Details of all awards administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies can be found on the graduate awards website and in the searchable graduate award database at .
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic standing and demonstrated potential for advanced study and research. Normally, master's students in the first two years of program and doctoral students in the first four years of program are eligible to hold scholarships. If, in the opinion of the Graduate Scholarship Committee, a suitable candidate cannot be found, it reserves the right not to award any one or any number of scholarships in any year. Unless otherwise stated, awards are for one year only. The value and terms of the awards are subject to change without notice.
Graduate Scholarship and Award Regulation
The purpose of this regulation is to provide for fair distribution of university-wide competitive academic awards among eligible graduate students, while maintaining graduate programs’ autonomy in the allocation of Program Recommended awards.
This regulation does not apply to:
- Izaak Walton Killam Pre Doctoral Scholarship - Honorary
- Funds awarded by graduate programs through their Graduate Support Allocation
- Supervisor funding
- Graduate Assistantships (Teaching and Non-Teaching)
- International Graduate tuition awards
- Indigenous government funding
- Non-academic awards (e.g. Travel awards, Graduate Students' Association (GSA) awards)
This regulation governs graduate students receiving awards from any source. Graduate students are expected to apply for all awards from external funding agencies for which they are eligible, especially the awards available through the Tri-Agency, which includes the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
To provide for fair distribution of Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà academic competitive awards, the maximum amount a student can hold in ‘other awards’ and/or ‘university-wide awards’, as defined below, at any given time is:
- Master’s: $20,500
- Doctoral: $26,000
Students may hold one single award that exceeds the limit.
Students holding the maximum amount or less may also receive one additional Program Recommended award, unless otherwise specified by the award terms of reference.
Students holding a Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà competitive academic award and who are subsequently awarded an external award must take up the external award at the earliest possible date and notify the Graduate Award Office. Holding an external award does not necessarily prevent holding another award. In cases where the regulation is not clear, contact the Graduate Award Office for advice.
A program with an approved tuition differential may combine Program Recommended awards for an individual student up to the value stated above plus the difference between the tuition charged and the regular base tuition.
Definitions:
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Award refers to scholarships, awards, fellowships, internships, research and training grantsÂ
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Competitive awards are awarded for academic merit and research potential through peer reviewed competition
- Indigenous government funding refers to funding such as band funding and funding secured by Indigenous students from the political organizations encompassing Indigenous (First Nations, Metis or Inuit) peoples
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Other awards refers to external funding agency awards; major research and training grants; and department, program or institute level awards not administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies
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Program Recommended awards are nominated by individual graduate programs and administered through the Faculty of Graduate Studies
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University-wide awards are administered through the Faculty of Graduate Studies
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Master’s $20,500: this cap is set as Tri-Agency master’s scholarship value, currently $17,500, plus $3,000
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Doctoral $26,000: this cap is set as Tri-Agency doctoral scholarship value, currently $20,000 plus $6,000
Additional information on the conditions for holding Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà administered awards can be found in the Graduate Award Guide at .
Notification and Payment
Notification of award is sent electronically to successful candidates as soon as possible after the adjudication. All award winners are asked to accept or decline the offer through the Student Centre as soon as possible and no later than the deadline stated in the notification of award. All award payments begin in September unless otherwise stated in the terms of reference and/or in the award offer.
Should it become known that a student is unqualified for any reason, the university reserves the right to terminate the award(s) and funds already paid out must be returned.
Scholarship payments cannot be made if the student has not registered for the academic year. Students who have been awarded scholarships and other awards should register as soon as possible to ensure timely payment.
Awards and Financial Assistance for Graduate Students