A variety of scholarships, assistantships and other forms of financial aid are available for graduate students in the Faculty of Health. Most of these awards are for full-time, thesis-based graduate students only.
Guaranteed PhD funding
The Faculty of Health is a rapidly growing faculty with the second-highest level of per-capita research funding at the University of Waterloo.
To complement our research and academic growth, we've committed to providing $96,220 in funding over four years to support domestic doctoral students. This funding may take the form of teaching (TA) or research assistantships (RA) for some terms. Students may also be eligible for internal and external funding opportunities and are encouraged to explore the graduate funding and awards database.
International students may be eligible for the International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA).
Teaching and research assistantships
Teaching Assistantships (TAs) and Research Assistantships (RAs) are available through each department/school. Refer to School of Public Health Sciences, Kinesiology and Health Sciences, and Recreation and Leisure Studies websites for further information.
Scholarships and awards
Academically-strong full-time graduate students are encouraged to apply for external scholarships including:
Tri-Council Scholarships:
- NSERC scholarships (for domestic master's and doctoral students in science and technology fields)
- SSHRC scholarships (for master’s and doctoral students in social sciences and humanities)
- CIHR scholarships (for master’s and doctoral students involved in health-related research)
Other scholarships:
- Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) (for students enrolled in a graduate program at an Ontario university)
- Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) scholarship (for students in STEM disciplines including those in the School of Public Health Sciences and the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. These are awarded at the faculty level alongside OGS applicants.)
Exceptional scholars are encouraged to apply for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and should apply in the early Fall (September and October deadlines) for the following academic year. Workshops are offered to assist with the application process.
The University of Waterloo President's Graduate Scholarship (PGS) is available to supplement Tri-Council Scholarships, OGS/ QEII and Vanier scholarship recipients. A faculty component of this additional funding may include TA or RA opportunities.
The Governor General's Academic Gold Medal and the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal are awarded to outstanding students, following completion of all their degree requirements, in recognition of academic excellence. Students are nominated for these awards by their Departmental Graduate Committees.
Bursaries and financial aid
There are a variety of financial resources available for graduate students.
Bursaries are available for students who demonstrate financial need and are administered through the Student Awards and Financial Aid department. These are restricted to students who are Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents.
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides various types of assistance based on financial need to eligible students.
The Faculty of Health also has an Emergency Loan Fund for graduate students experiencing short-term financial difficulties.
The Provost's/Applied Health Sciences Graduate Incentive Fund Scholarship is a special fund designed to increase the pool of female candidates for faculty positions in Canada.
Information on graduate parental leave and day care bursaries can be found on the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs' financial need funding page.
Travel funding
Research Conference Travel Assistantships are available to defray travel costs for graduate students presenting their research at academic or professional conferences.
Other university and external funding
Other University of Waterloo and external scholarships are also available for graduate students in the Faculty of Health. For more information see the University of Waterloo Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website.