The Western University Scholarships 2027 support international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. Outstanding international undergraduate students can compete for the prestigious International President’s Entrance Scholarships worth CAD 100,000, while high-achieving students can also receive automatic admission scholarships worth up to CAD 8,000, with an additional travel grant available to eligible international recipients. At the graduate level, Western provides funding packages for eligible research-based master’s and PhD students through graduate research scholarships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research funding. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the Western 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:
- International President’s Entrance Scholarship
- Western Automatic Admission Scholarships
- Western Graduate and PhD Funding
Western offers scholarships based on academic achievement as well as more competitive awards that consider leadership, community service, creativity, and extracurricular achievement.
Western University Scholarships Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s / PhD
- Institution: Western University
- Study Destination: London, Ontario, Canada
- Courses Offered: Eligible Western University programmes
Western awards three International President’s Entrance Scholarships worth CAD 100,000 each to outstanding international students. The award is paid as CAD 25,000 per year over four years.
Western University Scholarships Application Deadline
For Fall 2027 undergraduate admission, Western has published the following main deadline:
- Equal-consideration undergraduate application deadline: January 15, 2027.
The exact deadline for the 2027–2028 National Scholarship Program, which includes the International President’s Entrance Scholarship, has not yet been published. Western states that applications will become available in mid-November 2026, and the scholarship application generally closes around February.
There is no separate application for Western’s Automatic Admission Scholarships.
Graduate application periods depend on the faculty and programme. They generally fall between late autumn and early spring, particularly for programmes beginning in September.
Western University Scholarship Coverage
International President’s Entrance Scholarship
The International President’s Entrance Scholarship is Western University’s most valuable general undergraduate scholarship specifically available to international students.
Western currently offers:
3 scholarships worth CAD 100,000 each.
Each scholarship provides:
- CAD 25,000 per year
- Funding for four years
- CAD 100,000 total scholarship value
- Support toward undergraduate tuition and educational expenses
- Access to Western’s National Scholarship community
The scholarship is available through Western’s National Scholarship Program and is designed for students demonstrating exceptional overall achievement.
Selection considers more than academic grades. Western looks for students who demonstrate:
- Outstanding academic achievement
- Creative and innovative thinking
- Passion for learning
- Leadership
- Community involvement
- Extracurricular achievement
- Achievement in areas such as arts, athletics, or other activities
The scholarship is highly competitive because only three International President’s Entrance Scholarships are offered.
Students receiving a National Scholarship cannot also receive Western’s regular Admission Scholarship, Scholarship of Excellence, Welcome to Canada Scholarship, or Continue in Canada Scholarship.
Western Automatic Admission Scholarships
Western University automatically considers eligible students entering directly from secondary school for several admission scholarships.
No separate scholarship application is required.
The main awards are:
Western Scholarship of Excellence
Western offers:
250 scholarships worth CAD 8,000 each.
The award consists of:
- CAD 6,000 in the first year
- CAD 2,000 for an optional approved study-abroad experience
Recipients coming from an international or out-of-province secondary school may also receive an additional:
CAD 2,000 Travel Grant.
This means an eligible international recipient may potentially receive support worth up to CAD 10,000, including the travel grant.
Selection is based on the highest admission averages.
Western Scholarship of Distinction
Students with a final admission average between 92.0% and 100.0% can receive:
CAD 3,500
consisting of:
- CAD 2,500 in the first year
- CAD 1,000 for an optional approved study-abroad experience.
The number of these scholarships is unlimited for students who meet the requirements.
Western Admission Scholarship
Students with a final admission average between 90.0% and 91.9% can receive:
CAD 2,500
consisting of:
- CAD 1,500 in the first year
- CAD 1,000 for an optional study-abroad experience.
This scholarship also has no fixed limit on the number of recipients who meet the eligibility criteria.
For international students following a non-Canadian curriculum, Western evaluates academic averages using the applicant’s curriculum, grading system, and grading practices rather than asking students to convert their grades themselves.
Western Graduate and PhD Funding
Western University provides funding packages to eligible students enrolled in full-time research-based master’s and PhD programmes.
Funding can include:
- Western Graduate Research Scholarship
- Graduate Fellowship
- Graduate Teaching Assistantship
- Graduate Student Assistantship
- Research Assistantship
- Faculty research funding
- Donor-funded awards
- External scholarships
Funding amounts differ by faculty, programme, degree, and individual student.
Western reports that graduate students received an average of:
- CAD 35,476 per year for doctoral students
- CAD 26,277 per year for master’s students
from all funding sources in the university’s most recently published annual figures.
Western PhD Funding Guarantee
Western provides a minimum funding guarantee for eligible domestic and international doctoral students.
For students beginning in the current published funding cycle, the minimum package is:
- CAD 17,000 in financial support
- CAD 6,360 toward tuition
- CAD 23,360 total annual funding package
The final minimum funding level applying to students beginning in 2027 has not yet been published and may be revised.
International PhD students are charged the same doctoral tuition rate as domestic PhD students at Western. International students still need to account for additional charges such as the University Health Insurance Plan and other ancillary fees.
Individual departments can provide considerably more than the university minimum.
For example, Western’s Department of Economics currently provides eligible international PhD students with a support package worth approximately CAD 32,100, in addition to the applicable tuition and fee structure, during the first four years of study.
Applicants should therefore compare the individual funding offer from their intended graduate programme rather than relying only on Western’s university-wide minimum.
Eligibility Criteria for Western University Scholarships
International President’s Entrance Scholarship
International applicants must:
- Be international students
- Apply to Western University’s main campus
- Apply directly from secondary school
- Register as full-time undergraduate students
- Have a minimum overall academic average of 90% or equivalent
- Receive a nomination from their secondary school
- Complete the National Scholarship application
- Demonstrate exceptional academic and extracurricular achievement
Western allows each school to nominate up to four students for the National Scholarship Program and permits an additional nomination when that student is an international visa student.
A 90% average is only the minimum requirement. Since only three International President’s Entrance Scholarships are awarded, applicants should have an exceptionally strong academic and extracurricular profile.
Automatic Admission Scholarships
To qualify, students generally must:
- Apply directly from secondary school
- Be admitted to Western’s main campus
- Register as full-time first-year students
- Meet the required admission average
- Satisfy all conditions in their admission offer
For the Scholarship of Distinction, the required average is:
92.0% to 100.0%.
For the Western Admission Scholarship, the required average is:
90.0% to 91.9%.
The Scholarship of Excellence is awarded competitively to students with the highest admission averages.
International students do not need to convert their grades into Canadian percentages. Western calculates the equivalent admission average using the grading system of the applicant’s secondary-school curriculum.
Graduate Funding Eligibility
Graduate funding eligibility varies by programme.
Applicants generally need:
- A recognised bachelor’s degree
- Strong academic results
- Admission to an eligible research-based master’s or PhD programme
- Relevant academic preparation
- Research experience where required
- English-language proficiency
- A suitable research supervisor where required
- Full-time enrolment
- Satisfactory academic progress
Funding for coursework-only and professional master’s degrees can be much more limited than funding for research-based programmes.
English-Language Requirements
International undergraduate applicants whose first language is not English may need to demonstrate English proficiency.
Western currently accepts several options.
IELTS Academic
Applicants need:
- Overall: 6.5
- Minimum in each section: 6.0
TOEFL
For the revised TOEFL scoring system, Western currently requires:
- Overall: 4.5
- Reading: 4.0
- Speaking: 4.0
- Writing: 4.0
- Listening: 4.5
Duolingo English Test
Applicants need:
- 115 overall
- Minimum 100 in each subscore.
PTE Academic
Applicants need:
- 58 overall
- Minimum 56 in each section.
Students may qualify for an English-language exemption based on previous full-time education completed in English. Western generally considers students with sufficient English-medium secondary school, college, or university study for an exemption, although approval is not automatic.
You can also review our guide to scholarships without IELTS.
For graduate applicants, Western’s general minimum requirements currently include:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- Duolingo: 115
- TOEFL revised scale: 4.5 overall with no section below 4.0
Individual graduate programmes can require higher scores.
How to Apply for Western University Scholarships?
International President’s Entrance Scholarship
(1) Apply for undergraduate admission to Western University’s main campus through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).
You need your OUAC reference number before you can access Western’s National Scholarship application.
(2) Ask your secondary school for a National Scholarship nomination.
A school nomination is compulsory.
Western allows schools to nominate up to four students, with one additional nomination available for an international visa student.
Do not assume that your school will nominate you automatically. Speak with your counsellor, principal, or scholarship coordinator early.
(3) Complete the online National Scholarship application.
The scholarship application assesses academic performance and broader achievement, including:
- Leadership
- Community service
- Extracurricular activities
- Creative and innovative thinking
- Personal accomplishments
- Academic interests
(4) Prepare the required scholarship essay carefully.
Western requires an original essay as part of the National Scholarship application.
Use a specific argument and real examples rather than writing a generic personal statement.
(5) Arrange the required school documents.
Your school must provide the required transcript and reference letter.
Choose a referee who can discuss your:
- Academic ability
- Leadership
- Initiative
- Community contribution
- Character
- Potential for university study
Use our scholarship recommendation letter guide when approaching your referee.
(6) Submit the complete National Scholarship application.
A complete application normally includes:
- Online scholarship application
- School nomination
- Essay
- Academic transcript
- School reference letter
Selected candidates may be invited to an interview.
Use our scholarship interview questions and answers guide when preparing.
Automatic Admission Scholarships
The application process is much simpler.
(1) Apply for an undergraduate programme at Western’s main campus directly from secondary school.
(2) Submit all required academic records so Western can calculate your final admission average.
(3) No separate scholarship application is required.
Western automatically considers eligible incoming students for the Scholarship of Excellence, Scholarship of Distinction, and Western Admission Scholarship.
(4) If selected, the scholarship is applied directly to your student fee account.
Students receiving the study-abroad component must complete an approved Western international learning experience to receive that portion of the award.
Graduate and PhD Funding
(1) Choose a research-based Western master’s or PhD programme related to your academic background and research interests.
Research programmes generally provide stronger funding opportunities than coursework-only graduate programmes.
(2) Identify a potential supervisor where required.
Review faculty profiles, research groups, laboratories, and recent publications.
A short supervisor email should explain:
- Your academic background
- Previous research
- Research interests
- Technical skills
- Publications or conference presentations
- Why the professor’s work interests you
Attach a strong academic CV.
(3) Prepare your graduate application documents.
The requirements vary by programme but commonly include transcripts, recommendation letters, a statement of purpose, academic CV, and English-language evidence.
Use our guides to prepare your statement of purpose and scholarship recommendation letters.
(4) Submit your graduate admission application.
Western states that graduate funding is generally decided by the faculty or academic programme when the student is admitted.
Applicants can be considered for funding from:
- Western Graduate Research Scholarships
- Graduate Teaching Assistantships
- Graduate Student Assistantships
- Graduate Fellowships
- Faculty research funding
- Donor-funded awards
(5) Review your funding offer carefully.
Check:
- Total annual funding
- Tuition included in the package
- Teaching assistantship income
- Research assistantship income
- Fellowship funding
- Funding duration
- Health insurance and ancillary fees
- Academic progress requirements
Funding varies significantly between Western graduate programmes.
Documents Required for Western University Scholarships
Undergraduate Admission Documents
International applicants should generally prepare:
- OUAC application
- Secondary-school transcripts
- Predicted examination results where applicable
- Final school certificate when available
- English-language proficiency evidence where required
- Certified translations where necessary
- Programme-specific supplementary application where required
- Additional documents listed in the Western Student Center
Western determines the precise document requirements according to the applicant’s country and secondary-school curriculum.
International President’s Entrance Scholarship Documents
Applicants should prepare:
- Online National Scholarship application
- School nomination
- Scholarship essay
- Academic transcript
- School reference letter
- OUAC reference number
A strong application should clearly demonstrate academic excellence together with leadership, community engagement, creativity, and extracurricular achievement.
Graduate Documents
Graduate applicants generally need:
- Graduate application
- Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Master’s degree certificate where applicable
- Academic transcripts
- Academic CV
- Statement of purpose
- Recommendation letters
- IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, or another accepted English-language result where required
- Research proposal where required
- Writing sample where required
- Publications or research evidence
- Additional programme-specific documents
Applicants can use these ScholarshipRoar resources:
- Academic CV for Scholarship
- Statement of Purpose for Scholarship
- Scholarship Recommendation Letter
- Scholarship Interview Questions and Answers
Website
For more information about Western University Scholarships, visit:
- International President’s Entrance Scholarship – National Scholarship Program
- Western Automatic Admission Scholarships
- Western Graduate Funding
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Western University offer scholarships to international students?
Yes. International undergraduate students can compete for the CAD 100,000 International President’s Entrance Scholarship and can also qualify for Western’s automatic admission scholarships. International graduate students are eligible for research funding packages, fellowships, and assistantships.
How much is the Western University International President’s Entrance Scholarship?
The scholarship is worth:
CAD 100,000 over four years
or:
CAD 25,000 per year.
Western currently awards three of these scholarships.
Is the CAD 100,000 Western University Scholarship fully funded?
No. The International President’s Entrance Scholarship provides CAD 100,000 over four years, but Western does not state that it automatically covers every tuition, accommodation, food, insurance, and personal expense.
It should therefore be described as a major renewable scholarship, not a guaranteed fully funded award.
What grades do I need for the International President’s Entrance Scholarship?
Applicants need at least a 90% overall academic average or equivalent to qualify for Western’s National Scholarship Program.
However, successful applicants are selected competitively and should normally have an academic and extracurricular profile considerably stronger than the minimum requirement.
Do I need a school nomination?
Yes.
A school nomination is required for the National Scholarship Program. Schools can nominate up to four students, plus one additional international visa student.
Does Western have automatic scholarships?
Yes.
Students entering Western’s main campus directly from secondary school are automatically considered for the Western Scholarship of Excellence, Scholarship of Distinction, and Western Admission Scholarship.
How much is the Western Scholarship of Excellence?
The Western Scholarship of Excellence is worth CAD 8,000, including CAD 6,000 in the first year and CAD 2,000 for an optional approved study-abroad experience.
Eligible international and out-of-province recipients may also receive a CAD 2,000 Travel Grant.
Does Western University fund international PhD students?
Yes.
Western provides funding packages to eligible international doctoral students. Funding can combine scholarships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and other sources.
How much funding do Western PhD students receive?
The amount depends on the programme.
For the current published funding cycle, Western guarantees eligible doctoral students a minimum annual package of CAD 23,360, consisting of CAD 17,000 in financial support plus CAD 6,360 for tuition. Individual departments frequently provide more.
Are international PhD tuition fees higher at Western?
Western has charged international PhD and DMA students the same tuition rate as domestic doctoral students since September 2018.
International students may still pay additional charges such as the University Health Insurance Plan and ancillary fees.
Is IELTS compulsory for Western University?
Not always.
Applicants may qualify for an English proficiency exemption based on previous full-time education completed in English. Students who need an English test can use accepted options including IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, PTE, Cambridge English, or CAEL.
The standard undergraduate IELTS requirement is 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each section.
