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Canada Open for September 2026 entry — apply via OUAC by January 2026 deadlines

McMaster International Excellence Award

McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario offers automatic entrance awards for high-achieving international undergraduates. The International Excellence Award ranges from CAD 3,000 to CAD 7,500 based on admission average and is paid in your first year of study. Sri Lankan A/L applicants with 3 As (translated to a 90%+ Canadian equivalent) are competitive — McMaster is one of Canada's top medical-doctoral universities and a member of the U15 research group.

McMaster University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

paid

Value

CAD 3,000 to CAD 7,500

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Level

Undergraduate (first year)

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Duration

One-time in Year 1

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Selection

Automatic — academic merit

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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International (Visa) Student

Open to international undergraduates paying full overseas tuition. Sri Lankan citizens with no Canadian PR / citizenship are eligible. Domestic and PR applicants apply for separate Canadian schemes.

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90%+ Admission Average

Sri Lankan A/L 3 As (translated to ~90%+ in the Canadian system) is the floor. The top tier (CAD 7,500) requires 95%+ averages. McMaster's admissions office handles the conversion.

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Direct-Entry First Year

You must be a first-year direct-entry international undergraduate starting in September. Transfer students, second-degree students, and pathway entrants are not eligible.

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Apply by the OUAC Deadline

Submit your McMaster application through OUAC (the Ontario Universities Application Centre) by the relevant January deadline — typically 15 January for September entry.

account_tree Application Process

1

Apply to McMaster via OUAC

Submit your McMaster undergraduate application via OUAC International. The McMaster admission system pulls your application, A/L results, and supporting documents directly.

2

Automatic scholarship assessment

McMaster admissions assesses your file. If your admission average meets the threshold, the offer letter automatically attaches the International Excellence Award at the relevant tier.

3

Accept the offer + pay deposit

Confirm your place by accepting the offer on McMaster's online portal and paying the tuition deposit. The scholarship credit is applied to your first-year tuition account.

4

Apply for the study permit

Use the offer letter (which states the scholarship value) plus proof of funds for IRCC's study permit application. Lanka Scholar can support the visa file.

Why McMaster?

McMaster is one of Canada's six medical-doctoral universities and a member of the U15. It pioneered problem-based learning in medical education and is consistently ranked in the world top 100, with particularly strong programmes in health sciences, engineering, and business.

Top 100

QS World Ranking 2026

37,000+

Total Students

U15

Canada's Research Group

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