PRESIDENT’S INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP OF EXCELLENCE (PISE) — YORK UNIVERSITY, CANADA

The President’s International Scholarship of Excellence (PISE) is York University’s most prestigious international award — and one of the most generous undergraduate scholarships in Canada. Worth $45,000 per year for four years ($180,000 total), it is designed to attract the world’s brightest and most well-rounded international students to York’s Toronto campus. Recipients are known as “President’s International Scholars” and are selected from a diverse range of countries and regions worldwide, making this a truly global award with strong representation from Africa.

Unlike most partial scholarships, PISE at $45,000 per year is structured to cover full tuition and a significant portion of living costs, making it one of the few Canadian undergraduate awards that approaches fully funded status for international students.

This is a competitive, application-based award — it is separate from and cannot be combined with York’s automatic entrance scholarships. If you are selected for PISE, you receive this higher-value award instead.

What It Covers

• $45,000 per year for four years of undergraduate study.
• Total value: $180,000.
• Covers full tuition fees and contributes significantly toward living costs.
• 4-year on-campus housing/residence guarantee for direct-entry international students.
• Access to York’s global alumni network and President’s Scholar community.

Who Can Apply

• International high school students applying for direct undergraduate entry
• Demonstrated academic excellence (high school average — exact threshold competitive)
• Strong record of volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and community involvement
• Leadership skills and potential
• Must apply to an eligible undergraduate programme at York University
• Cannot be combined with other York entrance scholarships (PISE replaces them)
• Note: Students admitted to Computer Science, Computer Security, or Engineering programmes are subject to different scholarship conditions — check the official page

Study Levels: Undergraduate
Host Country: Canada
Deadline: The 2026 cycle closed on January 26, 2026. The next cycle is expected to open in December 2026 with a deadline in late January 2027.

How to Apply

A separate application is required for PISE — it is not automatic. You must first apply for admission to York University, then submit the PISE scholarship application. A nomination from your school guidance counsellor, principal, or senior school official is also required. Each school has a limited number of nominations per year, so contact your school early.