Graduate funding and awards database: Open to any program
Alumni Relations recognizes top graduating students for academic achievement, by awarding the Alumni Gold Medal at convocation.
The Amit & Meena Chakma Awards for Exceptional Teaching by a Student were established through a generous gift by Dr. and Mrs. Chakma to recognize and promote teaching excellence of our next generation of educators. The Awards are given in recognition of excellence in teaching of all kinds by registered students and are open to all students who have a formal teaching role (e.g. teaching assistant, laboratory demonstrator, sessional lecturer) at the University of Waterloo or its federated and affiliated university/college. Recipients are to be chosen from among nominees by a Selection Committee of faculty and students. They will present up to four awards each year valued in the range of $1,000 each. Dr. and Mrs. Chakma established these awards to recognize and promote teaching excellence of our next generation of educators.
A prize, with a value of at least $500, will be awarded annually to a graduate or undergraduate student registered full-time in any program at the University of Waterloo.
With the support of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU), a Scholar Awards Program in Autism was established to ensure that Ontario attracts and retains pre-eminent scholars. The community of autism scholars fostered by this Awards Program will excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge concerning child autism, and its translation into improved health for children, more effective services and products for children with autism, and increase the province’s capacity in diagnosis and assessment of autism and a strengthened treatment system.
Scholarships valued at $5,000 each will be awarded each term to graduate students registered full time in a doctoral program in any department or Faculty at the University of Waterloo. Interested students must identify as Black* and must have obtained a minimum cumulative average of 75% or equivalent in their current or most recently completed program.
The CAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards (DDA) recognize Canadian doctoral dissertations that make unusually significant and original contributions to their academic field. They were established in 1994 and are presented annually. There are two awards: one for engineering, medical sciences and natural sciences; and one for fine arts, humanities and social sciences. The Awards are granted by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) and are sponsored by Proquest.
The CGS-MSFSS Program supports high calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad.
The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has established a fund to assist University of Waterloo students who are approved to participate in a study abroad program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem or the Rothberg International School and who have demonstrated financial need.
For complete award details, including eligibility, selection criteria and award value, please visit Waterloo's CIHR Doctoral Research Award webpage.
For complete award details, including eligibility, selection criteria and award value, please visit Waterloo's Tri-Agency CGS M web page.
The Canadian Water Resources Association offers scholarships annually available to graduate students whose programs of study focus upon applied, natural, or social science aspects of water resources.
A scholarship, valued at $2,000 will be awarded annually to a graduate student registered full time in any master's or doctoral program at the University of Waterloo. Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs will advise Faculties to identify candidates and select recipients normally in the Winter term based on academic excellence (minimum 80% cumulative average in courses completed at the University of Waterloo). A separate award application is not required.
The Certificate in University Teaching (CUT) Award is given annually to a graduate student who shows a strong commitment to their development as a university teacher and demonstrates the highest achievement on completion of the CUT program.
Several awards, valued at $250 each, will be provided to undergraduate and/or graduate students who have successfully completed CROAT 101 or CROAT 102 in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies.
Travel funds, valued at up to $1,500, are available for undergraduate and/or graduate students registered at the University of Waterloo who participate in a recognized Croatian language or cultural study abroad program, an exchange program, or an approved co-op term in Croatia.
Several awards are provided annually to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in any Faculty who wish to participate in an international experience, including a minimally-paid or volunteer international co-op work placement, a volunteer placement, an academic exchange or a study term related to academic requirements.
Several awards will be provided annually to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in any Faculty who wish to participate in an international experience to Israel for the purposes of experiencing and gaining an understanding of Jewish culture, history, politics and religion.
Several awards will be provided annually to full-time undergraduate and graduate students in any Faculty who wish to participate in an international experience.
The David Johnston International Experience Awards will pay lasting tribute to David’s unparalleled leadership as president of the University of Waterloo. These awards will celebrate his exemplary service to Canada, and will honour his commitment to promoting a better understanding among peoples of all nations.
These awards, valued at $5,000 - $10,000 each, will be provided annually on the basis of academic excellence to outstanding undergraduate or graduate students who have been living in Israel and are entering Year One in any Faculty.
Funding is available each year to support undergraduate and graduate refugee students who are sponsored by the World University Service of Canada at Waterloo (WUSC) or any other students who are recognized by the Canadian government as being refugees or protected persons.
This award has been established in memory of David Zaharchuk, a doctoral student in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Scholarships have been established in memory of Robert M. and Doreen M. Davis.
A limited number of awards are available each academic term to support doctoral students who are within the last two terms of program completion (term of award plus one additional term). The intention is to assist highly qualified, full-time doctoral students to complete their thesis writing and defence.
Priority will be given to applicants who identify as Indigenous*
*For the purpose of this award, an Indigenous person is one who is a citizen or member of a First Nations community (Status/Non-Status), Métis, or Inuit as defined in the Canadian Constitution Act 1982. To protect the integrity of Indigenous graduate students eligible for specific funding, those identifying as Indigenous must be verified by the Office of Indigenous Relations at the University of Waterloo through the Indigenous verification process.
The Electrical & Computer Engineering International Doctoral Student Award (ECE IDSA), valued at $1,000 per term up to program time limits, will be provided automatically without the need of an award application.
Interest-free emergency loans are available to full-time graduate students who are experiencing short-term financial difficulty; they are not meant to provide funding for arranging fees in order to become registered.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is an annual university-wide competition for research-based Master's and Doctoral students at the University of Waterloo.
Three awards are awarded annually based on the students’ participation in a recognized institutional Canadian-organized German language or cultural studies program abroad.These awards are made possible by a donation from Fred and Ruth Stork, and their children Michael and Marion, as loyal friends and supporters of the University of Waterloo, the Kitchener-Waterloo community and the Waterloo Centre for German Studies (WCGS).
These scholarships will be awarded to high quality graduate students at the Master's or Doctoral levels.
An award, valued at $1,500, is available annually for an Indigenous undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in any year or Faculty at the University of Waterloo.
Limited funding is available for this bursary program which is intended to support students whose education has been impacted by conflict, war, changing political environments or natural disasters (e.g., a natural event such as a flood, earthquake, or hurricane that causes great damage or loss of life).
Google PhD Fellowship students are a select group recognized by Google researchers and their institutions as some of the most promising young academics in the world.
The Governor General's Academic Medals are awarded at four distinct levels: Bronze at the secondary school level; Collegiate Bronze at the post-secondary, diploma level; Silver at the undergraduate level; and Gold at the graduate level.
Several GRADflix awards will be awarded annually to graduate students who presented their research in the GRADflix competition. Selection of the first, second, third and fourth place winners will be made by an adjudication panel. The people’s choice winner will be selected by the audience.
A GRADtalks Research Dissemination Award, valued at $500, will be provided to graduate students registered at the University of Waterloo who are selected to present their research at a GRADtalks speaker series event.
A Graduate Research Studentship (GRS) directly supports students in research-based graduate programs.
The Graduate Student Contingency Bursary (previously known as the Millennium Graduate Bursary) is available to international students registered full time in a graduate program at the University of Waterloo who have demonstrated financial need resulting from extenuating circumstances* that have occurred since starting their graduate program.
Limited funding is available for eligible research-based master’s and doctoral students who must go inactive for medical reasons (e.g., physical or mental health).
Limited funding for up to eight months (two terms) is available to eligible students who take a parental leave (includes adoption).
Through a commitment of financial support from the Graduate Studies Endowment Fund (GSEF) and Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA), awards are available to encourage full-time or part-time graduate students to present their own research (oral, poster, paper) at an academic conference and engage in academic dialogue within their field of study and research.
GSEF has partnered with the Sustainability Office to fund projects designed to benefit graduate students and improve the environmental sustainability of the University of Waterloo.
Every term, the Graduate Studies Endowment Fund (GSEF) solicits proposals for graduate student projects which are primarily targeting the enhancement of the learning, research, and overall experience of the graduate students as well as the development of Graduate Studies at the University of Waterloo.
The Government of Ontario provides bursary assistance for Indigenous students with financial need, as assessed by the educational institution. The bursary is open to eligible undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the University of Waterloo in full- or part-time studies in any degree program in any year of study.
An International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA) will be provided automatically to eligible students who are registered full-time in a doctoral program at the University of Waterloo.
Effective May 1, 2019 (spring 2019 admissions cycle), the International Master’s Award of Excellence, valued at $2,500 per term for a maximum of five full-time terms within the allowable program time limits (6 terms), will be awarded to eligible international master’s students normally entering a research-based graduate program at the University of Waterloo.
The J. Alan George Student Leadership Award is presented to an entering graduate student, chosen from among students within three terms of first receipt of a Provost Doctoral Entrance Award for Women and based on a record of student leadership.
Two awards, valued at $5,000 each, will be provided annually to undergraduate or graduate students participating in Concept or Velocity programing at the University of Waterloo.
Two scholarships, valued at up to $5,000 each, will be awarded annually to full-time University of Waterloo graduate students in any University of Waterloo graduate program.
This scholarship will be awarded annually to a full-time University of Waterloo graduate student who holds an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) or a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology (QEII-GSST). This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Trina McQueen who is an honorary alumna of the University.
An Award of at least $1000 will be awarded annually to a full-time or part-time graduate student who has completed their degree requirements from a fully online graduate degree program.
One scholarship valued at $5,000 will be awarded annually to a full-time graduate student whose research is in the fields of fluvial geomorphology, river and stream processes, or river and aquatic habitat protection and restoration. Selection will be based on the student’s anticipated research contribution and academic excellence.
The Mackenzie King Scholarships were established as an independent trust under the will of the late Rt. Hon. William Mackenzie King (1874-1950).
For complete award details, including eligibility, selection criteria and award value, please visit Waterloo's Tri-Agency CGS M web page.
For complete award details, including eligibility, selection criteria and award value, please visit Waterloo's NSERC Doctoral Scholarships webpage.
A scholarship, valued at $10,000 will be awarded annually to an Indigenous student registered full time in any graduate program at the University of Waterloo, including affiliated and federated institutions of Waterloo. For the purpose of this award, an Indigenous person is one who is a citizen or member of a First Nations community (Status/Non-Status), Métis or Inuit.
The fellowships, valued at no more than $4,000 per student per term will be awarded annually to full-time University of Waterloo graduate students registered in a degree-granting program in any Faculty.
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) programs encourage excellence in graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario. Since 1975, the OGS program has been providing merit-based scholarships to Ontario’s best graduate students in all disciplines of academic study. In 1998, the Ontario government introduced the QEII-GSST, a merit-based scholarship program targeted specifically toward graduate students in science and technology. Both programs are jointly funded by the Ontario government and participating institutions. The government contributes two-thirds of the value of the awards and the university provides the remaining one-third.
Waterloo reserves two OGS awards for Indigenous* applicants each year.
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, a Scholar Awards Program in Women's Health has been established to ensure that Ontario attracts and retains pre-eminent women's health scholars. The community of women's health scholars fostered by this Awards program will excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the 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 heath care system.
Each year, nominees for the Alumni Gold Medal and Governor General’s Gold Medal are considered for a designation of “Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies - Master’s or Doctoral”.
Bob Harding, Linda Young and the Edper Foundation have established a scholarship fund in the name of Mr. Peter F. Bronfman for graduate students at the University of Waterloo. The students will hold an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) or a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology (QEII-GSST). The selection will be made by the Assistant Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs in conjunction with Faculty Associate Deans for Graduate Studies. This scholarship is open to Canadian and/or permanent residents
This three-year leadership program is designed to train engaged leaders, equipping outstanding doctoral candidates with the skills to translate their ideas into action, for the betterment of their communities, Canada, and the world.
The main purpose of this award is to provide any outstanding full-time female doctoral student (Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student) with an entrance scholarship in the amount of $5,000 for one year.
One scholarship valued at $20,000, will be awarded to a graduate student who is registered full time in a Master's or PhD program and who is conducting research in topics aligned with quantum-safe cryptography.
One award valued at $5,000, will be awarded annually to a current or past graduate student who has successfully submitted and defended their thesis.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest (established 1903) international scholarship programme in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Administered by the Rhodes Trust in Oxford, the programme offers 100 fully-funded Scholarships each year for postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom - one of the world’s leading universities. Rhodes Scholarships are for young leaders of outstanding intellect and character who are motivated to engage with global challenges, committed to the service of others and show promise of becoming value-driven, principled leaders for the world’s future.
Up to five awards, normally valued at $ 1,000 each, are provided to undergraduate and graduate students registered full-time in any year and in any Faculty at the University of Waterloo.
At least three awards will be awarded annually to the women graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the university or general community while maintaining exemplary academic records.
The competition is run on a cyclical basis across regions of Canada every 4 years. Regions and number of awards can be found on the SWAAC website.
Awards will be given annually to students registered full-time at the University of Waterloo who have achieved a minimum overall average of 80% and have documented financial need.
Two awards, valued at $1,000 each, will be awarded annually to full-time undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in any program who are employed by the University of Waterloo Library currently or were so in the previous two academic terms (employment: full or part-time casual staff, co-op and work study positions, internships, volunteer roles).
For complete award details, including eligibility, selection criteria and award value, please visit Waterloo's Tri-Agency CGS M web page.
For complete award details, including eligibility, selection criteria and award value, please visit Waterloo's SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship webpage.
A bursary fund established by the Student Life Centre Management Board (formerly Campus Centre Board) is available to graduate and undergraduate students experiencing financial difficulties.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition is an annual university-wide competition for research-based Master's and Doctoral students at the University of Waterloo.
Each year, nominees for the Alumni Gold Medal who are considered, but who are not selected to receive a medal will be awarded the designation as a “University Finalist for the Alumni Gold Medal”.
Each year, nominees for the Governor General's Gold Medal who are considered, but who are not selected to receive a medal will be awarded the designation as a “University Finalist for the Governor General's Gold Medal”.
The University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship, normally valued at $1,000 per term for up to three terms, is awarded to graduate students registered full time in a Master's or Doctoral program at the University of Waterloo.
Waterloo is pleased to provide the President's Graduate Scholarship (PGS) to outstanding graduate students who hold certain major federally and provincially-funded competition-based scholarships.
Several scholarships, valued at up to $1,000 each, are awarded annually to outstanding students entering first year of any University of Waterloo program.
The Senate Graduate Scholarship program provides funds to match scholarship designated contributions made by faculty, staff, and retirees to graduate programs at the University of Waterloo.
This fund was established by University of Waterloo staff and faculty to enrich UWaterloo's scholarship program, recognize academic excellence and provide opportunities for children of UWaterloo faculty and staff.
Scholarship(s) will be awarded on a rotating basis in the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Mathematics, the Cheriton School of Computer Science, and university-wide.
Several awards, valued at up to $2,500 each, are available annually to full-time undergraduate and graduate students who participate in an international experience, including a minimally-paid or volunteer international co-op work placement, a volunteer placement, an academic exchange or a study term related to academic requirements.
Scholarship(s) are presented annually to outstanding graduate student(s) on a rotating basis through the faculties.
Several awards, valued at $500 - $1,000 each, are provided annually to full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a degree program at the University of Waterloo who are affiliated with the UW Staff Association (UWSA) as a member or as the child, spouse, grandchild, or dependent of a current UWSA member.
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program was created to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and to establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning.
The Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence supports the recruitment of top students to AI-related master's programs in Ontario.
The W.S. Rickert Graduate Fellowship in Science is valued at a minimum of $20,000.
Numerous awards are granted annually to full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Year Two of their program of study who are in good academic standing and have demonstrated financial need. These awards are made possible by a generous gift from the late Walter Metzger.
Waterloo AI Institute Graduate Scholarships, valued at $5,000, will be awarded each year to graduate students registered full-time who are conducting research under supervisors affiliated with the Artificial Intelligence Institute at the University of Waterloo.
The Waterloo.AI GRADflix awards, valued between $500 to $2,000, will be awarded twice each year to select graduate students who presented their research in the field of artificial intelligence in the Waterloo.AI GRADflix competition.