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York University: President's International Scholarship of Excellence (PISE): $180,000 CAD over four years ($45,000 a year) for international high-school applicants with leadership; Fall 2027, apply 1 November 2026 to 27 January 2027, school nomination by 4 February

York University's President's International Scholarship of Excellence (PISE) is $180,000 CAD over four years ($45,000 a year) for international high-school students with academic excellence, leadership and volunteering. You need admission to York for Fall 2027 (an average of at least 80%), the application from 1 November 2026 to 27 January 2027 and a school nomination by 4 February 2027.

York University· York University – President's International Scholarship of Excellence (PISE), $180,000 CAD over four years ($45,000 a year), Fall 2027 entry; student deadline 27 January 2027, nomination deadline 4 February 2027

At a glance

Amount
CA$180,000

$180,000 CAD over four years ($45,000 a year) for President's International Scholars. The award cannot be combined with York's entrance scholarships: if you qualify for both, you receive the higher-value one. The page does not say what the money covers (tuition, living costs): see the award terms at York

Deadline
27 Jan 2027

27 January 2027

Applications open: 1 November 2026

Covers
Cash payment
Duration

Whole degree

Cycle: 2027-2028

About this grant

The President's International Scholarship of Excellence (PISE) is York University's largest scholarship for international applicants: $180,000 CAD over four years, that is $45,000 a year. It is awarded to high-school students who show academic excellence, commitment to volunteering and extracurriculars and leadership. Recipients are called President's International Scholars and are chosen from various regions of the world, so competition is high. The award cannot be combined with York's entrance scholarships: you can apply for both, but the higher-value one is what you win.

Conditions for Fall 2027: be a high-school student entering the first year of a bachelor's degree, hold international student status, a minimum final admission average of 80% (A) or equivalent, and proven leadership and involvement. An official nomination by a guidance counsellor, principal or senior school official is mandatory; only two nominations per school each year are accepted. First apply for admission to York for Fall 2027 and get your reference number, then complete the online scholarship application: a personal statement of up to 500 words, up to three extracurriculars and three awards, the nominator's contact and a financial profile (how much funding you have to study over 3-4 years).

Deadlines: the portal opens on 1 November 2026; the student deadline is 27 January 2027 (11:59 p.m. EST) and the nomination and reference letter deadline is 4 February 2027 (11:59 p.m. EST). After you submit, the university emails the nominator a link; the letter must be signed and on the school's letterhead. The page does not say what the money covers, tuition, living costs or both, so confirm with York. With the Spanish Bachillerato, find out beforehand how York computes the “final admission average”.

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Who can apply

Citizenship
any
Education level
2nd year of Bachillerato
Grades
A minimum final admission average of 80% (A) or equivalent
Other
High-school students entering the first year of a York undergraduate degree in Fall 2027 with international student status (international tuition). Strong academics, leadership and active involvement in volunteering and extracurriculars are required. An official nomination by a guidance counsellor, principal or senior school official is mandatory (at most two nominations per school each year); the nominator submits a signed reference letter on the school's letterhead. First apply for admission to York for Fall 2027: that gives you a reference number to log in to the scholarship portal. The application includes a personal statement of up to 500 words, up to three extracurriculars, up to three awards, the nominator's contact and a financial profile (how much funding you will have to study over 3-4 years)

How to apply

Where to go and what to do, step by step

Where to apply
The President's International Scholarship of Excellence application portal (login with your York applicant number) and the nomination form for your school
https://futurestudents.yorku.ca/presidents-international-scholarship-excellence-application-guides
Go to the application page
Who submits it
You yourself
Time needed
2-3 weeks: admission application, a statement of up to 500 words, and arranging the nomination and letter at school

Steps

  1. 1

    Apply for admission to York for Fall 2027 as an international student and get your applicant number.

  2. 2

    Ask a guidance counsellor, principal or senior school official to be your nominator: a school may make at most two nominations a year.

  3. 3

    From 1 November 2026 log in to the PISE portal and complete the application by 27 January 2027 (11:59 p.m. EST): a personal statement of up to 500 words, up to three extracurriculars, up to three awards, the nominator's contact and a financial profile.

  4. 4

    Make sure the nominator received the link and by 4 February 2027 (11:59 p.m. EST) sends the signed letter on school letterhead.

  5. 5

    Watch York's emails: first the admission decision, then the scholarship decision.

Apply by:27 Jan 202727 January 2027

What exactly to submit

Documents and materials to attach to the application.

  • Personal statement of up to 500 words (in English)
  • A list of up to three extracurriculars and up to three awards with descriptions
  • Nominator's signed reference letter on school letterhead (sent by the nominator)
  • Financial profile: how much funding you have for 3-4 years of study

How applicants are chosen

Competitive: academic excellence (average of at least 80%), leadership, volunteering and extracurriculars are assessed. The page does not give the number of awards; the winner receives $45,000 a year for four years and cannot combine it with York's entrance scholarships.

What happens after you apply

If you win, York will tell you by email; the award is $180,000 CAD over four years. The page does not say what the money covers (tuition or living costs), so confirm it in the award letter.

Common mistakes

  • Applying for PISE without applying for admission: without an applicant number you cannot log in to the portal
  • Leaving the nomination to the last day: the nominator's deadline is 4 February 2027 and the letter must be on school letterhead
  • Counting on both PISE and an entrance scholarship: York gives the higher-value one, not both

Tips

  • We haven't re-checked the conditions by hand yet: compare amounts and deadlines with the official page before applying.

Official links

Guide checked against the official pages: 9 October 2026. Guide written from official sources. Details may change: check them on the application page.

A letter template and a checklist to review before sending. If a local model is running on your computer, the text reads more naturally.

Verbatim from the source

“awarded to international high-school applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to volunteer work and extracurricular activities, and leadership skills”
Original in englishOfficial source

Reviews

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This information is for guidance only. Conditions change every year — check them on the provider's official website before applying.

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