Ontario Graduate Scholarship at University of Toronto (Masters/PhD)

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) provides merit-based funding to graduate students in all academic disciplines at the University of Toronto. The award is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto. It supports Master's and Doctoral study, with the Province allocating a set number of awards to each university annually. The scholarship is for students who demonstrate academic excellence.

• Host: University of Toronto, Canada
• Level: Masters and PhD
• Field: Any subject
• Value: $5,000 per session; up to $15,000 for 3 sessions
• Duration: 1 year (2 or 3 consecutive sessions)
• Deadline: Varies by graduate unit; internal deadlines for Fall 2020 entry range from December 2019 to April 2020; final submission to School of Graduate Studies by 1 June 2020
• Open to: Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, and international students
• Results: Mid-July

This scholarship suits graduate students who have a strong academic record (at least A- average in recent full-time study) and who are enrolling full-time in a Master's or PhD program at the University of Toronto. It is open to both domestic and international students, provided they meet visa and OSAP requirements. Applicants should be prepared to apply directly to their graduate unit and meet that unit's internal deadline.

School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Canada

Master's and PhD degrees in any subject.

Not stated.

Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, protected persons, and international students from around the world.

The OGS is valued at $5,000 per session. Awardees may receive $10,000 for 2 consecutive sessions or $15,000 for 3 consecutive sessions. In every case, the awarding graduate unit contributes one-third of the total award cost.

Each scholarship lasts for 1 year, meaning 2 or 3 consecutive academic sessions. The exact value and duration are set by the awarding graduate unit and stated in the offer letter. Master's students may hold OGS awards for a maximum of 2 years; doctoral students for a maximum of 4 years. Both are subject to a lifetime maximum of 6 years per student.

OGS rules also limit students to a lifetime maximum of 6 years of government-funded awards and forbid holding an OGS and another government-funded award at the same time.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents, or Protected Persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), or international students who are studying or plan to study at the University of Toronto under a temporary resident visa (student study permit). They must be registered or intend to register full-time in an eligible program for the academic year. An eligible program is a full-time program of 2 or 3 sessions at the University of Toronto leading to a graduate degree. Full-time status means at least 60% of a full course load (40% for students with a permanent disability) or as defined by the University.

Applicants must have achieved at least A- (or equivalent) in each of the last 2 completed years of full-time study. If the student has completed 2 years of graduate studies at the time of application, they need only show an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent) on all graduate courses. If marks for GPA calculation are unavailable (for example, courses graded pass-fail), the next most recent available undergraduate or graduate marks will be used.

At the graduate unit's discretion, exceptions may be made for highly meritorious applicants who are below the required GPA minimum. Examples include applicants with documented medical issues or family care responsibilities, applicants who have pursued alternative career paths, or mature students with professional experience. Contact your proposed graduate unit(s) to confirm their use of this eligibility criterion.

To hold an OGS award, recipients must register and remain enrolled full-time at the University of Toronto in an eligible program at the graduate unit that awarded the OGS. They must be in good standing with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Applicants who have defaulted on a Canada or Ontario Student Loan, or failed to make satisfactory repayment on a loan overpayment, are ineligible. Those with an OSAP restriction may still apply, but if awarded, they must clear the restriction within 30 days of notification to accept and hold the award.

Scholars may accept research assistantships, part-time teaching positions, or other paid employment that does not affect their full-time graduate status and is consistent with graduate unit policies. Typically, students holding full-time paid employment are not eligible for an OGS from the University of Toronto. Scholars also cannot hold an OGS in the same session (overlapping) or in the same award year as a scholarship from SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, QEII-GSST, or another OGS.

These are minimum requirements only. Graduate units may add their own criteria for applying, receiving, or holding an OGS. Students should check with their graduate unit for any extra requirements.

Applications are currently closed.

Submit an OGS application to your proposed graduate unit through the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies centralized online OGS application. Each graduate unit sets its own internal deadline. For Fall 2020 entry, deadlines vary from December 2019 to April 2020. Check the official website for the deadlines set by each graduate unit.

You must submit a separate OGS application to each institution where you seek admission. OGS awards are not transferable between universities. If you apply to multiple graduate units or departments within the University of Toronto, send a separate OGS application to each one.

Note for visa students: if you hold or will hold a valid student visa by the graduate unit's OGS visa application deadline (or, at the unit's discretion, by 31 March 2020 at the latest), you are eligible to apply following the same process and internal deadlines set by your current or proposed graduate unit. Graduate units select and forward a limited number of applications to the School of Graduate Studies for centralized adjudication by 1 June 2020.

Application requirements (all components are online): OGS application form; transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (unofficial and student-issued transcripts are permitted; e.g., ACORN screenshots); previous awards/publications/conference/research experience; plan of study (maximum 2 pages: 1 page for Plan of Study, 1 page for references/citations); two academic references (referees will be required to submit online).

Visit the official website for detailed application information.

• Who can apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship? Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, and international students with a valid student visa who are enrolled or plan to enroll full-time in an eligible graduate program at the University of Toronto.
• What does the scholarship cover? It provides $5,000 per session, up to $10,000 for 2 sessions or $15,000 for 3 sessions. The graduate unit contributes one-third of the total award.
• What is the application deadline? Deadlines vary by graduate unit. For Fall 2020 entry, internal deadlines range from December 2019 to April 2020, and final submissions to the School of Graduate Studies are due by 1 June 2020.
• How do I apply? Submit the centralized online OGS application to your proposed graduate unit. If applying to multiple units, send a separate application to each.
• Can international students apply? Yes, international students with a valid student visa by the unit's deadline (or by 31 March 2020 at the latest) are eligible.
• When are results announced? Results are announced in mid-July.

• Read the official OGS guidelines and your graduate unit's instructions carefully before starting.
• Prepare your transcripts and other required documents early to meet internal deadlines.
• Check whether your program requires a language test and register in time if needed.
• Confirm full-time enrollment status and course load with your department.
• Submit a separate application for each graduate unit you are applying to.