Canada has long stood as one of the most sought-after destinations for international education, and for good reason. Its universities and colleges consistently rank among the best in the world, its cities offer an unmatched quality of life, and its multicultural society ensures that students from virtually every corner of the globe feel genuinely welcomed.
For international students hoping to experience this firsthand without bearing the full financial weight of studying abroad, the Study in Canada Scholarships program represents one of the most accessible and well-funded opportunities available today.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the Study in Canada Scholarships for the 2026 to 2027 academic cycle, from eligibility requirements and funding details to the updated application model and project selection criteria. Whether you are an international student trying to understand how to get nominated or a Canadian institution looking to participate, this resource breaks it all down in plain, practical terms.
What Are the Study in Canada Scholarships?
The Study in Canada Scholarships, widely known by their acronym SICS, are a competitive scholarship program funded by Global Affairs Canada through its Academic Relations Program. The program was designed with a very specific purpose in mind: to give Canadian post-secondary institutions the financial means to host international students from a wide range of countries for short-term study or research exchanges.
Unlike traditional degree-seeking scholarship programs, the Study in Canada Scholarships are not intended for students pursuing a full undergraduate or graduate degree in Canada. Instead, they fund short-term inbound mobility, meaning students come to Canada for a period of four to six months to study coursework or conduct research at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution before returning home to complete their degree. The credits earned during this exchange typically count toward the student’s home institution program, making it a genuinely productive academic experience rather than a detour.
The broader objectives of the program extend beyond the individual student. Global Affairs Canada designed SICS to strengthen and diversify Canada’s international academic linkages, deepen people-to-people connections, and enrich bilateral ties between Canada and partner countries across four of the world’s most dynamic developing regions: Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Every student who participates in this program becomes a living bridge between Canada and their home country, carrying back not just academic credentials but a firsthand understanding of Canadian society, research culture, and institutional excellence. That outcome matters deeply to the program’s funders, and it explains why the scholarship is as generously structured as it is.
Why the Study in Canada Scholarships Matter in 2026
The 2026 to 2027 cycle of the Study in Canada Scholarships arrives at a particularly significant moment in global higher education. International student mobility has rebounded strongly following years of disruption, and competition for funded exchange opportunities has intensified considerably. Programs that offer genuine financial coverage, institutional backing, and academic credibility have become rare and precious, which is exactly what SICS delivers.
Canada’s higher education system is internationally recognized not just for academic rigor but for the way it fosters research collaboration, critical thinking, and cross-cultural competency. Students who study at Canadian institutions, even for a short term, frequently describe the experience as transformative, not only in academic terms but in terms of personal growth, professional network development, and global perspective.
For students from the 22 eligible countries currently covered by SICS, this program offers something that is genuinely difficult to find elsewhere: a fully funded, short-term academic exchange backed by a national government, administered through established institutional partnerships, and designed to create lasting international relationships.
The 2026 deadline for applications is March 31, 2026, which means institutions and prospective student nominees need to act quickly and with intention.
Program Delivery Model Update for the 2026 to 2027 Cycle
One of the most important things to understand about the Study in Canada Scholarships in 2026 is that the program has undergone a meaningful structural change in how it is administered. This update affects how applications are submitted, who is responsible for student selection, and what documentation is required.
Effective for the 2026 to 2027 cycle, SICS will be administered under an adjusted delivery model in which Canadian institutions are responsible for the selection of students. This is a significant shift from earlier models where student-facing applications played a more prominent role in the process.
Under this new framework, Canadian post-secondary institutions take on full accountability for identifying eligible participants, selecting nominees based on a fair and transparent process, and submitting applications on behalf of those students through the My EduCanada portal. Direct applications from individual students are not accepted under this model.
The key structural changes include the following. Selection at the program level will now be based on the institution’s submission of a Management and Accountability Framework, which is a document that outlines the specific procedures and safeguards the institution will put in place to ensure a fair, transparent, and eligibility-compliant selection process. Additionally, the Privacy Notice Statement has been designated as the only supporting document required to be submitted by the institution on behalf of the student through the My EduCanada portal. This streamlines the administrative burden considerably while placing the accountability for rigorous candidate vetting squarely on the Canadian host institution.
This model reflects a maturation of the program and a deliberate move toward institutional responsibility. It also means that international students hoping to benefit from the Study in Canada Scholarships must first confirm whether their home institution has an existing exchange agreement with a Canadian Designated Learning Institution and then work through that institutional channel to be nominated.
Funding and Financial Coverage: What the Scholarship Actually Pays For
One of the most common questions surrounding the Study in Canada Scholarships concerns how much financial support is actually provided and what it covers. The answer is substantial.
The scholarship is structured around three main funding tiers depending on the duration and academic level of the exchange.
For undergraduate and college-level students pursuing a four-month exchange, equivalent to one academic term, the scholarship value is CAD $10,200. The same amount applies to graduate students at the master’s or doctoral level completing a four-month exchange.
For graduate students undertaking a longer exchange of five to six months, the scholarship increases to CAD $14,000. This higher tier reflects the additional time and typically greater research intensity associated with graduate-level study.
In addition to these direct student-facing amounts, the program provides a CAD $500 administrative contribution to the Canadian institution for each scholarship implemented. This helps offset the overhead costs associated with hosting, coordinating, and supporting international exchange students. The total project funding from Global Affairs Canada will not exceed CAD $150,000 per participating Canadian institution.
What do these funds actually cover for students? The scholarship is designed to address the full range of expenses associated with short-term study in Canada. This includes round-trip airfare to Canada, health insurance for the duration of the exchange, visa or study permit application fees, books and academic supplies, and living expenses such as accommodations, utilities, food, and local transportation.
Crucially, the tuition waiver is a foundational component of the scholarship. Participating Canadian institutions must waive tuition fees entirely for scholarship recipients. This means that students continue to pay tuition only to their home institution in their country of origin while receiving the full academic benefit of a Canadian education for the duration of their exchange. This structure eliminates one of the most significant financial barriers to international academic mobility.
Eligible Countries: Who Can Apply Through the Study in Canada Scholarships
The Study in Canada Scholarships are targeted at students from 22 specific countries and territories across four regions. These eligible countries represent a carefully selected group of priority partner nations for Global Affairs Canada, reflecting both diplomatic relationships and development commitments.
Asia includes Bangladesh, Nepal, and Taiwan.
Europe includes Türkiye and Ukraine.
Middle East and North Africa includes Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Sub-Saharan Africa includes Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Students who hold citizenship in any of these countries and who meet the full eligibility criteria are potentially eligible to be nominated by a Canadian partner institution. It is worth noting that citizenship, not residency, is the determining factor. A student who is a citizen of Nigeria but currently studying in the United Kingdom, for example, would not be eligible because they must be enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution within an eligible country or territory and actively paying tuition to that home institution throughout the duration of their Canadian exchange.
Full Eligibility Criteria for International Students
Understanding the eligibility requirements for the Study in Canada Scholarships is essential because nominees who do not meet all criteria will be disqualified regardless of how strong their academic profile is. The program has both inclusive requirements (conditions that must be met) and exclusionary conditions (circumstances that automatically disqualify applicants).
To be eligible for nomination under SICS, an individual must meet all of the following:
They must be a citizen of one of the 22 eligible countries listed above. Dual citizens who hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency are not eligible.
They must be enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in one of those eligible countries. Part-time enrollment does not qualify.
They must be actively paying tuition fees to that home institution at the time of application and must continue to pay those tuition fees for the full duration of their time in Canada. This requirement reinforces the exchange nature of the program, as it ensures the student remains formally connected to their home institution throughout the mobility period.
They must be able to complete all program activities no later than September 30, 2027. This is the outer boundary for project completion, and any exchange that cannot be fully concluded by that date would fall outside the scope of the program.
Conversely, individuals are not eligible to be nominated under the following circumstances:
They hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency.
They are already enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution. The program is intended for students who have no prior or current Canadian enrollment.
They are already receiving funding from Global Affairs Canada under its legal name, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, or from any of the major Canadian federal granting agencies, specifically the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. If a student holds additional funding sources, all must be declared. Undeclared funding sources constitute a disqualifying condition.
Eligibility for Canadian Institutions
While much of the public conversation around the Study in Canada Scholarships focuses on international students, it is equally important to understand that the program is formally open only to Canadian institutions at the application stage. Individual students cannot apply directly.
To be eligible to apply on behalf of students, a Canadian institution must meet two core requirements. First, it must hold Designated Learning Institution status, which is the federal classification that authorizes Canadian post-secondary institutions to host international students on study permits. Second, it must commit to waiving tuition fees for all scholarship recipients hosted under its SICS project. This tuition waiver is non-negotiable and central to the program’s structure.
Only Canadian post-secondary institutions may apply on this call. This includes universities, colleges, technical institutes, and other accredited post-secondary bodies that hold DLI status.
What Is a Scholarship Project Under SICS?
The term “scholarship project” has a specific meaning within the Study in Canada Scholarships framework that differs slightly from how the word is often used in everyday language.
A scholarship project consists of one or more individual scholarships that together support short-term inbound student mobility to a Canadian post-secondary institution. A project begins upon the signing of a contribution agreement between the Canadian institution and Global Affairs Canada. From that point, all project activities, meaning the arrival of students, the completion of their study or research, and the submission of final administrative documentation, must be concluded no later than September 30, 2027.
The total funding available from Global Affairs Canada for any single project is capped at CAD $150,000. This means that a Canadian institution could potentially support multiple students under a single project, up to the funding ceiling, as long as each student meets the eligibility criteria and the institution can demonstrate the management capacity to run the project effectively.
The Management and Accountability Framework: A Critical Component
The Management and Accountability Framework, commonly referred to as the MAF, is arguably the most important document in the 2026 to 2027 SICS application cycle. It is new to this delivery model, and its introduction signals that Global Affairs Canada is placing a high premium on institutional integrity and process transparency.
The MAF is a document submitted by the Canadian institution that outlines, in concrete terms, the specific measures and procedures the institution will implement to ensure that student selection is conducted fairly and transparently. It is submitted by email to Scholarships-Info-Bourses@international.gc.ca by the application deadline of March 31, 2026.
Projects will be evaluated and selected based on the completeness and quality of this framework. Applications that are vague, generic, or insufficiently detailed in their MAF will not be competitive. The assessment covers five key areas.
The first is the fairness and transparency of the student selection process. The MAF must demonstrate that the institution has clear, impartial criteria for identifying and evaluating potential nominees, that no single individual has unchecked authority over selection decisions, and that the process is documented and auditable.
The second is the eligibility verification of selected candidates. The institution must describe in specific terms how it will confirm that each nominated student meets all citizenship, enrollment, tuition payment, and exclusion criteria before submitting the nomination.
The third is the authenticity and maintenance of supporting documentation. Because the Privacy Notice Statement is now the only document submitted through the portal, the institution must describe how it will collect, verify, and retain other eligibility documents on file, so that they are available for audit or review.
The fourth is broad representation of eligible countries and territories. The MAF should reflect an intentional effort to draw nominees from a geographically diverse range of the 22 eligible countries rather than clustering nominations from a single region.
The fifth is equitable gender participation. The program explicitly expects institutions to demonstrate how their selection process promotes and achieves a reasonable gender balance among nominees.
Institutions that approach the MAF as a genuine governance document rather than a bureaucratic formality will produce stronger applications and, ultimately, deliver better outcomes for the students they host.
Step-by-Step Application Process for Canadian Institutions
The application process for the Study in Canada Scholarships requires both a portal submission and an email submission, and both must be completed by the March 31, 2026 deadline.
Step one is to assign a program coordinator. This is the individual within the institution who will take primary responsibility for completing the application, managing the nomination process, and ensuring all requirements are met. This role requires both administrative capacity and familiarity with the institution’s international partnerships.
Step two is to access the My EduCanada portal. To do this, the institution must sign in or create an account through Global Affairs Canada Single Sign-On Services. Creating a GCKey account is the recommended approach for institutions. Both login and registration options are available through the My EduCanada portal.
Step three involves registering the institution on My EduCanada after creating a Global Affairs Canada Single Sign-On account. During registration, it is critical to select “Institution” as the account type. Selecting the wrong account type can delay activation and jeopardize the application timeline.
Step four is to navigate to the Study in Canada Scholarships section once the account is activated and to click “Apply.”
Step five involves completing all required fields in the application form, following the instructions provided, and clicking “Validate and save” as progress is made through the form. This save function is important because it ensures no data is lost during the completion process.
Step six is to upload the Privacy Notice Statement for each non-Canadian participant. This document must be signed by the student nominee and dated within the last six months of the submission date.
Step seven is a thorough review of all application components for accuracy, completeness, and consistency. Errors at this stage can result in disqualification.
Step eight involves reading and accepting the conditions of the Declaration and Permission statement and clicking “Submit.” Upon submission, the institution will receive a confirmation message and a reference number, both of which should be retained for records.
Step nine is to print or download the completed form for institutional records using the print or download function in the portal.
In parallel with the portal submission, institutions must send the completed Management and Accountability Framework by email to Scholarships-Info-Bourses@international.gc.ca no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on March 31, 2026. Both submissions, the portal application and the emailed MAF, must be completed before this deadline for the application to be considered complete.
Timeline and Results Notification
The Study in Canada Scholarships application deadline is March 31, 2026. This applies to both the My EduCanada portal submission and the email submission of the Management and Accountability Framework.
Following the review period, Global Affairs Canada will communicate results to successful Canadian institutions in May 2026. It is important to note that the program administrator will not provide feedback for unsuccessful applications. This policy means that institutions that are not selected will receive a notification of the outcome but will not receive a detailed explanation of why their application was unsuccessful.
For successful institutions, the timeline from notification in May 2026 through to student arrival, exchange completion, and project close-out must fit within the September 30, 2027 deadline for all project activities. This gives institutions and their student partners a workable window of approximately 16 to 17 months from notification to project completion.
How International Students Can Pursue a Study in Canada Scholarship
Because the 2026 delivery model routes all applications through Canadian institutions rather than individual applicants, the pathway for international students is institutional, not direct.
The first and most important step for any international student interested in a Study in Canada Scholarship is to find out whether their home university or college has an existing exchange agreement with a Canadian Designated Learning Institution. These bilateral exchange agreements are the formal partnership structures through which SICS nominations flow. Without an agreement between the home institution and a Canadian partner, the student has no pathway into the program.
Students who discover that such an agreement exists should contact their home institution’s international office or study abroad office as early as possible. The Canadian partner institution is responsible for selecting nominees, so the home institution serves as the gateway through which student interest must be channeled. A student who expresses strong interest early, demonstrates academic excellence, and can compellingly articulate how a short-term Canadian exchange would contribute to their research or academic goals will be better positioned to receive a nomination.
Students who find that their home institution does not currently have an exchange agreement with a Canadian DLI are not entirely without options. In some cases, home institutions can establish new exchange partnerships with Canadian institutions, though this takes time and institutional commitment on both sides. Students passionate about this program may want to raise the possibility with their international office and advocate for the development of such partnerships for future cycles.
What Makes a Strong SICS Nominee?
Although the final student selection decision rests with the Canadian institution, understanding what makes a strong nominee can help both institutions build their selection criteria and students prepare to present themselves compellingly.
Academic standing is typically the most foundational criterion. Students who are performing strongly in their home institution programs and who can demonstrate a clear academic rationale for the proposed Canadian exchange are more likely to be prioritized. The exchange should ideally connect to coursework, research, or professional development goals that cannot be as easily achieved at home.
Research relevance matters particularly at the graduate level. Graduate students who can articulate a specific research question, methodology, or project that aligns with the expertise or facilities available at the Canadian host institution make much more persuasive candidates than those pursuing a vague sense of academic enrichment.
Language proficiency is a practical consideration that often goes underemphasized. Canada operates in both English and French, and students will need sufficient proficiency in the language of instruction at their host institution to succeed academically within a short timeframe. Institutions are wise to include language proficiency in their selection criteria, and students are wise to document theirs thoroughly.
Broad country representation is also a factor at the program level. Because the MAF assessment explicitly asks institutions to demonstrate representation across eligible countries and territories, students from countries that are less frequently represented in previous cohorts may carry additional strategic value for institutions trying to satisfy that requirement.
Gender balance is a similarly explicit program priority. Institutions are expected to demonstrate equitable gender participation in their nominated cohorts, which means they will be actively looking to achieve that balance across their full slate of nominees.
Academic Areas and Fields of Study
The Study in Canada Scholarships do not restrict applications to any specific academic discipline. Students from virtually any field of study are eligible to be nominated, provided they meet the personal eligibility criteria and their proposed exchange fits within the scope of what the Canadian host institution can offer.
In practice, Canadian universities and colleges host SICS students across a wide range of fields including engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, health sciences, education, business, environmental studies, information technology, agriculture, and the humanities. The breadth of Canadian post-secondary programming means that there is rarely a legitimate field of study that cannot be accommodated within the program.
Graduate-level students engaged in research-intensive programs tend to find SICS particularly well-suited to their needs because the four to six month duration aligns naturally with a focused research visit or field study component. Undergraduate students, meanwhile, can use the exchange to gain exposure to a different pedagogical environment, complete coursework that enriches their home degree, or begin building international academic networks at an early stage of their careers.
Practical Tips for Canadian Institutions Applying in 2026
For Canadian institutions that are new to the Study in Canada Scholarships or are returning after a cycle away, the 2026 application process involves several practical considerations worth taking seriously.
Start the institutional process early. March 31, 2026 may seem like a reasonable timeline on the surface, but building a strong Management and Accountability Framework, confirming exchange agreements with home institutions in eligible countries, identifying and vetting student nominees, collecting signed Privacy Notice Statements, and submitting everything through the portal requires considerably more lead time than many administrators expect. Institutions that begin the internal process in January or early February will be far better positioned than those who start in March.
Prioritize the MAF. Because project selection is based on the completeness and quality of the Management and Accountability Framework, institutions should treat this document with the same seriousness they would give a full research grant proposal. Vague language about having fair processes is not sufficient. The MAF needs to describe specific committees, documented criteria, review timelines, verification procedures, and record-keeping systems.
Communicate clearly with home institution partners. Since students are selected before the application is submitted, Canadian institutions need to work in close coordination with their partner institutions abroad during the selection period. Misunderstandings about eligibility criteria, documentation timelines, or program expectations between the Canadian host and the international home institution are a leading source of application complications.
Double-check all exclusion criteria. The automatic disqualifiers around Canadian citizenship or permanent residency applications, existing Canadian enrollment, and GAC funding overlaps are firm. An application that includes even one ineligible nominee risks jeopardizing the entire project submission. Thorough vetting of each nominee’s status before submission is non-negotiable.
Keep records thoroughly. Even though only the Privacy Notice Statement needs to be uploaded to the portal, the institution should maintain comprehensive eligibility documentation for every nominee. These records must be available in the event of a compliance review or audit.
The Broader Impact of the Study in Canada Scholarships
It is worth pausing to consider what the Study in Canada Scholarships accomplish beyond the individual student experience, because the program’s ambitions are genuinely strategic.
Global Affairs Canada funds SICS as part of its broader Academic Relations Program, which views international education as a dimension of foreign policy and people-to-people diplomacy. When a student from Senegal spends five months conducting agricultural research at a Canadian university, or when a doctoral candidate from Ukraine completes a critical literature review at a Canadian institution during a period of national upheaval, these exchanges are not merely academic transactions. They build durable human connections between Canada and partner countries, create alumni networks that sustain those connections across decades, and contribute to the formation of future leaders who carry a lived, informed appreciation of Canada’s values and educational culture.
For Canada, the return on investment is significant. International graduates and exchange alumni are among the most effective advocates for Canadian institutions, Canadian products, and Canadian partnerships in their home countries. They bring back research collaborations, co-authorship relationships, institutional linkages, and, often, a continued personal connection to Canada that shapes their professional decisions for years.
For the 22 partner countries, the program delivers something equally tangible: internationally trained scholars and researchers who return home with new skills, methodologies, and networks. The diffusion of knowledge and professional competency that results from even a single well-structured four-month exchange can have ripple effects throughout a student’s institution, field, and community.
FAQs
Can students apply directly to the Study in Canada Scholarships?
No. Under the 2026 to 2027 delivery model, direct applications from individual students are not accepted. All applications must be submitted by Canadian post-secondary institutions through the My EduCanada portal on behalf of nominated students.
Is the Study in Canada Scholarship a full degree scholarship?
No. SICS funds short-term exchanges of four to six months. Students remain enrolled in and continue paying tuition to their home institution throughout the exchange. The scholarship covers living expenses, airfare, health insurance, permit fees, and related costs in Canada, while the Canadian host institution waives tuition for the duration of the stay.
What happens if a nominated student becomes ineligible after the application is submitted?
The Canadian institution bears responsibility for the eligibility of its nominees. If an eligibility issue arises after submission, the institution is expected to communicate with the program administrator promptly. The MAF process places the accountability for ongoing eligibility monitoring firmly with the host institution.
Is funding available for students from countries not listed in the eligible countries?
No. Only students who are citizens of the 22 listed countries and territories are eligible for SICS funding in the 2026 to 2027 cycle. Citizens of countries not on the list, even those with valid student exchange agreements with Canadian institutions, cannot be nominated under this program.
When will successful institutions be notified?
Successful Canadian institutions will be notified of their results in May 2026. No feedback will be provided to unsuccessful applicants.
What is the total maximum funding a single Canadian institution can receive?
The total project funding from Global Affairs Canada will not exceed CAD $150,000 per participating Canadian institution per project.
Conclusion
The Study in Canada Scholarships represent a rare intersection of generosity, accessibility, and genuine academic purpose. For international students from the 22 eligible countries, this program offers a funded pathway into one of the world’s most respected higher education systems, without the burden of full tuition costs, without abandoning enrollment at their home institution, and with meaningful financial support for the full arc of their stay in Canada.
For Canadian institutions, SICS provides both funding and a framework for building lasting international relationships with partner universities around the world. The adjusted delivery model introduced for 2026 to 2027 places greater responsibility on institutions, but it also gives them greater control and greater opportunity to shape their international engagement strategically.
The application deadline is March 31, 2026. That is not a distant horizon. For Canadian institutions that want to participate, the time to act is now, and for international students with the curiosity and ambition to pursue a Canadian exchange experience, the time to speak with your home institution’s international office is equally immediate.
The world looks different after you have studied in it from a different vantage point. The Study in Canada Scholarships exist to give more students that vantage point, and in doing so, to build the kind of international understanding that lasts far longer than any single academic term.