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International students: aid and scholarships to look for in Canada and the US

Updated November 2026

Government student aid in Canada and the US is set by citizenship or immigration status, and each program lists who can apply. Many international students are not on those lists, but your own situation can be different, so check each program’s official page. Many schools give their own scholarships to international students, so that is a good place to look. Date checked: November 15, 2026. This is a general guide, not legal or immigration advice. See the note near the end of this guide.

Jump to what you can look for

This guide is for international students, and for anyone whose status makes the usual aid pages confusing. You don’t need to tell us your status. We don’t ask for it.

The short answer

  • Government aid (federal and provincial or state): set by status, and often not open to people on a study permit or student visa. Check each program.
  • School scholarships, entrance awards and bursaries: often yes. Start here.
  • Some US schools ask international students for the CSS Profile. Check each school.
  • Work rules in Canada depend on your study permit. Check IRCC.
  • Never pay someone to “unlock” or guarantee aid. Learn the scam signs.

Government aid: who it is usually for

United States

Federal student aid, such as Pell Grants, federal loans and Federal Work-Study (you apply with the FAFSA form), is open to US citizens and to “eligible noncitizens”. StudentAid.gov says people in the US on an F-1, F-2 or M-1 student visa, or a J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor visa, are not eligible noncitizens and cannot receive federal student aid. Permanent residents and some other statuses can. Date checked: November 15, 2026.

If your status is different from the ones above, the official page says whether you are covered. Do not guess. Check the page and ask the aid office. Source: StudentAid.gov, Eligibility for Non-U.S. Citizens.

Ontario

OSAP is for Ontario residents who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons. The OSAP page also lists being an international student among the reasons you may not be eligible. Source: ontario.ca, Learn about OSAP.

Other provinces and the federal government

Canada Student Grants and Loans are applied for through your province or territory. Canada.ca says to go to your province or territory to find out if you’re eligible. The canada.ca student aid page says protected persons can apply for the same loans and grants as a Canadian citizen. Each province sets its own rules, so check your province’s student aid site to see if you qualify. Source: canada.ca, Student aid.

Our guide OSAP vs private loans has a short section for international students.

What you can look for

1. Your school’s own money

Many colleges and universities have entrance scholarships, bursaries and awards. Some are open to domestic and international students. Some are only for international students. Some are only for citizens and permanent residents. Read each award’s eligibility line.

  • Find the “scholarships,” “awards” or “financial aid” page on the school’s website, and any page for international or future students.
  • Note whether you must apply or are considered automatically.
  • Write down the deadline from the school’s own page. We do not list school deadlines here.
  • Ask the international student office or aid office: “Which awards can I apply for as an international student?” See talking to the financial aid office.

On WealthNutz, school pages link to each school’s official scholarship pages. Check the official page, or ask your school’s international student office or aid office. They deal with this every day.

2. The CSS Profile (some US schools)

The CSS Profile is a College Board form that some US colleges use to award their own aid. The College Board’s list of participating schools shows, for each school, whether it uses the Profile for international students. Each school sets its own deadline. Read CSS Profile: what it is and how to find each school’s deadline.

3. EducationUSA

EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of international student advising centers. Its advisers give information on admissions, how to finance a US education and the student visa process. Check with your nearest advising center for what it offers. Source: educationusa.state.gov, About EducationUSA.

4. Awards from outside the school

Some come from your home country, your government or other groups. Use official sources only. A real award has its own official page, and you should be able to find it without clicking a link in a message from a stranger.

Working in Canada on a study permit

General information only, not immigration advice. Your permit has conditions that apply to you.

Some study-permit holders can work off campus without a separate work permit, if they meet conditions. IRCC lists them. On November 15, 2026 the IRCC page said, among other things, that you must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution, hold a valid study permit with work conditions on it, and have a Social Insurance Number. It sets an hours limit for regular school terms and treats scheduled breaks differently. We give no hours number here on purpose.

Working outside your permit conditions can have serious immigration consequences (IRCC on unauthorized work), so check the IRCC page and your own permit before you start any job. This is only one rule. On-campus work, co-op placements and work after graduation follow different rules. Your permit conditions are specific to you, and the rules can change. Check IRCC for the current rules: IRCC, Work off campus.

Work rules for studying in the US are different and we do not cover them. Ask your school’s designated school official (DSO) or international student office.

Watch for scams

Fake scholarship offers are a risk for any student. Be careful if someone you don’t know:

  • asks you to pay to “unlock”, “release” or “guarantee” a scholarship, a loan, an admission or a visa;
  • says you won an award you never applied for;
  • asks for your password, bank details or ID documents by message, or pressures you to act today.

Some real steps do have fees, such as the CSS Profile. Those fees are listed on the official page and you pay them on the official site. Only send documents to your school, IRCC or the US government through their official sites. Read how to spot a scholarship scam. It also says where to report fraud: the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (Canada) or the Federal Trade Commission (US).

Questions

Can international students get OSAP?

In general, no. The OSAP page lists citizens, permanent residents and protected persons (who live in Ontario) as the groups that can get OSAP, and lists being an international student among the reasons you may not be eligible. Check ontario.ca for the current rules.

Can international students fill out the FAFSA?

It depends on your immigration status. StudentAid.gov lists student-visa holders (F-1, F-2, M-1) and exchange visitors (J-1, J-2) as not eligible for federal student aid. Permanent residents and some other statuses are. Read the page and ask the school's aid office before you apply.

Are there scholarships for international students?

Many schools have them. Some awards are open to everyone, some only to international students, and some only to citizens and permanent residents. Read each award's eligibility on the school's own page.

Can I work while I study in Canada?

Some study-permit holders can work off campus, with conditions. Check IRCC for the current rules and your own permit conditions.

A note on immigration questions

WealthNutz is not a law firm, a licensed immigration consultant, a school or a government office. This guide is general information. It is not legal, immigration or financial advice, and it does not know your situation. Your status and your permit rules are personal, and they can change. For questions about your study permit, work rights or visa, check IRCC (canada.ca) or the US government’s official pages, ask your school’s international student office or designated school official, or speak with a licensed immigration lawyer or consultant. Do not rely on this page to make a decision about your status.

Next steps

  1. Open your school’s international student page and its aid page.
  2. List every award you may qualify for, with its official page and deadline.
  3. If you want to study in the US, check which schools on your list use the CSS Profile for international students.
  4. Ask the aid office what is open to you.
  5. Check IRCC before you plan on working.

Sources and who we are not

WealthNutz is not affiliated with or endorsed by IRCC or the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the US Department of Education, the US Department of State or EducationUSA, the College Board, or any school. We link to their official pages so you can check for yourself.

Date checked: November 15, 2026.

Education only, not legal, immigration or financial advice. WealthNutz is not affiliated with IRCC, any government, EducationUSA, the College Board or any school, and this is a summary, not an official page. We never ask for your immigration status, SIN, SSN or login. Checked on November 15, 2026; rules can change, so confirm on the official pages.