The University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of Canada’s leading higher education institutions and consistently ranked in the global top 40. UBC recognises the academic achievement of outstanding students from around the world by devoting more than $35 million annually to awards, scholarships, and other forms of financial support for international undergraduate students.
UBC is also one of Canada’s most international universities, with over 19,909 international students from over 160 countries across its Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. For Indian students considering Canada for higher education, UBC scholarships represent significant funding opportunities – especially since many are automatically considered without a separate application.
10 UBC Scholarships for International Students 2026 – At a Glance
| Scholarship | Value | Level | Auto-Considered? |
| International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) | $10,000-$25,000/year (renewable up to 3 additional years) | Undergraduate (Year 1 direct entry) | Yes – apply to UBC by January 15 |
| Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award | $10,000-$25,000 (one-time, 2025-26 values; verify) | Undergraduate (UG and postsecondary entry) | Yes – awarded at admission |
| International Scholars Program (4 sub-awards) | Varies by sub-award; significant funding | Undergraduate | Yes – auto-considered once eligible |
| Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award | Significant merit + need-based award | Undergraduate | Yes – part of International Scholars |
| Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award | Merit-based; students from impoverished or war-torn regions | Undergraduate | Yes – part of International Scholars |
| International Impact Award | Merit-based for social justice and sustainability leaders | Undergraduate | Yes – part of International Scholars |
| UBC Vantage Scholarship | Partial tuition support during Vantage One program | Undergraduate (Vantage route) | Yes – for Vantage One students only |
| UBC Okanagan International Student Award | $5,000 (applied to first-year tuition at UBCO) | Undergraduate (Okanagan campus) | Yes – for UBCO international students |
| Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UBC | Full scholarship (tuition + living + other costs) | Undergraduate and Graduate | No – separate competitive application |
| Killam Doctoral Fellowships | CAD 35,000/year (doctoral level) | Doctoral (PhD) | No – departmental nomination required |
Scholarship values, eligibility, and deadlines are updated by UBC each academic year. Verify current amounts and criteria at students.ubc.ca/enrolment/finances/awards-scholarships-bursaries before applying.
1. International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES)
The International Major Entrance Scholarship is UBC’s flagship entrance award for exceptional international undergraduate students. It is renewable for up to three additional years of study, making it one of the most financially significant UBC scholarships available to international students.
| IMES Detail | Information |
| Value | $10,000-$25,000 per year (for the 2026-27 academic year; verify at you.ubc.ca) |
| Renewable | Yes – renewable for up to 3 additional years (up to 4 years total) |
| Campus | UBC Vancouver campus only |
| Who is eligible | New international students entering directly from secondary school; studying at UBC on a Canadian study permit |
| Academic requirement | Exceptional academic achievement and intellectual promise |
| Extracurricular requirement | Impressive extracurricular and community involvement required |
| Exclusion | Cannot be nominated for a need-and-merit-based International Scholars award simultaneously |
| Application | Apply to UBC by January 15; you will be automatically considered for IMES; no separate scholarship application required |
| Notification | Successful candidates notified between April 15-30 |
2. Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award
This UBC scholarship for international students is a one-time, merit-based entrance scholarship awarded to qualified students when they are offered admission to UBC. You need to show academic rigour and display involvement outside of the classroom.
| OIS Detail | Information |
| Value | $10,000-$25,000 (2025-26 academic year; verify at you.ubc.ca) |
| Type | One-time entrance scholarship (not renewable) |
| Entry | New to UBC, entering directly from secondary school or postsecondary (university or college) |
| Basis | Academic achievement + extracurricular involvement |
| Application | Automatic consideration at time of admission – no separate application required |
| Campus | UBC Vancouver campus |
3. International Scholars Program (4 Sub-Awards)
If you think you have the potential to make a difference in the world, apply to this UBC scholarship for international students. You need to be an academic achiever who has demonstrated exceptional extracurricular activities, shows a desire to create global change, and is dedicated to giving back to schools and communities. UBC offers approximately 50 scholarships each year across all four awards. You will be automatically considered for the awards that you are eligible for.
| Sub-Award | Who It Is For |
| Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award | Undergraduate students who demonstrate superior academic achievement and are well-rounded with exceptional leadership skills. Need-and-merit-based consideration. |
| Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award | Outstanding undergraduate students from impoverished or war-torn areas who have achieved academic excellence under challenging circumstances. |
| International Impact Award | Exceptional students who have expressed commitment to and solutions for social justice issues, climate change, equity and inclusion, societal health and wellness, and freedom of expression. |
| Fourth sub-award (verify current name at you.ubc.ca) | The International Scholars Program may include additional sub-awards; verify current awards at UBC official scholarships page |
These UBC scholarships for international students are for the Vancouver campus. Some scholarships also consider financial need alongside academic merit.
4. UBC Vantage One Program Scholarship
If you are at the top of your class but did not meet the UBC IELTS requirement, apply for UBC’s Vantage One program. The program is for academically strong international students who failed the UBC IELTS requirement for direct admission into UBC. The selection criteria is based on academic achievement, intellectual promise, and extracurricular or community involvement.
| Vantage One Detail | Information |
| What it is | A one-year transition program at UBC for students with strong academics who did not meet UBC English language requirements for direct admission |
| Scholarship | As a new UBC Vantage One student, you are eligible for a partial scholarship. Verify current award value at vantageone.ubc.ca |
| Eligibility | Top academic performers who did not meet UBC IELTS requirement for direct admission |
| Basis | Academic achievement + intellectual promise + extracurricular involvement |
| After completion | Successful Vantage One students transition into regular UBC programs |
Also Read: Top Universities in Vancouver 2026
5. UBC Okanagan International Student Award
For students considering UBC’s Okanagan campus (located in Kelowna, British Columbia), this welcome scholarship provides $5,000 applied directly to first-year tuition. The award is designed to welcome international students to the Okanagan campus and help them get the best possible start to their UBC experience.
| UBCO Award Detail | Information |
| Value | $5,000 applied directly to tuition (50% in Term 1, 50% in Term 2) |
| Campus | UBC Okanagan campus only (Kelowna, BC) |
| Type | Welcome scholarship for first-year international students |
| Application | Applied automatically; verify eligibility at okanagan.ubc.ca |
6. Mastercard Foundation Scholarship at UBC
The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship for talented students from Sub-Saharan Africa who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to give back to their communities. While this is not specifically an Indian student scholarship, it is worth knowing about as one of UBC’s most comprehensive international student funding programs.
| Mastercard Foundation Detail | Information |
| Value | Full scholarship: tuition, books, living expenses, and other educational costs fully covered |
| Eligible nationalities | Students from Sub-Saharan Africa primarily |
| Level | Undergraduate and graduate students |
| Basis | Academic excellence + leadership + commitment to community/Africa development |
| Application | Separate competitive application required; not automatic |
| Apply at | mastercardfdn.ubc.ca |
7. Killam Doctoral Fellowships
The Killam Doctoral Fellowships are prestigious awards for doctoral students at UBC. These are highly competitive and provide significant financial support for PhD-level research.
| Killam Fellowship Detail | Information |
| Value | CAD 35,000 per year |
| Level | Doctoral (PhD students only) |
| Basis | Academic excellence; research merit; departmental nomination required |
| Application | Students cannot apply directly; must be nominated by their academic department |
| Campus | UBC Vancouver; some may apply to UBC Okanagan also |
8-10. Additional UBC Scholarships for International Students
| Scholarship | Details | For |
| Go Global Funding Awards (8th) | Financial support for UBC students participating in Go Global exchange programs abroad; travel grants available | UBC students doing international exchange |
| Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) (9th) | CAD 18,500/year + tuition for 4 years for exceptional doctoral students; high-value package for PhD students | PhD students; must be nominated by UBC graduate program |
| UBC Graduate Student Initiative (GSI) Funding (10th) | Various departmental and faculty-level funding packages for master and doctoral students; varies widely by faculty and department | Graduate students (master and PhD); check your specific faculty |
In addition to the scholarships listed above, UBC regularly adds new awards and scholarship programs. Use UBC’s award search tool at students.ubc.ca/enrolment/finances/awards-scholarships-bursaries/award-search to find all awards you may be eligible for.
How to Apply for UBC Scholarships as an International Student
| Step | Action |
| 1. Apply to UBC by the scholarship deadline | Most UBC entrance scholarships (IMES, OIS, International Scholars) require you to apply to UBC by January 15. Apply early to be automatically considered for all scholarships you are eligible for. |
| 2. No separate scholarship application for most awards | For IMES, OIS, and International Scholars: you do not need a separate scholarship application. UBC automatically reviews all eligible applicants. Confirm your application is complete and submitted on time. |
| 3. Submit strong supporting materials | Ensure your application includes strong academic transcripts, extracurricular records, and any required essays. These materials are used for both admission and scholarship consideration. |
| 4. Check scholarship notifications | Successful scholarship candidates are typically notified between April 15 and April 30 for September entry. Check your UBC Student Service Centre (SSC) account regularly. |
| 5. Separate applications for non-automatic scholarships | Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, Killam Fellowships, and 4YF require separate or departmental nomination processes. Research these independently and follow their specific timelines. |
| 6. Graduate students: contact your department | Graduate-level scholarships and fellowships often require departmental nomination or faculty-level application. Contact your graduate program coordinator as early as possible to understand available funding. |
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Also Read: Top 5 Animation Colleges in Canada
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