Québec Government Merit Scholarship for International Students 2027/2028

Applications are ongoing for the Québec Government Merit Scholarship for Foreign Students (PBEEE) 2027/2028, offering funding opportunities for outstanding international students and researchers in Canada. The Québec Government Merit Scholarship supports doctoral studies, postdoctoral research and short-term research or professional development at participating institutions in Québec.

Administered by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), the scholarship aims to attract talented researchers from around the world and strengthen international research collaboration. Applicants must first be nominated by an eligible Québec institution before submitting their final scholarship applications.

SUMMARY:

• Scholarship Sponsor: Government of Québec, Canada
• Scholarship Type: Funded
• Host Institutions: Participating Québec Universities and Research Institutions
• Scholarship Worth: Up to CAD $35,000, Depending on Category
• Number of Awards: Varies
• Study Level: Doctoral, Postdoctoral and Short-Term Research
• Eligible Countries: All Countries, Subject to Programme Conditions
• Study Destination: Québec, Canada

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See Also: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Fully Funded, $50,000 per Annum)

Québec Government Merit Scholarship 2027/2028 | Programme Overview

The Québec Merit Scholarship Programme for Foreign Students, also known as PBEEE, supports international researchers undertaking advanced studies and research activities in Québec.

The programme is designed to attract academically outstanding candidates, promote international cooperation and strengthen research activities at Québec universities and research institutions.

It includes a general scholarship category open to applicants from different countries and additional categories established through international cooperation agreements.

Available Scholarship Categories

The programme supports three main types of academic activities:

1.) Doctoral Research Scholarships: For eligible international students pursuing doctoral research in Québec.

2.) Postdoctoral Scholarships: For qualified researchers undertaking postdoctoral research at participating institutions.

3.) Short-Term Research or Professional Development Scholarships: For eligible students and researchers undertaking temporary research or professional development activities.

The programme covers research areas including engineering, natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, social sciences and the arts.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Québec Government Merit Scholarship, applicants must generally:

• Be international students or researchers who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
• Not have applied for permanent residence under Canadian immigration laws.
• Be preselected by an eligible Québec university or participating institution.
• Meet the academic requirements of their chosen scholarship category.
• Demonstrate outstanding academic performance and research potential.
• Meet the programme’s requirements concerning previous scholarship funding.
• Satisfy any additional conditions established by the nominating institution.

Additional Requirements

Doctoral Applicants: Must satisfy the programme’s doctoral eligibility period and academic requirements.

Postdoctoral Applicants: Must meet the applicable requirements concerning the date their doctoral degree was obtained and their proposed research placement.

Short-Term Research Applicants: Must qualify under the relevant research or professional development category.

Applicants should review the official competition rules for the exact requirements applicable to their category.

Scholarship Benefits

Successful applicants may receive the following financial support:

• Doctoral Research Scholarship: CAD $25,000 annually for up to three years, with a possible extension under the programme’s conditions.
• Postdoctoral Scholarship: CAD $35,000 for one year.
• Short-Term Research or Professional Development Scholarship: CAD $3,000 monthly for up to four months.

Recipients may also qualify for:

• Exemption from additional tuition fees normally charged to international students, where applicable.
• Health insurance and hospital coverage through Québec’s public health insurance arrangements, subject to eligibility.

Scholarship benefits depend on the selected category and applicable funding conditions.

Also Apply: Top 10 Scholarships in Canada Paying $50,000 and Above

Application Procedures

How to Apply: Interested applicants for the Québec Government Merit Scholarship 2027 should follow these steps:

1. Visit the official Québec Government Merit Scholarship website and review the eligibility requirements.
2. Identify a participating Québec university or research institution offering preselection for the scholarship.
3. Contact the relevant university department or scholarship office to confirm its internal nomination requirements and deadline.
4. Submit the documents required for institutional preselection.
5. If nominated, follow the instructions provided by the Fonds de recherche du Québec to access the FRQnet application system.
6. Complete the electronic scholarship application and upload all required supporting documents.
7. Submit the completed application before the official deadline.

Important: Only candidates who have been preselected by an eligible institution can complete the final scholarship application. Some university preselection deadlines have already passed.

Application Documents

Applicants may be required to provide:

• Academic transcripts and degree certificates.
• Updated academic CV.
• Research proposal or description of the proposed research project.
• Proof of identity.
• Supporting statements and relevant academic information.
• Letter of acceptance from a research supervisor, where required.
• Additional documents specified by the scholarship category.

Applications may be completed in English or French. Applicants submitting in English may also be required to provide a French title for their research project.

Documents written in other languages must be accompanied by an appropriate translation, as specified in the application guidelines.

Application Deadline

December 2, 2026, at 4:00 PM Québec Time.

This deadline applies to candidates who have already completed the required institutional preselection process. Individual universities may have earlier deadlines.

Visit the Official Website for Further Details