The University of Toronto is consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the world and is Canada’s most prestigious institution of higher learning. For Nigerian students, it represents one of the best opportunities to access world-class education in North America — and the university’s scholarship offerings make that opportunity more reachable than many people realise. Each year, the University of Toronto awards over 5,700 scholarships totalling nearly $20 million CAD to students across undergraduate and graduate levels. This guide focuses on the most relevant scholarship opportunities for Nigerian applicants, how each one works, and exactly what you need to do to apply.
The University of Toronto, located in the heart of Canada’s largest city, is home to over 700 undergraduate programmes and hundreds of graduate degrees across three campuses. It is a research-intensive institution with global rankings that place it alongside Oxford, Cambridge, and the Ivy League in terms of academic reputation. International tuition fees at the University of Toronto typically range from CAD 40,000 to CAD 65,000 per year depending on the programme, making scholarship support not just helpful but essential for most Nigerian applicants. The good news is that the university has structured its flagship international scholarship — the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship — to be one of the most comprehensive fully funded undergraduate awards available to international students anywhere in Canada.
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship — The Flagship Award
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is the University of Toronto’s most prestigious award for international undergraduate students. It is named after the former Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lester B. Pearson, and it is designed to recognise international students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and leadership. Nigerian students are fully eligible to apply. Each year, approximately 37 students from around the world are named Lester B. Pearson Scholars — making this one of the most competitive and most valuable undergraduate scholarships available to Nigerians anywhere.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Toronto
- Books and academic materials for the full four-year duration
- Incidental fees for the full four-year duration
- Full residence support — university accommodation for all four years
The Pearson Scholarship is tenable only at the University of Toronto and only for first-entry undergraduate programmes. It cannot be transferred to another institution or deferred to a later academic year.
Eligibility requirements:
- You are an international student requiring a Canadian study permit — Nigerian citizens fully qualify
- You are currently in your final year of senior secondary school during the current academic year, or you have graduated from secondary school no earlier than June 2025
- You are intending to begin your undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in September 2026
- You are not already enrolled in any post-secondary institution — students who have already started university or college studies elsewhere are not eligible
- You are nominated by your secondary school — this is a critical requirement explained in detail below
- You demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and leadership both within your school and in your wider community
The Pearson Scholarship does not specify a minimum GPA, but the level of competition means that only students with outstanding academic records and a strong community impact profile are competitive. Of the approximately 37 scholarships awarded each year globally, the competition includes high-achieving students from over 150 countries.
The School Nomination Requirement — What Nigerian Applicants Need to Know
One aspect of the Pearson Scholarship that catches many Nigerian applicants off guard is the mandatory school nomination. You cannot apply directly to this scholarship — your secondary school must nominate you first. Each school is permitted to nominate only one student per year.
For Nigerian secondary schools, the process works as follows: your school must be a registered participant in the Pearson Scholarship nomination programme. Schools that have previously participated receive access to the nomination form from July 1 of each year. Schools that have not yet participated can apply to join the programme through the University of Toronto’s website. If your school is not yet a participant, speak to your principal or guidance counsellor about registering — it is a straightforward process and opens the door for all future students at your school.
Once nominated by your school, you will receive a private link to complete the Pearson Scholarship application online.
Other Scholarships at the University of Toronto for Nigerian Students
Beyond the Pearson Scholarship, the University of Toronto offers several other awards that Nigerian students can access:
- President’s Scholars of Excellence Program: Open to 150 of the most highly qualified students applying to their first year of undergraduate study. Awards up to CAD 15,000 for the first year. No separate application is required — eligible applicants are automatically considered during the admissions process.
- University of Toronto Excellence Awards: Merit-based entrance awards automatically considered at the time of admission for undergraduate applicants with outstanding academic records. Values vary by programme and college.
- Doctoral Completion Award: For international students admitted to a PhD programme at the University of Toronto. Worth CAD 10,000 per year for up to four years. Requires a base funding package from the admitting department.
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: A fully funded award for Sub-Saharan African students pursuing graduate studies. Covers full tuition, accommodation, and a living allowance. This is a separate external programme administered in partnership with the university — Nigerian applicants should check the Mastercard Foundation website directly for the most current eligibility and application details.
How to Apply for the Pearson Scholarship — Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm your eligibility. Make sure you are in your final year of secondary school and have not yet begun any post-secondary studies. Check that you meet all eligibility conditions listed above before approaching your school for a nomination.
Step 2: Approach your school for nomination. Speak to your principal or guidance counsellor about the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship and ask whether your school is registered to nominate students. If not, encourage your school to register through the University of Toronto’s website. Remember — each school can nominate only one student, so make your case clearly and early.
Step 3: Apply to the University of Toronto for admission. Submit your application for admission to the University of Toronto through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) by the October deadline. You must apply to begin your studies in September of the following year. Note that there is an application fee payable to OUAC — as of 2025 this was CAD $156 as a base fee plus a CAD $10 international service fee.
Step 4: Complete your Pearson Scholarship application. Once your school nomination has been received by the University of Toronto and you have submitted your admissions application, you will receive a private link to complete the online Pearson Scholarship application. This application asks about your academic achievements, leadership experience, community impact, and future goals. Be specific, honest, and detailed. Note that the use of generative AI tools to write your application will result in automatic disqualification.
Step 5: Submit all documentation by the deadline. Ensure that all required documents are submitted online by the scholarship application deadline. For the 2026 intake, the school nomination deadline was October 10, 2025, the admissions application deadline was October 17, 2025, and the scholarship application deadline was November 7, 2025. The 2027 intake is expected to follow a similar timeline.
Deadline Information
The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship follows a strict annual timeline. School nominations typically open in July, admissions applications close in mid-October, and scholarship applications close in early November each year. For the 2027 intake, the nomination window is expected to open in July 2026. Nigerian secondary school students who are planning to apply should begin preparing their academic and leadership records well in advance — the Pearson Scholarship rewards students with a demonstrated history of excellence, not just strong final-year results.
Moreschooling will publish a full update as soon as the University of Toronto opens the next Pearson Scholarship cycle. Bookmark this page and visit future.utoronto.ca for the most current official information.