Prime Highlights:
- Canada announced a $100 million scholarship initiative to expand study opportunities for Indian students and strengthen academic partnershipsbetween the two countries.
- The program will support up to 200 fully funded scholarships and create hybrid study centres in Indiawhere students can begin Canadian degree programs before completing them in Canada.
Key Facts:
- The scholarships will be administered through the University of Toronto, covering tuition and potentially living and research expenses.
- Dalhousie University will develop one hybrid study centre, while the broader strategy also includes 13 new university partnershipsbetween Canada and India.
Background:
Canada has announced a $100 million scholarship initiative aimed at expanding study opportunities for Indian students and strengthening academic partnerships between the two countries.
The plan was revealed during high-level discussions under the Canada–India Talent and Innovation Strategy, a broader effort designed to deepen cooperation in education, research and technology. Officials said the funding will support up to 200 fully funded scholarships for Indian students admitted to Canadian institutions.
The scholarships will be administered through the University of Toronto and will cover tuition fees and other academic expenses. In several cases, the funding may also include living support and research stipends for selected candidates.
A key part of the programme is the creation of three hybrid study centres in India. These joint academic hubs will allow students to begin Canadian degree programmes in India and later complete them in Canada. Officials said the centres will focus on priority areas such as technology, artificial intelligence and advanced research training.
One of the centres will be developed by Dalhousie University in collaboration with Indian partners. Other hubs will involve leading Canadian universities and research institutions.
The strategy also introduces 13 new partnerships between Canadian and Indian universities. These agreements aim to expand student and faculty exchanges, encourage joint research projects and create pathway programmes that support academic mobility between the two countries.
Through these collaborations, universities plan to launch new initiatives such as dual-degree programmes, cohort-based study pathways, summer schools and specialised short-term courses. Many of these programmes will focus on emerging sectors including artificial intelligence, clean energy, agriculture and public health.
Education experts say the initiative arrives at a time when Canadian universities are seeking to stabilise international enrolment after recent policy changes. By offering structured pathways and scholarships, Canada hopes to continue attracting talented students from India.
Officials expect the first major intake of students under the new framework to begin in the autumn 2027 academic cycle, marking a new phase in education and research cooperation between India and Canada.
