Scholarships

As part of our Youth Education Program we provide up to 25 scholarships a year to undergraduates studying international business at university or college. We also make five international business scholarships available to students in programs that combine business with environmental or sustainability studies. Each scholarship is worth $4,000. You can apply anytime from the start of November to the end of February.

Applying for scholarships

Who’s eligible?

To qualify for a scholarship, you must be:

a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
enrolled in a full-time accredited bachelor’s degree program at a Canadian university or college
studying business (international business, commerce, finance, economics, accounting, etc.) or business combined with environmental or sustainability courses*
returning to full-time studies for the 2019-2020 academic year
in excellent academic standing (minimum B average)

If you’ve studied or had work experience outside of Canada, that’s an asset.

^{*If you’re enrolled only in environmental or sustainability studies, you would not be eligible for an EDC scholarship. Business courses are required.

Note: EDC employees and their dependents are not eligible.}

Scholarship FAQs

If you’re in a business or economics program and applying in the international business category, you must show evidence of interest in international business either through your curriculum (courses you’ve taken or plan to take) or your extracurricular activities. If you’re in a combined environment and business program, you do not need to be taking international business courses.

The authority to grant degrees is given to colleges by their provincial governments. To the best of our knowledge, the following colleges have degree-granting authority for business bachelor programs. If yours is not listed and has recently acquired this authority, you would still be eligible. These colleges are:

Algonquin College
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Camosun College
College of the Rockies
Conestoga College
Douglas College
George Brown College
Georgian College
Humber College
Keyano College
Langara College
Medicine Hat College
Niagara College
North Island College
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Okanagan College
Olds College
Red Deer College
Seneca College
Sheridan College
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
St. Lawrence College

How do I apply?

Complete the online application in our Careers portal under “EDC International Business Scholarships 2018-2019.” The application process starts in November and ends in February. Scholarships are awarded in the spring, and issued in the fall at the start of each academic year.

Please note, you must apply electronically: we cannot accept documents by mail, email or fax.

All eligible applications will be reviewed in March. You’ll be notified of the selection committee’s decision by early April.

Your application must include:

A letter of intent

A letter of intent that describes your main areas of interest, the career path you aspire to, and any current or past activities that show your motivation and potential in international business or international business with an environmental or sustainability focus. (Maximum 600 words.)

Your official transcripts

Your official transcripts (a clear, scanned copy) from all post-secondary institutions you attended (university, college, CEGEP), including transcripts for the most recent academic term. Make sure your transcripts include detailed information on the grading system specific to your institution. We reserve the right to request the original, hardcopy transcripts. We strongly recommend you order a recent transcript from your institution well in advance of the application deadline to make sure you receive it on time. High school transcripts are not required.

Your resume

Your resume, which should include any experience abroad (work, study, internship) as well as any professional experience, volunteer work, extracurricular activities or memberships that show your interest for international business or in international business with an environmental or sustainability focus.

An academic or employer reference letter

An academic or employer reference letter from either a professor/instructor at your current educational institution or your employer. You can ask a professor to provide an employment reference if you have done paid work for him/her as a researcher, teaching assistant or in another role. An employer reference can be for either paid or volunteer work.

How will my application be evaluated?

Our selection committee will evaluate your scholarship application based on your:

demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in international business
clear expression of how the scholarship will help you pursue field of study
level of academic achievement (as reflected in your transcripts or honours)
experience in Canada and abroad (including work, internships, volunteering and study exchanges) during the current degree program
leadership potential (as reflected in extracurricular activities)
letters of reference
language skills

Our selection committee will evaluate your scholarship application based on your:

demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in international business
clear expression of how the scholarship will help you pursue field of study
level of academic achievement (as reflected in your transcripts or honours)
experience in Canada and abroad (including work, internships, volunteering and study exchanges) during the current degree program
leadership potential (as reflected in extracurricular activities)
letters of reference
language skills