Queen’s University Scholarships for International Students 2026–2027

Queen’s University Scholarships for International Students 2026–2027 — Complete Guide

Most students assume that applying for a scholarship means filling out a separate form. At Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, that assumption costs people money — because the majority of international scholarships here require no separate application at all. If you are admitted, you are automatically considered. This guide covers every scholarship tier available to international students at Queen’s for 2026–2027, including one award that explicitly gives preference to Pakistani citizens.

Detail	Information
University	Queen’s University at Kingston
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Degree Level	Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD
Scholarship Type	Merit-based, automatic and application-required
Total Award Tiers	Undergraduate (automatic) + Graduate (funding packages + OGS)
Largest Undergraduate Award	Up to CAD 25,000/year (renewable × 4 years)
PhD Guaranteed Minimum	CAD 25,000/year (2026–2027)
Pakistani Students Eligible	✅ Yes — including a named award with Pakistani citizen preference
Official Link	Queen’s Financial Aid — International Students

🎓 About Queen’s University and Why This Matters

Queen’s University was founded in 1841 by royal charter from Queen Victoria. Today it sits in the U15 Group — Canada’s fifteen leading research-intensive universities — and ranks #179 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, placing it consistently among the top twelve universities in Canada. Over 95% of Queen’s graduates find employment within six months of completing their studies, and the university’s 89% undergraduate graduation rate is the highest in Canada by that measure.

For international students, Queen’s is a genuinely useful target. It is large enough to offer serious research environments and employer name recognition, but small enough — relative to the University of Toronto or UBC — that the scholarship pool is less saturated and automatic awards reach further down the admitted cohort. The university attracts students from over 100 countries, and its international community is well-established rather than a recent marketing push.

Unlike many Canadian universities where scholarship information is scattered across faculty websites with no central guide, Queen’s consolidates most of its international financial aid under a single Registrar page — which makes it easier to compare options and plan strategically. That is what this article is designed to help you do.

One comparison worth flagging upfront: the University of Toronto and McGill offer headline scholarships with higher individual award values, but they come with more selective assessment and far fewer automatic awards. Queen’s automatic assessment model means that a strong international applicant who is admitted has a realistic chance of receiving funding without writing a single additional essay.

🎓 Scholarship Tiers at a Glance

Queen’s scholarships for international students fall into three distinct tiers based on level of study. Understanding which tier applies to you is the most important first step.

• Tier 1 — Undergraduate automatic awards: assessed at the time of admission, no separate application required for most
• Tier 2 — Graduate research funding packages: guaranteed minimums for eligible full-time research Master’s and PhD students, built from multiple components
• Tier 3 — External and competitive awards: Ontario Graduate Scholarship and other awards requiring a separate application

There is also a small but important set of named awards — including one with an explicit preference for Pakistani nationals — that sit within the automatic system.

🎓 Undergraduate Scholarships — Dean’s International Award Program

The flagship undergraduate scholarship for international students at Queen’s is the Dean’s International Award Program. This is automatic — no application is required, and every eligible international student entering a first-year undergraduate program is considered as part of the admissions process.

The award is renewable for four years, provided you remain registered full-time in your original faculty. That renewal structure is the most important detail: a student receiving a CAD 20,000 annual award is receiving up to CAD 80,000 over the full degree — not a one-year payment.

Award values vary by faculty and academic achievement:

Faculty	Annual Award Values Available
Arts and Science	CAD 10,000 / CAD 15,000 / CAD 20,000 / CAD 25,000
Smith School of Business (BCom)	CAD 15,000 / CAD 20,000 / CAD 25,000
Smith Engineering	CAD 10,000 / CAD 15,000 / CAD 20,000 / CAD 25,000
Health Sciences (BHSc)	CAD 10,000 / CAD 15,000

In PKR terms (approximate, August 2026 rates): CAD 10,000 ≈ PKR 2,100,000 / CAD 25,000 ≈ PKR 5,250,000 annually.

Eligibility conditions:

• Must be an international student paying international student fees (Canadian citizens, dual-citizens, and permanent residents do not qualify)
• Must be entering the first year of a first-entry undergraduate degree
• Award level is determined by academic achievement — the stronger your admission average, the higher the tier

Note for Pakistani students: Your admission average will be calculated in a manner consistent with how Queen’s assesses international secondary qualifications generally. FSc, A-Level, and IB scores are all accepted paths into Queen’s undergraduate programs, and your scholarship tier follows from the admission average calculation.

🎓 Other Automatic Undergraduate Awards

In addition to the Dean’s International Award, Queen’s automatically considers all admitted international students for the following:

Principal’s Scholarship Awarded to students in the top 3% of the competitive admission average for each program. Value: CAD 7,000 for one year. This is a one-year award and not renewable, but it can be combined with other awards depending on faculty rules.

Mehran Bibi Sheikh Memorial Entrance Scholarship (Important for Pakistani applicants) This is a named donor award that explicitly gives preference to international students who hold Pakistani citizenship. Two awards are available each year — one to a male student and one to a female student — each worth CAD 1,500. If no eligible Pakistani students are identified, the award opens to other international students. Assessment is automatic through admission.

This is, to Gradualin’s knowledge, one of very few named scholarships at a top-50 Canadian university that directly preferences Pakistani applicants. It is not large in dollar terms, but it is a meaningful signal of Queen’s relationship with Pakistani students and community.

🎓 Graduate Scholarships and Funding Packages

Graduate funding at Queen’s operates differently from undergraduate awards. For research-track Master’s and PhD students, funding is structured as a package rather than a single scholarship — combining multiple income streams.

Guaranteed Minimum PhD Funding Package For the 2026–2027 academic year, all full-time PhD students at Queen’s receive a guaranteed minimum of CAD 25,000 per year across years 1–4. Many departments set their minimum higher than the university floor — Smith School of Business, for instance, currently sets its PhD base package at CAD 30,600 per year.

The package is built from three components:

• Queen’s Graduate Award (QGA) — a direct scholarship component
• Teaching Assistantship (TA) income — paid as employment income, subject to Canadian tax deductions
• Supervisor stipend — requires explicit sign-off from your faculty supervisor

Important distinction: This funding package applies exclusively to full-time research Master’s and PhD students. Professional programs — MEng, MFin, MEd — are not covered. Students in those programs fund themselves through personal resources or program-specific external awards.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) The OGS is a competitive merit-based award worth CAD 15,000 for one academic year, paid in three instalments of CAD 5,000. International students studying in Ontario on a valid study permit can compete for a set of OGS awards reserved specifically for visa students.

Eligibility requires a first-class average (A- at Queen’s) in the last two completed years of study for applicants entering year one or two of graduate studies. The award is not renewable, but eligible students can reapply in subsequent years.

Note: OGS awards for 2026–2027 are conditional on provincial government funding confirmation — this is standard year-to-year language that has not historically caused award cancellations, but is worth knowing.

Pakistan applicant note: Pakistani graduate students holding a valid Canadian study permit are eligible to compete for the visa-student OGS allocation. Your undergraduate transcript from an HEC-recognised institution in Pakistan is accepted for the GPA assessment. Queen’s does not require internationally accredited transcripts for admission to graduate study — HEC attestation is the standard verification route for Pakistani applicants.

🎓 Who Should Apply — and Who Probably Shouldn’t

✅ Strong candidates:

• International undergraduate applicants with a strong secondary school average — especially FSc students with high grades in Pakistan’s board system, or A-Level students with strong predicted grades
• Research-track graduate students (Master’s or PhD) who want a guaranteed funding baseline without relying solely on external scholarships
• Pakistani students who hold or are completing an HEC-recognised degree and want a Canadian university with a named, documented track record of Pakistani student support
• PhD applicants in engineering, business, or science who want multi-year funding clarity — Queen’s guaranteed minimum removes the “funding uncertainty” problem that plagues many Canadian PhD applications

❌ Weaker fits:

• Students hoping to do a professional Master’s (MEng, MFin, MBA) and expecting the same guaranteed funding as research-track peers — these programs are self-funded; the Queen’s graduate funding package does not apply
• Undergraduate applicants with borderline admission averages hoping the scholarship will help bridge the gap — the award tier is a function of academic standing, not financial need
• Students who need a full tuition waiver at the undergraduate level — the Dean’s International Awards are partial-funding awards, not full scholarships; tuition at Queen’s for international undergraduates remains significant even with the top award tier
• Students whose primary goal is a PR pathway primarily through PGWP and whose academic profile doesn’t support strong scholarship consideration — Canada offers many funded PhD routes where both the scholarship and PR pathway are clearer

🎓 Available Programs and Faculties

Queen’s offers 178 disciplines of study across seven main faculties:

• Faculty of Arts and Science — humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, computing
• Smith School of Business — Bachelor of Commerce, MBA, specialized Master’s and PhD
• Smith Engineering — all engineering disciplines at undergraduate and graduate level; one of Canada’s strongest engineering graduate funding environments
• Faculty of Health Sciences — BHSc, nursing, medicine (MD program)
• Faculty of Law — JD and graduate law programs
• Faculty of Education — consecutive education, MEd
• School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs — umbrella for all research Master’s and PhD programs

For the full current programme listing, use Queen’s Programme and Department Finder.

🎓 Required Documents

For undergraduate scholarship consideration (automatic — no separate submission needed):

1. Completed Queen’s undergraduate application
2. Official secondary school transcripts (FSc marksheets, A-Level results, or equivalent)
3. English proficiency proof (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent — required for admission, which then triggers scholarship assessment)

For the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (application required):

1. OGS application form submitted through the Queen’s SOLUS portal
2. Official academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
3. Two academic reference letters
4. Research statement or academic CV (requirements vary by department)

For the PhD Guaranteed Funding Package (part of admission offer — no separate application):

1. Graduate program application
2. Supervisor agreement (for research-track programs)
3. Academic transcripts and supporting research documentation

Pakistani applicants: HEC-attested transcripts are the standard verification for international documents at Queen’s. Degree attestation through HEC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the recognised process — the same documentation chain used for most Canadian university applications.

🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Apply for admission first. All undergraduate scholarship consideration at Queen’s is triggered by your admission application — not a separate scholarship form. Apply through Queen’s Undergraduate Admission before the faculty-specific deadline.
2. Submit strong supporting documents. Your scholarship tier is determined by your academic average. Ensure your transcripts, predicted grades, or board results are submitted completely and on time — incomplete files are assessed on available information.
3. Wait for your admission offer. Your scholarship offer will be included with your admission offer for undergraduate awards. There is no separate notification process for most automatic awards.
4. For the OGS (graduate students): Log into your Queen’s SOLUS account and complete the OGS application form before the departmental deadline — typically in late autumn for the following academic year. Applications are submitted by eligible enrolled or incoming graduate students directly.
5. For PhD funding: When you receive your graduate admission offer, your funding package details will be listed in the offer letter. Review them carefully — confirm whether your supervisor stipend component has been committed by a specific faculty member, and clarify TA allocation expectations before accepting.
6. Accept your offer and register. Once registered full-time, renewable undergraduate awards are assessed annually — ensure you maintain the required standing in your faculty to retain the award in subsequent years.

Practical tip from real application patterns: For the OGS, the academic reference letter is the most commonly weak element in international student applications. Choose referees who can speak specifically to your research capacity — not just confirm your grades. A letter that says “X was a diligent student with a high GPA” is functionally useless compared to one that describes a specific research contribution or academic challenge you navigated.

🎓 Important Dates

Milestone	Date
Undergraduate admission applications open	December annually
Typical undergraduate admission deadline	February (varies by program)
OGS application deadline (graduate)	Autumn — verify via Queen’s SGS portal for current cycle
PhD funding package confirmed in	Admission offer (no separate deadline)
Academic year start	September (with some January intakes)

📌 Bookmark this page — we update deadlines as soon as changes are announced.

🎓 Why Apply — Why Queen’s and Canada

Kingston is a mid-sized city on Lake Ontario with a cost of living meaningfully lower than Toronto or Vancouver. For an international student on a Dean’s International Award, the net financial position — scholarship income minus living costs — is considerably more favourable than at a higher-profile university with similar scholarship amounts but Toronto rents.

Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows international graduates to work in Canada for a period equivalent to the length of their study program — up to three years. For Pakistani graduates returning to Canada’s job market after a Queen’s degree, this pathway combined with Express Entry eligibility is one of the clearest routes to permanent residency from any Commonwealth country. Queen’s career outcomes back this up: over 95% of graduates find employment within six months, and the Smith Commerce and Engineering programs in particular have strong domestic employer networks.

Queen’s is also a member of the U15 — Canada’s research university elite — which means research funding access, publication credibility, and postdoctoral pathways comparable to much larger institutions.

Gradualin Editor’s Note: The Dean’s International Award is genuinely useful — but it is partial funding at an undergraduate level, not a full-ride. International tuition at Queen’s for 2026–2027 runs approximately CAD 35,000–50,000 per year depending on program, which means even the top CAD 25,000 annual award leaves a significant gap. Students should plan finances accordingly and not approach this as a fully funded undergraduate opportunity. At the PhD level, however, the guaranteed CAD 25,000 minimum package is a strong baseline — and for students who can secure an additional OGS (CAD 15,000), the combined funding is competitive with most Canadian research universities. For strong Pakistani PhD applicants in engineering, sciences, or business research, Queen’s is a realistic and well-supported target.

🎓 Frequently Asked Questions

These questions are based on what students most commonly search about this programme.

Can Pakistani students apply for Queen’s University scholarships? Yes — and Queen’s has a named scholarship with explicit preference for Pakistani citizens: the Mehran Bibi Sheikh Memorial Entrance Scholarship. All other international scholarships are open to all nationalities including Pakistani students. At the graduate level, Pakistani students on valid Canadian study permits can also compete for the visa-student Ontario Graduate Scholarship allocation.

Is IELTS required to be considered for scholarships at Queen’s? English proficiency — typically IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent — is required for admission to Queen’s, which then automatically triggers scholarship consideration. There is no IELTS requirement that sits specifically above the admission requirement. If your previous degree was conducted in English, some programs may consider a Medium of Instruction letter — verify this directly with the graduate school for your specific program.

Are the Dean’s International Awards renewable every year? Yes, provided you remain registered full-time in the same faculty you were admitted to and maintain academic standing. The renewal is not automatic in the sense of being unconditional — your standing is assessed annually. Verify the specific renewal GPA requirement in your award notification letter.

Does Queen’s University accept HEC-attested degrees from Pakistan for graduate admissions? Yes. HEC-attested transcripts are the standard verification route for Pakistani applicants to Canadian universities including Queen’s. You do not need separate international accreditation of your Pakistani degree before applying — the HEC attestation chain (university → HEC → Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is the recognised process.

Can I receive the PhD funding package and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship at the same time? OGS can typically be held alongside your departmental funding package, but the OGS amount may offset or integrate with components of your guaranteed package depending on your department’s policy. Confirm this with your graduate supervisor and the School of Graduate Studies before assuming both amounts are fully additive.

🎓 Official Sources

• Queen’s University — International Financial Aid
• Dean’s International Award Details
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship at Queen’s
• PhD Funding Packages — School of Graduate Studies
• Undergraduate Admission
• Contact: Financial Aid Office

🎓 Summary

Detail	Information
University	Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada
QS Ranking 2027	#179 globally
Top Undergraduate Award	CAD 25,000/year × 4 years (Dean’s International Award)
Principal’s Scholarship	CAD 7,000 — top 3% of admitted cohort, automatic
Pakistani-Preference Award	Mehran Bibi Sheikh Memorial Scholarship — CAD 1,500 × 2 recipients
Graduate PhD Minimum	CAD 25,000/year (2026–2027), years 1–4
Ontario Graduate Scholarship	CAD 15,000 (competitive, application required)
Automatic Consideration	✅ Yes — most undergraduate awards require no separate application
Pakistani Students Eligible	✅ Yes — all tiers
Official Link	Apply / Learn More

For more funded study options in Canada, explore Study in Canada 2026 — Guide for International Students and Fully Funded Scholarships in the USA 2026 for comparable North American routes.

If you are weighing graduate options across multiple countries, Fully Funded PhD Scholarships in the UK 2026 and Fully Funded PhD Positions in Switzerland 2026 are the strongest direct comparisons for research-track funding depth.

For a broader view of Asian-region opportunities, see Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships in Asia 2027.

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Author: Faseeh Sultan — PhD Scholar & MSIT | 7 Years in Education