Graduate funding and awards database: Faculty of Science
The prize, administered by Guelph/Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry (GWC2), was established in 1984. It is awarded annually to any graduate student who presents his/her MSc or PhD Seminar in the previous academic year. The seminar prize is presented to two students on each campus each year. The nomination by the supervisory committee at the time of seminar presentation is to be based on the assessment of the supervisory committee and of the member of the MSc/PhD class attending that seminar.
The Guelph/Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry (GWC2) provides a $100 First Prize and a $50 Second Prize for posters presented by current (GWC2) MSc or PhD students at the (GWC2) Annual General Meeting. The decision to give out the prizes is dependent on the availability of funds. The monetary prize will be determined by a selection committee as designated by the (GWC2) Director and will be based on the candidates' poster presentation of their research. These prizes are open to all students who present posters during the (GWC2) Annual General Meeting
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.
All graduate students registered in the Guelph/Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry (GWC2) during the year of nomination, whose research is in the field of chemical instrumentation. Chemical instrumentation shall be taken to include both the development and exploitation of instruments for solving chemical problems.
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.
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.
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.
The scholarship is administered by the Guelph/Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry (GWC2) and is awarded annually on a competitive basis. The monetary value of this award is $5,000 subject to the availability of funds. This competition is open to Canadian citizens who are registered in a full-time PhD program in the centre, preferably in organic chemistry. Candidates will be considered on the basis of their academic record. The graduate officers of (GWC2) will bring to the co-ordinating committee the names of all eligible students on each campus of (GWC2) by June 1 each year and the scholarship will be presented at the annual Saturday seminar of the centre. No application is necessary.
A travel award valued at $500 is provided annually to full-time graduate students registered in the Master’s or Doctoral program in the School of Pharmacy in the Faculty of Science who are presenting a paper or poster at a conference.
This scholarship, administered by Guelph/Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry (GWC2), is in memory of the late Professor David A. Holden and was established from funds donated by Professor Holden's friends, family and colleagues. It is awarded annually on a competitive basis and is open to all graduate students registered in the Guelph/Waterloo Centre. Candidates will be considered on the basis of overall abilities, including both research and teaching components with special emphasis to be given to outstanding performance in CHEM 794 (MSc Seminar), and to evidence of breadth of interest in areas outside chemistry, such as art and music. Nominations will be solicited from Centre faculty and the graduate officers by November 15 of each year. The scholarship will be presented at the Annual Saturday Seminar of the Centre.
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.
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 scholarship valued at $1,000, will be awarded annually to graduate students registered full-time in the Master’s/Doctoral program in the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science.
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.
An award valued at up to $2,000 is awarded annually to full-time graduate students completing their graduate degree in the department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science on the basis of demonstrated excellence. This fund is made possible by a donation from Hilda Buckingham Irish, sister-in-law to the late Don E. Irish (former chair of the department of Chemistry).
An award valued at $5,000 will be provided annually to a full-time graduate student enrolled in the master’s or doctoral program in the School of Pharmacy in the Faculty of Science. Selection is based on academic excellence (minimum 80% cumulative average in their current program/over the last two full time academic years) combined with demonstrated interest and involvement in community service. Interested students should submit an application, found on the School of Pharmacy website, by March 1.
A scholarship valued at approximately $1,000, is awarded annually to full-time graduate students enrolled in the Master's/Doctoral program in the School of Optometry Vision Science graduate program whose research provides basic or clinical information pertaining to the developing visual system in infants and children. The Dr. Emerson Woodruff Graduate Scholarship was established in his memory, through the support of family and friends, to honour this former Professor and Director of the University of Waterloo's School of Optometry for his many contributions to optometric education and the profession. This scholarship recognizes his leadership role in the establishment of the School's Vision Science program and his passion for paediatrics research.
An annual scholarship valued at $2,000 will be awarded annually to a full-time graduate student enrolled in the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science, working in the area of ecology. Preference will be given to students who do not hold another major award. This fund is made possible by the family and friends of Dr. Noel Hynes, first permanent Chair of the Department of Biology.
Interest-free emergency loans are available to full-time graduate students who are experiencing short-term financial difficulty
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).
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.
This award is intended to provide financial support for full-time graduate students who acquire experience as a Teaching Assistant during the course of their graduate degree program in one of the specified departments/faculties.
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 for up to eight months (two terms) is available to eligible students who take a parental leave (includes adoption).
The awards are given to University of Waterloo graduate students working on quantum information at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), based on exceptional achievement in research.
These awards are supported by a variety of sources including the Bell Family Fund and Industry Canada.
University of Waterloo graduate students and visiting graduate students in the department of Physics and Astronomy selected for this Award will work under the supervision of a University of Waterloo faculty member at the Perimeter Institute (PI) and will be resident at PI. Students may be nominated by a faculty member at PI who is also a faculty member at the University of Waterloo.
The J. Alan George Student Leadership Award is presented to an entering graduate student.
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.
The scholarship, valued at $5,000 will be awarded annually to a full-time University of Waterloo graduate student registered in the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of scholastic excellence to a graduate student who holds an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology (QEII-GSST) or another major external scholarship that requires a matching or enhancement component. If the match or enhancement becomes unavailable or a suitable recipient cannot be found, the funds will be paid out as a regular graduate scholarship.
The Mackenzie King Scholarships were established as an independent trust under the will of the late Rt. Hon. William Mackenzie King (1874-1950).
The scholarship, valued at $2,000, will be awarded annually to a full-time University of Waterloo graduate student registered in the Faculty of Science engaged in research involving porous media and/or medical applications of Nuclear Magnetic Research (NMR) or MRI. Students studying in the area of biophysics may also be considered. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of scholastic excellence. Students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. This scholarship has been established by Sandra Burt in commemoration of the many contributions that Mik Pintar (Professor of Physics, 1967-2002) made to Nuclear Magnetic Research, and to the teaching and training of students at the University of Waterloo.
The Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) and the University of Waterloo are pleased to announce annual Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Fellowships
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.
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”.
An award valued at $2,000, will be provided annually to a full-time graduate student enrolled in a Doctoral program in the Faculty of Science on the basis of academic excellence (minimum 80% cumulative average) and an interest in advanced areas of multidisciplinary research with the potential to shape future technology.
Scholarship(s) valued at $5,000 will be awarded annually to a full-time University of Waterloo mature graduate student in the Faculty of Science on the basis of scholastic excellence and financial need.
The value of the annual award is determined by the endowment interest each year. The goal is to provide scholarship(s) with a value of $5,000. The value and/or number of scholarships may change as funds permit. The university will make every effort to match this award with government programs. For instance, when matched 2:1 by the Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS), the total value of the scholarship is $15K. It could also be used as a top-up for the NSERC scholarships. If this is not feasible, the scholarships will be valued and awarded at $5,000 each.
Students accepted into the Perimeter Scholars International Program will be eligible for full financial support of their program. The University of Waterloo will provide tuition scholarships and Perimeter Institute (PI) will provide awards intended to cover expenses related to travel, housing, food, textbooks and reference material, student services fees, and incidental stipends as assessed by PI.
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.
The QNX Graduate Scholarships were created by Mr. Dan Dodge, founder of QNX Software Systems to create opportunities for graduate students similar to those he received as an undergraduate and graduate student at the University of Waterloo.
These programs encourage excellence in graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario.
The scholarship, administered by the Guelph/Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry (GWC2), is in memory of the late Professor R.H.F. Manske and was established in 1983. It is awarded annually on a competitive basis and is open to all graduate students registered in the Guelph-Waterloo Centre. Candidates will be considered on the basis of overall abilities, including both research and course work. Nominations will be solicited from Centre faculty and the graduate officers by November 15 of each year. The scholarship will be presented at the Annual Awards Banquet of the Centre.
One annual award will be given to a graduate student in September of each year; the amount will depend on investment income. The graduate student must be enrolled in the groundwater program in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences. The student must have chosen to pursue a research topic concerning groundwater in a developing country or on the topic of regional hydrogeology in Canada.
This scholarship has been established by Dr. and Mrs. Nagraj Tumkur in memory of their children: Rammohan and Chitralekha, who were killed in the Air-India flight 182 that crashed in June 1985 with no survivors. It will be awarded annually, if a suitable candidate exists, for postgraduate study leading to a Master of Science degree in any field of biology. The recipient will be a MSc candidate in the Department of Biology, University of Waterloo.
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.
The Schneider Foods Graduate Scholarship will be presented to a full-time graduate student who has been awarded into the Graduate program in Engineering, Environment or Science. The scholarship recipient must be pursuing a graduate degree with a concentration in water resources and treatment. Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs will review the list of eligible candidates and will make the final decision regarding the recipient of the scholarship. Students must hold an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) or a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology (QEII-GSST).
School of Pharmacy Annual Graduate Awards recognize and celebrate excellence by School of Pharmacy Master's and/or Doctoral students during one calendar year of study
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. Candidates must be Canadians/permanent residents and a resident of Ontario.
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.
This scholarship will be awarded annually to graduate students registered full time in a Master’s or Doctoral program in the Faculty of Engineering or Faculty of Science who are conducting research in the area of polymer science and engineering.
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.
The University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship, normally valued at $1,000 per term for up to three terms.
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.
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. Students in any Faculty, in satisfactory academic standing, who are planning to participate in an international experience are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to students with financial need who will be travelling to an unfamiliar country where they will experience a different culture in a new learning environment. Award selection will take place once per term. Students should apply as soon as they are able to confirm the details of their intended experience by one of the applicable term deadlines.
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.
This scholarship will be used to enhance external scholarships like Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS),and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).
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.
For complete award details, including eligibility, selection criteria and award value, please visit Waterloo's Vanier CGS webpage.
This medal was created to honour Professor W.B. Pearson in recognition of his contribution to the University of Waterloo and to Canada as a research scientist and teacher. One medal will normally be awarded annually to a Doctoral student from each department in the Faculty of Science at the discretion of the department concerned in recognition of creative research as presented in the student's thesis.
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.
An award valued at $1,000 is given annually to a graduate student in the first year of their Master’s or Doctoral program in the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science. The award recipient must have demonstrated research ability, scholastic aptitude, and an interest in pursuing microbiology or related field under the supervision of a Waterloo Biology Faculty member. This Award was initiated by Dr. Joan P. Torrie and made possible by donations from the friends, family and colleagues of Professor Alan Kempton, Professor William Inniss and Professor Colin Mayfield, the founders of the Microbiology Department at the University of Waterloo.