Centennial scholarships, bursaries and OSAP
Keep entrance funding for the current intake separate from awards you can get after you register. Check each award's own eligibility window.
Toronto, Ontario · Public college · Official sources reviewed September 12, 2026 · How we check guides
The short answer
- Eligible first-time international students starting in September 2026 or January 2027 may get an entrance scholarship. The amount follows program length.
- One-year programs pay $2,000 in Year 1. Two-year programs pay $2,000 in Year 1 and $1,000 in Year 2.
- Three-year programs pay $2,000 in Year 1, then $1,000 in Years 2 and 3. Four-year programs pay $2,000 in Year 1, then $1,000 in Years 2, 3 and 4.
- Centennial says you must be registered for classes and fill in the Scholarships and Bursaries Finder at least once each academic year.
- For Ontario residents, OSAP (the Ontario Student Assistance Program, Ontario's student grants and loans) is the main government-aid route. Apply no later than 60 days before your study period ends.
Prospective international students have a separate entrance route for each intake. Centennial's current page says eligible first-time international students could get an entrance scholarship. This applies to students who begin in September 2026 or January 2027. The amount is based on program duration. The page lists exclusions. These include second Centennial programs and new ELL starts. They also include international-tuition exemptions. They include students who already received an Entrance, Loyalty or Mobility scholarship. The page also excludes a deferred start with at least $2,000 in the account. This applies when no study-permit application has been made. Treat this as a September 2026/January 2027 offer. The page does not establish later-intake funding.
More about costs and financial aid
Most other school opportunities start after you register. Centennial says you must be registered for classes. You must also complete the Scholarships and Bursaries Finder at least once per academic year. The Finder matches a student profile to most opportunities. Academic awards may need no application. Instead, they use the criteria and nomination process for that award. A match, invitation or entrance-page eligibility statement is not an award decision.
Centennial's general FAQ says international students cannot get bursaries. But the current Fall 2026 application listing says some bursaries and scholarships are open to all students. These first-party pages do not agree. Use the live award record. Check your residency eligibility with Student Financial Services before you rely on an opportunity.
For Ontario residents, Centennial identifies OSAP (Ontario's student grants and loans) as the primary government-aid route. Its deadlines are relative to the study period. Apply no later than 60 days before the end. Submit required documents no later than 40 days before the end.
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This is for eligible first-time international students in the named intakes. Read all exclusions and confirm the award before counting it toward tuition. This is not a guaranteed payment.
| Program duration | Published total | Payment schedule |
|---|---|---|
| One year | $2,000 | $2,000 in Year 1 |
| Two years | $3,000 | $2,000 in Year 1; $1,000 in Year 2 |
| Three years | $4,000 | $2,000 in Year 1; $1,000 in each of Years 2 and 3 |
| Four years | $5,000 | $2,000 in Year 1; $1,000 in each of Years 2, 3 and 4 |
Source for this table: Entrance Scholarships for International Students
Choose the funding route that matches your stage (table)
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Award terms and availability change. Check the live opportunity before budgeting.
| Route | What to check |
|---|---|
| International entrance scholarship | September 2026 or January 2027 first-time international start; read the intake page’s exclusions and duration-based schedule |
| Finder opportunities | Register for classes, submit the Finder at least annually, and monitor myCentennial email for current invitations |
| Academic awards | No general application; Centennial selects under each award’s academic and nomination criteria |
| OSAP | Ontario-resident route with application and document deadlines measured from the study-period end |
Source for this table: Entrance Scholarships for International Students, Academic Scholarships and Awards, College Wide Application Scholarships — Fall 2026, Scholarships and Bursaries Finder, Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions
Decision checklist
- Identify whether the opportunity is intake-specific, automatic/selected or application-based.
- Check residency, program, semester and registration conditions in the live award record.
- Do not count a match or possible entrance amount as confirmed funding.
- If eligible for OSAP, work backward from the study-period end date.
Official sources
Open the official page again before applying, accepting an offer, paying, selecting housing, or relying on a transfer or immigration pathway.
- Entrance Scholarships for International StudentsCentennial College · checked
- Academic Scholarships and AwardsCentennial College · checked
- College Wide Application Scholarships — Fall 2026Centennial College · checked
- Scholarships and Bursaries FinderCentennial College · checked
- Financial Aid Frequently Asked QuestionsCentennial College · checked
Educational guidance only. Requirements, prices, transfers, housing, immigration eligibility, and availability can change; use the official links in this guide before acting.
Plan your next step
Reopen the exact official program page for your intake and applicant category. Save the requirement, cost, campus, and deadline evidence you used, then confirm any uncertainty with the institution.
Prepared by the Stellar Advisers editorial team · reviewed September 12, 2026