External scholarships competitions

Applications for the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) are now open. The scholarships offer a unique opportunity to study a two-year Master’s degree in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country.

Aimed at students who are committed to creating change in their communities, the scholarships are a life-changing opportunity to experience a new country and culture, to broaden horizons, and to build a global network that will last a lifetime.

Through cultural exchange and academic collaboration, Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholars help bring about positive change and find solutions to the shared challenges we face -€“ both in their home countries and those that host them. As an active part of the Commonwealth network, scholars will help shape its future.

Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships | ACU

CSA Group launched a graduate scholarship for Masters students in 2019. This scholarship is $10,000 per year for a maximum of two years with the purpose of supporting graduate students in the pursuit of research related to standards. The thesis can be conducted in any field (e.g. engineering, social sciences, health sciences) and must include standards as a component of the research. Applications are due March 31^st and more information can be found on our website at https://www.csagroup.org/scholarship/

Award description:

Several international experience award funds are available to University of Waterloo graduate students who participate in: an academic exchange, a study term related to their research (field work) or an academic requirement (placement), work, or volunteer experience. Award selection is based on a variety of factors such as academic achievement, financial need, length, location, nature of experience and whether it is an applicants first time travelling to a destination etc. Only one application is required in order to be considered for any of the International Experience Awards (see brief descriptions below).

Value:

The value and number of awards vary.

General Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

• These awards are intended to provide support for upcoming international experiences, not past experiences while you are a graduate student. (Students should apply as soon as they are able to confirm details of their intended experience by one of the deadlines below).
• Travel duration:
  • Full-term Experience (for UW Student Mobility Funding Program)
  • Minimum of 8 weeks (for David Johnston International Experience Awards)
  • Minimum of 8 weeks, however travel lasting at least 4 weeks may be considered and awarded at a reduced value (for UW International Experience Award)
• Students must be full-time and in good academic standing in order to be considered. Some awards require a specific level of academic achievement.
• Some of these awards are based fully or partially on financial need.
• Funding is generally limited to one award per student in a given year due to the large number of applications received.

Specific Awards:

David Johnston International Experience Awards - open to Canadian Citizens/Permanent Residents or international students, min. 75% graduate average required, for travel anywhere however several specific awards fall under this broader award, including one for travel to Israel (see Lebovic) and another for travel to developing countries (see McCall MacBain).

UW International Experience Awards - open only to Canadian Citizens/Permanent Residents and residents of Ontario, must have demonstrated financial need (have applied for OSAP for the term travelling unless restricted), for travel anywhere.

UW Student Mobility Funding Program - for travel anywhere, with preference given to students with financial need. Several awards fall under this broader award which have specific eligibility requirements (see UW International Travel Award, Hume , Johnson, Kerr and LeDrew.)

For full award descriptions including eligibility and selection criteria, please search for the awards in the Graduate Funding & Awards Database.

Application/Deadline:

Apply by completing the Graduate Student International Experience Award application. This general application will be used to consider you for any of the international experience awards that you may be eligible for. Submit the completed application and all required supporting documentation (as outlined on the application checklist) on or before the deadline to emachado@uwaterloo.ca or to The Centre, Ira G. Needles Hall (NH), first floor. Award selection takes place each term. Please apply by the deadline for the term in which you will be travelling:

Spring (May-August) term travel - March 15

Fall (Sept-Dec) term travel - July 15

Winter (Jan-Apr) term travel -€“ November 15

GSPA will communicate with applicants regarding the competition results within approximately three weeks of the award deadline.

In recognition of the growing importance of good governance to all Canadian institutions, the Canadian Foundation for Governance Research is offering up to three annual Bertram Scholarship of $20,000 to PhD students registered at Canadian universities. The scholarship will support the work of students who are conducting research into governance as part of their doctoral research project.

To be eligible for the scholarship, the doctoral research project should focus on a topic directly related to governance, including for example:

• The importance of effective boards in enabling good decision-making and improving the functioning of Canadian institutions;
• Governance issues of interest to Canadian boards of public, private, government-agency and not-for-profit organizations;
• The role of corporate governance in enabling positive societal impacts;
• Governance best practices through the Canadian perspective.

For full details on the Bertram Scholarship, visit the CFGR website. The deadline for applications is May 26, 2025.

The Norma Epstein Foundation Awards in Creative Writing at University College at the University of Toronto were established in 1946 in memory of Norma Epstein (UC '45). Biennial national prizes are offered in the categories of Poetry, Drama, and Short Story. The total amount available for the next competition will be approximately $8,000. 

Any student currently registered in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at a Canadian university may participate. The application deadline for the award is 15 May 2025.

Conditions Governing the National Norma Epstein Awards:

1. These awards are open only to students currently registered in an undergraduate or graduate program in a Canadian university. Note: Students enrolled in University College at the University of Toronto or in a UC program course must enter creative work in the UC Competition.
2. Students may submit no more than one entry in each of the following categories: Poetry; Drama; and Short Story.
3. Entries in the categories of Poetry, Drama, and Short Story may include a poem or small group of thematically related poems of up to 1,200 words, a play of up to 10,000 words, or a short story of up to 7,500 words.
4. You may submit previously published work.
5. The names of the award winners will appear on the University College website.

Past Winners:

Past UC and National Norma Epstein Award winners include David Adams Richards, Barbara Amiel, Stephanie Bolster, David Cronenberg, Janice Kulyk Keefer, Michelle Landsberg, Anne Michaels, Michael Ondaatje, James Reaney, Colleen Thibaudeau, and Miriam Waddington.

Learn more and apply before May 15th

We are excited to announce our "Zicklin Contracting Restoration Awareness Scholarship," an initiative aimed at encouraging students to think creatively about the importance of water and fire damage restoration and the intricacies of insurance restoration services. This scholarship not only offers a significant financial award but also provides students with the opportunity to contribute to raising awareness about crucial restoration services.

About the Scholarship:

·  Scholarship Contest: "Zicklin Contracting Restoration Awareness Scholarship"

·  Eligibility: Open to all high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students in the USA and Canada who are enrolled in a college or university for the upcoming academic year.

·  Prize: One-time scholarship award of $1,000.

·  Deadline for submissions: June 1st, 2025.

·  Winners Announcement: June 15th, 2025, on the scholarship page and via email.

Contest Details:

Visit Zicklin Contracting's Scholarship Page - https://www.zicklincontracting.com/restoration-awarness-scholarship

We kindly request your assistance in promoting this scholarship contest to your students through your communication channels, including social media, educational forums, and school newsletters. Your support in spreading the word about this opportunity will be invaluable.

We are excited to share details about the 2025 Franklin MindCare Scholarship and invite you to help spread the word to students who may be eligible, whether that’s someone you know or potentially even yourself. Your support can make a meaningful difference in shaping the future of mental health care in New Brunswick.

About the Franklin MindCare Scholarship

The Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation is honored to manage this scholarship, created through the generosity of Janice Franklin and the late Mitchell Franklin, two dedicated New Brunswick philanthropists. Their vision was to strengthen mental health care by supporting aspiring professionals who will serve our province with compassion and expertise.

This $3,500 non-renewable award aims to grow New Brunswick’s mental health workforce by helping passionate students take the next step in their education and careers.

If you know a student pursuing mental health studies who could benefit from this opportunity, please share this with them! Together, we can help build a stronger, more supported community.

📌 Learn more & apply: sjrhfoundation.ca/franklin-mindcare-scholarship/

2025-2026 Canada Graduate Scholarship – Michael Smith Foreign Studies Supplement (CGS-MSFSS)

GSPA Deadline: September 19, 2025

(Students submit directly to the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA)- no need for departmental/Faculty ranking)
NOTE: The 2025-2026 CGS-MSFSS competition will be the final launch of the program in its current format. The supplement will be rebranded and redesigned as a supplement for the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS) and will be open for applications in 2026. We currently do not have any information yet about this new program. Please refer to the Launch of the new Harmonized Tri-agency Scholarship and Fellowship programs for more information.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
The CGS-MSFSS Program is administered by Canada’s federal granting agencies—the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
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. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian and foreign institutions.
Value and Duration of Awards
The value of the CGS-MSFSS award is up to $6,000, based on the information and budget justification provided in the application. The minimum length of stay abroad that the CGS-MSFSS will support is two months and the maximum duration of support is six months.

Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply for this program, applicants must:
• have accepted or currently hold a Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) at the master’s or doctoral level or a Vanier CGS (Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents ONLY)
• undertake your proposed trip abroad no earlier than the competition deadline date;
• not hold, or have held, any other CGS-MSFSS during the course of your graduate studies.
To remain eligible, a successful applicant must:
• hold an active CGS at the time your research study period abroad starts;
• be registered full-time in a graduate degree program at a Canadian institution for the duration of your research study period abroad;
• take up the award within one year of receiving the notice/offer of award for the CGS-MSFSS;
• return to complete your degree at your Canadian institution.

Application Process
Qualified applicants must review the agency website for the specific agency application form, supporting documents and instructions.
NOTE: The agency online system does not allow applicants to submit their application or upload supporting documents. Applicants must save and email their application, along with supporting documents, to Elena Machado (emachado@uwaterloo.ca) by September 19, 2025. (The agencies’ application portals may not be open yet for the Fall competition, but they will be open in the coming weeks.)
Evaluation Criteria:
The selection process and review procedures adopted by the institution must maintain a focus on excellence. Applications must be evaluated using the criteria listed below:
• the linkage between the CGS research goals, the activities outlined for the proposed research study period abroad and the candidate’s future research/career goals, considering:
o the significance, feasibility and merit of proposed activities at the foreign institution
o the justification for the choice of host institution(s) and/or host supervisor(s)
o the relevance and anticipated benefits of the proposed activities to the candidate’s current graduate-degree training
Should you have any questions, please contact Elena Machado .

Mackenzie King Scholarships

The Mackenzie King Scholarships were established as an independent trust under the will of the late Rt. Hon. William Mackenzie King (1874-1950). The two categories of scholarship are:

1. Mackenzie King Open Scholarship: The Open Scholarship is available to graduates of Canadian universities who pursue graduate studies in any discipline, in Canada or elsewhere.  One Open Scholarship is awarded each year. The value has recently been about $13,000 but it is subject to change.
2. Mackenzie King Travelling Scholarship: The Travelling Scholarship is available to graduates of Canadian universities who pursue graduate studies in the United States or the United Kingdom in the areas of international relations or industrial relations.  Recently four scholarships of about $15,000 each have been awarded annually, but the number and the amount are subject to change.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

• Canadian/Permanent resident and International students are eligible, provided that they have graduated or plan to graduate from a Canadian university (with degree), before the scholarship begins in September 2026.
• The primary criterion is the strength of the applicant’s university academic record. Personal qualities, demonstrated aptitudes, and the proposed program of study are also taken into account. 

Instructions for Applicants:

Applicants may apply for both scholarships with a single application if the eligibility criteria are met for both. Those applying through Waterloo must follow Waterloo’s application package requirements and instructions. Further details can be viewed on the Mackenzie King Scholarship webpage. Please also review the attached Frequently Asked Questions.

• Application Package:
  Complete application packages must be submitted to the student’s Department Graduate Co-ordinator by February 2, 2026. Complete application packages include the following:

1. Application: available at https://mkingscholarships.ca/home-page/download-an-application/
2. Attachments (see application for description of these items):
   • Sheet A: Supplementary Information on academic achievements and experience
   • Sheet B: Personal statement

• Reference Letters:
  • Three letters of reference are required from persons who have an intimate knowledge of your record and ability and are able to give a critical evaluation of your plans for graduate study. At least two of these testimonials must be from persons under whom you have taken your major work at university, or from senior colleagues with whom you have been associated in academic teaching or research.
  • These must be signed, on letterhead and sent directly by your referee to the Department Graduate Co-ordinator by February 2, 2026.

• Transcripts:
  • After you submit your application to your department, your Department Graduate Co-ordinator will obtain copies of all post-secondary transcripts (Waterloo and non-Waterloo) which were submitted at the time of admittance to Waterloo. These will be used for review purposes. You do not need to order new official hard-copy transcripts unless Waterloo does not have a copy on-file, in which case you should contact your Department Graduate Co-ordinator to arrange to have these submitted by the application deadline.