Introduction

You did well in WAEC or NECO. English was your medium of instruction from primary school through university. And yet almost every Canada scholarships guide you find online tells you to “prepare your IELTS” as if it's unavoidable, or worse, promises a list of scholarships that turn out to require a study permit, an existing Canadian address, or citizenship you don't have. That gap between what these guides promise and what you can actually use is the real problem.

Here's what actually happens. Canadian universities don't waive English tests because they feel generous. They waive them because you already meet a specific rule: usually four years of full-time study in a school where English was the language of instruction, in a country the university has approved for that exemption. Nigeria is on that approved list at several major universities, including the University of Toronto. That's the mechanism behind almost every “no IELTS” scholarship claim you'll read, and it's worth understanding before you spend money on a test you may not need, or skip one you do.

This guide names ten real, currently active funding routes, tells you exactly which ones waive English testing and under what conditions, and flags the costs that most “top 10 scholarships” lists never mention: proof-of-funds thresholds, WAEC verification delays, and the study permit cap that has made Canada harder to enter since 2024. We link directly to the official government and university pages so you can verify every figure yourself, because a scholarship guide that asks you to trust it blindly isn't doing its job.

How the “No IELTS” Exemption Actually Works

Before the list, understand the rule, because it explains why some of these ten scholarships are open to you and others on rival lists are not.

Most Canadian universities require proof of English proficiency from every applicant whose first language is not English, unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption. The most common exemption: four or more years of full-time study at a school where English was the sole language of instruction, in a country the university recognizes for this purpose.

The University of Toronto publishes its list of recognized countries for exactly this exemption, and Nigeria is on it, for both undergraduate admission and graduate admission through the School of Graduate Studies. That single detail, more than any specific scholarship, is why Nigerian applicants routinely see “no IELTS required” language from Canadian schools. Confirm your own eligibility at

University of Toronto – English Language Requirements.

This exemption is not automatic or universal. It applies per university, sometimes per faculty, and it typically requires your transcripts to show the full four years in an English-medium school. If you switched to a school that taught partly in another language, or if a specific graduate department has doubts, you may still be asked for a letter confirming English was the language of instruction, or for a test score after all.

Migretravel's take: treat the WAEC/WASSCE exemption as a strong probability, not a guarantee. Apply for admission first, and let the university's own assessment confirm your exemption in writing before you skip test preparation entirely.

The 10 Scholarships and Funding Routes

These ten are grouped by study level. Federal and Ontario-government awards are open to applicants at many universities; the rest are university-specific automatic or lightly-applied-for awards. None of them charge you to apply. If a “scholarship” asks for an application fee, that is a warning sign, not a rule.

A. Doctoral (PhD) funding

1. Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D)

This is the federal government's flagship doctoral award, run jointly by Canada's three research agencies: CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC. It replaced the well-known Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, which stopped accepting new applications; the Vanier program's own website now redirects candidates to CGRS-D.

●        Value: CAD 40,000 per year for up to three years.

●        English requirement: the federal program itself does not set an English test requirement. Your nominating university's admission rules decide that, so a Nigerian applicant admitted under an English-medium exemption carries that exemption into this award.

●        How to apply: you cannot apply directly. You must first secure admission and a supervisor at a Canadian university with a CGRS-D quota, and the university nominates you.

Official source: NSERC – Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Doctoral program and SSHRC – CGRS-Doctoral program.

2. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship

A prestigious, competitive award for PhD candidates in the humanities and social sciences (also open to law, business, and public health faculties) whose research connects to one of the Foundation's four themes: human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada and the world, and people and their natural environment.

●        Value: up to CAD 50,000 per year for tuition and living costs, plus up to CAD 20,000 per year for research travel and Foundation events, for a maximum of three years.

●        English requirement: the Foundation's own FAQ states you don't need to be fluent in both official languages, only able to communicate effectively in English or French. There is no separate IELTS demand from the Foundation itself.

●        Deadline pattern: the competition typically opens in September and closes in mid-November for scholars starting the following year. Applicants apply directly through the Foundation's portal; no university nomination is required.

Official source: Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation – Become a Scholar and Trudeau Foundation FAQ.

3. Ontario Trillium Scholarship (OTS)

A provincially co-funded PhD award, worth CAD 40,000 per year and renewable for up to four years, aimed specifically at international doctoral students at Ontario universities such as the University of Toronto and University of Guelph.

●        English requirement: universities state you must demonstrate English proficiency “as required by the admitting university,” which means the same WAEC-based exemption can apply.

Flag: sources conflict on whether OTS is still being offered to new students at every Ontario school. At least one university's graduate studies office states the scholarship stopped accepting new students from a past intake year, while others list it as an active 2026 competition with roughly 15 awards a year. Do not budget around OTS until your target university's graduate awards office confirms, in writing, that the current year's competition is open.

Official source to verify directly with your target school: University of Toronto – Ontario Graduate Scholarship / OTS information.

B. Master's and PhD funding (Ontario)

4. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

A merit-based award co-funded by the Ontario government and individual universities, open to both domestic and international graduate students who hold a valid Canadian study permit.

●        Value: CAD 5,000 per term, up to CAD 15,000 for an academic year.

●        Academic bar: an A- average (roughly 80 percent, or 8.0/10.0) in your last two years of full-time study.

●        English requirement: set by your admitting university, not by the OGS program itself, so the same exemption logic applies.

●        Application route: you apply through your specific university's graduate awards office once admitted or while applying; there is no central national portal.

Official source: University of Toronto – Ontario Graduate Scholarship and University of Ottawa – Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

C. Undergraduate funding

5. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto)

U of T's most prestigious undergraduate award for international students: full tuition, books, incidental fees, and residence support for four years, for about 37 students a year worldwide.

●        English requirement: applicants must meet U of T's standard undergraduate English proficiency rule. Because Nigeria appears on U of T's approved English-medium exemption list, most WASSCE-educated Nigerian applicants will not need to submit an IELTS score, though the university confirms this only after you apply.

●        Nomination model: your secondary school must nominate you; each school may nominate only one student per year. You cannot apply to Pearson directly without a school nomination.

●        Timing: nomination, U of T admission application, and the scholarship application itself run on three separate deadlines in the same admissions cycle, typically October and November for a September start the following year.

Official source: University of Toronto – Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholarships.

6. University of Ottawa Entrance and Excellence Scholarships for African Students

A dedicated tuition-reduction program for undergraduate applicants who are citizens of any African country, admitted into specific English-taught programs in Engineering, Science, or Social Sciences.

●        Value: Entrance awards from roughly CAD 12,000 to CAD 20,000; Excellence awards from roughly CAD 17,500 to CAD 25,000, depending on the program, renewable for four years.

●        English requirement: uOttawa's own Nigeria admissions page confirms that WASSCE applicants submit their transcripts directly; the university determines whether you need an English test based on your school's language of instruction, following the same four-year English-medium logic.

●        Application route: automatic on admission; no separate scholarship application or essay required beyond your standard admission file submitted through uoZone.

Official source: University of Ottawa – Scholarships and Awards Overview and University of Ottawa – Nigeria admissions page.

7. University of Ottawa International English Admission and Academic Excellence Scholarships

Separate from the Africa-specific award above, these two scholarships are open to any international undergraduate student studying in an eligible English-taught program at uOttawa, and the two can be combined.

●        Value: the Admission Scholarship reduces tuition by up to CAD 7,500 per term, roughly CAD 60,000 over a four-year degree. The Academic Excellence Scholarship, for applicants with a 90 percent admission average or higher, reduces tuition by up to CAD 10,000 per year, though it is not renewable.

●        English requirement: automatic for eligible English-medium applicants under the same exemption rule described above.

Official source: University of Ottawa – Scholarships for international students studying in English.

8. University of Manitoba International Undergraduate Student Entrance Scholarship

An automatic merit scholarship for international students entering direct from high school, based purely on your best five senior secondary subjects.

●        Eligibility: minimum 85 percent average across your best five senior-level academic subjects (WAEC/NECO results translate into this calculation), holding a valid study permit, and paying international tuition.

●        English requirement: set by the University of Manitoba's general international admission policy; Nigerian applicants should confirm their specific exemption status directly with UM admissions, since UM's published exempt-country list should be checked independently rather than assumed.

●        Application route: automatic once you apply for admission and your transcripts are received by March 1 for a Fall intake; no separate scholarship form.

Official source: University of Manitoba – International student awards.

9. University of Manitoba International Graduate Student Entrance Scholarship

A companion award for incoming international graduate students, evaluated automatically at the point of admission rather than through a separate application.

●        Eligibility: a minimum GPA of 3.75 on a 4.5 scale (or the equivalent) across your last two years of full-time study, admission to an eligible graduate program, and a valid study permit.

●        English requirement: standard UM graduate English proficiency rule applies unless you qualify for an exemption; UM's graduate admissions office confirms this case by case.

Official source: University of Manitoba – International graduate student requirements.

10. University of Saskatchewan International Excellence Award (with Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship)

An automatic undergraduate award for non-Canadian international students, which can stack with USask's Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship that every admitted undergraduate is automatically considered for.

●        Value: CAD 10,000 one-time International Excellence Award, plus a Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship of roughly CAD 500 to CAD 3,000 depending on your admission average.

●        English requirement: USask requires proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, or Duolingo, among others) as part of standard admission; confirm directly with USask admissions whether your WASSCE result qualifies for a waiver, as USask's public scholarship page does not itself list a Nigeria-specific exemption.

●        Application route: automatic on admission for the Excellence Award; apply for admission by February 15 for full scholarship consideration.

Official source: University of Saskatchewan – Scholarships (Admissions).

 

A note on honesty: items 8 and 10 above do not have a confirmed, published Nigeria-specific English exemption the way U of T and uOttawa do. We've included them because they are real, automatic, no-extra-application scholarships that Nigerian students do win, but you should treat the IELTS question as open until the university's admissions office confirms your exemption in writing. Don't let a blog post decide that for you.

Cost and Value Snapshot

Figures below are the amounts publicly stated on official sources as of this article's last-updated date. Currency is Canadian dollars (CAD) unless stated. Always re-check the linked page before budgeting, since scholarship values and quotas change between competition years.

Scholarship	Level	Typical annual value*	Application cost
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D)	PhD	CAD 40,000	Free (through university)
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship	PhD	Up to CAD 50,000 + CAD 20,000 allowance	Free (direct to Foundation)
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)	Master's/PhD	CAD 15,000	Free (through university)
Ontario Trillium Scholarship (OTS)	PhD	CAD 40,000	Free (through university)
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship	Undergraduate	Full tuition + residence + books	Free (school-nominated)
University of Ottawa Entrance/Excellence Scholarships (African students)	Undergraduate	CAD 12,000 – 25,000	Free (automatic on admission)
University of Ottawa International English Scholarships	Undergraduate	Up to CAD 17,500 combined	Free (automatic on admission)
University of Manitoba International Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship	Undergraduate	Varies by average (check current table)	Free (automatic on admission)
University of Manitoba International Graduate Student Entrance Scholarship	Master's/PhD	Varies (merit-based)	Free (automatic on admission)
University of Saskatchewan International Excellence Award	Undergraduate	CAD 10,000	Free (automatic on admission)

 

*Amounts marked “varies” depend on program, admission average, or annual quota; the official link in each section above shows the current table.

What Most Articles Don't Tell You

Most “top scholarships without IELTS” lists are written by education agents or content farms recycling the same five names, without checking whether the listed programs are even open to applicants who aren't already in Canada. Three gaps we see repeatedly:

1. “No IELTS” does not mean “no English test ever”

Every scholarship in this guide sits inside a university's own admission process, and that university can still ask for a test score if your transcript doesn't clearly show four full years of English-medium instruction, or if a specific graduate department has stricter rules than the general university policy. Build in three to four weeks of contingency time in case you're asked for a test after all, especially for competitive graduate programs.

2. Scholarship money does not cover your study permit's proof-of-funds requirement automatically

A four-year tuition scholarship at, say, uOttawa still leaves you needing to show Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that you can cover your first year's living costs, which is a separate, non-negotiable figure. As of September 1, 2025, that threshold for a single applicant outside Quebec is CAD 22,895, on top of tuition and travel. A partial scholarship that only covers tuition still leaves a five-figure gap you must prove with your own funds.

Official source: IRCC – Study permit: proof of financial support.

3. Canada's study permit cap can affect you even after you win a scholarship

Since 2024, Canada has capped the number of new study permit applications it processes each year, and most undergraduate and college applicants need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) before applying for a study permit. As of January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public universities are exempt from the PAL/TAL requirement, but undergraduate applicants generally still need one. A scholarship offer does not exempt you from this step, and provincial allocations run out during the year, so early admission and early PAL requests matter as much as the scholarship application itself.

Official source: IRCC – Get the right documents to study in Canada.

Nigeria-Specific Risks Most Guides Skip

Exchange rate risk

Scholarship values are quoted in CAD; your funds and daily life are priced in Naira. Between the time you calculate your proof-of-funds figure and the time you actually transfer money to a Canadian bank or GIC, the Naira-to-CAD rate can move enough to leave you short. Recalculate your required Naira amount close to your actual transfer date, not months in advance, and build in a buffer of at least 10 to 15 percent above the official IRCC minimum.

Proof-of-funds documentation problems

IRCC accepts several types of proof: tuition and housing paid in advance, a Canadian bank account with transferred funds, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian institution, or proof of a loan from an acceptable lender. A common Nigerian-specific issue: funds that appear as a single large deposit shortly before the visa application, without a documented source (salary history, property sale, business income), which visa officers may flag as unexplained. Keep bank statements covering several months, not just a snapshot.

Embassy and visa processing delays

Study permit processing times for applicants outside Canada are published by IRCC and vary by country and by season; historically, Nigerian applications have sometimes taken longer than the published average during peak intake periods (May to August for a September start). Apply as early as your Letter of Acceptance and PAL allow, and never assume you'll get a decision within the shortest quoted timeframe.

WAEC and document verification issues

Canadian universities increasingly want your WAEC or NECO results confirmed directly through the examination body's own verification system, not just a photocopy of your result slip. Start this verification as soon as you have your results, since it can take weeks, and universities will not issue a final scholarship or admission decision on unverified documents.

What This Actually Costs You in Nigeria

Cost item	Approx. amount	Why Nigerian applicants get caught out
Proof-of-funds (living costs, outside Quebec)	CAD 22,895 for a single applicant (in effect since Sept 1, 2025)	This is on top of first-year tuition and airfare, not instead of it. Many applicants budget tuition alone and get refused.
WAEC/NECO result verification	Naira cost per subject/scratch card, varies	Universities want results confirmed through WAEC's own verification system, not just a photocopy of your slip.
Credential evaluation (WES or similar)	USD 100–250 depending on service level	Needed mainly for graduate applications; often skipped in first-time budgets.
Biometrics and visa (study permit) fees	Set by IRCC; check canada.ca before paying	Fees are paid in CAD or local-currency equivalent and change; always confirm the current figure on canada.ca before sending money.
Medical exam (if required)	Paid to an IRCC-approved panel physician in Nigeria	Skipping this early costs you weeks later if your visa office requests it.
GIC or bank confirmation for Student Direct Stream-type processing	Roughly CAD 22,000+ if used as your main proof of funds	A lump sum that appears in your account right before you apply can raise questions about the source of funds.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

●        Assuming a scholarship covers your study permit costs. Scholarships fund tuition and sometimes living costs at the university; IRCC's proof-of-funds requirement is checked separately and must be documented on its own, even if your scholarship letter states full funding.

●        Applying to Schulich Leader Scholarships as an international applicant. Several “top 10” lists include this well-known STEM award, but it is restricted to Canadian citizens graduating from a Canadian high school or CEGEP. A Nigerian applicant studying in Nigeria is not eligible, no matter how strong your WAEC results are.

●        Skipping the school-nomination step for nomination-based awards. The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship and several similar awards require your secondary school to submit the nomination; you cannot apply directly. Talk to your school's guidance counsellor months before the deadline, since many Nigerian secondary schools have never handled this process before.

●        Assuming your English exemption without written confirmation. Apply for admission, then wait for the university's own written confirmation of your English proficiency exemption before you decide to skip a test entirely. If the deadline for test registration is approaching and you haven't heard back, register for the test as a safety net; you can usually cancel or simply not use the score if the exemption comes through in time.

●        Waiting until after admission to start your proof-of-funds paperwork. Sourcing, documenting, and seasoning (showing a stable history of) the required funds takes months in Nigeria, particularly if funds are coming from a family business or property sale. Start this process the same week you start your scholarship applications.

●        Treating scholarship deadlines as flexible. Nomination-based and provincially co-funded awards (Pearson, OGS, OTS, Trudeau) work on fixed, non-negotiable deadlines tied to a national competition. A late application is not reviewed, regardless of your academic record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Nigerian students really not need IELTS for Canadian universities?

Many Nigerian applicants qualify for an English proficiency exemption because their secondary and university education was conducted entirely in English, and several major Canadian universities, including the University of Toronto, list Nigeria among countries eligible for this exemption. This is a case-by-case university decision, not a nationwide rule, so confirm it with each school you apply to rather than assuming it applies everywhere.

Can I apply for these scholarships while I'm still in Nigeria, without an agent?

Yes. Every scholarship in this guide is applied for directly through the university's or funding body's official online portal. None require a paid education agent, and the University of Toronto explicitly warns that it does not work with agents to recruit students for the Pearson Scholarship. Using an agent is your choice, but it is not a requirement to be considered.

How much money do I need to prove for a Canadian study permit, separate from a scholarship?

As of September 1, 2025, a single applicant applying for a study permit outside Quebec must show access to CAD 22,895 for one year of living costs, in addition to your first year's tuition and return travel costs. Quebec has its own, higher provincial requirement. Always confirm the current figure on IRCC's official proof-of-funds page before finalizing your budget, since this threshold is adjusted periodically.

What happened to the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship? Should I still apply for it?

No. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program stopped accepting new applications and its official website now redirects candidates to the harmonized Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D) program, run jointly by CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC at CAD 40,000 per year. If an article or agent is still telling you to prepare a Vanier application, that information is outdated.

If I win a scholarship, does that guarantee my Canadian study permit will be approved?

No scholarship, however generous, guarantees visa approval. IRCC assesses each study permit application independently on its own criteria, including proof of funds, ties to your home country, and the genuineness of your intent to study. A scholarship strengthens your application by reducing the financial burden you must otherwise prove, but it is not a substitute for meeting IRCC's full documentation requirements.

Is the Ontario Trillium Scholarship still available for the 2026/27 academic year?

Sources conflict. Some Ontario universities list the OTS as an active, ongoing PhD competition worth CAD 40,000 per year; at least one university's graduate studies office states the scholarship stopped accepting new students after a past intake year. Contact the graduate awards office at your specific target university directly and ask them to confirm, in writing, whether OTS nominations are open for your intended entry year before you plan around it.

Related Reading on Migretravel

●        How to Verify Your WAEC Result Online Before a Canadian University Application

●        Canada Study Permit Refusals: The Top Reasons Nigerian Applicants Get Rejected and How to Fix Them

●        Proof of Funds for Canada: A Nigerian Student's Month-by-Month Savings and Documentation Plan

Conclusion: Your Next Steps

None of these ten scholarships will fund themselves. Each one has a specific, unforgiving deadline, and several depend on your school or university confirming details on your behalf. Here is the order to work through them in.

1.   Confirm your English proficiency exemption status directly with each university's admissions office in writing, rather than assuming it from this or any other article.

2.   Shortlist three to five scholarships from this list that match your study level and target province, and write down each application deadline in a single calendar.

3.   Start your WAEC or NECO result verification immediately, since it takes weeks and several universities won't finalize a decision without it.

4.   If you're applying for a nomination-based award like the Pearson Scholarship, speak to your secondary school's guidance counsellor now, months before the deadline, so your school has time to set up the nomination process.

5.   Separately from any scholarship, begin documenting your proof-of-funds paperwork against the current IRCC figure (CAD 22,895 as of September 1, 2025, outside Quebec), since scholarships rarely cover this requirement in full.

6.   Once you have an admission offer, check whether you need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) before applying for your study permit, and apply for it as early as your province allows.

7.   Recheck every dollar figure, deadline, and requirement in this guide against the official link provided, since scholarship values and immigration thresholds change during the year.

 

This article reflects publicly available information as of July 2, 2026, drawn from the official government and university sources linked throughout. Migretravel is not a law firm or licensed immigration consultancy; nothing here constitutes legal or immigration advice. Verify time-sensitive figures, especially proof-of-funds amounts and scholarship deadlines, directly on the linked official pages before making financial decisions.