International Students

Waterloo Support for International Students

Internal funding is financial support provided by the University of Waterloo. Internal funds such as the International Doctoral Student Awards (IDSA) or the International Master's Awards of Excellence (IMAE) are added on top of the minimum funding.

International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA)

Valued at $15,420 / year for 4 years. An IDSA will be provided automatically to all international students who are registered full-time in a doctoral program. The value is approximate to the difference in tuition between domestic and international full-time PhD students. The award’s value and duration varies depending on multiple factors. See all details and conditions.

International Masters' Awards Of Excellence (IMAE)

Valued at $2,500 / term for max. 5 terms. The IMAE will be awarded to a small number of selected international research master’s students who meet the eligibility criteria. The Faculty will nominate eligible students based on the Faculty’s award allocation. Students will be selected based on academic excellence as demonstrated through their application for admission to the graduate program. See all details and conditions.

International Agreements and Sponsorship

Find the numerous agreements with institutions abroad. If you are applying for graduate studies under one of these formal agreements, please review Waterloo’s sponsorship requirements which are an important part of your application process. International agreements and sponsorships may replace the minimum funding or IDSA.  

International Short-term study, research, or professional development

Interested candidates are encouraged to read through all of the information available on our webites, and submit their application to the appropriate Waterloo administering office on campus with all supporting documents. These offices will review and submit the application for each candidate. 

People sitting around a table having a conversation