The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is highly sought by international students wishing to pursue undergraduate study abroad at the University of Toronto and is awarded to approximately 37 international students each year.
The award helps students who show exceptional academic merit, innovation, and leadership skills finance their undergraduate studies for four years. The selected applicants will receive coverage of tuition costs, including books, fees, and accommodation.
This page aims to provide all information related to Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship eligibility criteria, advantages, qualifying Programme of study, application process, along with the selection method and how you can check your application status.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
In order to apply for the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, students need to be eligible for the respective international student category for both the university admission and nomination. This award is aimed at those students who are going to start their undergraduate education at the University of Toronto in September 2027.
Citizenship and International Student Requirements
In terms of criteria in relation to citizenship and international student status, one should note that only students who are not Canadian citizens and are required to obtain study permits are eligible to apply. This award is open to international students who meet the given criteria described by the university.
Academic and School-Year Requirements
In terms of education-related aspects of scholarship eligibility for selected applicants who are aiming to enter the institution in September 2027, it is important that applicants must be:
Enrolled in their final year of senior secondary school during the 2026–2027 school year; or
Graduated from secondary school no earlier than June 2026.
Planning to begin their studies at the University of Toronto in September 2027.
Students already attending a post-secondary institution are not eligible. Students who begin post-secondary studies in January 2027 at U of T or another institution are also ineligible for this scholarship.
The scholarship recognises exceptional academic achievement, creativity and leadership potential. Meeting the basic eligibility conditions does not guarantee selection, as the university awards a limited number of scholarships each year.
High School Nomination Requirements
A nomination from the applicant’s current high school is mandatory. Each high school can nominate one student per year for the Pearson Scholarship. Students should contact their guidance counsellor, principal or head of school to ask whether their school can submit a nomination.
If the school has not participated in the programme before, it must apply to join and be verified by the university. Students should start this conversation early, since the school has to complete its part of the process before the student can submit the scholarship application.
University Admission Requirements
Applicants must also apply for admission to at least one undergraduate programme at the University of Toronto. The student must apply for September 2027 entry and submit the admission application by the Pearson consideration deadline.
Admission requirements differ by programme. Applicants should check the university’s international high school admission requirements and the prerequisites for their intended programme before applying.
Undergraduate Programme Requirements
The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship is available only for first-entry undergraduate programmes at the University of Toronto. It cannot be used for a master’s degree or another postgraduate programme. If awarded, the scholarship is restricted to the applicant’s top-choice programme at the time scholarship decisions are made.
Benefits of the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
The scholarship provides substantial financial support for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Toronto. Its coverage includes tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence support.
Lester B. Pearson Scholarship Amount and Coverage
The university describes the award in terms of the costs it covers rather than presenting it as one fixed cash amount. The total value will depend on the student’s eligible tuition and residence costs over the award period.
Benefit
What it covers
Tuition
Tuition fees for the eligible undergraduate programme
Books
Books required for study
Incidental fees
Eligible incidental fees charged by the university
Residence
Full residence support for four years
These are the coverage categories stated by the University of Toronto. Applicants should refer to the university’s award information and any individual award communication for the details that apply to them.
Tuition Fee Support
The scholarship covers tuition for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Toronto. The award is tenable only at U of T, so students cannot transfer it to another university.
Books and Incidental Fees
The award also includes support for books and incidental fees. These are part of the scholarship’s stated coverage, alongside tuition and residence support. The university’s official scholarship page does not list a separate fixed book allowance or a single incidental-fee amount.
Residence Support and Living Costs
The scholarship includes full residence support for four years. This helps cover the cost of living in university residence while studying at U of T. The university’s scholarship page describes the benefit as residence support; applicants should check the award terms for the specific arrangements and any conditions.
Scholarship Duration and Renewal
The Pearson Scholarship covers four years of undergraduate study. The official page describes the funding period but does not provide a detailed public renewal checklist. Students who receive an award should follow the conditions and instructions in their official scholarship offer and contact the Pearson Program Office if they have questions about continuing eligibility.
Courses and Programmes Covered Under the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship
The scholarship is for eligible first-entry undergraduate programmes at the University of Toronto. Students can apply to more than one programme for admission, but the scholarship, if awarded, applies only to their top-choice programme when scholarship decisions are made.
Eligible Undergraduate Programmes
The scholarship is available for first-entry undergraduate study at U of T. Applicants should explore the university’s undergraduate programme listings and check the admission requirements for the programme they want to study.
Programme-specific requirements may include particular high school subjects, academic prerequisites or additional application steps. Check these details directly on the relevant U of T faculty or programme page before submitting an application.
Choosing Your First-Choice Programme
Applicants may list up to three areas of study on their University of Toronto admission application. However, the Pearson Scholarship is restricted to the applicant’s top-choice programme at the time scholarship decisions are made.
Before submitting the admission application:
Review the course content and admission prerequisites for each programme.
Consider which programme is your genuine first choice.
Check whether the programme requires a supplementary application or additional documents.
Make sure the programme is an eligible first-entry undergraduate option.
Programmes and Study Options to Check Before Applying
The Pearson Scholarship is not available for graduate study, including master’s degrees. It is also not intended for students who have already started post-secondary studies or who plan to begin post-secondary study in January 2027. Applicants should confirm that their planned programme is a first-entry undergraduate programme and that their start term is September 2027.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Application Deadline
The three important dates students need to know for the September 2027 intake are: the date for high school nominations to occur, the date for submitting admission applications to the University of Toronto, and the date for submitting a separate application for the Pearson Scholarship.
Students must note that there are three dates that need to be observed, and not one or two of them as this will not suffice for consideration.
What Are the Deadlines for September 2027 Entry?
Application stage
Deadline
High school nomination
9 October 2026
University of Toronto admission application
16 October 2026
Pearson Scholarship application and supporting documents
6 November 2026
These are the dates published on the University of Toronto’s Pearson Scholarship page for September 2027 entry. Check the official page for any updates before submitting.
How to Confirm the Latest Application Dates
Visit the University of Toronto’s official Pearson Scholarship page to confirm the current deadlines and application instructions. The university also provides general undergraduate application dates, but the Pearson Scholarship has its own nomination and scholarship application steps.
What to Do Before Each Deadline
Before 9 October 2026
Speak with your school counsellor, principal or head of school.
Confirm that your school is eligible to nominate a student.
Ask your school to complete and submit the nomination by the deadline.
Before 16 October 2026
Choose your intended undergraduate programme or programmes.
Review programme-specific admission requirements.
Submit your University of Toronto admission application.
Before 6 November 2026
Check your email for the private Pearson Scholarship application link.
Complete the scholarship application.
Submit all required information and supporting documents by the deadline.
How to Apply for the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship
In order to apply, students must have a high school nomination alongside the application for the University of Toronto undergraduate program and the Pearson Scholarship application. This application form can only be accessed through a private link that will be obtained after the school’s nomination has been received by the university.
Check Your Eligibility and Speak to Your School
First, verify that you meet the eligibility criteria for September 2027 entry. Next, speak with your guidance counsellor, principal, or head of the school about whether or not you will be nominated. Each school has the chance to nominate one student each year.
Confirm Your High School Can Nominate You
Ask your school whether it has already been verified by the University of Toronto and can access the nomination form. Schools that have not participated before need to apply to join the programme and complete the university’s verification process.
The university’s page notes that schools which have previously participated receive access to the nomination form. If your school is new to the programme, encourage the relevant staff member to check the official instructions well before the nomination deadline.
Apply for Undergraduate Admission to the University of Toronto
Submit an application for at least one eligible undergraduate programme at U of T. For Pearson consideration in 2027, the applicant must plan to begin studies in September 2027 and meet the admission application deadline of 16 October 2026.
The university’s general application process starts with an application through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). Applicants then use the university’s applicant portal to provide documents, complete any required forms, and track their application.
Receive the Scholarship Application Link
Once your school nominates you, the University of Toronto will provide a private link to the Pearson Scholarship application. You can complete the form after submitting your admission application to U of T. The private link is intended for nominated students; it is not a public application form for students to access independently.
Complete and Submit the Pearson Scholarship Application
Use the private link to complete the scholarship application and submit all required documentation by 6 November 2026. Follow the university’s current directions carefully, including any instructions about the form, required information, and document submission.
Important: The University of Toronto prohibits the use of generative AI tools to create content for any undergraduate award application. The university states that applicants or nominees found to have used generative AI to create application content will be disqualified from award eligibility. Write your own application responses and follow the university’s academic integrity requirements.
Documents and Information Required
The exact requirements should be checked in the current scholarship application instructions. After receiving the nomination link, review the form and prepare the information and supporting documents it requests.
Before submitting, make sure to:
Read all application instructions and prompts.
Check that your personal and academic information is accurate.
Prepare any required supporting documents in the requested format.
Complete each required section and submit before the deadline.
Keep a copy of your submission and any confirmation received.
Do not rely on an old checklist or a third-party application service in place of the university’s current instructions.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Selection Process
The selection process includes school nomination, university admission assessment and a separate review of the scholarship application. Meeting the eligibility requirements allows a student to be considered, but it does not guarantee an award. The university selects approximately 37 Pearson Scholars each year.
School Nomination and Initial Eligibility Review
The process begins with the student’s high school. Each participating school can nominate one student per year. The university’s eligibility conditions include international-student status, the required secondary school year and a planned September 2027 start at U of T.
University Admission Assessment
Nominees must apply for admission to an eligible undergraduate programme. The university assesses admission applications according to the requirements of the selected programme and the applicant’s academic record. Admission and scholarship consideration are related but separate parts of the process.
Scholarship Application Review
After receiving a nomination and submitting the U of T admission application, the student can use the private link to complete the Pearson Scholarship application. The university then reviews the submitted scholarship materials as part of its award selection process.
Academic Achievement, Creativity and Leadership
The scholarship recognises students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity and leadership potential. The university also describes Pearson Scholars as students with the potential to contribute positively to the global community. These qualities form part of the award’s stated purpose; applicants should respond to the university’s application prompts in their own words.
Final Selection and Award Notification
The university selects approximately 37 scholars annually. The official page explains the number of awards and the application stages, but students should use the university’s own communications for the timing and details of individual decisions. Do not assume that nomination or an admission offer alone means a student has received the scholarship.
How to Check Lester B. Pearson Scholarship Application Status?
Applicants should use the University of Toronto’s application system and monitor their email for updates. If they have questions about the scholarship process, they can contact the Pearson Program Office through the university’s official inquiry form.
Check Updates Through the University’s Application System
After applying for admission, use the university’s applicant portal to follow the admission application and check for requests or updates. The portal is used to upload documents, complete required forms and track the application.
Monitor Your Email for Scholarship Communications
Check the email account used for your university application regularly, including spam and junk folders. The private scholarship application link is sent to nominated students, and the university may use email to communicate further instructions or decisions.
Contact the Pearson Scholarship Office
For questions about the Pearson Scholarship application, use the Pearson Scholarship Inquiry Form linked from the university’s official page. Include enough information for the office to understand your question, but do not send sensitive personal documents unless the university specifically requests them through an official channel.
What to Do If You Have Not Received an Update
If you have not received an expected message:
Check your inbox, spam, and junk folders.
Confirm that your school has submitted the nomination and that you have completed the admission application.
Review the official scholarship page for the current process and timelines.
If you still need help, submit a question through the university’s Pearson Scholarship Inquiry Form.
Avoid paying an agency or third party that claims it can secure a nomination, provide a scholarship offer, or influence the selection process. The university warns that it does not use recruitment agents or agencies to offer Pearson Scholarships.
Conclusion
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is meant for other highly accomplished international students who intend to commence their first undergraduate program at the University of Toronto in September 2027. The scholarship is aimed at providing financial assistance covering the cost of tuition, books, incidentals, and full accommodation for four years.
In order to apply, students must secure a nomination from their high school as well as fill in their U of T admission application and a separate scholarship application via a private link sent to nominated candidates. Before carrying on with each task, make sure you verify all of the deadlines and instructions on the official scholarship website.
What Is the Lester B. Pearson International program?
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships program is the University of Toronto's scholarships program for excellent international students applying to the university for undergraduate programs. This program recognizes exceptional academic performance, creativity, and leadership qualities and pays for four years of tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence expenses.
Who Qualifies for the Lester B. Pearson Scholarships Program?
The applicant must be an international student requiring a study permit to study in Canada; must be in his/her last year of senior secondary school in 2026-2027 or have graduated no earlier than June 2026; and intend to attend U of T starting in September 2027.
How Much Is the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship Worth?
The university does not list one fixed cash amount on its Pearson Scholarship page. Instead, it states that the award covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. The total value depends on the eligible costs covered during the student’s study period.
Does the Pearson Scholarship Cover Living Expenses?
The scholarship includes full residence support for four years, which contributes to the student’s living arrangements while studying at U of T. The official page describes the benefit as residence support rather than a separate unrestricted living-expense cash payment. Check the award terms for the specific arrangements.
Are Indian Students Eligible to Apply for the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship?
Yes. It is a scholarship that can be applied for by eligible international students worldwide. If an Indian student qualifies as an international student and meets the requirements for the given year of application, he/she can apply.
Is Nomination from High School Required for the Pearson Scholarship?
Yes. An applicant is required to be nominated by his/her high school. Every participating high school has the right to nominate one student each year.
Who is eligible for the Lester B Pearson International Scholarship?
Your school can nominate you before you have applied for admission. However, you must submit an undergraduate admission application to U of T before you can complete the Pearson Scholarship application. The scholarship form is accessed through a private link sent to nominated students.
What Is the Deadline for the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship?
For September 2027 entry, the high school nomination deadline is 9 October 2026, the U of T admission application deadline is 16 October 2026, and the Pearson Scholarship application and supporting-document deadline is 6 November 2026. Confirm these dates on the university’s official page before submitting.
How many students receive the Lester B Pearson International Scholarship each year?
Approximately 37 international students are selected annually from a global pool of applicants. Recipients are chosen through a holistic assessment of their academic achievements, leadership, creativity, and contributions to their school or community.
Can I Apply for More Than One University of Toronto Programme?
Yes. Applicants may apply to up to three areas on their University of Toronto admission application. However, if they receive the Pearson Scholarship, the award is restricted to their top-choice programme at the time scholarship decisions are made.
Can I Receive the Pearson Scholarship for a Master’s Degree?
No. The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship is for first-entry undergraduate programmes at the University of Toronto. It is not available for master’s or other graduate degrees.
How Will I Know If I Have Been Selected?
Monitor your email for scholarship communications and check your University of Toronto applicant portal for admission updates. If you have questions about the scholarship decision process or have not received an expected update, contact the Pearson Scholarship Office through the university’s official inquiry form.
Where Can I Find the Official Lester B. Pearson Scholarship Application?
Start at the University of Toronto’s official Lester B. Pearson Scholarship page. Students must be nominated by their high school to receive the private scholarship application link; the university does not provide an open public form for independent applicants.
upGrad Abroad Editorial Team |5047 articles published
We are a dedicated team of study-abroad experts, ensuring intensive research and comprehensive information in each of our blogs. With every piece written, we aim at simplifying the overseas education ...
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