Hey everyone, if you’re an international student looking to study in Canada in 2026 and you hate paying $100–$200 application fees per university, I’ve got some good news for you. A bunch of solid Canadian universities have completely dropped application fees for international applicants or make them super easy to waive and on top of that, they give automatic merit scholarships during admission, no extra forms needed.
I’ve seen way too many students waste money applying to 10+ unis just to get rejected or pay fees for nothing These 10 universities below are real ranked and actually give scholarships to internationals and best of all, zero or waivable application fee as of 2026 intake.
Here’s the list ranked by overall strength + scholarship generosity.
1. University of Alberta
Global rank: 110–120 (QS 2026) one of Canada’s top 5 universities.
- Application fee for internationals: $0 (completely free since 2023 for most programs)
- Automatic scholarships: International Student Scholarship $5,000–$9,000/year (renewable), Gold & Silver awards up to $120,000 total over 4 years for top admits
- Best programs: Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Agriculture, Health Sciences
- Why it’s awesome: Edmonton is affordable, research is strong, and they really want international talent.
If you have 85%+ in high school or good undergrad GPA, you can easily get $10,000+ off tuition right away.
2. University of Calgary
Global rank: 180–200 rising fast, especially in energy/tech.
- Application fee: $0 for most undergraduate programs (grad may have $125 but often waived on request)
- Automatic scholarships: International Entrance Scholarship $15,000–$60,000 over 4 years, President’s Award up to $20,000/year
- Best programs: Engineering, Energy, Business, Nursing, Computer Science
- Why it’s great: Calgary has a booming job market especially in energy/tech and living cost is lower than Toronto/Vancouver.
3. University of Saskatchewan
Global rank: 400–450 underrated but very generous to internationals.
- Application fee: $0 for international undergrad & most graduate programs (dropped in 2022)
- Automatic scholarships: Entrance Scholarship $10,000–$20,000 over 4 years, International Excellence Awards up to $40,000 total
- Best programs: Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Environment & Sustainability
- Why it’s great: Saskatoon is super affordable, friendly, and they give out a lot of money to internationals.
4. Memorial University of Newfoundland
Global rank: 600–700 but one of the cheapest in Canada.
- Application fee: $0 for international students (free since 2021)
- Automatic scholarships: International Entrance Scholarship $4,400/year renewable, President’s Scholarship up to $16,000 total
- Best programs: Marine & Ocean Sciences, Engineering, Business, Nursing, Earth Sciences
- Why it’s great: Tuition is super low (CAD 11,500/year before scholarship), St. John’s is safe and beautiful.
5. University of Manitoba
Global rank: 350–400 big international community.
- Application fee: $0 for most international undergrad programs (some grad still $120–$150)
- Automatic scholarships: International Undergraduate Student Bursary $1,000–$3,000/year, UM International Undergraduate Scholarship up to $12,000 total
- Best programs: Engineering, Architecture, Agriculture, Health Sciences, Business
- Why it’s great: Winnipeg is very affordable, huge Pakistani/South Asian community, and they love internationals.
6. University of Regina
Global rank: 800–1000 small but very international-friendly.
- Application fee: $0 for international students (free since 2022)
- Automatic scholarships: International Entrance Scholarship $3,000–$20,000 total, UR Circle of Excellence up to $40,000 over 4 years
- Best programs: Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Education, Journalism
- Why it’s great: Small classes, supportive, low cost of living in Regina.
7. Thompson Rivers University (TRU)
Global rank: Not ranked high but very popular with internationals.
- Application fee: $0 for international students
- Automatic scholarships: International Diversity Award $1,000–$5,000/year, TRU Entrance Awards up to $10,000
- Best programs: Business, Tourism, Nursing, Computer Science, Law (pre-law)
- Why it’s great: Kamloops is beautiful, cheap, flexible admission, lots of pathway programs.
8. University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
Global rank: 1000+
- Application fee: $0 for most international applicants
- Automatic scholarships: International Excellence Entrance Scholarship $5,000–$20,000 total, Regional Awards
- Best programs: Environmental Science, Forestry, Nursing, Social Work
- Why it’s great: Prince George is affordable, strong focus on sustainability & indigenous studies.
9. Brandon University
Small liberal arts university very welcoming.
- Application fee: $0 for international students
- Automatic scholarships: International Student Award $2,000–$5,000/year, BU Entrance Scholarships
- Best programs: Music, Education, Rural Development, Sciences
- Why it’s great: Tiny town (Brandon, Manitoba), super low cost, personal attention.
10. Cape Breton University (CBU)
Small but very international-friendly.
- Application fee: $0 for international students
- Automatic scholarships: CBU Entrance Scholarship $2,000–$10,000/year, International Student Success Award
- Best programs: Business, Hospitality & Tourism, Nursing, Engineering Technology
- Why it’s great: Sydney, Nova Scotia coastal, friendly, very low tuition (CAD 17,000/year before scholarship).
Quick Tips for 2026 Applications
- Most have no IELTS if your previous degree was in English just get a Medium of Instruction letter.
- Deadlines: Usually Jan–May 2026 for Fall 2026 some rolling admissions
- Living costs: CAD $12,000–$18,000/year smaller cities much cheaper
- Work allowed: 20 hours/week during studies + full-time in breaks
- Post-study work visa: Up to 3 years great path to PR
Start Applying – Zero Fee Unis!
Check these sites:
ualberta.ca/international • ucalgary.ca/international • usask.ca • mun.ca • umanitoba.ca
Save money on fees & get scholarships automatically!
