Discover the prestigious Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology programs, designed to support excellence in graduate studies at Ontario universities.
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) programs encourage excellence in graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario.
Both programs are jointly funded by the Ontario government and participating institutions. The government contributes two-thirds of the value of the awards and the university provides the remaining one-third.
SCHOLARSHIP AT A GLANCE:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Names | Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) |
| Funding Sources | Ontario government and participating institutions |
| Eligibility | OGS: All disciplines; open to Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, and International students QEII-GSST: STEM disciplines; open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents |
| Award Value | Maximum $15,000 per year ($5,000 per term for two or three terms) |
| Deadline | Varies |
| Scholarship Duration | Up to one year (non-renewable) |
| Application Components | Transcript request webform, OGS/QEII-GSST Application + Appendix A (if applicable), two academic reference letters, Indigenous verification process (if applicable) |
| Eligibility Criteria | First-class average (minimum A-/80%) in each of the last two completed years of study |
| Maximum Support | Master’s: 2 academic years Doctoral: 4 academic years Lifetime maximum: 6 years of government-funded graduate awards |
| Concurrent Support | Cannot be held concurrently with other tri-agency graduate scholarships |
| Application Start Terms | Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025 |
| Additional Recognition | President’s Graduate Scholarship (PGS) for OGS/QEII-GSST recipients at Waterloo |
| Application Process | Complete online admissions application, upload documents, email materials to department graduate co-ordinator, referees email letters directly to department graduate co-ordinator |
Fact about the University of Waterloo
- Pioneers of Co-operative Education: The University of Waterloo revolutionized higher education with its co-operative education program, blending classroom studies with hands-on industry training. This approach, proposed by Ira Needles, has become a model for universities worldwide.
- Rapid Growth and Expansion: From its modest beginnings in 1957, the University of Waterloo quickly grew, opening its first building, the Chemical Engineering Building, just a year later in 1958.
- Trailblazing in Mathematics and Kinesiology: The university established the first Faculty of Mathematics in North America in 1967 and the world’s first Department of Kinesiology the same year. These pioneering moves have cemented Waterloo’s reputation as a leader in these fields.
- Innovative Governance Model: The University of Waterloo’s governance, inspired by the University of Toronto Act of 1906, features a bicameral system with a senate for academic policy and a board of governors for financial policy. This structure ensures balanced and effective management.
- Library Integration for Better Access: In 1995, Waterloo joined forces with Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Guelph to integrate library collections and services. The Tri-University Group (TUG) agreement has significantly enhanced resources for students and researchers.
- Technological Hub: The Waterloo Research and Technology Park, now named after former president and Governor General David Johnston, was launched in 2001. It serves as a nexus for high-tech industries, providing businesses with access to the university’s cutting-edge research and talented students.
- Global Reach: Between 2009 and 2012, Waterloo extended its influence globally by managing undergraduate programs in Dubai. This partnership with the Higher Colleges of Technology showcased the university’s commitment to international education and collaboration.
- Resilience and Community: Despite challenges, including the unfortunate stabbing incident in 2023, the University of Waterloo has demonstrated resilience and a strong sense of community. The incident, motivated by hate, was met with solidarity and a reaffirmation of the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Prestigious Coat of Arms: Waterloo’s coat of arms, in use since 1961, is officially recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Canadian Heraldic Authority, reflecting the university’s esteemed heritage.
Details For 2025 Ontario Graduate Scholarship For International Students
Students are considered for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) at Waterloo by using one application. Both scholarships are of equal prestige. The differences between the OGS and QEII-GSST scholarships are as follows:
- OGS – available for all disciplines of academic study; available to Canadian Citizens/Permanent Residents and International students.
- QEII-GSST – available specifically for students in a research-based graduate program in one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines; only available to Canadian Citizens/Permanent residents.
Requirements For 2025 Ontario Graduate Scholarship For International Students
- International applicants must hold a valid study permit under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).
- Domestic applicants must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
Duration and Reward For 2025 Ontario Graduate Scholarship For International Students
- Each OGS and QEII-GSST is valued at a maximum of $15,000 per year. The award is paid as $5,000 per term for either two or three terms.
Waterloo celebrates outstanding academic achievement of its graduate students by offering the President’s Graduate Scholarship (PGS) to students receiving an OGS or QEII-GSST. Successful OGS and QEII-GSST recipients will begin their scholarship during 2024-2025. The allowable start terms are spring 2024, fall 2024 or winter 2025 - Awards are granted for up to one year in duration and are non-renewable. Applicants must apply annually in order to be considered.
Recipients can hold the scholarship for a minimum of two terms (receiving $10,000 total) or a maximum of three terms (receiving $15,000 total). Accepting an OGS/QEII-GSST for only one term is not permitted.
Required Documents For 2025 Ontario Graduate Scholarship For International Students
- Applicants must have achieved a first-class average (minimum of A-/80%), in EACH of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).
- Eligibility averages are calculated using grades from your most-recent academic history up to August 31, 2023, regardless of program or relevance to your current or proposed program. Waterloo is required to adhere to these parameters as dictated by Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU).
Components of a complete application
A complete OGS/QEII-GSST application is comprised of the following:
- Transcript request webform
- OGS/QEII-GSST Application + Appendix A (if applicable)
- Email material to the department graduate co-ordinator of the current/proposed department
- Two academic reference letters (see Step 5 – Select referees)
- Referees must email their letter directly to the department graduate co-ordinatorof the current/proposed department
Applicants who identify as Indigenous on the application form must complete the Indigenous verification process, if they have not already done so, prior to submitting their application to their department graduate co-ordinator.
Maximum Support
Master’s students can receive an OGS or QEII-GSST for a maximum of two academic years and doctoral students for a maximum of four academic years.*
In addition, students cannot exceed a lifetime maximum of six (6) years of government-funded graduate awards. Awards under the following programs are counted toward this lifetime maximum:
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS)*
- Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST)*
- Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS)
- Tri-Agency Scholarships (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC, Vanier)
*For the purpose of OGS/QEII-GSST, one or two term awards will count as one full year towards the OGS/QEII-GSST program and lifetime maximums.
Concurrent Support
Eligible students are encouraged to apply for both a tri-agency graduate scholarship and OGS/QEII-GSST within the same competition year. If a student is successful in both competitions, they must be aware that these scholarships cannot be held concurrently. In these situations, successful students will normally accept the tri-agency scholarship due to the higher value and national-level prestige associated with it. Students who were successful in both competitions may be initially offered an OGS/QEII-GSST in “name” only* by Waterloo which they are welcome to list on their CV or resumé as a declined award.
*Students who would prefer to accept an OGS/QEII-GSST instead of an NSERC PGS or SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship with the goal of reapplying and being considered for a CGS D level tri-agency scholarship in the future should consult with the Co-ordinator, Graduate Financial Aid and Awards in Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs before declining the tri-agency scholarship. Students retain the ability to accept their OGS/QEII-GSST should they wish.
- It is the student’s responsibility, in consultation with their department and graduate supervisor, to determine which scholarship is most advantageous for them to accept, given their circumstances and eligibility.
- Students are not permitted to partially hold one scholarship and then another in the same competition year.
- Students are not permitted to hold/overlap an OGS and QEII-GSST from two separate competition years.
Students are also required to check the eligibility of other awards they may be offered to see if an OGS/QEII-GSST can be held concurrently.
How To Apply For 2024 Ontario Graduate Scholarship For International Students
Interested Students Can Use The Link Below To Apply
Scholarship status
You will be considered for this scholarship shortly after you receive an offer of admission to UBC. Scholarship decisions are made between mid-March to the end of April each year.