External Funding and Awards

All current and prospective graduate students are encouraged to apply for external funding. These are funds provided through federal and provincial departments and agencies, foundations, private companies and other sources. External funding can provide you additional financial support while you pursue your studies at Laurier. They also reinforce your academic resume and may assist in your career development.

Each external funding agency maintains its own policies regarding eligibility and the application process. For most of these programs, applications are made in the academic year prior to taking up the award. Applications completed this fall/winter will be to hold the award starting in the following spring or fall term. Applications may be made prior to admission to a program.

Provincial External Scholarships

Administered through the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Province of Ontario supports graduate students through their scholarship programs.

Questions? email ogs@wlu.ca

For applications to hold the award in 2027-2028:

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) programs are jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and Ontario universities. OGS awards are merit-based scholarships available to domestic and international graduate students. QEII-GSST awards are merit-based scholarships availalbe to domestic students only.

Students must apply to the institution where they plan to hold the award. Students applying to a graduate program at more than one institution will be required to apply to each institution for consideration. Each university has a unique application procedure and deadline. The OGS cannot be transferred.

Scholarship Value

An OGS is valued at a maximum of $15,000 annually ($5,000 per term). An OGS must be held for a minimum of two terms (8 months for a total of $10,000) and can be held for up to three terms (12 months for a total of $15,000). The OGS is not automatically renewed, and a new application is required for each year's competition. A successful subsequent application is not guaranteed.

Minimum Academic Requirements

The applicant must, at minimum, meet the following OGS academic requirements:

If entering the first or second year of graduate studies at the time of application, the applicant must have an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent) in each of the last two years of study (or full-time equivalent).
Applicants entering the third year of graduate studies at the time of application must have an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent) on all graduate courses completed.
If the master’s or doctoral degree marks used for calculating an applicant’s grade point average (GPA) are not available (for example, courses were graded on a pass-fail or CR basis), then the university’s Graduate Studies Office will use the most recently available undergraduate or graduate marks to calculate a student’s GPA.
Eligibility averages are calculated using grades from your most-recent academic history up to August 31, 2026, regardless of program or relevance to your current or proposed program. Laurier is required to adhere to these parameters as dictated by Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES).

Maximum Support

Master's students can receive the scholarship for a maximum of two years and doctoral students for a maximum of four years, subject to a lifetime maximum of six years per student.

In addition, lifetime maximums of six years of government-funded student awards must not have been exceeded by the applicant. Awards under the following programs will be counted toward this lifetime maximum:

Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS)
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST)
Ontario Trillium Scholarship (OTS)
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)

Eligibility to hold an OGS and QEII-GSST

To hold an OGS or QEII-GSST award, recipients:

must register and remain enrolled as a full-time student at Wilfrid Laurier University in an eligible research based graduate program.
have achieved at least an A- average (or equivalent) in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent); or if the student has competed two years of graduate studies at the time of application, the student must only demonstrate an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent) on all graduate courses completed.
who withdraw, transfer to part-time status, complete degree requirements prior to the end of their award, or fail to complete the full academic term will be required to repay the funds received for the incomplete terms of study.
cannot hold an OGS award at the same time (or during any session) as a scholarship from SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, QEII-GSST from any given year.
may accept research assistantships, part-time teaching positions, or other paid employment that does not affect their status as a full-time graduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University.
must be in good standing with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Applicants who have defaulted on a Canada or Ontario Student Loan or have failed to make satisfactory repayment on a loan overpayment are ineligible. Students who have never applied for OSAP are in good standing.

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship or the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) will not be awarded to students after their fifth year of doctoral study.

How to Apply for the OGS at Laurier:

Eligible students that apply for the Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Research Scholarship (CGRS) programs will also be considered automatically for an OGS. All tri-agency and OGS requirements must be met to be awarded an OGS.

CGRS-M: Students who are eligible to apply for a CGRS-M at Laurier through the national Master’s competition will automatically be considered for an OGS or QEII-GSST (as applicable) to be held at Laurier. For incoming master’s students who apply for a CGRS-M, please remember to choose Laurier as one of the three universities to where you would like to submit your CGS-M application.
- DEADLINE: December 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET
CGRS-D: Students who are eligible to apply for a CGRS-D through Laurier's quotas are automatically considered for an OGS or QEII-GSST (as applicable).
- DEADLINE: October 5, 2026, at 11:59pm ET

Domestic applicants for admission to Laurier who did not apply for the CGRS M at Laurier or who applied for the CGRS D through another institution or directly to the tri-agencies may still be considered for the OGS by the program for which they are applying using their application for admission. No further application is required. OGS offered through admission are limited to one per eligible program.

At Laurier, there is no OGS application that is separate from the processes noted above.

Any awarded OGS or QEII-GSST's awarded by Laurier must be held at Laurier.

Further information on the CGRS-M and CGRS-D competitions can be found on this webpage under National External Scholarships.

This award recognizes master’s and doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows whose research will potentially contribute to the advancement of knowledge about women’s health.

The following is for general information only. See the website for the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies for full details.

The Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards Program was established with the support of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to ensure that Ontario attracts and retains pre-eminent scholars studying women’s health. For the academic year 2027-28, the program offers up to:

two one-year awards of $25,000 (plus a research allowance of $1,000) at the master’s level;
three renewable one-year awards of $35,000 (plus a research allowance of $2,000) at the doctoral level; and
two one-year awards of $50,000 (plus a research allowance of $5,000) at the postdoctoral level.

Anyone wishing to submit an application for an Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Award must meet their university’s submission deadline of December 1, 2026.

Program Goals

The Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards Program aims to establish a research community that meets or exceeds internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence in its creation of new knowledge about women’s health and its translation into improved health for women, more effective health services and products for women, and a strengthened health care system.

This community will:

promote, assist and undertake interdisciplinary, integrative women’s health research relating to such areas as bio-medical research, clinical research and research respecting health systems, women’s health services, the health of populations, societal and cultural dimensions of women’s health, and environmental influences on women’s health;
create a robust women’s health research environment in Ontario, based on internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence and a rigorous peer review process that will attract, develop, and keep excellent scholars and provide them with the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of women’s health in Ontario and the world;
address emerging women’s health opportunities, threats and challenges, and accelerate the discovery of cures and treatments and improvements to women’s health care, prevention, and wellness strategies;
promote the dissemination of knowledge about women’s health and the application of women’s health research to improve the health of women in Ontario;
build the capacity of the Ontario women’s health research community through the development of scholars and the provision of sustained support for scientific careers in women’s health research; and
exercise leadership within the Ontario research community and foster collaboration with individuals and organizations in Ontario that have an interest in women’s health or women’s health research.

Award Eligibility and Conditions

To be eligible for an Ontario Women’s Health Scholars award, an applicant must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada at the time of the application deadline (January 29, 2027).
To be eligible for a master’s award, an applicant must be registered as a full-time student in a master’s program at an Ontario university at the beginning of the award period (i.e., fall 2027), and must remain registered as a full-time student throughout the term of the award; a master’s student remains eligible until the end of the sixth term of full-time study.
To be eligible for a doctoral award, an applicant must be registered as a full-time student in a doctoral program at an Ontario university at the beginning of the award period (i.e., fall 2027) and must remain registered as a full-time student throughout the term of the award; a doctoral student remains eligible until the end of the 15th term of full-time study.
To be eligible for a postdoctoral award, an applicant must be engaged in full-time research at an Ontario university at the time of taking up the award (i.e., September 1, 2027) and must have completed all requirements for the doctoral degree by May 31, 2027, and normally no earlier than January 31, 2024). In cases where an applicant completed all requirements for the doctoral degree before this date, an explanation of extenuating circumstances (e.g., childrearing responsibilities) must accompany the application. Additionally, a postdoctoral award winner will not be eligible to apply again as a new postdoctoral applicant.
During the year an Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Award is held, the recipient is precluded from holding any other award that offers financial support of more than $30,000 for that same year (subject to the university’s own policies).
Any publication of any kind, written or oral, related to the research undertaken by a recipient during the term of an Ontario Women’s Scholars Award shall acknowledge the support of the work from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care with the following notation:

The Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Award is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care

This acknowledgement shall precede all similar acknowledgments of financial support for the work of equal or lesser amounts, and shall also indicate that the views expressed in the publication are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care.

Funding

During the one-year period commencing September 2027:

a master’s award recipient will receive $8,333 per term for each of the three terms of full- time registration in a master’s program in an Ontario university, as long as they do not exceed the sixth term of their master’s study.
a doctoral award recipient will receive $11,666 per term for each of the three terms of full- time registration in a doctoral program in an Ontario university, as long as they do not exceed the 15th term of their doctoral study.
a postdoctoral award recipient will receive $4,166 per month, for each of the 12 months in which they are engaged full-time in postdoctoral research in an Ontario university.

In all cases, payments will be made by the university through its customary procedures and on its customary schedule (typically equal monthly payments during the term); the accountable research allowance, to cover costs directly related to the research, including research equipment, materials and supplies, will also be paid by the university through its customary procedures.

Application Process

Application forms are available at http://cou.ca/about/awards/ under the Ontario Women's Health Scholars Award. A complete application requires:

an application form completed by the applicant;
the applicant’s curriculum vitae, which should include information regarding the eligibility criteria;
a statement of no more than 1,000 words describing the research to be undertaken during the period of graduate or postdoctoral study and any progress already made in this research, and a non-technical summary of no more than 500 words, both written by the applicant (one additional page is allowed for diagrams, bibliography, etc.).

An application for a master’s or a doctoral award must also include

the applicant’s undergraduate and (if appropriate) graduate transcripts, which may be either
- official transcripts sent directly by the Registrar's office of the issuing university, or
- copies verified and certified as accurate by the Registrar's office of the sponsoring university;
confidential letters of appraisal of the applicant from two assessors.

An application for a postdoctoral award must also include

a brief summary of the doctoral thesis of no more than 300 words;
confidential letters of appraisal of the applicant from four assessors, signed and on letterhead, of whom two
- must not have been associated with the applicant as a supervisor, a member of the applicant’s supervisory committee, or a co-author; and
- are, if at all possible, not at the university at which the applicant was a doctoral

The letters of appraisal of an applicant for any award (master’s, doctoral or postdoctoral) should focus on an evaluation of the applicant’s research to date, and on the research the applicant proposes to undertake during the period of the award, paying particular attention to the criteria for selection described below. Assessors should also provide a short description of the relationship, if any, with the applicant.

The applicant must ask each assessor to transmit the appraisal electronically to fgps@wlu.ca. It should not be sent to the applicant, but directly to the Dean of Graduate Studies (fgps@wlu.ca) at the sponsoring university. The deadline for receipt of the appraisals is December 1, 2025. By the same date, the applicant must submit the remaining parts of the application package electronically to fgps@wlu.ca. Applicants can only apply through one sponsoring university.

Selection Process

Members of the Selection Committee are nominated by the Deans of Graduate Studies in Ontario’s universities and selected by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies.

The Selection Committee assesses applicants for Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards at the master’s and doctoral level on their talent, the excellence of their work, the vision that they bring to their endeavours, and the impact that the committee expects to result from the applicant’s work, as indicated by:

The program of study and research and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge about women’s health;
Past academic results, demonstrated by transcripts, awards and distinctions;
Relevant professional and academic experience, including research training, as evidenced by papers presented at conferences and the applicant's publication record;
Written letters of appraisal; and
The appropriateness of the choice of institution and supervising

The Selection Committee assesses applicants for Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards at the postdoctoral level on their talent, the excellence of their work, the vision they bring to their endeavors, and the impact that they foresee resulting from their work, as indicated by:

The program of study and research and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge about women's health;
The degree of originality and expected contribution to the advancement of knowledge about women's health;
Significance of the research for women's health, understood to encompass scholarly or intellectual significance as well as social and cultural significance;
The suitability of theoretical perspectives;
The appropriateness and expected effectiveness of the research strategies or methodologies;
The suitability and expected effectiveness of plans to communicate research results both within, and, as appropriate, beyond, the academic community;
Where appropriate, the nature and extent of research training;
Written letters of appraisal; and
The appropriateness of the choice of institution and supervising

Any sponsoring university may submit no more than two applications per award level (master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral), to a maximum of six applications in all. It is therefore expected that sponsoring universities will prescreen applicants, paying particular attention to the criteria for selection described above.

The following is for general information only. For more information, visit the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies website for full details.

The Autism Scholars Awards Program was established with the support of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to ensure that Ontario attracts and retains pre-eminent scholars studying autism. For the academic year 2027-28, the program offers up to two one-year awards of $18,000 at the master’s level, and up to three one-year awards of $20,000 at the doctoral level. Anyone wishing to submit an application for an Autism Scholars Award must meet their University’s submission deadline of December 1, 2025.

Program Goals

The Autism Scholars Awards Program aims to establish a research community that meets or exceeds internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence in its creation of new knowledge concerning child autism, and its translation into improved health for children through more effective services and products for children with autism, and thereby adds to the province’s capacity in diagnosis and assessment of autism and the quality of its treatment system.

This community will:

promote, assist and undertake research into pediatric behavioural sciences and autism within the academic community, and increase advanced research relating to autism, especially its diagnosis and treatment;
create a robust autism research environment in Ontario, based on internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence and a rigorous peer review process that will attract, develop, and keep excellent scholars and provide them with the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of research and treatment in Ontario and the world;
address emerging opportunities, threats and challenges and accelerate the discovery of cures and treatments and improvements to autism care, prevention, and wellness strategies;
promote the dissemination of knowledge about autism and the application of autism research to improve the health of children in Ontario; and
build the capacity of the Ontario autism research community through the development of scholars and the provision of sustained support for scientific careers in autism treatment and

Conditions of the Award

To be eligible to receive an award, an applicant must be
- a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada at the time of the application deadline (January 29, 2027), and
- registered as a full-time student in a master’s or doctoral program at an Ontario university at the beginning of the award period (fall 2027) and remain registered as a full-time student throughout the term of the award.
A master’s student remains eligible until the end of the sixth term of full-time study.
A doctoral student remains eligible until the end of the 15th term of full-time study.
During the year an Autism Scholars Award is held, the recipient is precluded from holding any other award that offers financial support of more than $30,000 for that same year (subject to the university’s own policies).

Funding

During the one-year period commencing September 2027, a master’s award recipient will receive $6,000 per term for each of the three terms of full-time registration in a master’s program in an Ontario university, as long as they do not exceed the sixth term of their master’s study. Payments will be made by the university through its customary procedures and on its customary schedule (typically equal monthly payments during the term).

During the one-year period commencing September 2027, a doctoral award recipient will receive $6,666 per term for each of the three terms of full-time registration in a doctoral program in an Ontario university, as long as they do not exceed the 15th term of their doctoral study.

Payments will be made by the university through its customary procedures and on its customary schedule (typically equal monthly payments during the term).

Application Process

Application forms are available at http://cou.ca/about/awards/ under Autism Scholars Award. A complete application requires:

an application form completed by the applicant;
the applicant’s curriculum vitae, which should include information regarding the eligibility criteria;
a statement of no more than 1,000 words describing the research to be undertaken during the period of graduate study, and a non-technical summary of no more than 500 words, both written by the applicant (one additional page is allowed for diagrams, bibliography, etc.);
the applicant’s undergraduate and (if appropriate) graduate transcripts, which may be either
- official transcripts sent directly by the Registrar's office of the issuing university, or
- copies verified and certified as accurate by the Registrar's office of the sponsoring university;
confidential letters from two assessors, signed and on letterhead, which should focus on an evaluation of the applicant’s research to date, and the research being undertaken during the period of graduate study for which the applicant will hold an Autism Scholars Award, if successful.

The applicant must ask each assessor to transmit the appraisal electronically to fgps@wlu.ca. It should not be sent to the applicant, but directly to the Dean of Graduate Studies (or as prescribed by the university) at the sponsoring university. The deadline for receipt of the appraisals by the Dean is December 1, 2026. By the same date, the applicant must submit the remaining parts of the application package electronically to the Dean at fgps@wlu.ca. Applicants can only apply through one sponsoring university.

Any sponsoring university may submit no more than two applications per award level (master’s and doctoral), to a maximum of four applications in all. It is therefore expected that sponsoring universities will prescreen applicants, paying particular attention to the criteria for selection described below.

Selection Process

Members of the Selection Committee are nominated by the Deans of Graduate Studies in Ontario’s universities and selected by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies. The Selection Committee assesses applicants for Autism Scholars Awards on their talent, the excellence of their work, the vision that they bring to their endeavours, and the impact that the committee expects to result from the applicant’s work, as indicated by:

The program of study and research and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge about autism;
Past academic results, demonstrated by transcripts, awards and distinctions;
Relevant professional and academic experience, including research training, as evidenced by papers presented at conferences and the candidate's publication record;
Written letters of appraisal; and
Appropriateness of the choice of institution and supervising investigator.

National External Scholarships

The Government of Canada, in part through the Tri-Council Federal Funding Agencies (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR), is a major supporter of high-quality graduate research. These awards are now all named the Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Doctoral or Masters (CGRS D or CGRS M).

Transcripts for national competitions:

For those requiring WLU official transcripts for the CGRS M competition, you can order hard copies to be sent to yourself to scan and upload in PDF format. Ensure you scan both sides to include the transcript legend as well. For faster service you can request to pick-up the transcript at Service Laurier. Please order these as early as possible and at least prior to November 1, 2026 for Master's competitions.

Official transripts are strongly recommended for the CGRS M competition. However, if you are choosing to use an unofficial transcript from LORIS, you can obtain a PDF scanned copy of the WLU Transcript Legend here. For a fully accessible version, see the the transcripts section on the Student Records website.

Information Session on the CGRS Master's - Thursday, October 22nd at 1pm on Zoom. Register here: Applying to Grad Scholarships

Drop-in One on One Sessions for CGRS Masters

These sessions will use a waiting room and students will be brought in one at a time to ask their questions or receive assistance.

Friday, October 23, 2026, 3pm to 4pm - Zoom

Thursday, November 5, 2026, 3pm to 4pm - Zoom

Thursday, November 19, 2026, 3pm to 4pm - Zoom

Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 3pm to 4pm - Zoom

If these times do not work for you, you can always reach out to Deborah Russell (drussell@wlu.ca) for an alternate time or send your questions via email.

The objective of the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Master's (CGRS M) Program is to help develop research skills and assist in the training of highly-qualified personnel by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies. The following information applies to the CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC CGRS M competitions.

Application Deadline

Applications for the fall 2026 CGRS M competition, for funding for the 2027/28 academic year are now open. The application deadline will be December 1, 2026, by 8 pm (ET).

Note: In order for applicants to submit their CGRS M application by the deadline, reference letters must be completed and uploaded to the Tri-Agency Research Portal. Applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate a deadline that is earlier than December 1 to their referees. The Tri-Agencies will not accept submissions after the December 1 (8 pm ET) deadline.

Please see the NSERC website for complete details and application instructions for the CGRS M competition for CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.

Value and Duration of Awards

As of September 1, 2024, these awards are valued at $27,000 for 12 months and are non-renewable. (subject to change).

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you must:

Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
Be enrolled in or intend to apply for full-time admission to an eligible^* graduate program at the master’s or doctoral level at a Canadian university with a CGRS M allocation.
As of Dec. 31 of the year of application, have completed between zero and 12 months of full-time studies (or full-time equivalent) in:
- The master’s program for which you are requesting funding.
- The doctoral program for which you are requesting funding, if you were admitted into a doctoral program directly from your bachelor’s program (i.e., you were never registered in a master’s program, or you are registered in a combined master’s-doctoral program).
- A master’s program, but are requesting funding for a doctoral program (e.g., a student who is fast-tracking from a master’s to a doctoral program within 12 months of starting their master’s and is seeking funding for the first 12 months of their doctoral program.
Not have previously held a CGS M or CGRS M.
Have achieved a first-class average, as determined by the host university, in the last two completed years of study (or full-time equivalent).
- At Laurier, we require an A- (10.0/12.0) or 80% average or each of the last two completed years of study (or full-time equivalent).
Submit a maximum of one CGRS M application per year (the Research Portal will allow one application to be submitted to up to three universities).

Application Procedure

To apply for the CGRS M scholarships, all applicants must complete and submit an application using the Research Portal. You will be required to include the Canadian Common CV. Carefully review the online instructions.

YouTube Video: CGS M – How to apply using the Research Portal

Transcripts

Applicants are expected to obtain official transcripts (issued to the student by the Office of the Registrar at the issuing institution) from all postsecondary institutions attended.
Transcripts are uploaded by the applicant via the Research Portal to the CGRS M application.
New and returning Laurier CGRS M applicants who are registered in the fall 2026 term must upload an up-to-date Laurier transcript to their CGRS M application (to show fall term registration at time of application).
See note above regarding Transcripts for national competitions about obtaining your WLU transcript.

The Research Portal will instruct applicants to select up to three universities where they wish to hold the award. Applicants may select universities on the application where:

They are currently enrolled in an eligible program of study and are continuing to pursue their studies.
They intend to apply for full-time admission to an eligible program of study if not currently enrolled at the university of their choice.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (or equivalent) at each Canadian university is responsible for coordinating the selection process for the CGRS M applications, and for communicating the results to the applicants and agencies. Laurier has separate selection committees for each research mandate (i.e., CIHR, SSHRC and NSERC).

Selection Criteria

Academic excellence (50%)
Research potential (30%)
Personal characteristics and interpersonal skills (20%)

*An eligible graduate program must include a significant research component that leads to the completion of a thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital and/or exhibit that is merit/expert-reviewed at the institutional level as a requirement for completion of the program. If the program requires additional admission into the major research component stream, this acceptance must be confirmed before you can hold the award. Coursework only programs are ineligible.

The three federal granting agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) have harmonized the Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Doctoral (CGS D) Program. The CGRS D Program has a new common landing page as well a a harmonized application timeline and CGRS D program description.

The CGRS D program supports high-calibre students engaged in doctoral programs in all academic disciplines. This support allows scholars to fully concentrate on their doctoral studies, to seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields and contribute to the Canadian research ecosystem during and beyond the tenure of their awards.

How to apply

Applications are completed online, and students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all the eligibility requirements and have adhered to the scholarship application guidelines.

CIHR Doctoral Applicants who are currently registered at Laurier or who were registered at Laurier at any time during the year of application and who will not be registered at another institution in the year of application must apply through Laurier. Laurier’s CIHR doctoral quota for the Fall 2026 competition is 3 (three).

Note: If you were not registered at an institution during the year of application, you must apply directly to CIHR.

Laurier’s internal applicant deadline to be considered for a CIHR Doctoral Award is Monday, October 5, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (ET). Completed applications submitted through Laurier’s quota must be submitted via ResearchNet by Laurier’s internal deadline.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to set a deadline of Friday, October 2, 2026, for their referees in order to ensure that referees submit their assessments prior to the internal applicant deadline. (Note: a completed application includes all components of the application; official transcripts and reference letters.)

Transcripts

Applicants must upload official or unofficial transcripts (issued to the student by the Office of the Registrar at the issuing institution or unofficial records of coursework downloaded from a student system such as LORIS) from all postsecondary institutions attended.
Transcripts are uploaded by the applicant via ResearchNet.
The Tri-Agencies will accept unofficial electronic transcripts. Laurier will accept the use of unoffiical transcripts at this time.
New and returning Laurier CIHR applicants who are registered in the fall 2026 term must upload an up-to-date Laurier transcript to their CIHR application (to show fall term registration at time of application).
See note above regarding Transcripts for national competitions about obtaining a WLU transcript.

Value and Duration of Award (as of September 1, 2024)

$40,000 per year for up to 36 months.

Eligibility

Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, as of the application deadline date; or be an international student currently enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian institution.
Have completed no more than 36 months of full-time study in their doctoral program by December 31 of the year of application
Be applying for support to pursue a first PhD (or equivalent);
Submit only one doctoral award application in a given academic year;
Not have already received a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC;
You do not need to be admitted to a doctoral program at the time of application (applies to domestic applicants only)

Selection Criteria

Research ability and potential (50%).
Relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia (50%).

A complete list of eligibility guidelines and instructions on how to apply for this opportunity can be found on the CIHR Doctoral Research Award website.

The following is for general information only. See the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) website for full details.

To determine if your research falls under SSHRC's mandate, see the guidelines on Subject Matter Eligibility and Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.

How to Apply

Applications are completed online, and students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all the eligibility requirements and have adhered to the scholarship application guidelines.

SSHRC Doctoral Applicants who are currently registered at Laurier or who were registered at Laurier at any time during the year of application and who will not be registered at another institution in the year of application must apply through Laurier. Laurier’s SSHRC doctoral quota for the Fall 2026 competition is 18 (eighteen).

Note: If you were not registered at an institution during the year of application, you must apply directly to SSHRC.

Laurier’s internal applicant deadline to be considered for a SSHRC Doctoral Award is Monday, October 5, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (ET). Completed applications submitted through Laurier’s quota must be submitted via SSHRC's online application portal by Laurier’s internal deadline.

Transcripts

Applicants must upload official or unofficial transcripts (issued to the student by the Office of the Registrar at the issuing institution or unofficial academic transcripts downloaded from a student system such as LORIS) from all postsecondary institutions attended.
Transcripts are uploaded by the applicant via SSHRC's online application portal.
The Tri-Agencies will accept unofficial electronic transcripts. Laurier will accept the use of unofficial transcripts at this time.
New and returning Laurier SSHRC applicants who are registered in the fall 2026 term must upload an up-to-date Laurier transcript to their SSHRC application (to show fall term registration at time of application).
See note above regarding Transcripts for national competitions about obtaining a WLU transcript.

Value and Duration of Award

$40,000 per year for up to 36 months.

Eligibility for the SSHRC CGRS D Program

Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, as of the application deadline date; or be an international student currently enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian institution.;
Have completed no more than 36 months of full-time study in their doctoral program by December 31 of the year of application;
Be applying for support to pursue a first PhD (or equivalent);
Not be under SSHRC sanction for financial or research misconduct;
Submit only one doctoral award application in a given academic year;
Not have already received a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC;
You do not need to be admitted to a doctoral program at the time of application (applied to domestic applicants only).

Selection Criteria

Research ability and potential (50%).
Relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia (50%).

Conditions of Award

At time of taking up scholarship, you must be undertaking an eligible program of study in the social sciences and humanities.
Doctoral scholarships may be held at any recognized university in Canada or abroad (provided that the holder is a domestic student and has earned at least one previous degree from a Canadian university).

NSERC is holding information sessions for doctoral and postdoctoral applicants via Microsoft Teams.

These sessions will be hosted as live Q&A MS teams meetings. The program descriptions are available online and we are currently reviewing the tutorial videos on the NSERC YouTube channel. Before attending a session, participants must read the relevant program description and come prepared with their questions.

Please attend any of the sessions that best suits your schedule. Registration is not required to attend a session.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 (in French) - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (ET) Link: Click here to join the session
Thursday, September 3, 2026 (in English) -10:00 am to 12:00 pm (ET) Link: Click here to join the session
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 (in English) - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (ET) Link: Click here to join the session
Thursday, September 10, 2026 (in English) - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (ET) Link: Click here to join the session

NSERC Resources Playlist - Scholarships & Fellowships program application tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6ox0GB7vXYlhaAY7mEqwmMqYK9TGCp1E

The following is for general information only. See the NSERC website for full details. Tips for applicants are available in NSERC's Resource Videos.

To ensure your research project falls within NSERC's mandate, refer to Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.

How to Apply

Applications are to be submitted using Form 201 in the online application system. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet the eligibility requirements and have adhered to the scholarship application guidelines. If you have not used NSERC's Online System in the past, you will first need to register.

NSERC Doctoral Applicants who are currently registered at Laurier or who were registered at Laurier at any time during the year of application and who will not be registered at another institution in the year of application must apply through Laurier. Laurier’s NSERC doctoral quota for the Fall 2025 competition is 7 (seven).

Note: If you were not registered at an institution during the year of application, you must apply directly to NSERC.

Laurier’s internal applicant deadline to be considered for a NSERC Doctoral Award is Monday, October 5, 2026, by 11:59pm (ET). Completed applications submitted through Laurier’s quota must be submitted via NSERC's online application portal by Laurier’s internal deadline.

Transcripts

Applicants must upload official or unofficial transcripts (issued to the student by the Office of the Registrar at the issuing institution or unofficial records of coursework downloaded from a student system such as LORIS) from all postsecondary institutions attended.
Transcripts are uploaded by the applicant via NSERC's online application portal.
The Tri-Agencies will accept unofficial electronic transcripts. Laurier will accept the use of unofficial transcripts at this time.
New and returning Laurier NSERC applicants who are registered in the fall 2026 term must upload an up-to-date Laurier transcript to their SSHRC application (to show fall term registration at time of application).
See note above regarding Transcripts for national competitions about obtaining a WLU transcript.

Value and Duration of Award

$40,000 per year for up to 36 months.

Eligibility for the NSERC CGRS D programs:

Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, as of the application deadline date; or an international student currently enrolled at a Canadian instititution.
Have completed no more than 36 months of full-time study in their doctoral program by December 31 of the year of application
Be applying for support to pursue a first PhD (or equivalent);
Submit only one doctoral award application in a given academic year;
Not have already received a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC;
You do not need to be admitted to a doctoral program at the time of application; you must intend to pursue, in the following year, full-time graduate studies and research at the doctoral level in an area supported by NSERC.
You may submit only one application per year to either CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC.

Selection Criteria

Research ability and potential (50%).
Relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia (50%).

Conditions of Award

To hold the award, you must:

Have been unconditionally accepted into a doctoral degree program recognized by NSERC.
Be registered full-time (part-time, if special conditions apply) in a graduate studies program at an eligible university.

The following is for general information only. Please see the Trudeau Scholars Program website for full details.

NEW! A Two-Step Application Process

Applicants to the 2027 Scholarship must first complete an eligibility screening form by October 2, 2026.

Once their eligibility is confirmed, they will be able to access the full application form and continue with the 2027 Scholarship application process.

Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be reviewed. We therefore recommend carefully reviewing the eligibility requirements before submitting your application.

Value

Up to $50,000 per year for three years to cover tuition and reasonable living expenses.
Up to $20,000 per year for three years as a research, networking, and travel allowance. This funding may also be used for activities related to the learning of languages.

Eligibility

One of:
- A Canadian student enrolled at a Canadian university;
- A Canadian student enrolled at a university outside Canada; or
- An international student enrolled at a Canadian university.

At the time of application, you must be:
- in the first year of a PhD program; or
- in the second year of a PhD program.

Your doctoral work must relate to at least one of the Foundation’s Four Themes:
- Human Rights and Dignity
- Responsible Citizenship
- Canada and the World
- People and their Natural Environment

The Trudeau Foundation is looking for those who can demonstrate:

- Academic excellence, supported by an outstanding academic record.
- A compelling research project that addresses issues shaping Canada’s future.
- A strong commitment to making a positive impact, demonstrated through initiatives, collaborations, or achievements.
A willingness to engage in dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Letters of Reference

You must provide three letters of reference:

One from your PhD supervisor.
One from another academic referee.
One from a referee outside academia.

How to apply and deadlines:

All applicants apply directly to the Trudeau Doctoral Scholarship competition via a new application platform. See the Trudeau Foundation website for complete details and application instructions.
Questions: scholarships2027@trudeaufoundation.ca

Other External Funding Opportunities

The following scholarships are predominantly for graduate students. For postdoctoral awards, visit the Funding for Postdoctoral Fellows page and see the Mitacs accordion below.

The National Chapter of Canada IODE initiated War Memorial Doctoral Scholarships in 1918 to commemorate Canadians who sacrificed their lives for peace and freedom. Initially, bursaries were granted to children of men and women who lost their lives or who were permanently disabled while fighting for Canada. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 1921, IODE War Memorial Scholars have made important contributions to Canada and the world in medicine, science, business, politics and academia.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens and in at least the second year of their doctoral program. Scholarships valued at $15,000 are now awarded to students attending Canadian or Commonwealth universities. A committee in the province of the candidate’s first degree makes selections and forwards nominations to the National Chapter where the final decisions are made. The National Selection Committee is comprised of five IODE members and three professors from different universities. The National Chapter of Canada IODE War Memorial Scholars have made important contributions to Canada and the world in medicine, science, business, politics and academia.

Applicants Must

Be Canadian Citizens
Hold a first degree from a Canadian university
Be enrolled in at least the second year of a doctoral program

Scholarships

Study in Canada or throughout the Commonwealth
Open to applicants of all genders
Any field of study
Three Doctoral Scholarships of $15,000 each, tenable for one academic year

Application Deadlines

Letter of Intent to Apply due: 01 October 2026
Complete Application due: 01 November 2026

Apply Online
Please download and carefully review the Information Brochure before completing the Letter of Intent to Apply and the Application.

Brochure and Fillable forms are available here: https://www.iode.ca/war-memorial-scholarship-application.html

Please submit all correspondence and supporting documents to the IODE War Memorial Officer on or before the applicable deadline.

By email:
iodewarmemorial@gmail.com
By regular mail:
IODE Canada
80 Birmingham Street, Suite B6
Toronto, Ontario M8V 3W6

Important
The applicant's name must appear on every page of all hard-copy documents submitted by mail and in the subject line of all email correspondence.

The Technology for Aging Gracefully Research Scholarship was established in 2025 by a generous gift from Dr. Cosmin Munteanu, Schlegel Research Chair in Technology for Healthy Aging at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging.

Purpose

The scholarship provides financial support directly to students who identify as being from racialized and/or Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis) communities, to support their living or academic expenses as they pursue research in technology that enhances quality of life and/or care of older adults. This award is intended to support a student in their pursuit of academic studies; funds do not need to be applied directly to research project expenses.

The research the successful recipient engages in should emphasize a participatory approach, with meaningful collaboration and engagement of the community being served in each phase of the research process.

Value

There are two awards of $2,000 available.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible students are:

Studying at a university in Canada
Current Master’s or PhD students, or students accepted to graduate school for the upcoming year
Self-identify as members of racialized and/or Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis) communities*
Not previous recipients of this scholarship

*Note that while students who identify as First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis will receive priority consideration, all applicants identifying as being from racialized and/or Indigenous communities will be considered.

Note that, as described in the Government of Canada’s manual on Best Practices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research Practice and Design, “There is no consensus on the use of terms such as ‘underrepresented,’ ‘underserved,’ ‘disadvantaged,’ ‘marginalized,’ ‘oppressed,’ ‘underrepresented’ and ‘equity-deserving.’ None fully capture the harms, barriers and violence experienced by members of these communities.” Further, in alignment with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the RIA recognizes that First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis are rights-holders as First Peoples of Canada and may not consider themselves to be part of equity-seeking groups. For the sake of clarity, the phrase “racialized and/or Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis) community/ies” is used in the application for the Technology for Aging Gracefully Research Scholarship.

Application Process

To be considered for the Technology for Aging Gracefully Research Scholarship, applicants must submit the following:

A completed online application form
Copy of official university transcript or proof of acceptance to graduate studies in the upcoming year
Personal statement describing their interest in applying for this scholarship and how their academic pursuits are participatory and collaborative to advance technology that enhances quality of life and care for older adults.

Application Timeline

Application deadline: December 15, 2026

The Technology for Aging Gracefully Research Scholarship will be awarded in February 2027. All applicants will be notified of their status.

Requirements of Scholarship Recipient

The recipient must agree to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests from the RIA for photos, public appearances and presentations, both in person and online, to promote the scholarship for the benefit of future students
The scholarship recipient must agree to provide a verbal or written update to the RIA within six months of receiving the scholarship regarding their research progress and academic milestones.

Equity Statement

The RIA is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion within its community and organization. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, racialized groups, women, LGBTQ2+ people, persons with disabilities and people from other equity-seeking groups.

Canadians count on the Bank of Canada to think ahead, inspire confidence and include everyone. That’s why they:

challenge the status quo in pursuit of better answers
live up to our commitments and communicate transparently about our work
welcome and learn from people with diverse perspectives, knowledge and experiences
encourage students from diverse communities to further their education in fields related to the Bank’s work and offer them an opportunity to gain on-the-job experience

Scholarship Award for Post-Secondary Students

These Can$8,000 scholarships are awarded to assist students with disabilities, Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+, Francophone and those who identify as a member of a visible minority group or racialized group to help remove barriers to education and support greater diversity in our workforce.

In addition to the award, successful candidates may be offered a work opportunity at the Bank, with mentorship by a Bank employee.

To be considered for one of these scholarships, you must:

be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
be pursuing post-secondary studies (university or college)—either full-time or part-time—in a field related to the Bank’s work, including:
- economics and finance:economics, computer science, mathematics or statistics, commerce or business administration with a finance major
- administration and operations:financial services, administration and business, project management, human resources, accounting, communications and web development, internal audit, currency production, knowledge and information management, security
- information technology and cyber security:software development, network engineering, solution architecture, project management, business analysis, cyber security
have an overall average grade of 70 percent or higher

You can submit your application online between early March to end of May; please refer to the job posting for the specific application deadline.

Master’s Scholarship Award for Women

The Bank values the contributions of women in economics and finance and awards scholarships to support women in these specializations. This award also:

promotes the pursuit of graduate studies in Economics and Finance among women at the undergraduate level or those who have completed an undergraduate degree
proactively contributes to building a gender-balanced talent pool for the economics and finance professions in central banking

These Can$10,000 scholarships are awarded to women specializing in economics and finance. In addition to the award, successful candidates may be offered a work opportunity, with mentorship by a Bank employee. They may also be able to attend a learning event at the Bank related to central banking, economics or finance (e.g., lecture, conference, networking event).

To be considered for one of these scholarships, you must:

be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
be in the final two years of an undergraduate program or have completed an undergraduate degree
plan to pursue a master’s degree in Economics or Finance
have an overall average grade of 70 percent or higher

Women currently enrolled in a master’s program in Economics or Finance are not eligible for this scholarship.

The online application period begins in September; please refer to the job posting for specific application deadline.

Please use the links in the titles above to learn more about these opportunities and how to apply.

External Funding and Awards

Provincial External Scholarships

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) - Open to Domestic and International Students

Ontario Women's Health Scholars Award 2027-2028- Open to Domestic Students - due December 1, 2026

Program Goals

Award Eligibility and Conditions

Funding

Application Process

Selection Process

Autism Scholars Award 2027-2028 - Open to Domestic Students - due December 1, 2026

Program Goals

Conditions of the Award

Funding

Application Process

Selection Process

National External Scholarships

Transcripts for national competitions:

Information Session on the CGRS Master's - Thursday, October 22nd at 1pm on Zoom. Register here: Applying to Grad Scholarships

Drop-in One on One Sessions for CGRS Masters

CGRS M - Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Master's (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) - Open to Domestic Students only

Application Deadline

Value and Duration of Awards

Eligibility

Application Procedure

Selection Criteria

CGRS D - Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (Doctoral)

How to apply

Value and Duration of Award (as of September 1, 2024)

Eligibility

Selection Criteria

CGRS D - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) (Doctoral)

Value and Duration of Award

Eligibility for the SSHRC CGRS D Program

Selection Criteria

Conditions of Award

CGRS D - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) (Doctoral)

Value and Duration of Award

Eligibility for the NSERC CGRS D programs:

Selection Criteria

Conditions of Award

Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship (domestic and international students)

NEW! A Two-Step Application Process

Value

Eligibility

The Trudeau Foundation is looking for those who can demonstrate:

Letters of Reference

How to apply and deadlines:

Other External Funding Opportunities

Max & Lynn Blouw Graduate Student Scholarship

IODE Gladys Raiter Bursary for Graduate Study

2027 Tanaka Fund Grant to Support Promising Junior Japanese Studies Scholars

War Memorial Scholarship IODE

Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians (IPSFC) Graduate Research Opportunities in India

Who can Apply

How to Apply

Award Conditions

The Technology for Aging Gracefully Research Scholarship

2027 CanNRT-Brain Canada Fellowship

Mitacs

Mitacs

SSHRC Impact Awards

John W. Davies Memorial Award

Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada (SWAAC)

W.L. Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships

Scholarships Canada

Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario Graduate Student Scholarship Program

Bank of Canada Scholarships

Hilary M. Weston Scholarship

John Charles Polanyi Prizes

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