Funding Your Education as an International Student: Scholarships, Internships, and More
A university education is a big investment. Here's how you can give yourself an edge.
Choosing a university is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your future, and we understand there's a lot to consider.
There are several ways to help you fund your education and set yourself up for success:
1. Scholarships
Scholarships and awards can be extremely helpful in offsetting your tuition costs. Last year, Carleton University awarded more than $28 million in scholarships and bursaries.
Scholarships vary by institution and by program — it's important to research whether an award is unlimited or competitive, and if it requires a separate application, or whether you'll be considered automatically as part of the admissions process.
In addition to Carleton University's unlimited and automatic merit-based Entrance Scholarships available to all incoming high school students, international students applying for September 2022 will be automatically considered for either the International Award of Excellence or the International Award of Merit. Students can also apply to Carleton's Prestige Scholarships for top performing students.
2. Working in Canada
In addition to their academic studies, many students are eager to secure part-time employment on- or off-campus. Most international students studying full-time can apply for:
- A job on campus
- A part-time job off campus during the school year (up to 20 hours per week)
- Full-time work during scheduled breaks
- A work permit after you graduate (for up to three years) to gain Canadian work experience
Visit the website of the Government of Canada for details.
3. Paid "co-op" work placements
Many universities in Canada offer co-operative education, known as "co-op," which allows students (including international students) to get valuable real-world work experience related to your field of study.
Carleton has 100 areas of study that offer co-op, helping to increase your chances of a job offer when you graduate — some students get hired by their co-op employer! As a co-op student, you alternate study terms at Carleton with four, eight, twelve, or sixteen month work terms. And there are dedicated teams at Carleton to support you every step of the way!
4. Paid Internships
At many institutions, students can benefit from other paid work-study opportunities. Carleton has many program specific opportunities such as:
Carleton also has a very cool Students as Partners Program, for which students are hired to work with a professor to engage with teaching and class design.
Be sure to ask the universities you're interested in for examples of paid internships and placements!
5. Gaining marketable skills
You can also get valuable work experience and marketable skills through practicums, field placements, field courses, apprenticeships, research/capstone projects (long-term projects targeting specific industry problems), and competitions like Case Competitions for business students or the Canadian Engineering Competition.
You can also set yourself up for success by making the most of the services offered by your university! Carleton offers career fairs, networking events, workshops, job shadowing, career coaching, volunteer positions, and help with finding part-time and volunteer work.
Students at Carleton can keep track of their student leadership, extracurricular activities, and community service with their 'Co-curricular Record' — an official document that showcases their skills to prospective employers and graduate schools in addition to their academic transcript.
Ranked in the top 10 for graduate employability among Canadian universities, Carleton is dedicated to supporting students academically and professionally.
With all these resources, you can make the most of this investment in your future. Want to learn more about your options? Book a one to one meeting with a Carleton rep to get all your questions answered.
Browse scholarships at Carleton University