What scholarships does USask offer international students automatically?

The USask Entrance Scholarship (CAD 5,000) is awarded automatically to 600 high-achieving entering students based on admission average. The University of Saskatchewan International Excellence Award (CAD 10,000, 1 awarded) is also automatic consideration upon admission with a February 15 deadline. No separate scholarship application is needed for these two awards.

How much does it cost to study at USask as an international student?

International undergraduate tuition at USask ranges from CAD 39,007/year (Arts) to CAD 59,383/year (Engineering) for 2026-27. The CAD 5,000 automatic scholarship covers approximately 10-12% of annual tuition. Living costs in Saskatoon add approximately CAD 12,000-15,000/year.

Can I stay in Canada after graduating from USask?

Yes. USask graduates are eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for up to 3 years. Saskatchewan also has the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) which has streams for international graduates and skilled workers. The SINP is one of the more accessible provincial nominee programs for African graduates.

University of Saskatchewan Scholarships 2026: What International Students Actually Get

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) in Saskatoon is a research-intensive Canadian university with automatic scholarship consideration for international students. It is not a low-cost option - international tuition is CAD 39,000-59,000/year. But it has two things that make it strategically interesting for African applicants: automatic scholarship consideration and a clear post-graduation pathway to Canadian permanent residence through the Saskatchewan PNP.

This post covers what the scholarships actually pay, what the full cost looks like, and why the Saskatchewan pathway matters.

What USask automatically offers international students

USask does not require a separate scholarship application for its main entrance awards. You are considered automatically when you apply for admission.

USask Entrance Scholarship

Value: CAD 5,000 (one-time)
Number awarded: 600 per year
Basis: Admission average
Deadline: Apply for admission by December 1 and submit all documents
Who qualifies: Current high school students or recent graduates with little prior post-secondary education

University of Saskatchewan International Excellence Award

Value: CAD 10,000 (one-time)
Number awarded: 1 per year
Basis: Academic achievement
Deadline: Apply for admission by February 15
Who qualifies: International students - automatic consideration upon admission

International Baccalaureate (IB) Excellence Award

Value: CAD 20,000 (one-time)
Number awarded: 1 per year
Basis: IB Diploma Programme completion
Who qualifies: International IB students - automatic consideration

Competitive renewable scholarships (require separate application)

Best and Brightest - President's Scholarship

Value: CAD 40,000 (CAD 10,000/year over 4 years)
Basis: Academics, leadership, community contributions
Application deadline: December 1
Separate application required

Chancellor's Scholarship

Value: CAD 30,000 (CAD 7,500/year over 4 years)
Basis: Academics, leadership, community contributions
Application deadline: December 1
Separate application required

The honest cost picture

The scholarships above are real but they do not make USask affordable for most self-funded African students.

2026-27 international undergraduate tuition:

Programme	Annual tuition (CAD)
Arts and Science (Arts)	39,007
Arts and Science (Science)	40,894
Agriculture	41,964
Business (Edwards)	48,932
Engineering	59,383
Nursing	48,305

Living costs in Saskatoon: Approximately CAD 12,000-15,000/year for accommodation, food and transport. Saskatoon is significantly cheaper than Toronto or Vancouver.

Total annual cost (Arts, self-funded): Approximately CAD 51,000-54,000/year.

CAD 5,000 automatic scholarship covers: Approximately 10% of annual costs.

What this means: USask is not a scholarship-first destination for African students. The automatic awards reduce costs marginally. The competitive renewable scholarships (President's, Chancellor's) are meaningful but highly competitive.

Why USask is strategically interesting anyway - the Saskatchewan PNP

The reason USask appears in African student planning discussions is not primarily the scholarships. It is the post-graduation pathway.

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): After graduating from USask (a Designated Learning Institution), you are eligible for a PGWP for up to 3 years. This allows you to work anywhere in Canada.

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP): Saskatchewan has one of Canada's more accessible provincial nominee programs. The International Skilled Worker - Saskatchewan Express Entry stream nominates candidates from the federal Express Entry pool who have a connection to Saskatchewan (including USask graduates). Provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile - effectively guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.

The pathway: Study at USask → PGWP → work in Saskatchewan → SINP nomination → Express Entry ITA → permanent residence.

This is a 4-6 year pathway to Canadian PR that is more accessible than the general Express Entry pool for many African applicants, particularly those in engineering, healthcare, agriculture and business - all programmes available at USask.

Who USask suits

USask is worth considering if:

You can fund CAD 39,000-59,000/year in tuition (or have a scholarship covering most of it)
You want a clear post-graduation PR pathway through Saskatchewan
You are in a programme aligned with Saskatchewan's labour market (agriculture, engineering, healthcare, business)
You prefer a smaller city (Saskatoon, population ~270,000) over Toronto or Vancouver

USask is not the right choice if:

You are primarily seeking a low-cost study destination (consider Germany, Norway, or Italy DSU instead)
You need the scholarship to cover most of your costs

Evidence note

Tuition figures and scholarship values sourced from https://admissions.usask.ca/money/tuition.php and https://admissions.usask.ca/money/scholarships.php, retrieved October 2026. Tuition rates are subject to annual increase. SINP stream details from https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/moving-to-saskatchewan/immigrate-to-saskatchewan - verify current stream requirements before applying.