Governor General’s Gold Medal

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. Medals are presented on behalf of the Governor General by participating educational institutions, along with personalized certificates signed by the Governor General to recognize outstanding scholastic achievements.

At the University of Waterloo, the Governor General's Academic Gold Medals for graduate studies will be awarded at Spring Convocation. Students who graduate in spring or graduate in the fall of the previous calendar year will be eligible for nomination.

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) administers the nomination and selection process. Each Faculty may nominate one student at the master's level and one at the doctoral level. Faculty nominations and final selection by the Advisory Committee on Graduate Scholarships and Awards, and the Associate Vice-President, GSPA will assess highest academic standing through an examination of the following criteria:

a) Scholarship/Research - in the form of publications, major research papers, presentations (normalized for research area); evidence of creativity/originality should be identified in some way (e.g., external examiner's report, or report from supervisor of research paper).

b) Letters of support - these may be wide-ranging and may include comments from the faculty advisor, thesis committee, external examiner, Department Chair, Faculty Associate Dean, as appropriate.

c) Grades – a minimum of first class standing (80%)

A list of the past Governor General's Gold medal winners can be found on the GSPA website.