NSERC & OGS scholarship information

Please see the detailed information below for scholarship application information and eligibility for Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Scholarships and Ontario Graduate Scholarships.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) scholarship information

  • The application by electronic submission and online transcript request due for PGS/CGS Doctoral no later than Wednesday, September 13, 2023 for transcript requests and Tuesday October 10, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. ET for application submission. (Note: students are unable to submit their application until transcripts are uploaded.)
  • The application by electronic submission and online transcript request due for CGS M no later than Friday, November 17, 2023 for transcript requests and Friday, December 1, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. ET for application submission.

Note: Step-by-step guidelines as well as valuable pointers are provided through the links below. A sample application which should assist you is located on the first link.

NSERC postgraduate - Canada Graduate Scholarship/Post-Graduate Scholarships Masters (CGS/PGS M), Canada Graduate Scholarship/Post-Graduate Scholarship Doctors (CGS/PGS D)

  • Minimum average required is 80 percent average on each of the last two years.
  • Canadian citizens or landed immigrants.

Application instructions, timelines, guidelines, and forms available online only at the GSPA website (see link below), and remember that you must login (or register if a first-time user) and select the Form 201 from the drop-down menu. Read and follow all instructions carefully!

Pay close attention to the timeline at GSPA for scholarship request and online application submission for the doctoral application. If your transcript request or application is late your application will be denied. Pay close attention to the Harmonized Tri-Council CGSM deadlines for 2023.

Important instructions on transcripts requests for scholarship competitions can also be found at the GSPA website.

You are responsible for ordering all official undergraduate and graduate scholarships not originating from University of Waterloo.

Faculty members

If you are asked to provide a reference for an NSERC application they must now be completed online only. The student will supply you with any necessary information.

Last updated on September 2023.

OGS scholarship information

Overview

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program encourages excellence in graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral levels. It is a merit-based scholarship and is available to students in all disciplines of academic study. Students must refer to the information below for complete details regarding the application process and eligibility criteria.

An OGS can be awarded for a minimum of two terms and a maximum of six terms; it is anticipated that the majority of scholarships will be awarded for three terms. One-term awards are not granted. The duration of the scholarship is up to the Graduate Operations Committee and is dependent upon where the applicant is in their program at the time of adjudication and is also subject to provincial guidelines.

Students must apply for the OGS at the institution where they want to hold it. The OGS is not transferrable; it must be held at the institution that awarded it.

The value of an OGS for one year is $5,000 per term. Therefore, students may receive $10,000 (split over 2 terms) or $15,000 (split over 3 terms).

Students who are successful in the OGS competition will also receive the President's Graduate Scholarship valued at up to $10,000/year (split over 3 terms); the award value will be pro-rated based on the number of terms for which the OGS is awarded.

Learn more about OGS at the Graduate Student Office website.

Departmental deadlines will be included in the Graduate Studies Office website OGS application information.

Last updated on September 2023.