The York University President’s International Scholarship of Excellence (PISE) is one of Canada’s biggest entrance awards for international high-school students. It is valued at CAD $180,000 over four years, that is $45,000 a year, and it is open to international students who begin the first year of an undergraduate degree at York University in Toronto in the Fall 2027 term.
The award is nomination-based. Your school’s guidance counsellor, principal or another senior school official has to nominate you, and a school can nominate a maximum of two students each year. The student application closes on 27 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST, and the nomination form and reference letter must reach York by 4 February 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
This page carries the exact value, the eligibility rules, every application step and the deadlines, taken from York University’s official scholarship page and its PISE application guide.
York President’s International Scholarship of Excellence 2027: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | York University, Toronto, Canada |
| Scholarship value | CAD $180,000 over four years ($45,000 a year) |
| Study level | First year of an undergraduate degree |
| Who can apply | International high-school students subject to international tuition fees, starting at York in Fall 2027 |
| Number of awards | Not fixed – a school can nominate a maximum of two students each year |
| Last date to apply | 27 January 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST (nomination and reference letter by 4 February 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST) |
| Official website | yorku.ca – President’s International Scholarship of Excellence |
What is the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence?
The President’s International Scholarship of Excellence is awarded to international high-school applicants who show academic excellence, a commitment to volunteer work and extracurricular activities, and leadership skills. Recipients are called President’s International Scholars and represent different regions of the world – recent scholar lists include students from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and Vietnam.
York describes the scholars as students of the highest academic calibre from around the world, and the award is the university’s flagship international entrance scholarship for undergraduate study in Toronto.
Value: what the $180,000 award covers
- The scholarship is valued at CAD $180,000 across a four-year undergraduate degree, which works out to $45,000 a year.
- It is an entrance award for first-year international students, so you have to be admitted to a York undergraduate programme in the Fall 2027 term to hold it.
- As a President’s International Scholar you get complimentary registration for York’s annual Career Ready Conference in every year of your studies.
- You are matched with mentors who support your transition to university, answer questions and connect you to resources.
- You get exclusive faculty networking – engagement opportunities with senior leaders and professors across York’s faculties, designed for international scholars.
- You join a community of scholars from different academic, geographic and cultural backgrounds.
Eligibility: who can get the York PISE
According to York University’s official PISE application guide, to be considered you must:
- Be a high-school student entering the first year of an undergraduate degree at York in Fall 2027.
- Hold international student status and be subject to international tuition fees during your studies at York.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership skills and active involvement in volunteer work and extracurricular activities.
- Have a minimum final admission average of 80% (A) or equivalent.
- Be officially nominated by a guidance counsellor, principal or senior school official – a maximum of two nominations per school in each year are accepted.
You cannot apply on your own. The nomination is a hard requirement, and because each school can nominate only two students, you should speak to your school counsellor early in the admission cycle.
How to apply for the President’s International Scholarship of Excellence
- Confirm your eligibility and secure a nomination from your high school. Your nominator must be a guidance counsellor, principal or senior official at your current school.
- Apply to York University admissions for an undergraduate programme in the Fall 2027 term. Once your application is received, York gives you a York University Reference Number, which you use to log in to the scholarship application portal.
- Complete the online scholarship application using that reference number. It asks for a personal statement of up to 500 words on your goals, leadership and community involvement, up to 3 extracurricular activities, up to 3 previous awards, your nominator’s contact details, an optional extra reference letter and a financial profile showing the funding you have for your studies.
- Get your nomination and reference letter submitted. After you submit the application, York emails your nominator a link to complete the official nomination form and upload a signed reference letter on the school’s letterhead.
- Meet both deadlines. The student application is due by 27 January 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST and the nomination and reference letter by 4 February 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Important dates
| Student scholarship application deadline | 27 January 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST |
| Nomination and reference letter deadline | 4 February 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST |
| Intake | Fall 2027 – first year of an undergraduate degree |
| What you must do first | Apply for admission to York and get your York University Reference Number |
| Award value | CAD $180,000 over four years ($45,000 a year) |
Frequently asked questions
The scholarship is valued at CAD $180,000 over four years, which is $45,000 a year, and it is given to international high-school students entering the first year of an undergraduate degree at York University.
International high-school students who will enter the first year of an undergraduate degree at York in Fall 2027, hold international student status and pay international tuition fees, have a minimum final admission average of 80% (A) or equivalent, and are officially nominated by their school.
No. You must be nominated by a guidance counsellor, principal or senior school official at your high school. A maximum of two nominations per school in each year are accepted, so speak to your school early.
The student application deadline is 27 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The nomination and reference letter must be submitted by 4 February 2027 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
A personal statement of up to 500 words, a list of up to three extracurricular activities and community involvement, up to three previous awards, your nominator’s contact details, an optional additional reference letter and a financial profile of the funding you have for your studies.
Yes. You must apply for admission to an undergraduate programme for the Fall 2027 term and receive your York University Reference Number before you can access and complete the online scholarship application.
Yes. President’s International Scholars get complimentary registration for York’s annual Career Ready Conference every year, a matched mentor, exclusive faculty networking opportunities and a community of scholars from around the world.
Official links
Related reading: York University – President’s International Scholarship of Excellence (official page)
York University – PISE application guide (student and educator guides)
York University – scholarships and awards for international students
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