uOttawa International Scholarship
The University of Ottawa offers automatic Differential Tuition Fee Exemptions to international research-stream graduate students. The exemption brings international PhD and many Master's tuition rates down to the Canadian domestic rate — saving roughly CAD 18,000-24,000 per year. Combined with department research stipends (RA/TA) and supervisor grants, this often results in fully-funded packages for Sri Lankan applicants. uOttawa is bilingual (English / French) and is the largest French-English bilingual university in the world.
Rolling — most research-stream programmes admit for September entry, with programme deadlines typically falling between December and February. Deadlines are set per programme rather than centrally, so confirm the date for your specific programme on uottawa.ca.
University of Ottawa
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
International-to-domestic tuition rate (~CAD 18-24k/yr saving)
Level
Master's (research) + PhD
Duration
Applied every year of programme
Stipend
Often topped up by RA/TA + supervisor grant
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
University of Ottawa — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
Differential tuition exemption — pay Canadian rates (~CAD 24k/yr saving). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
International (Visa) Student
Open to international graduate students paying overseas tuition. Sri Lankan citizens are eligible. The differential exemption applies to students starting in or after Fall 2019.
Research-Stream Programme
Must be admitted to an eligible research-based Master's (with thesis) or PhD programme. Course-based / professional Master's degrees are typically excluded — check the per-faculty list.
Full-Time Enrolment
Maintain full-time graduate-student status with satisfactory academic progress. The exemption is automatically renewed each term while you remain in your funded programme.
Supervisor / Department Confirmation
PhD applicants normally need a confirmed supervisor before admission. The supervisor's research grant typically supplements the exemption with a stipend — most Sri Lankan PhD students end up fully funded.
account_tree Application Process
Contact a potential supervisor
For PhD applicants, email faculty members whose research aligns with yours — attach your CV, transcripts, and a short research statement. Conditional supervisor support is often the deciding factor in admission.
Submit your graduate application
Apply via the uOttawa graduate online portal. Include transcripts, references, English / French language test (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent for English-only programmes), and your research proposal.
Receive offer with exemption
If admitted to a research-stream programme, the offer letter automatically lists the Differential Tuition Fee Exemption alongside the international tuition figure.
Apply for study permit
Use the offer letter (which states the funding package including any supervisor stipend) for IRCC's study permit application. Lanka Scholar supports the visa file.
Why uOttawa?
Located in Canada's capital, the University of Ottawa is a U15 research university and the world's largest English-French bilingual university. Strong programmes in law, public administration, engineering, and the health sciences (with Canada's only medical school directly attached to a teaching hospital in downtown Ottawa).
Top 250
QS World Ranking 2026
47,000+
Total Students
U15
Canada's Research Group
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
Open the cost calculator arrow_forwardSort courses by lowest fee
The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
Browse lowest-fee courses arrow_forwardWhat CA actually costs
Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for CA, in LKR as well as local currency.
See the cost breakdown arrow_forwardCheck your proof of funds
Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
Check the requirement arrow_forwardSimilar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
Waterloo International Master's Award of Excellence
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Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarship
Mackenzie King Scholarships Trust (tenable at McGill / Canadian universities)
McCall MacBain Scholarship at McGill
McGill University