The Calgary Scholarship provides international students with opportunities to reduce the cost of studying at the University of Calgary in Canada.
The university offers several entrance, continuing, and graduate awards, but its principal scholarship specifically designed for new international undergraduate students is the University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship.
Introduction to Calgary Scholarship
The University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship recognizes academically strong international students beginning their first undergraduate degree at the university.
It is available across undergraduate faculties rather than being restricted to one academic discipline.
The scholarship has a value of CAD 20,000 and can be renewed during the second, third, and fourth years when the recipient satisfies the university’s renewal conditions.
International graduate students have separate scholarship and funding opportunities administered mainly through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Brief Description
- University: University of Calgary.
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
- Main international entrance award: University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship.
- Study level: Undergraduate.
- Scholarship value: CAD 20,000.
- Number of awards: Two.
- Renewability: Renewable for the second, third, and fourth years.
- Eligible applicants: International students entering their first undergraduate year.
- Eligible faculties: Any undergraduate faculty.
- Main selection factor: Academic merit, together with the requirements established for the prestige award competition.
About the University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a Canadian public research university located in Calgary, Alberta.
It offers undergraduate, graduate, professional, and research programs across a wide range of academic disciplines.
Its academic structure includes areas such as arts, business, engineering, science, nursing, education, architecture, kinesiology, social sciences, and health-related studies.
International students can access university awards provided that they satisfy the citizenship, academic, enrollment, and other conditions attached to the individual scholarship or bursary.
About the Calgary University Scholarship
- The principal international entrance scholarship is intended for students beginning an undergraduate degree.
- Students may study in any eligible undergraduate degree program.
- Applicants must be international students required to pay international tuition fees.
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents are not eligible for this particular international award.
- Students must satisfy the university’s English Language Proficiency requirement.
- Academic performance is an important part of the selection process.
- The award may continue for up to four undergraduate years if renewal requirements are met.
- The scholarship is administered through the University’s undergraduate prestige awards system.
Fields of Study
The University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship is not restricted to one subject.
The university states that it is available to eligible international students entering any undergraduate degree program.
Major academic areas available at the university include:
- Accounting
- Actuarial Science
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Architecture-related studies
- Art
- Biological Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Business
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Communication and Media Studies
- Community Rehabilitation
- Computer Science
- Dance
- Drama
- Economics
- Education
- Electrical Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Engineering
- English
- Environmental Science
- Film Studies
- Finance
- French
- Geography
- Geology
- Geomatics Engineering
- History
- International Relations
- Kinesiology
- Linguistics
- Management
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Music
- Nursing
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Real Estate Studies
- Risk Management
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Software Engineering
- Sustainable Systems Engineering
- Urban Studies
- Visual Studies
Applicants should select their intended undergraduate program during the university admission process because individual programs have their own prerequisite subjects and competitive admission standards.
Target Group
The Calgary University Scholarship primarily targets:
- International students.
- Students completing secondary or high school education.
- Applicants entering their first undergraduate year.
- Students applying for a bachelor’s degree at the University of Calgary.
- Applicants who must pay international tuition fees.
- Academically strong students.
- Applicants who satisfy English-language requirements.
- Students applying to eligible undergraduate programs in any faculty.
Separate funding schemes are available for:
- Continuing international undergraduate students.
- Master’s students.
- Doctoral students.
- Thesis-based graduate students.
- Graduate researchers.
International graduate students can search the Faculty of Graduate Studies awards database for scholarships for which international citizenship is permitted.
Calgary University Scholarship Benefits
The University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship provides substantial financial assistance, but students should understand exactly what the award includes.
- Scholarship value of CAD 20,000.
- Possibility of renewal during subsequent eligible undergraduate years.
- Potential total value of CAD 80,000 when renewed for all four years.
- Available across undergraduate faculties.
- Not limited to one major or academic discipline.
- Designed specifically for international students.
- Provides financial support that can reduce the student’s overall education costs.
- Recognizes strong academic performance.
- Provides continued support when scholarship renewal conditions are satisfied.
- Students may also explore other university awards for which they meet the eligibility requirements.
The award should not be described as a fully funded scholarship.
The University of Calgary notes that undergraduate awards generally do not cover all tuition fees and living expenses, and international students should arrange sufficient additional funding.
The scholarship does not provide a separate language-training allowance.
Instead, applicants must satisfy the university’s English Language Proficiency requirement to qualify for admission and the international entrance scholarship.
Calgary University Scholarship Duration
- Bachelor’s degree: The scholarship is initially awarded for the first undergraduate year and may be renewed in the second, third, and fourth years when all renewal requirements are satisfied.
- Master’s degree: The University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship does not fund master’s degrees. Master’s applicants must use graduate scholarship and funding competitions.
- Doctoral degree: The International Entrance Scholarship does not fund doctoral studies. Doctoral candidates may apply for eligible graduate awards and research funding.
- Professional degrees: Eligibility depends on the conditions of the particular award; students should not assume that the undergraduate International Entrance Scholarship applies to professional programs.
For renewal of the International Entrance Scholarship, recipients must maintain a GPA of at least 2.60 over a minimum of 24 units completed during the previous fall and winter terms and continue paying the international differential tuition fee as an international student.
Calgary University Scholarship Requirements
Applicants must first qualify for admission to an undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary.
Scholarship eligibility is then assessed according to the specific conditions of the international entrance award and the university’s prestige-award process.
Important requirements include:
- Be an international student.
- Not be a Canadian citizen.
- Not be a Canadian permanent resident.
- Be required to pay international tuition fees.
- Apply for admission to an undergraduate degree.
- Enter the first year of an eligible undergraduate program.
- Meet the academic requirements for the selected program.
- Meet the University’s English Language Proficiency requirement.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance.
- Complete the applicable prestige-award application.
- Provide accurate academic and personal information.
- Satisfy any additional information requested through the student portal.
- Maintain the required academic standing for renewal after receiving the award.
Admission Requirements by Degree
Bachelor’s Degree Requirements
Undergraduate admission requirements depend on the student’s educational system and chosen program.
Applicants generally need to:
- Complete secondary or high school education equivalent to Alberta Grade 12.
- Complete the required senior-level academic subjects for the selected program.
- Meet the competitive admission standard for their chosen degree.
- Demonstrate English-language proficiency.
- Submit the required academic records.
- Complete any supplementary requirements required by the program.
- Meet subject prerequisites such as mathematics or sciences where applicable.
- Receive admission to an undergraduate degree program.
The university’s general undergraduate requirement is equivalent secondary-school completion together with the required senior-level courses.
Specific required subjects differ by program.
Master’s Degree Requirements
Graduate applicants are not eligible for the University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship described above, but they may apply for separate graduate scholarships.
General master’s admission requirements include:
- A four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- A minimum GPA meeting Faculty of Graduate Studies standards.
- English-language proficiency when applicable.
- Any higher GPA required by the chosen program.
- Program-specific supporting documents.
- References where required.
- Research information when required for a thesis-based program.
- Additional tests or professional requirements when specified by the program.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies establishes a general minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, although individual graduate programs may impose higher requirements.
Doctoral Degree Requirements
Doctoral applicants should use the graduate admissions and graduate awards systems rather than the undergraduate International Entrance Scholarship.
General doctoral requirements may include:
- A master’s degree in most cases.
- Strong previous academic performance.
- Appropriate academic preparation for the proposed field.
- English-language proficiency where applicable.
- Research experience appropriate to the program.
- References.
- Research proposal or statement when requested.
- Supporting academic documents.
- Any program-specific admission conditions.
Individual doctoral programs may establish admission requirements above the Faculty of Graduate Studies minimum standards.
Application Instructions
The scholarship application is connected to the undergraduate admission process.
Students should complete admission first so that they can obtain access to the relevant award applications through their University of Calgary student account.
Step 1: Choose an Undergraduate Program
- Explore the University of Calgary’s undergraduate programs.
- Select a program that matches your previous studies and career goals.
- Review its required secondary-school subjects.
- Confirm whether supplementary requirements apply.
- Check the English-language requirements.
Step 2: Submit the University Admission Application
- Complete the online undergraduate admission application.
- Enter your personal information accurately.
- Select your intended degree program.
- Provide your educational history.
- Submit the admission application through the designated university application system.
An undergraduate admission application is required for students seeking entry to a University of Calgary undergraduate program.
Step 3: Access Your UCalgary Student Account
After submitting an undergraduate admission application:
- Activate or access your UCalgary student account.
- Open the Student Centre.
- Review outstanding admission requirements.
- Complete requested tasks.
- Monitor document and application status.
High-school applicants receive access to applicable award applications through their Student Centre after submitting the admission application.
Step 4: Open the Entrance Awards Application
- Enter the Student Centre.
- Locate the entrance-award application.
- Select the appropriate awards application.
- Review the scholarship questions carefully.
- Complete every required section.
A single Undergraduate Entrance Awards application can be used to consider applicants for eligible competitive entrance awards, while prestige awards use the corresponding prestige-award application process.
Step 5: Complete the Prestige Scholarship Application
For the University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship:
- Complete the High School Prestige Awards application.
- Provide the information requested in the application.
- Highlight relevant academic accomplishments accurately.
- Include extracurricular achievements where requested.
- Complete all required written responses.
- Review the information before submission.
The university identifies the International Entrance Scholarship as one of its prestige awards and states that the award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in addition to academic excellence.
Step 6: Submit Supporting Academic Records
- Upload or arrange submission of requested academic records.
- Follow the university’s document-submission instructions.
- Ensure names and educational information match the admission application.
- Submit official records when the university requires them.
- Monitor the Student Centre for missing items.
Step 7: Satisfy English Language Proficiency
Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through one of the methods accepted by the University of Calgary.
Possible routes include:
- Previous qualifying education completed in English.
- Recognized English-language examinations.
- Eligible International Baccalaureate English results.
- Other university-approved methods.
English is the University’s language of instruction, and undergraduate applicants must satisfy the English Language Proficiency requirement.
Step 8: Review and Submit the Scholarship Application
Before submitting:
- Check that every section is complete.
- Correct spelling and factual errors.
- Verify academic information.
- Review written responses.
- Confirm that supporting information is accurate.
- Submit the application through the student portal.
Step 9: Monitor Your Student Portal
After submission:
- Check your UCalgary account regularly.
- Review admission notifications.
- Monitor the status of required documents.
- Respond promptly to university requests.
- Keep contact information current.
Documents Required for Registration
Depending on the applicant’s educational background and selected program, documents may include:
- Passport identification page.
- Secondary-school transcripts.
- Secondary-school completion certificate.
- Current academic transcripts.
- Final academic transcripts.
- Certified translations where required.
- English-language proficiency evidence.
- Supplementary program documents where applicable.
- Scholarship application information.
- Extracurricular or achievement information requested by the award application.
- Graduate transcripts for graduate applicants.
- Bachelor’s degree certificate for master’s applicants.
- Master’s degree records for doctoral applicants.
- Reference information for graduate programs where required.
- Research proposal or statement for programs requiring one.
Applicants should submit only the documents requested for their particular admission category and program.
Graduate Scholarships at the University of Calgary
International students interested in master’s or doctoral study should not apply for the undergraduate International Entrance Scholarship.
Instead, the Faculty of Graduate Studies provides access to multiple award opportunities, including:
- Graduate Award Competition opportunities.
- Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship opportunities available to eligible international students.
- International Graduate Tuition Award opportunities.
- Doctoral recruitment scholarships where applicable.
- Research-related scholarships.
- Eligible external awards.
- Graduate assistantships.
- Faculty or program-specific funding.
International students are eligible for many, but not all, graduate awards.
Citizenship requirements must therefore be checked for each award.
The Graduate Award Competition covers various university- and donor-funded awards and is principally available to students applying to or enrolled in thesis-based graduate programs.
Important Tips
- Apply for university admission before completing the scholarship process.
- Choose an undergraduate program that matches your academic background.
- Check program-specific prerequisite subjects carefully.
- Complete every scholarship application section.
- Present extracurricular achievements clearly.
- Keep all academic information accurate.
- Prepare official academic records early.
- Satisfy English proficiency requirements correctly.
- Monitor your UCalgary Student Centre regularly.
- Arrange additional funding because the scholarship does not normally cover the entire cost of studying in Canada.
Conclusion
The Calgary University Scholarship can provide significant financial support for international students seeking an undergraduate education in Canada.
The University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship offers CAD 20,000 and can potentially be renewed through four undergraduate years when the recipient continues to satisfy its academic and international-student requirements.
Students seeking master’s or doctoral funding should use the University’s separate graduate scholarship system rather than treating the International Entrance Scholarship as a graduate award.
Careful program selection, strong academic preparation, complete documentation, and a well-prepared scholarship application are therefore essential parts of the application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Calgary University Scholarship available to international students?
Yes.
The University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship is specifically available to eligible international students beginning their first undergraduate year and paying international differential tuition fees.
How much is the University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship?
The scholarship is valued at CAD 20,000.
It can be renewed for the second, third, and fourth undergraduate years when the recipient meets the scholarship’s renewal requirements.
Can the scholarship provide CAD 80,000 in total?
Potentially, yes.
Because the CAD 20,000 award is renewable through four undergraduate years, a recipient who satisfies the renewal requirements throughout the eligible period could receive a total of CAD 80,000.
Is the Calgary University Scholarship fully funded?
No.
It should not be described as a fully funded scholarship.
The university advises international students that scholarships and awards normally cover only part of tuition, fees, and living expenses.
Can I apply for any undergraduate major?
The International Entrance Scholarship is offered to eligible international students entering any undergraduate degree program, although admission requirements differ between programs.
Can master’s students receive this scholarship?
Not the University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship.
Master’s students can instead search and apply for graduate scholarships and other funding opportunities through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Can doctoral students apply for University of Calgary scholarships?
Yes.
Doctoral students may qualify for several graduate funding opportunities, provided they satisfy the conditions of the individual award.
International applicants are eligible for many graduate awards.
Do I need English-language proficiency?
Yes.
Applicants to undergraduate programs must satisfy the University of Calgary’s English Language Proficiency requirement, and the International Entrance Scholarship specifically requires recipients to have met that requirement.
Is the scholarship automatically renewed?
No.
Renewal depends on meeting the scholarship conditions.
Recipients must achieve at least a 2.60 GPA over a minimum of 24 units in the previous fall and winter terms and continue paying the international differential tuition fee.
Do I need to apply for admission before applying for the scholarship?
Yes.
High-school applicants gain access to the relevant entrance-award applications through their Student Centre after submitting their undergraduate admission application.