If you are a Nigerian graduate aiming for a fully funded master's degree in Canada, your two biggest barriers are likely international tuition costs and upfront application fees. The good news is that you can secure full funding and bypass application fees completely in 2026.
In Canada, thesis-based Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Applied Science (MASc) programs are funded directly through departmental research grants, teaching assistantships, and university entrance awards. Many top departments will waive your application fee or eliminate pre-application costs when you secure a supervisor in advance.
This guide outlines 20 fully funded master's scholarships open to Nigerian students, explains exactly how to apply without paying application fees, and provides an actionable blueprint to win funding in 2026.
Can a Nigerian Get a Fully Funded Master's Scholarship in Canada in 2026?
Yes, Nigerian candidates can apply and just like other applicants qualify for an automtic master's scholarship award with full funding. In addition to automatic scholarships awarded by the institution, departments also offer funding for research based master's programs with stipends equivalent to the total tuition fee per annum.
However, because automatic scholarships are competitive, most applicants target research based funding opportunities. When admitted into a thesis-based program, your funding package typically covers your full tuition fees for the session, international student surcharges, and a monthly living stipend ranging between $1,500 CAD and $2,500 CAD for well paying universities.
This article therefore will focus on those well paying universities with a step by step guide on how to secure funding for research based master's program or scholarship
How Canadian Master's Funding Works:
- Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA): Paid employment helping professors grade papers and run undergraduate lab tutorials.
- Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA): Monthly stipends paid directly from your supervisor's research grant for working on lab projects.
- Institutional Entrance Awards: Merit-based bursaries automatically awarded by the university graduate school upon admission.
How to Search for Canadian Master's Programs with Departmental Funding
To find fully funded master's programs with free application, look beyond websites that regularly publish scholarship updates. The most lucrative funding opportunities live on department-specific faculty pages.
Step 1: Target Research-Intensive Canadian Universities
Focus on institutions belonging to Canada's U15 research group or mid-sized universities with generous international research budgets.
Step 2: Check Departmental Funding Floor Terms
Search for terms like "minimum guaranteed funding," "departmental stipend floor," or "international tuition offset bursary" on departmental admission pages.
Step 3: Identify Free Pre-Application Portals
Certain departments offer pre-application forms (Expression of Interest) that allow professors to review your credentials and approve your application fee waiver before you submit a formal application.
"minimum stipend guaranteed" master site:.ca international to get direct updates when departments post open funding slots.20 Fully Funded Canadian Master's Scholarships with Free Application
Below is the complete list of 20 top Canadian universities and funding programs offering fully funded master's opportunities with options for application fee waivers or fee-free pre-screening for Nigerian applicants in 2026
| # | University / Scholarship | Coverage | Free Application Status | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Saskatchewan (Graduate Assistantships) | $20,000/yr core scholarship + **$10,140/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) payment bonus** (Calculated for standard 12 hours/week over 2 academic terms) | Free via supervisor pre-approval | Engineering, Agriculture, Sciences |
| 2 | University of Manitoba (UMGF & Assistantships) | $20,000/yr Master's Fellowship core stipend ($25,000/yr for PhD) + **$6,800/yr Graduate Assistantship (GA) employment bonus** (Reflecting standard 140-hour localized departmental tasks) | Waiver through faculty endorsement | Health Sciences, Environment, Arts |
| 3 | University of Alberta (Graduate Entrance Awards) | $26,400/yr minimum guaranteed research base allocation + **$11,850/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) contract bonus** (Regulated under GSA collective scheduling terms) | Fee waiver for select research departments | Computing Science, Petroleum, Business |
| 4 | Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN Funding) | $12,000–$17,500/yr baseline institutional fellowship values + **$5,600/yr Graduate Assistantship (GA) salary bonus** (Distributed via project fund configurations) | Nominal fee / Waived via project grant | Ocean Sciences, Humanities, Business |
| 5 | Carleton University (Departmental Assistantships) | $10,000/yr graduate entrance award allocation + **$13,500–$16,500/yr Teaching/Research Assistant (TA/RA) package bonus** (Based on structured annual workload hours) | Pre-evaluation portal available | Public Policy, Engineering, IT |
| 6 | University of Calgary (Graduate Award Competition) | $20,000/yr competitive entry scholarship value + **$17,788/yr Graduate Assistant (GA-Teaching) contract bonus** (Calculated at two full $8,894 per-term blocks under active GSA bargaining terms) | Waiver via faculty sponsor | Kinesiology, Energy, Bio-Medicine |
| 7 | University of Waterloo (Master's Excellence Awards) | $12,000/yr structural research minimum allocation + **$15,005/yr Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) payroll bonus** (Composed of two full 140-hour term appointments valued at $7,502.77 each) | Fee refunded upon registration | Computer Science, Math, Engineering |
| 8 | McGill University (Graduate Research Funding) | $22,000/yr foundational minimum doctoral research stipend + **$9,450/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) payroll bonus** (Subject to departmental and course assignment profiles) | Departmental fee waivers available | Medicine, Forestry, Music, Science |
| 9 | University of British Columbia (UBC Affiliated Fellowships) | $16,000–$20,000/yr core scholarship entries + $10,200/yr International Tuition Offset Award + **$12,400/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) baseline bonus** | Waiver codes for qualifying research domains | Forestry, Biotechnology, Marine Biology |
| 10 | Simon Fraser University (SFU Graduate Fellowships) | $7,000/yr base entrance scholarship ($21,000–$35,000 for major awards) + **$14,500/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) priority allotment bonus** | Fee waiver upon faculty request | Computing, Education, Interactive Arts |
| 11 | University of Ottawa (International Master's Award) | 100% Differential International Premium Tuition Waiver (instantly matching local domestic fees) + **$11,200/yr Teaching Assistant (TA) workload bonus** | Free pre-assessment for research path | Law, Health Sciences, Engineering |
| 12 | Western University (Graduate Student Funding Package) | $13,886/yr Western Graduate Fellowship (WGRS/GF) + **$14,953/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) package bonus** (Two complete standard units) | Waiver upon supervisor nomination | Neuroscience, Medical Physics, Humanities |
| 13 | Queen's University (Master's Research Fellowships) | $15,000–$18,000/yr core thesis fellowship allocation + **$8,800/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) bonus assignment** | Waiver via agreement with supervisor | Mining Engineering, History, Chemistry |
| 14 | McMaster University (Graduate Support Package) | $12,000/yr Departmental/Research Scholarship + **$13,500/yr Full Graduate TA/RA-in-Lieu contract bonus** | Fee-free pre-application inquiry | Biomedical Sciences, Chemical Eng |
| 15 | Concordia University (Graduate Fellowships) | $10,000–$15,000/yr standard entrance scholarship + **$8,400/yr Teaching/Research Support assistantship payroll bonus** | Departmental fee waivers available | Fine Arts, Software Eng, Supply Chain |
| 16 | University of Victoria (UVic Graduate Fellowships) | $13,500/yr core fellowship stipend ($15,000–$20,000/yr for PhD tiers) + **$9,800/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) assignment bonus** | Waiver upon supervisor agreement | Climate Science, Indigenous Studies |
| 17 | University of Guelph (Graduate Assistantship Package) | $11,500–$19,000/yr structural graduate scholarship allocation + **$12,650/yr Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) team payroll bonus** | Waiver codes for agricultural research | Agriculture, Food Science, Veterinary Science |
| 18 | Dalhousie University (Master's Allocation Awards) | $10,000–$15,000/yr department award scholarship allocation + **$11,200/yr Research Assistantship (RA) laboratory task bonus** | Free preliminary evaluation form | Oceanography, Pharmacy, Agriculture |
| 19 | York University (Master's Support Funding) | $10,000/yr international baseline graduate fellowship minimum + **$11,544/yr Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) contract bonus** (Calculated based on standard CUPE 3903 assignment rates) | Waiver available via graduate program director | Environmental Studies, Sociology, Math |
| 20 | University of Windsor (Graduate Assistantships - GA) | $2,000–$7,500 entrance scholarship and graduate bursary tiers + **$17,829/yr Graduate Assistantship (GA) salary bonus** (Composed of three consecutive term allocations at $5,943 per term) | Fee refund for accepted funded students | Automotive Eng, Logistics, Chemistry |
Detailed Scholarship Breakdown & Application Tips
1. University of Saskatchewan Graduate Assistantships
Coverage: Full tuition plus $18,000 to $24,000 annual stipend.
Eligibility: Minimum 70% (2.2 or higher) equivalent in upper-year courses for thesis programs.
Free Application: Contact a prospective supervisor first. Once a professor agrees to supervise you, they request a fee waiver code from the department on your behalf.
Best Applicants: Civil, Agricultural, Chemical Engineering, and Plant Science graduates.
Practical Tip: Highlight your laboratory, fieldwork, or technical research experience in your initial email to USask faculty members.
2. University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF)
Coverage: $14,000 per year for up to two years, combined with guaranteed Teaching Assistantships.
Eligibility: Minimum GPA of 3.0 (or upper 2.2) over the last 60 credit hours.
Free Application: Free pre-screening available directly through research supervisors.
Best Applicants: Biological Sciences, Public Health, and Environmental Science applicants.
Practical Tip: Submit your transcript and research statement to the department graduate head before formal application deadlines.
3. University of Alberta Graduate Entrance Funding
Coverage: Full tuition offset + $21,000 annual Graduate Research Assistantship stipend.
Eligibility: First class or high Second Class upper/lower with relevant research background.
Free Application: Department-level application fee waivers are issued directly by supervisors in STEM programs.
Best Applicants: Computer Science, Geology, Petroleum Engineering, and Business graduates.
Practical Tip: Review UAlberta faculty publications on Google Scholar and reference specific project findings in your proposal.
4. Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) Graduate Support
Coverage: $12,000 to $18,000 fellowship plus Canada's lowest international tuition rates.
Eligibility: Open to all international applicants entering thesis-based master's degrees.
Free Application: MUN application fees are very low ($60 CAD), and departmental grants often cover or reimburse them upon arrival.
Best Applicants: Humanities, Maritime Studies, Ocean Engineering, and Social Work graduates.
Practical Tip: Apply early for the Fall intake (by December of the previous year) to access central funding pools.
5. Carleton University Departmental Assistantships
Coverage: Tuition support package + $15,000 to $22,000 annually in TA/RA salaries.
Eligibility: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with strong academic reference letters.
Free Application: Free pre-evaluation portal allows departments to review your documents without upfront payment.
Best Applicants: Public Policy, Political Science, Computer Science, and Data Science candidates.
Practical Tip: Ensure your CV explicitly highlights any tutoring, grading, or administrative work to maximize Teaching Assistantship scores.
6–10. Calgary, Waterloo, McGill, UBC, & SFU Research Fellowships
Coverage: Guaranteed departmental stipend floors ($18,000–$30,000/yr) covering full tuition and living expenses.
Application Strategy: These top research institutions require pre-securing a faculty supervisor. When a professor accepts you into their research team, they issue an institutional fee-waiver token to complete your formal portal application free of charge.
Best Applicants: Engineering, Health Sciences, Mathematics, Environmental Management, and Biotechnology candidates.
11–15. Ottawa, Western, Queen's, McMaster, & Concordia Assistantships
Coverage: Differential fee waivers + Teaching/Research Assistantships ($13,000–$22,000/yr).
Application Strategy: Utilize departmental pre-inquiry forms available on engineering and science faculty websites. This allows program directors to assess your eligibility and waive application fees before formal review.
Best Applicants: Law, Chemical Sciences, Fine Arts, Software Engineering, and Supply Chain Management.
16–20. UVic, Guelph, Dalhousie, York, & Windsor Graduate Packages
Coverage: Full entrance bursaries + Graduate Assistantships (GA) paying $10,000–$24,000 per year.
Application Strategy: Target agricultural, marine, and industrial research projects funded by industry grants. Professors holding industry research grants routinely provide full fee reimbursement upon enrollment.
Best Applicants: Agriculture, Food Science, Sociology, Climate Studies, and Automotive Engineering.
Which Departmental Scholarships Do Not Require an Application Processing Fee in 2026?
Though not explicitly stated. ALL research based funded master's programs will waive application fees for outstanding candidates who apply following the right process.
3 Ways to Secure a Free Application:
- Supervisor-Funded Fee Waiver Tokens: When a prospective research supervisor agrees to supervise your thesis, ask them to request an administrative waiver code from the graduate admissions office.
- Pre-Screening Portal Approval: Departments in universities like Carleton, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba allow you to submit your CV and transcripts for free initial assessment before formally applying.
- Application Fee Refund: Some schools like Dalhousie University will credit your application fee directly back to your student account as an entrance bonus upon enrollment.
How to apply and secure funding for a master's program as a Nigerian applicant in 2026
Securing funding is competitive, but following a structured approach significantly increases your odds.
1. Start 9–12 Months Early
Canadian professors allocate their research budgets early. Outreach for September 2027 intake should start between September and November 2026.
2. Align Your Research Proposal with Professor Projects
Never send generic research proposals. Tailor your proposal directly to a professor's current funded research projects.
3. Master Cold Emailing Professors
Send concise, professional emails referencing specific journal papers published by the professor within the past two years.
Email Template for Cold Contacting Canadian Professors:
Subject: Prospective Master's Student Inquiry – [Your Name] – [Research Field]
Dear Dr. [Professor's Last Name],
I have been following your research on [Specific Project Title/Topic] at [University Name]. My background in [Your Field/Degree] directly aligns with your laboratory's work on [Mention Specific Detail from Their Recent Paper].
I am writing to inquire if you are accepting new thesis-based Master's students for the [Term, e.g., Fall 2026] intake with Graduate Research Assistantship funding.
I have attached my Academic CV, Transcripts, and a 2-page Research Statement for your review. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Documents You Should Prepare Before Applying
Having your documents organized and pre-formatted ensures you can apply as soon as fee waivers or supervisor acceptances are issued.
- Official / Unofficial Academic Transcripts: Showing all university courses and grades.
- Degree Certificate / Statement of Result: Official proof of degree completion.
- Academic CV: Formatted using Canadian academic standards (highlighting research, skills, and publications).
- Statement of Purpose (SOP): Tailored 1–2 page motivation essay focusing on your career goals and research fit.
- 2–3 Recommendation Letters: At least two must come from university lecturers who can speak directly to your research capabilities.
- Concept Note / Research Proposal: A 1–3 page document outlining your proposed thesis topic, problem statement, and methodology.
- English Language Waiver Letter: An official letter from your Nigerian university stating that your degree was taught entirely in English.
Common Mistakes Nigerians Make When Applying
Avoiding these common errors will prevent immediate rejection of your scholarship application:
- Applying to Course-Based Programs: Expecting full scholarships for professional course-based master's degrees.
- Sending Mass Generic Emails: Copy-pasting generic outreach emails to dozens of professors simultaneously.
- Ignoring Faculty Research Profiles: Contacting professors whose current research does not match your field.
- Waiting Until the Last Minute: Applying days before the deadline after funding grants have already been assigned.
- Neglecting Language Exemption Requests: Paying for IELTS unnecessarily when your Nigerian institution qualifies for an English instruction waiver.
- Submitting Weak Recommendation Letters: Providing generic character references instead of detailed academic assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a scholarship in Canada without taking IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/DET tests?
Yes. Most Canadian universities accept an official Letter of English Proficiency from your Nigerian university confirming that your undergraduate instruction was conducted entirely in English.
How much is the monthly stipend for a fully funded master's in Canada?
Monthly living stipends typically range between $1,500 CAD and $2,500 CAD, which comfortably covers rent, food, health insurance, and personal expenses.
Do I need to pay an agency or agent to get a Canadian scholarship?
No. Scholarship applications and supervisor contacts are managed directly through official university portals. You should never pay agents or intermediaries for scholarship applications.
Can I bring my family while studying on a fully funded scholarship?
Yes. International graduate students in Canada can bring their spouse (eligible for an Open Work Permit) and dependent children under study permits.
What is the minimum GPA needed for a fully funded scholarship?
While a First Class or Upper Second Class (2.1) is preferred, candidates with a Lower Second Class (2.2) can win funding if backed by strong research experience, publications, or professional work history.
Your Next Steps
Securing a fully funded master's degree in Canada with a free application is completely achievable with early preparation and strategic outreach.
Immediate Action Plan:
- Format your Academic CV according to Canadian standards.
- Shortlist 5–10 Canadian universities from the table above offering thesis-based programs in your discipline.
- Identify 2–3 active professors per university working in your research area.
- Draft personalized outreach emails and request fee waivers or supervisor backing.
- Prepare your Statement of Purpose and request academic references from your lecturers.
- Submit your application as soon as supervisor support or waiver codes are secured!