This page gives information on two types of awards:
- Federal and provincial programs
- Other external funding opportunities
For detailed information about scholarships, awards, and bursaries, please consult the Graduate Studies and Postodoctoral Affairs (GSPA) Awards and Funding page.
See the External scholarship recipients page for a list of students who have received external scholarship funding.
Federal and provincial programs
Student submission deadlines are bolded below. It is the students' responsibility to keep track of their submission deadlines.
Please note: The Department cannot nominate students for the Trudeau and Vanier awards without applications. Please see application submission deadlines below.
Please note: Information and dates may be updated depending on further information from the tri-agency and resources available.
Scholarships | Transcript request deadline |
Application/Department deadlineStudents must submit to the Department |
Information Sessions |
---|---|---|---|
NSERC Doctoral |
September 11, 2024 |
Application deadline to submit through the NSERC portal: Saturday, October 7, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. |
|
SSHRC Doctoral | September 11, 2024 |
Application deadline to submit through the SSHRC online system: October 10, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. |
|
CGS-M (Tri-Council MA) | November 18, 2024 |
Application deadline to submit via the Research Portal: December 1, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. |
|
Trudeau Doctoral | TBD | TBD |
|
OGS | February 1, 2025 | February 1, 2025 |
Other external funding opportunities
Please find below the most recent award funding, scholarships, and bursary opportunities sent to the English Department:
Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships
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.
Bertram Scholarship
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 Scholarships of $15,000 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.
Dan David Prize
The Dan David Prize is offering $15,000 in scholarships to outstanding doctoral and post-doctoral students.
Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Graduate Scholarship
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 31st and more information can be found on our website at https://www.csagroup.org/scholarship/
Graduate Studies Conference Assistantship (GSCA)
Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) and the Graduate Studies Endowment Fund (GSEF) assist University of Waterloo graduate students to attend academic conferences, and present their research. Students should use this application form to reserve funds from their supervisor, Department/School, Faculty and/or GSPA/GSEF.
For deadlines, guidelines and eligibility criteria, please refer to our Graduate Studies Conference Assistantship web page.
Facebook Reality Labs Liquid Crystal Research Awards
Facebook Reality Labs (FRL) brings together a world-class team of researchers, developers, and engineers to create the future of virtual and augmented reality, which together will become as universal and essential as smartphones and personal computers are today.
In order to support academic work that addresses our challenges and opportunities while producing generalizable knowledge, FRL is pleased to offer six research awards. The awards include one Diamond Award of $5000, two Platinum Awards of $3500, and three Gold Awards of $2500.
Laura Bassi Scholarship
The Laura Bassi Scholarship, which awards a total of $8,000 thrice per annum, was established by Editing Press in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed. The scholarships are open to every discipline and the next round of funding will be awarded in December 2019:
Spring 2022
Deadline: 27 March 2022
Results: 20 April 2022
Summer 2022
Deadline: 27 July 2022
Results: 20 August 2022
All currently enrolled master’s and doctoral candidates are eligible to apply, as are academics in the first five years of their employment. Applicants are required to submit a completed application form along with their CV through the application portal by the relevant deadline. Further details, previous winners, and the application portal can be found at: https://editing.press/bassi
Graduate Student Medical Leave Award
Award description:
Effective January 1, 2018 eligible research-based master’s and doctoral students who must go inactive for medical reasons (e.g., physical or mental health) may be eligible to receive a Graduate Student Medical Leave Award, valued at a maximum of $5,000.
Students must have been registered full time for at least one academic term and have been in receipt of a financial package from their Department/School in the term immediately prior to going inactive for medical reasons. Eligible students who provide medical documentation (e.g., official medical documentation completed by a health care practitioner) to AccessAbility Services, to support their request for going inactive due to medical reasons, will be automatically considered for this award. Details regarding the process for submitting medical documentation to AccessAbility Services can be found on the AccessAbility website.
Value description:
One-time award with a maximum value of $5,000 for eligible research-based master’s and PhD students who have been registered for at least one academic term prior to going inactive for medical reasons. The value will be automatically assigned without the need for a complete needs assessment.
Based upon the department funding details in the offer of admission, students registered in a research-based master’s program will receive up to 1/3 of their annual funding package value (including IMSA) to a maximum medical leave award of $5,000; doctoral students will automatically receive the medical leave award maximum of $5,000. University refund and government reporting regulations and the date of the accommodation may also affect the value of the award.
Visit the Graduate Student Medical Leave Award webpage for more information.
International Experience Awards
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.
2025 Robert Bertram Scholarship
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 EHN Guardians Scholarship
NEW AWARD OPPORTUNITY - The EHN Guardians Scholarship $15,000 awarded one-time to a postgraduate student to fund their degree and research related to military, Veterans and public service personnel mental health.
The EHN Guardians Scholarship was established by EHN Canada to provide assistance for a post-graduate (Master’s or PhD) student to enhance their research specialization in any form of addiction and related mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, moral injury and eating disorders in military personnel, Veterans and public safety personnel.
EHN Canada is the country's largest network of publicly funded and private treatment services for addiction, trauma, and mental health. Specializing in treating all types of addictions and related mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, moral injury and eating disorders, their approach to treatment is rooted in medical excellence and scientific evidence.
Thank you to EHN Canada for their continued support of CIMVHR and the next generation of researchers.
Value: $15,000 for one year
Royal Canadian Legion Doctoral Scholarship in Military and Veteran Health Research Awarded to a doctoral student who demonstrates research excellence or exhibits significant potential for a high-impact research career in an area relating to military and Veteran health research.
The Legion National Foundation Masters Scholarship Awarded to a Master’s level student specializing in research related to Veterans and their families.
The Dr. Mark Zamorski Award Awarded to a postgraduate student to enhance their specialization in epidemiological and mental health problems in military personnel, Veterans and their families.
Apply today! For full eligibility criteria and to apply, please visit - https://cimvhr.ca/funding/scholarships/.
All applications are due by 1 PM ET on June 3, 2025. |
Norma Epstein Foundation Awards
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:
- 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.
- Students may submit no more than one entry in each of the following categories: Poetry; Drama; and Short Story.
- 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.
- You may submit previously published work.
- 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.
Zicklin Contracting Restoration Awareness Scholarship
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.
2025 Franklin MindCare Scholarship
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 Villa Charities Scholarship Program
The 2025 Villa Charities Scholarship Program will be launching on May 1st, 2025, and we are hoping that your institution can promote this exciting opportunity to your students.
The Villa Charities Scholarship Program is available to students of all backgrounds and faiths who believe in and will help further Villa Charities’ mission to enrich lives through experiences and services that honour Italian culture and heritage.
Two scholarship programs are offered for students at an accredited Canadian university or college who meet the program criteria.
- Villa Charities Undergraduate Student Scholarship: 5 awards of $1,500 (available to full-time undergraduate students)
- Villa Charities Graduate Student Scholarship: 5 awards of $2,500 (available to full-time graduate students)
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted by June 30, 2025 to be awarded for the 2025/2026 academic year.
For more information on the Villa Charities Scholarship Program, please visit: villacharities.com/scholarships.