About the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) 2025/2026
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) are designed to promote and recognize excellence in graduate studies at publicly funded universities in Ontario, Canada.
These prestigious awards are jointly funded by the Ontario government and participating universities, providing financial support for both domestic and international graduate students.
The OGS and QEII-GSST are competitive scholarships aimed at attracting top talent to Ontario’s graduate programs.
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The Ontario government covers two-thirds of the award’s value, while the participating university provides the remaining one-third.
Both scholarships are awarded based on merit, and applicants can be considered for both the OGS and QEII-GSST through a single application.
The OGS is open to students in all disciplines, available to both domestic and international students.
In contrast, the QEII-GSST is exclusively for students in research-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs and is limited to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Eligibility Criteria
Citizenship Requirements:
— International Students: Must hold a valid study permit under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
— Domestic Students: Must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Academic Requirements:
— Applicants must have achieved a first-class average (minimum A-/80%) in each of the last two years of full-time equivalent study. Eligibility is determined based on grades up to August 31, 2024.
Program of Study:
— OGS: Available to applicants in both research-based and course-based programs.
— QEII-GSST: Restricted to applicants in research-based graduate programs in STEM disciplines only.
Registration and Admission Status:
— International Applicants: Must be currently registered in a graduate program at the University of Waterloo or on an approved leave of absence by February 1, 2025. Prospective students are not eligible due to limited awards for international students.
— Domestic Applicants: Must be registered in a graduate program or apply for full-time graduate admission at Waterloo with a start date in spring 2025, fall 2025, or winter 2026.
Scholarship Duration and Maximum Support
Master’s students can hold the OGS/QEII-GSST for a maximum of two academic years. Doctoral students can hold the award for up to four academic years.
Lifetime Limit: Students may receive a total of six years of government-funded graduate awards, including the OGS, QEII-GSST, Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS), and Tri-Agency Scholarships (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, Vanier).
Ontario Graduate Scholarship Benefits
Each OGS and QEII-GSST award is valued at a maximum of $15,000 per year, distributed as $5,000 per term for two or three terms. The minimum scholarship duration is two terms, totaling $10,000.
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Scholarships are non-renewable, and recipients must reapply each year.
In addition to the OGS/QEII-GSST, recipients at the University of Waterloo are eligible for the President’s Graduate Scholarship (PGS), which offers additional funding for outstanding students receiving the OGS or QEII-GSST.
Selection Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on the following three criteria. Each faculty at the University of Waterloo determines the weight assigned to each criterion:
- Academic Excellence (30-50%): Assessed through academic transcripts and a list of competitive scholarships, awards, and honors.
- Research Ability and Potential (30-50%): Demonstrated through publications, conference presentations, originality, and other scholarly achievements.
- Communication and Leadership Skills (10-20%): Evaluated based on a list of volunteer work, leadership roles, and relevant academic or professional experiences.
Eligible Countries
— OGS: Open to Indigenous, domestic, and international students.
— QEII-GSST: Open only to Indigenous and domestic students.
How to Apply
Applications for the OGS and QEII-GSST are not transferable between institutions. Applicants must submit a separate application to each university where they wish to be considered.
Since each university has its own application processes and deadlines, it is important to check the specific requirements for each institution.
At the University of Waterloo, interested applicants must submit their applications through the graduate awards portal. Be sure to verify the specific deadlines for your faculty.
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