How Pearson Scholars Are Selected, and When You Find Out

About 37 students become Pearson Scholars each year. U of T does not publish how many nominations it receives, how many applicants are shortlisted, or a success rate, so any percentage you see online is a guess. What U of T does publish is the structure of the process and the qualities it rewards.

Two stages of selection

1. 1
   Your school

   Nomination

   U of T says “part of the selection process involves your school choosing your top candidate”. One nominee per school per year.

2. 2
   U of T

   Scholarship review

   U of T reviews nominees’ Pearson applications together with their admission files. Pearson applications are managed by Enrollment Services.

3. 3
   U of T

   Admission decision

   You must be admitted to the program the award is attached to — your top choice when decisions are made.

4. 4
   Late January–April

   Notification

   In the last cycle, recipients were notified from the end of January and all nominees by April.

What U of T looks for

From U of T’s official descriptions, Pearson Scholars “demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and potential to contribute positively to the global community”. The international scholarships page describes scholars who “are leaders within their school”, and the Centre for International Experience stresses “their future potential to contribute positively to the global community”.

Look at U of T’s 2026 Pearson Scholars to see the range. They come from Nigeria, Pakistan, Ecuador, the United States, Myanmar and elsewhere, and study across all three campuses — life sciences, social sciences, communication and technology. There is no single template.

U of T lets you apply to up to three program areas. But the scholarship, “if awarded to you, would be restricted to your top choice of program at the time our scholarship decisions are made”. In practice:

• Choose a top program you really want, because you cannot carry the award elsewhere.
• Choose one you are competitive for. A Pearson decision depends on admission to that program.
• If you change your program ranking after applying, U of T will use whatever is top when it decides.

Is there an interview?

U of T’s public pages do not mention a Pearson interview. Some cycles may have included one; U of T would tell nominees directly. Keep your contact details current in Join U of T and check your email, including spam, from November onwards. Official communication only ever comes from a @utoronto.ca address.

Decisions and the waitlist question

U of T’s counsellor FAQ for the last cycle said recipients were notified “starting at the end of January 2026” and that “all nominees will be notified of our decisions by April 2026”. Expect the same window in 2027, but wait for U of T to confirm. U of T does not publish a formal waitlist policy; if you are told you are on one, ask what it means for timing.

A note on luck

With about 37 awards for the whole world, many outstanding nominees will not be chosen. A no from Pearson is not a verdict on your potential. Apply for other awards in parallel; the UBC International Scholars Program and York’s President’s International Scholarship have later deadlines.