A panel of researchers in conversation at a Canadian university roundtable event.

Canada Fall 2027 entry: school nominations close 27 November 2026; full Pearson application by mid-January 2027

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is the University of Toronto's most prestigious undergraduate award for international students — covering full tuition, books, incidental fees, and on-campus residence for four years. Total package value is approximately CAD 360,000 (LKR 85M+). The university selects approximately 37 Pearson Scholars from a global applicant pool of 2,500+ nominated students. Sri Lankan applicants must be nominated by their high school (deadline late November); self-applications are not accepted. The programme rewards leadership and creativity alongside academic excellence — it is explicitly modelled to identify future global leaders rather than purely top academic scorers.

University of Toronto

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Full Cost of Attendance (~CAD 90k/yr)

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Duration

4 Years (renewable)

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Awards

~37 per Year Globally

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Final Year of Secondary School

You must be in your final year of secondary school (A/Ls, IB, etc.) and graduating in 2026/2027. Students already enrolled at any post-secondary institution (including a Sri Lankan undergraduate) are not eligible.

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School Nomination Required

Your high school must nominate you. The school submits your Pearson nomination via the UofT portal by 27 November. Each school globally is allocated a nomination quota based on UofT's past intake from that school. Approach your school counsellor in September-October.

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Exceptional Academic + Leadership Profile

Pearson Scholars are top of their cohort academically (3 As at A/L, 42+/45 IB, equivalent strong SAT/ACT). UofT explicitly says it is looking for 'creativity, exceptional leadership, and impact' — pure straight-A applicants without leadership achievements rarely win.

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Non-Canadian Resident

Open to students requiring a study permit to study in Canada. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons are NOT eligible. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are exactly the target profile.

account_tree Application Process

Get nominated by 27 November

Approach your high school's counsellor/principal in September-October 2026. They register on the UofT portal and submit your nomination by 27 November. Each school's nomination quota is limited — be ready to compete internally for it.

Submit Pearson application by mid-January

Nominated students submit the Pearson Scholarship Application (separate from UofT's standard admissions application). The Pearson app includes essays on personal impact, leadership, and intellectual passions, plus references.

Apply to UofT undergraduate programme

Independently apply to UofT for your undergraduate programme via the OUAC 105 international application by mid-January. UofT admission is a prerequisite — Pearson Scholars must be admitted to a UofT undergraduate programme.

Selection + offer

Approximately 200-300 candidates are shortlisted for further review. Final Pearson Scholars are notified by late May, alongside their UofT admission letter. Successful applicants accept and arrange Canadian Study Permit at the High Commission in Colombo.

Why University of Toronto?

UofT is consistently Canada's top-ranked university and one of the world's leading research universities (top 25 globally). With ~80,000 students across three campuses in Greater Toronto, it offers virtually every undergraduate field. Pearson Scholars form a cohort across all years (currently ~150 active Pearsons) with mentoring, leadership programming, and lifelong alumni connection.