for Western University Scholarships?
International President’s Entrance Scholarship
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Apply for an undergraduate programme at Western’s main campus directly from secondary school.
- Submit all required academic records so Western can calculate your final admission average.
- No separate scholarship application is required.
Western automatically considers eligible incoming students for the Scholarship of Excellence, Scholarship of Distinction, and Western Admission Scholarship.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.