International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships at Lakehead University in Canada, 2026/27

For international students planning to begin an undergraduate degree at Lakehead University (Thunder Bay or Orillia campuses) in 2026–27, Lakehead’s International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships are one of the clearest, most valuable ways to reduce the cost of study in Canada. This article explains exactly what those scholarships are, who is eligible, how they are awarded, how long they last, and practical tips to improve your chance of receiving one

What is the International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship?

Lakehead’s International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship is a merit‑based, academic‑merit scholarship designed to reward top-performing international students entering undergraduate programs. Being among Canada’s most generous scholarships for international undergraduates, it offers substantial tuition reductions over multiple years — provided you maintain good academic standing.

A major advantage: no separate scholarship application is required. Once you apply for admission to Lakehead and meet the academic criteria, scholarship eligibility is evaluated automatically.

Scholarship Value

For 2026/27 (and generally for recent cycles), the scholarship tiers are based on your high school (or prior) academic average — converted to a Canadian equivalent — or International Baccalaureate (IB) average.

Here’s how the scholarship breaks down:

• The scholarship is applied toward tuition costs over the course of a standard 4‑year undergraduate degree (or until first degree is awarded).
• For the top tier (90%+), renewal for subsequent years depends on maintaining a certain academic average at Lakehead.

Check the terms and condition guideline

Eligibility & What You Must Do

To be considered for the International Entrance Scholarships at Lakehead, you must meet all of the following criteria.

• Be a non‑Canadian citizen (i.e. international / overseas student).
• Be entering from a recognized international high school curriculum (or transferring from an international college/university) — i.e. first entry to an undergraduate degree at Lakehead.
• Intend to enroll in a minimum 4‑year undergraduate degree program at Lakehead (or be admitted into Years 1‑3 in a 4‑year degree) upon entry.
• Meet the required academic average (converted to Canadian equivalent) or IB score at admission (or use equivalent credentials).

How to Apply (2026/27 Entry) — Step‑by‑Step

Applying for Lakehead’s International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship is straightforward. Here’s what to do:

1. Choose and apply for your desired undergraduate program at Lakehead University as an international applicant — include all required transcripts, credentials and proof of prior academic average.
2. Wait for admission offer. Once accepted, your academic credentials will be assessed for scholarship eligibility — no separate scholarship application needed.
3. Scholarship offer will likely come with admission letter or soon after. Offer letter should state which scholarship tier (if any) you qualify for and the amounts. Accept both admission and scholarship by required deadline.
4. Maintain required academic average if you’re in 90%+ or 80–89.9% tier — to keep renewal for years 2–4.
5. Plan ahead for additional costs: tuition scholarship helps a lot — but house, living expenses, travel, meals etc. still need to be budgeted. Try to line up extra funding, savings, or part-time work if allowed under visa/study regulations.

For more information about the scholarship, check the official website.

Renewal & Conditions

• Multi-year awards (the $10,000 and $7,500 tiers) are renewable each academic year provided the student maintains the required Lakehead university academic average (for the 90% tier that is 90% each year; for the 80–89.9% tier that is 80% each year). If the average falls, the award may be amended to the next eligible level or discontinued as per university policy.
• One-time awards (the $6,000 tier) are not renewable — they are a Year-1 credit only.
• Maximum scholarship term is up to four academic years or until the first degree is awarded (whichever comes first). Students admitted to Years 1–3 of a 4-year program are eligible for the appropriate term length subject to renewal conditions.

Benefits & What It Doesn’t Cover

What you get

• Big reduction in tuition cost: depending on your academic record, you may get thousands of Canadian dollars off tuition over four years. This significantly lowers one of the biggest costs for international students.
• Predictability: Because the scholarship is structured over 4 years (for top two tiers), you know what to expect if you maintain your grades: a stable discount for your entire degree.
• No extra application burden: You don’t have to fill out additional scholarship forms — admission application triggers the scholarship evaluation.
• Accessibility across programs: Lakehead’s scholarship applies to virtually all undergraduate disciplines (science, arts, engineering, business, etc.) — giving wide opportunity for international applicants.

What it does not cover

• The scholarship is tuition-based — it does not automatically cover other expenses like living costs, housing, health insurance, flights, visa costs, etc. International students must budget for these separately.
• For the lowest tier (75–79.9%), the award is non‑renewable and only applies to Year 1. So you must be prepared to finance years 2‑4 on your own or seek other support.
• Renewal (for top tiers) depends on maintaining academic performance at Lakehead. Falling below required GPA could reduce or cancel renewal.
• Scholarships are limited — high grades do not guarantee a top-tier scholarship because number of awards may be capped.

Planning & What to Expect

If you’re applying from Nigeria (or another country) — or anywhere outside Canada — here are some practical reflections based on Lakehead’s scholarship:

• Tuition savings are substantial: For a 90%+ entrant, CA $10,000 per year × 4 = CA $40,000 off tuition. This significantly reduces cost burden — but you’ll still need to plan for living expenses, accommodation, travel, health insurance, etc.
• Living costs still matter: Canada (depending on city and lifestyle) can be expensive. Even with scholarship, plan realistic budgets for room/board, transport, incidentals.
• Maintain good academic performance: If your scholarship is renewable, keep grades up. Falling below the threshold may change your scholarship amount or terminate renewal.
• Be realistic about other costs and income: Don’t assume you’ll cover everything with scholarship alone — explore part-time work (if visa allows), personal/family savings, or external funding.
• Use scholarship as part of bigger plan — not only funding: Scholarship lowers tuition, but success depends on commitment to studies, planning, and adaptation to a new country and academic environment.

How to maximize your chance of receiving an entrance scholarship

Because consideration is automatic and based on admission averages, your chances are driven by three concrete steps:

• Submit accurate, official transcripts early. Lakehead must convert your marks to a Canadian equivalent. Give them certified copies and clear grading-scale information to avoid miscalculation.
• Aim for as high an academic average as possible. The scheme is purely merit based — small differences in percentage points can move you from one tier to another (e.g., 89.9% vs 90.0%). If you are mid-application, submit predicted grades and update official final documents as soon as they are available.
• Apply early to secure timelier offers. Scholarship offers are included in the Letter of Acceptance — earlier admissions decisions let you plan finances sooner. Lakehead posts estimated costs and scholarship awards publicly; use their cost estimator and the myInfo portal once accepted.

Conclusion

The Lakehead International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships combine clarity, merit‑based fairness, and substantial tuition reductions that can make undergraduate study in Canada far more accessible for international students.

But it’s not a “free ride.” Living, housing, visa, travel, and personal costs remain — so success depends not only on scholarship value, but also on good planning, realistic budgeting, and academic commitment. If you apply and meet the criteria: this scholarship can dramatically ease your financial burden and let you focus on education and future goals.