic year, the university-wide minimum is:
CAD 25,000 per year.
The guaranteed minimum normally applies to:
Years 1–4 of the PhD programme.
Many departments provide funding above the university minimum.
A Queen’s doctoral funding package may include:
- Queen’s Graduate Awards
- Internal scholarships
- External scholarships
- Teaching Assistantships
- Teaching Fellowships
- Research Assistantships
- Graduate Research Fellowships
- Supervisor research funding
The exact funding package varies by department and student.
For example, Smith School of Business currently provides its PhD students with a CAD 30,600 base funding package, with additional teaching and research opportunities available.
An important point is that Queen’s university-wide doctoral funding does not automatically pay tuition separately. Students generally pay tuition and ancillary fees from their funding package, savings, or other income.
For this reason, Queen’s PhD funding should not automatically be described as a full tuition plus stipend scholarship unless the individual department’s offer explicitly provides those benefits separately.
Eligibility Criteria for Queen’s University Scholarships
Dean’s International Award Program
Applicants must:
- Be international students
- Be entering post-secondary education for the first time
- Be entering an eligible first-entry undergraduate programme
- Pay international student tuition fees
- Demonstrate strong academic achievement
- Remain registered full-time for scholarship renewal
- Continue studying within their original faculty
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students who qualify to pay domestic tuition are not eligible for the Dean’s International Awards.
The award is available to eligible students entering:
- Faculty of Arts and Science
- Smith Engineering
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Health Sciences
Principal’s Scholarship
Applicants must:
- Apply for a first-entry undergraduate programme
- Demonstrate exceptional academic achievement
- Rank among approximately the top 3% of competitive admission averages in their programme
There is no fixed minimum percentage because the required academic standing changes according to the programme and applicant pool.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
International applicants must generally:
- Hold a valid Canadian study permit
- Be enrolled or applying to an eligible Queen’s graduate programme
- Study full-time
- Demonstrate strong academic achievement
- Meet the requirements of the relevant Queen’s graduate programme
Applicants entering their first or second year of graduate study generally need a first-class average equivalent to A- at Queen’s in each of their last two completed years of study.
Applicants entering later years of graduate study normally require an overall average of at least A- in their completed graduate coursework.
PhD Funding
To qualify for Queen’s guaranteed doctoral funding, students must:
- Be registered full-time in an eligible PhD programme
- Be within the funding-eligible years of study
- Maintain good academic standing
- Remain eligible for the funding sources used by their department
- Apply for major internal and external scholarships where required
- Accept required teaching or research appointments included in the funding package
- Request financial support when initially applying for doctoral admission
The last requirement is particularly important.
When completing the doctoral application, applicants should indicate Yes when asked whether they require financial support from Queen’s University if they want to be considered for the university funding guarantee.
English-Language Requirements
International undergraduate applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency can currently use tests including:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0
- TOEFL: 4.5 overall under the revised scoring system, with no skill below 4.0
- Duolingo English Test: 120
- PTE Academic: 60
- CAEL: 70 overall, with no band below 60
- Cambridge English: 175, with no component below 170
An English test may not be required for students who meet Queen’s exemption requirements through previous English-language education.
Graduate applicants currently need at least:
- IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall
- TOEFL revised scale: 4.5 overall, with the required section scores
- PTE Academic: 65
- CAEL: 70
- Cambridge English: 185
Individual graduate programmes can impose higher requirements.
You can also review our guide to scholarships without IELTS.
How to Apply for Queen’s University Scholarships?
Dean’s International Award Program
(1) Choose an eligible undergraduate programme in Arts and Science, Engineering, Commerce, or Health Sciences.
(2) Submit your Queen’s University admission application through the appropriate application system.
(3) Submit all academic records and English-language evidence requested through your Queen’s applicant account.
Queen’s can assess applicants initially using the academic documents required for admission and later requires official final records from admitted students.
(4) No separate Dean’s International Award application is required.
All eligible international applicants are considered automatically based primarily on academic achievement.
(5) If selected, the scholarship information will be included in your Queen’s financial aid or admission information.
For renewable awards, remain registered full-time in your original faculty and satisfy the scholarship conditions.
Principal’s Scholarship
(1) Submit a strong Queen’s undergraduate admission application.
(2) Make sure all required academic results are available for scholarship assessment.
(3) No separate scholarship form is required.
Queen’s automatically compares eligible students according to the competitive admission average for each programme and selects approximately the strongest 3% for the Principal’s Scholarship.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
(1) Apply to an eligible Queen’s master’s or PhD programme.
(2) Create an OGS application account through Queen’s when the competition becomes available.
(3) Select your academic programme in the OGS application system.
(4) Complete the required academic and scholarship information.
Selection is based primarily on academic excellence, and applicants must satisfy the minimum academic requirements.
(5) Submit the application through Queen’s.
International students compete through the separate allocation available to eligible study-permit holders.
Queen’s University PhD Funding
(1) Choose a Queen’s doctoral programme that closely matches your academic and research background.
For research programmes, review potential supervisors and research groups carefully.
(2) Contact a potential supervisor where the programme recommends or requires it.
A short email should explain:
- Your academic background
- Previous research
- Proposed research interests
- Relevant skills
- Publications or conference work
- Why you are interested in the supervisor’s research
Attach a concise academic CV.
(3) Prepare your graduate application.
Queen’s generally requires transcripts and recommendation letters, while individual programmes may request additional documents such as a statement of purpose, writing sample, research proposal, or GRE score.
Use our guides on preparing an academic CV, statement of purpose, and scholarship recommendation letters.
(4) Indicate that you require financial support in your PhD application.
This is necessary to remain eligible for Queen’s guaranteed minimum doctoral funding package.
(5) Submit the complete application to your selected department.
Research-based programmes generally require two current academic recommendations, although individual departments may request additional references.
(6) Review the funding package if you receive an admission offer.
Check:
- Annual guaranteed funding
- Funding duration
- Teaching assistantship requirements
- Research assistantship requirements
- Internal scholarship components
- External scholarship requirements
- Tuition and ancillary fees
Because departmental funding can exceed the Queen’s minimum, the funding letter accompanying your offer is the best source for your actual financial support.
Documents Required for Queen’s University Scholarships
Undergraduate Documents
International undergraduate applicants should generally prepare:
- Undergraduate admission application
- Secondary-school transcripts
- National examination results where applicable
- English-language proficiency result where required
- Certified English or French translations where necessary
- Programme-specific supplementary information where required
Queen’s advises applicants not to submit unsolicited résumés, recommendation letters, passports, certificates, or motivation letters unless the university specifically requests them.
No additional documents are required specifically for the Dean’s International Awards or Principal’s Scholarship because consideration is automatic.
Graduate Documents
Graduate applicants should generally prepare:
- Online graduate application
- Bachelor’s degree transcript
- Master’s degree transcript where applicable
- Degree certificate where required
- Two academic recommendation letters for research programmes
- English-language proficiency results where required
- Statement of purpose where requested
- Academic CV where requested
- Research proposal where required
- Writing sample where required
- GRE or other programme-specific test where required
- Certified English or French translations
Applicants can use these ScholarshipRoar guides:
Website
For more information about Queen’s University Scholarships, visit:
- Queen’s Scholarships for International Undergraduate Students
- Queen’s Automatic Admission Scholarships
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship at Queen’s
- Queen’s Graduate Funding Packages
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Queen’s University offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. Queen’s offers dedicated International Admission Awards to eligible international undergraduate students, as well as graduate scholarships and doctoral funding opportunities.
How much scholarship can an international undergraduate receive?
Eligible international students in Arts and Science, Engineering, and Commerce can receive awards worth up to CAD 25,000 per year for four years, or CAD 100,000 in total.
Is the CAD 100,000 Queen’s Scholarship automatic?
Scholarship consideration is automatic.
Eligible international applicants are automatically considered for the Dean’s International Award Program based on academic achievement. However, receiving the maximum CAD 25,000 annual award is competitive and not guaranteed.
Does Queen’s offer a scholarship for Commerce students?
Yes. The Commerce International Admission Award provides CAD 15,000, CAD 20,000, or CAD 25,000 per year for four years to selected international students entering the Bachelor of Commerce programme.
Does Queen’s offer scholarships for international engineering students?
Yes. The Engineering International Admission Award provides CAD 10,000 to CAD 25,000 per year for four years, giving a maximum value of CAD 100,000.
What is the Principal’s Scholarship worth?
The Principal’s Scholarship is worth CAD 7,000 for one year and is awarded automatically to students in approximately the top 3% of the competitive admission average for their programme.
Can international students receive the Ontario Graduate Scholarship?
Yes. A limited number of OGS awards are available to international students studying in Ontario on valid student study permits.
How much is the Ontario Graduate Scholarship?
The OGS is worth CAD 15,000 for one academic year, normally paid as three CAD 5,000 instalments.
Are Queen’s University PhD programmes fully funded?
Queen’s guarantees eligible full-time doctoral students a minimum funding package, currently CAD 25,000 per year during years one through four. However, tuition and ancillary fees are not automatically paid separately from this package.
Some individual departments provide substantially higher funding.
Do I need a separate application for PhD funding?
Usually not for the basic departmental funding package, but applicants must indicate in their doctoral admission application that they require financial support. They may also be required to apply for external or internal scholarships for which they are eligible.
Is IELTS compulsory for Queen’s University?
Not necessarily.
Applicants may qualify for an English-language test exemption based on their previous education. Students who need to provide a test can currently use IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, PTE, CAEL, Cambridge English, or another accepted route.
For undergraduate admission, the standard IELTS requirement is 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.
