Could one nomination change the course of your life? If you are an international student with top grades and creative drive, this scholarship might be the game changer.
You’ll find clear, practical information here to plan and prepare your application. This guide explains how the lester pearson nomination from your school links to an OUAC admission and the Pearson portal.
What the award covers: tuition, books, incidental costs and full residence for four years. About 37 students become scholars each year, so the process is competitive.
Read on for eligibility, deadlines, and the exact steps your school must take. Use this page as your roadmap to craft a strong narrative that shows academic excellence, leadership and global impact.
Your guide to the Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto
Learn what sets this international scholarship apart and how the program supports scholars during four years of study.
This is one of Canada’s largest awards for international students. The lester pearson international scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence. It also links scholars to the Pearson Program Office within the Centre for International Experience.
Why this international scholarship stands out
Full funding and structured support make a big difference. Beyond money, scholars get enrichment activities and mentorship that build leadership and global impact.
Who this service page is for
This page helps high-achieving international students, parents, counsellors and school administrators. You’ll find a clear view of the nomination model, timelines, and how the scholarship fits into university toronto admissions and OUAC submissions.
- Understand how community impact and potential are evaluated.
- See why only one nominee per school is selected.
- Use this guide to pace your study goals and application tasks.
Eligibility snapshot: are you the right fit?
This short checklist clarifies who schools may nominate and which programs qualify. Use it to decide whether to ask your counsellor for nomination and to plan next steps.
Who can be nominated by their school
Your current secondary school must select you as its single nominee for the scholarship cycle. Speak with your counsellor early so you understand internal timelines and selection steps.
Undergraduate, first-entry programs only
This award is tenable only for first-entry undergraduate study at the university. Transfers or second-entry professional programs are not eligible.
Qualities selectors look for
- Exceptional academic achievement: high grades and strong transcripts that demonstrate academic excellence.
- Creativity: evidence in research, problem-solving, innovation, or artistic work.
- Leadership and community: roles with measurable impact and a clear record of mobilizing others.
- Global potential: how your goals connect to broader community change as an international student.
Use this section as a checklist: nomination eligibility, first-entry intent, and clear examples that demonstrate exceptional academic skills, creativity, leadership and community contribution. If you meet these points, discuss nomination with your school and confirm program prerequisites and OUAC timing.
Key 2025-2026 deadlines you must not miss
A clear timeline makes the difference track these 2025–2026 deadlines now to stay ahead.
Nominations open July 1, 2025. Your school must submit its single nominee by October 10, 2025. Mark that nomination deadline first.
The OUAC admission application deadline for students is October 17, 2025. You must submit your admission application before you can complete the scholarship application.
All scholarship application materials and supporting documents must be in by November 7, 2025. Prepare references and forms early to avoid last-minute issues.
- Expect decision notifications to start at the end of January 2026 and finish by April 2026.
- Build a personal deadline plan with buffers for school approvals, technical issues, and program-specific timelines at university toronto.
- Keep a master checklist and review it weekly through the fall to meet each critical deadline.
Lester B. Pearson (U of Toronto) apply: step-by-step process
Use this short, practical roadmap to manage each mandatory step toward scholarship consideration. The process has three clear stages and a few simple checks that keep you on track.
Step one: secure your school’s nomination
Talk to your counsellor early. Each high school nominates only one student per year. Ask about your school’s internal deadlines and how they verify the secure nomination form.
If the administrator lacks access, they must register or update their details so the school can submit a nominee.
Step two: submit your OUAC application to undergraduate studies
File your OUAC application to the University of Toronto for an eligible first-entry program by October 17, 2025. Your OUAC reference number may be needed later for the scholarship application.
Step three: complete the Pearson scholarship application
Once nominated and after your OUAC submission, finish the pearson scholarship application by November 7, 2025. Upload all required documents on time and confirm receipt.
- Track progress with a short checklist: nomination, OUAC submitted, scholarship application, documents received.
- If anything is unclear, use the official Pearson Scholarship Inquiry Form—avoid third-party agents.
School nomination: how it works and how to verify your school
Make sure your school is on the verified list so the nomination process can begin. Verified high schools receive a secure nomination form by email each July. Ask your counsellor to confirm receipt of the July 1, 2025 invitation.
Already-verified schools and July invitation emails
If your school is verified, the designated contact gets a personalized form from the admissions office. The form is secure and lets the school nominate one student per cycle.
If your school is not on the list: how administrators register
If your school is not yet verified, an administrator must complete the verification form. It collects basic school information (name, address, country, curriculum, website) and contact details for the admin.
Administrators who did not receive the invitation or who need to update a contact should email pearson.scholarship@utoronto.ca before the nomination window closes.
What students must do: speak with your school administrator
Students must talk to their counsellor early. Remember the rule: each school can nominate one student per year. Share your materials and meet internal deadlines so your school can choose its top candidate.
For privacy questions, the Director of Student Recruitment is available at student.recruitment@utoronto.ca. Keep lines open with your school contact to ensure steps from verification to nomination finish before October 10, 2025.
- Check verification status with your counsellor
- Ask admin to update contacts if needed via the pearson.scholarship email
- Prepare program and supporting information early
What the Pearson scholarship covers and why it matters
Here’s a clear look at what the scholarship covers and how full support helps you focus on study, leadership and community impact. The award reduces financial uncertainty so you can plan multi-year commitments without constant renewal stress.
Tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years
Your award covers full tuition and books for four years. It also includes incidental fees and full residence support, which together remove the main cost barriers for incoming international students.
This combination of fees and residence support gives you predictable budgeting and more time for campus life, research, and leadership roles.
Tenable only at the University of Toronto; about 37 scholars each year
The scholarship is tenable only at the university toronto for first-entry undergraduate programs. Each year roughly 37 scholars join the program and gain access to enrichment and advising through the Pearson Program Office within the Centre for International Experience.
- Comprehensive coverage: tuition, books, incidental fees, residence for four years.
- Small cohort: about 37 scholars per year strong community and networking.
- Program support: mentoring and activities that complement your academic plan and study goals.
Selection criteria: what helps your application stand out
Committees favour applicants who pair outstanding academics with fresh ideas and a record of action. That combination is what the selection process rewards.
Demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and creativity
Show top grades and rigorous coursework and link those results to future goals. Use awards, research summaries or project outcomes to make a clear case that you can excel in demanding programs.
Describe creative work with concrete outcomes. Explain how your idea solved a problem, reached an audience, or changed a process.
Leadership, community contribution and global potential
Provide examples where you led people or projects and show measurable impact. Founding a group, running a service initiative, or mentoring peers are strong evidence of leadership.
- Show civic or community results using numbers, timelines and testimonials.
- Explain how your work can scale beyond your local context to global potential.
- As an international student, highlight cross-cultural skills that strengthen teams and research.
Tie the story together: connect academics, creativity and leadership into a single narrative that proves you are a future changemaker. Use honest, specific evidence to make your file memorable to the selection committee for the lester pearson scholarship and related international scholarship reviews.
Stay safe and compliant: fraud alerts and AI policy
Protect your application and personal data by using only official channels. Fraudsters sometimes target high-value awards with fake offers, requests for fees, or false guarantees. If an email or message seems too good to be true, pause and verify.
No third-party agents or paid “offers” protect yourself from fraud
The university toronto does not work with external recruitment agents or paid services for these scholarships. Avoid anyone who claims they can speed up or guarantee a nomination or decision.
- Treat unsolicited promises and fee requests as fraud and do not respond.
- Ask your school counsellor to confirm any official correspondence before you share personal documents.
- Students must only use verified U of T systems for uploads and forms.
Use of generative AI tools is prohibited in applications
Keep your materials original. The use of generative AI (for example, ChatGPT) in any part of a scholarship application is strictly prohibited. Submissions found to include AI‑generated content can be disqualified immediately.
Official inquiries: Pearson Scholarship Inquiry Form and email
For questions, use the Pearson Scholarship Inquiry Form or contact pearson.scholarship@utoronto.ca. Relying on these official channels keeps your record secure and your scholarship application intact.
- Verify sender addresses and links before clicking.
- Report suspicious messages to your school and to U of T before taking action.
- Follow academic integrity rules so your file remains compliant and competitive.
Ready to move forward? Your next steps to apply University of Toronto
Start a short, weekly plan, and confirm your school will nominate you before October 10, 2025. Submit your OUAC admission by October 17, 2025 so you can complete the pearson scholarship application by November 7, 2025.
Gather documents early and keep your OUAC reference number handy. Ask your counsellor to verify the July invitation and update contacts with pearson.scholarship@utoronto.ca if needed.
Use the Pearson Scholarship Inquiry Form for questions. Protect your file avoid agents, follow integrity rules, and focus on clear, authentic evidence of leadership, creativity and impact.
Plan with confidence: the pearson international scholarship covers tuition, books, fees and full residence support for four years. Meet deadlines, share the timeline with your family and school, and keep momentum through November.