PBEEE Merit scholarship program 2026

Applications are now open for the funded PBEEE Merit scholarship program 2026 for international students

The PBEEE (Programme de Bourses d’Excellence pour Étudiants Étrangers), or the Quebec Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students, stands as one of the most prestigious and generous awards for international graduate students and researchers.

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Designed to attract top talent from around the world to the province of Quebec, this scholarship offers a unique and highly rewarding path to advanced studies in Canada. Unlike many other scholarships, the PBEEE’s application process is distinctive, relying heavily on a preselection and nomination system that emphasizes the applicant’s academic excellence, research aptitude, and the direct support of a professor.

What is the PBEEE Scholarship?

At its core, the PBEEE is a merit-based scholarship funded by the Government of Québec and administered by the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ). Its primary objectives are to:

• Internationalize Québec’s Research: By funding top international students, the program helps integrate global perspectives into the province’s research ecosystem.
• Attract Top Talent: It serves as a powerful magnet for the best minds in various fields, from natural sciences and engineering to humanities, social sciences, and health.
• Foster Scientific Collaboration: The program aims to create enduring cultural and scientific links between Québec and the rest of the world, paving the way for future joint research projects and partnerships.

Crucially, the PBEEE is not a scholarship you can apply for directly on your own. It is an institutional nomination-based scholarship. This means your success hinges entirely on getting a host university and, most importantly, a professor to champion your application.

Scholarship Benefits

Winning the PBEEE offers a comprehensive package of benefits that significantly enhance the graduate school experience. The scholarship value varies depending on the level of study:

• Master’s Research Scholarships: Valued at $20,000 per year, for a maximum of two years. This is specifically for research-based master’s programs that lead to the completion of a thesis. Professional master’s programs are not eligible.
• Doctoral Research Scholarships: Valued at $25,000 per year, for a maximum of three years. This is a substantial reward that provides financial stability throughout your doctoral studies.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: A non-renewable scholarship worth $35,000 for a single year.
• Short-term Research or Professional Development: A monthly stipend of $3,000 for a maximum of four months. This is ideal for students or researchers who want to conduct a brief, highly focused research stay in Quebec.

Beyond these generous financial grants, scholarship recipients also receive two critical benefits:

1. Exemption from International Tuition Fees: This is a huge advantage, as it means you will not have to pay the higher tuition rates typically charged to international students. Instead, you pay the same tuition as a Canadian student from outside of Quebec, saving tens of thousands of dollars per year.
2. Health Insurance Coverage: Recipients are granted health and hospitalization insurance through the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), ensuring they have access to quality healthcare without additional costs.

Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility criteria for the PBEEE are specific and must be met precisely to be considered. The following is a detailed breakdown for each scholarship component.

General Eligibility for All Applicants

• You must be an international student. You cannot be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
• You must not have made an application for permanent residence under Canadian immigration law.
• The scholarship is open to students and researchers in all research sectors, including health, humanities, social sciences, arts, natural sciences, and engineering.
• You must be preselected by a Québec university or one of its affiliated networks.

Specific Eligibility by Scholarship Component

• Master’s Research Scholarship (VM):
  • The program must be a research-based master’s program that requires the completion of a thesis. Professional master’s degrees are not eligible.
  • You are eligible for the first six semesters of your master’s studies.
  • To be considered, you must have been enrolled in a master’s program for a maximum of three full-time semesters (one year) or less before the May 1st deadline of the competition.
  • The university record is a key evaluation criterion, often with a minimum GPA or equivalent.
• Doctoral Research Scholarship (V1):
  • You are eligible for the first nine semesters of your doctoral studies. All semesters completed before the scholarship’s effective date are counted, whether you received funding for them or not.
  • This includes students who fast-tracked from a bachelor’s degree directly to a Ph.D. program.
  • Many universities have specific internal requirements, such as a minimum GPA from your last master’s degree (e.g., a 4.0/4.33 at some institutions) and a requirement for a certain number of peer-reviewed publications.
• Postdoctoral Fellowship (V2):
  • You must have obtained your Ph.D. no more than two years before the competition deadline.
  • Your proposed postdoctoral research must be conducted at an institution different from the one that granted your doctoral degree.
  • Your former doctoral supervisor cannot act as your postdoctoral supervisor, even if they have moved to a different university.
• Short-term Research (V3):
  • This is for technical or university students or researchers who have completed their doctorate no more than five years before the deadline.
  • The research stay must be at an institution other than the one where the student was enrolled at the time of the application.

Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

The application for the PBEEE scholarship is highly unique and requires a proactive, multi-stage approach. You cannot simply fill out a form and submit it. You must navigate an institutional nomination process first.

Step 1: Get Admitted to a Graduate Program (The Prerequisite)

Before anything else, you must apply to and be accepted into a graduate program at one of the participating Quebec universities. This includes prestigious institutions like:

• University of Montreal
• McGill University
• Concordia University
• Université Laval
• Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
• École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS)
• And others within the university network.

Step 2: Secure a Professor’s Support (The Most Critical Step)

This is the single most important part of your application. You must actively search for and contact professors whose research interests align with your own. Your outreach should be professional and compelling. You need to convince a professor to not only accept you as a student but also to nominate you for this specific scholarship. Your email to them should include:

• A brief, professional introduction.
• An explanation of your academic background and research interests.
• A clear statement on how your research aligns with their work.
• A copy of your CV, academic transcripts, and a brief statement of your research goals.
• A specific request for their nomination for the PBEEE scholarship.

Step 3: The Internal University Nomination Process

Once a professor agrees to nominate you, they will work with their department and the university’s graduate studies office to put forward your application. Each university has a limited quota of nominations it can send to the FRQ.

• Your professor will submit a recommendation form on your behalf to the department.
• You will be asked to provide your academic transcripts, a copy of your passport, and often, letters of reference. Some universities, like McGill, have specific internal deadlines for this preselection process that occur months before the final FRQ deadline.
• The university’s internal committee will review all preselected applications and select the top candidates to be officially nominated.

Step 4: The Final Application to FRQ

If you are successfully nominated by your university, you will receive an invitation to submit your final application directly to the FRQ via its online system, FRQnet. The university will often create your account and provide you with the login details.

• You will then be required to fill out a detailed application form.
• You must upload all required supporting documents, including official transcripts, proof of citizenship, a copy of your letter of acceptance, and a detailed description of your proposed research project.
• This is where the quality of your academic record, your research experience, and the scientific merit of your proposed project are critically evaluated by a provincial selection committee.

The No IELTS Advantage and Other Important Notes

A significant benefit of the PBEEE is that there is no official IELTS or English/French language proficiency test requirement imposed by the scholarship itself. While some universities may require it for admission, the scholarship does not. This is a huge relief for many international applicants.

Application Deadline: December 2, 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions About the PBEEE Canada Merit Scholarship

Q1: What is the PBEEE Canada Merit Scholarship?

A: The PBEEE (Programme de Bourses d’Excellence pour Étudiants Étrangers) is a prestigious merit-based scholarship offered by the Government of Québec to attract top international students and researchers. It provides generous financial support for master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral studies in Quebec.

Q2: What are the main benefits of the scholarship?

A: The scholarship offers several key benefits: a large annual grant (up to $35,000 for postdoctoral fellows), a full exemption from the higher tuition fees for international students, and health insurance coverage through the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

Q3: Is IELTS or any other language test required for this scholarship?

A: The PBEEE scholarship itself does not have a language proficiency test requirement like IELTS or TOEFL. However, the university you apply to for admission may have its own language requirements, which you must meet to be accepted into a program.

Q4: How does the PBEEE scholarship application process work?

A: The application process is unique. You cannot apply directly to the scholarship provider (FRQ). Instead, you must first secure a nomination from a professor at a participating Quebec university. If the university’s internal committee selects you as a top candidate, you will be invited to submit a final application to the FRQ.

Q5: How do I get a professor to nominate me for the scholarship?

A: You must proactively contact professors in your field of interest at Quebec universities. You should send them a professional email with your CV and transcripts, clearly explaining your research interests and how they align with their work. You must secure a professor’s support for your project and their willingness to nominate you.

Q6: What is the annual value of the PBEEE scholarship for different levels of study?

A: The annual value of the scholarship varies:

• Master’s Research: $20,000 per year (maximum 2 years).
• Doctoral Research: $25,000 per year (maximum 3 years).
• Postdoctoral Fellowship: $35,000 for one year.
• Short-term Research: $3,000 per month (maximum 4 months).

Q7: Which universities are eligible to participate in the PBEEE scholarship program?

A: The PBEEE scholarships are for students at Quebec universities. This includes well-known institutions such as the University of Montreal, McGill University, Concordia University, Université Laval, and others within the Quebec university network.

Q8: Are there any specific GPA requirements to be eligible?

A: The scholarship is merit-based, and a strong academic record is essential. While the FRQ does not specify a minimum GPA, participating universities have their own internal requirements. For example, some may require a minimum GPA of 4.0/4.33 or higher for preselection.

Q9: Can I apply for the PBEEE scholarship if I have already started my graduate program?

A: Yes, in most cases, you can. However, there are strict eligibility periods. For example, Master’s students must have been enrolled for a maximum of three full-time semesters or less, and Doctoral students for nine semesters or less, by the competition’s eligibility deadline.

Q10: What documents do I need for the application?

A: You will need a number of documents for the preselection process, including your academic transcripts, a copy of your passport, a detailed research project proposal, and letters of reference. The final FRQ application will require you to submit these documents in a specific format.