Funding, Scholarships, Awards

Electrical and Computer Engineering Scholarships

Term Activity Report (FOE) Awards

The ECE Department awards students who demonstrate exceptional merit (academic excellence, research excellence, outreach activities etc.) in the previous term with a Faculty of Engineering (FoE) Award. The ECE Graduate Studies Committee evaluates award candidates once each term, considering performance from the previous term. To be eligible for this award, the following criteria must be met::

  • Must be a full-time student within the designated program time limits during the term being evaluated.
  • Must have an overall average of at least 80%.
  • Must have submitted a Term Activity Report (TAR) for the previous term, with a satisfactory evaluation.
  • Preference will be given to students whose supervisor has nominated them in their TAR and who respond in writing to the nomination within the TAR.
  • The TAR must be completed accurately, with all relevant information included in the appropriate sections.
  • A maximum of 2 awards can be granted within a MASc program.
  • A maximum of 4 awards can be granted within a PhD program.
  • Students cannot have any incomplete (INC) or did not write (DNW) grades.
  • Students cannot be on probationary status.

Meeting these minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award; it only ensures that a student is included in the pool of eligible candidates from which awardees are chosen.

Please note: Part-time students are not eligible for awards, scholarships, or OSAP, and must be self-funded.

For any questions regarding graduate awards, please contact the ECE Graduate Funding Coordinator.

Funding opportunities for graduate students

We encourage all graduate students to apply for both internal and external awards for which they may be eligible. Before submitting any applications, we encourage you to take the time to consult with the ECE Graduate Funding Coordinator and thoroughly review the terms and conditions of each award. This will help you understand how each award interacts with your existing funding. Note that the list of awards provided below is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.

Minimum funding

The minimum funding is the base amount you will receive annually during your two years of MASc study or four years of PhD study. If you do not hold any other awards, your research supervisor will provide you with a Graduate Research Studentship (GRS) to cover this minimum funding level. Please be aware that the minimum funding level is subject to adjustment in accordance with university and departmental regulations.

Funding that can supplement the minimum funding

In addition to the minimum funding, several sources of funding can be added on top, regardless of the source of your minimum funding. These additional funding sources include:

  • Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs)
  • Faculty of Engineering Term Activity Awards
  • Entrance Scholarships
  • International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA)
  • International Master’s Award of Excellence (IMAE)

If your minimum funding is covered by a Graduate Research Studentship (GRS), these additional awards will further increase your total funding.

Funding that can replace the minimum funding

Some major awards, typically valued over $15,000/year, can contribute towards the minimum funding level. At the discretion of your research advisor, these awards may reduce the amount of GRS funding you receive. Examples of such awards include:

Note: The decision to adjust GRS funding based on major awards is at the discretion of your research advisor.