The Queen’s University Scholarships give international students a genuine shot at studying in Canada without carrying the full weight of tuition on their own. Queen’s, located in Kingston, Ontario, funds thousands of students every year through renewable admission awards, one time entrance prizes, and dedicated graduate funding packages. Undergraduate applicants entering Arts and Science, the Smith School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Smith School of Business, or the Faculty of Health Sciences can be considered for the Dean’s International Award, a renewable award that can add up to a substantial amount across a four-year degree depending on faculty and admission average. Exceptionally strong applicants across any first entry program are also automatically reviewed for the Principal’s Scholarship, a one-time award reserved for students in the top tier of their admission pool.

Graduate applicants are supported differently. Eligible international students on a valid Canadian study permit can compete for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, a merit based award funded jointly by the province and the university. Full time doctoral students, meanwhile, are guaranteed a minimum funding package for the first four years of their program, built from a combination of scholarships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research funding, with several departments topping up the university-wide minimum. What makes the Queen’s University Scholarships especially appealing is that most undergraduate admission awards require no separate application at all; students are assessed automatically the moment they apply for admission, which removes a major source of stress from an already demanding process.

Queen’s University Scholarships Summary in Table

Eligibility for Queen’s University Scholarships

General Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Queen’s University Scholarships, applicants must be classified as international students, meaning Canadian citizens, dual citizens, and permanent residents do not qualify for these particular awards. Applicants must be entering the first year of post secondary study for the first time, and they must be applying for, or already holding, an offer in an eligible degree program at Queen’s. Students must also be paying international tuition fees rather than domestic fees, since those on a domestic fee arrangement are not eligible for the international admission awards.

Age and Academic Requirements

There is no fixed age limit attached to the Queen’s University Scholarships, but applicants are expected to meet the standard secondary school or prior degree completion requirements for their intended program. Academic strength is the main deciding factor: undergraduate awards are assessed using the same academic average used for admission, calculated according to the applicant’s home education system. Graduate applicants competing for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship generally need a first-class average, equivalent to an A minus at Queen’s, across their most recently completed years of study.

Benefits of Queen’s University Scholarships

Financial Benefits

The core benefit of the Queen’s University Scholarships is direct financial relief. Undergraduate Dean’s International Awards are renewable for up to four years, so a strong offer in one admission cycle continues to reduce tuition costs throughout the entire degree, provided the student stays enrolled full time in their original faculty. The Principal’s Scholarship adds a one time CAD 7,000 on top of any renewable award for top performing applicants. Graduate students holding the OGS receive their funding in two instalments across the academic year, while PhD students benefit from a guaranteed annual funding floor that covers a meaningful share of living and study costs.

Academic and Personal Benefits

Beyond the financial support, recipients gain access to a research intensive academic environment, close mentorship from faculty, and a campus community drawn from more than a hundred countries. Graduate award holders often combine their scholarship with teaching assistantship experience, which builds classroom and research skills that matter for future academic or industry careers. The recognition attached to a Queen’s admission or research scholarship can also strengthen a student’s profile for future funding competitions, including national programs like the Canada Graduate Scholarships.

Documents Required for Queen’s University Scholarships

• Completed application for admission through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre or the graduate application portal
• Official secondary school or post-secondary transcripts
• Proof of international student status, including passport details
• English language proficiency test results where the language of prior instruction was not English
• Letters of reference, required mainly for graduate and doctoral funding competitions
• Statement of purpose or research proposal, required for OGS and most doctoral funding
• Supporting financial documents, requested where sponsorship or study permit proof is needed

How to Apply for Queen’s University Scholarships

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Choose an eligible undergraduate or graduate program at Queen’s University and confirm the international admission requirements for that faculty.
2. Submit an application for admission through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre for undergraduate programs, or through the School of Graduate Studies portal for master’s and PhD programs.
3. Upload official transcripts, English proficiency scores, and any required essays or supplementary applications before the published deadline.
4. For undergraduate applicants, wait for automatic scholarship consideration, since no separate form is needed for the Dean’s International Award or Principal’s Scholarship.
5. For graduate applicants, complete the separate Ontario Graduate Scholarship application through the department once admitted or once an application is in progress.
6. Track your application status through the SOLUS student portal and respond to any requests for additional documents promptly.
7. Accept your offer of admission and, where applicable, your scholarship offer by the stated response deadline to secure your funding.

Application Tips for Queen’s University Scholarships

Apply as early as possible in the cycle, since some faculties recommend submitting the OUAC application weeks before the official deadline to guarantee access to award related forms. Keep transcripts and English test scores consistent with what your program requires, and proofread every supplementary essay carefully, since faculties such as Commerce and Health Sciences will not accept late submissions. Graduate applicants should contact their intended department early to confirm the exact OGS nomination deadline, since it varies from department to department rather than following one university-wide date.

Deadline for the Queen’s University Scholarships

The undergraduate application deadline for Fall 2027 entry, which determines automatic consideration for the Dean’s International Award and Principal’s Scholarship, is February 1, 2027. This is the date by which applications and any changes or additions must reach the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre for all first year programs. Graduate applicants should note that Ontario Graduate Scholarship nomination deadlines are set individually by each department, typically falling between January and June each year, so confirming the exact date with your department early is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)