Ontario Graduate Scholarship

When it comes to post-secondary education in Canada, the prestigious universities of Ontario can certainly be considered cream of the crop. Regardless of the field of study, these colleges ensure that the students enrolling in their programs will have a bright future ahead. However, there is one complication that deters Ontarians from chasing their higher education dreams: the exponentially rising college tuition fees.

The province of Ontario acknowledges that no deserving student should have to give up their ambitions of post-secondary education. As a part of Ontario Student Scholarships, the provincial government offers Ontario Graduate Scholarships to meritorious students enrolled in post-graduate and doctoral programs in Ontario. While two-thirds of the amount awarded through Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) is funded by the Ontario government, the remaining one-third is covered by the school.

If you possess the right mix of academic brilliance and sheer passion to learn, keep scrolling to  check out further details about the Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS).

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be registered in a masters or doctoral post-secondary program.

• The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is based on academic merit, hence exceptional scores will be one of the prime criteria for landing this highly sought-after funding. Please note that the schools that you applied for will have their own means to assess your academic prowess, and your achievements would be compared with other candidates.

• You must be enrolled in a school that is supported by OGS. Choose the school to pursue further education carefully as only a few universities are affiliated with the provincial OGS program. Here are the Ontario colleges that participate in OGS:

Brock University, Carleton University, University of Guelph, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, McMaster University, Nipissing University, OCAD University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, University of Toronto, Trent University, University of Waterloo, Western University, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Windsor, York University

• You need to study full-time with at least two or more terms in an academic year. The duration of your course must be 21 to 52 weeks in a school year.

How to Apply

Now let’s walk you through the application process.

1. Fill out the form: To apply for the OGS, simply fill out the application offered by your respective OGS affiliated university. These forms are usually available across institutions in October, so try to get ahead of the curve and apply as early as possible.
2. You can apply for OGS at more than one university: A major benefit of the OGS program is its flexibility to apply for scholarship at multiple schools. However, a candidate must fill out multiple OGS applications, each for the university or college they are vying to get in.
3. Know the selection process: Finally, the details for additional documents to be submitted along with the application and the criteria for selection might vary with each university. Stay up to date about all the selection requirements by getting in touch with the counsellors at the Graduate Studies Office of the institution you wish to apply. The Graduate Studies Office will notify you if your application is selected for the scholarship.

How much can you get

Does money talk get you all excited? If it does, then hold on to your seats as we delve into the amount that you can receive through OGS.

• The amount you can get through OGS depends on the number of school terms in an academic year .This means that an applicant could potentially get $10,000 for two terms and $15,000 for three consecutive terms within a school year.
• Each Ontario Graduate Scholarship award is offered for a minimum tenure of one academic year to a maximum tenure of two academic years. This means that the scholarship can be offered for a maximum of six terms over the course of two school years.
• There is a lifetime maximum limit for each student, beyond which they won’t be eligible for the scholarship. This amounts to two years for those pursuing a Master’s degree and four years for those pursuing a Doctorate. For all other students, six years is the lifetime limit.

Other Ontario Student Aid Programs

The merit-based nature of this scholarship can make it quite challenging for applicants to land the reward. But don’t be disheartened, as the Ontario government has a plethora of other student aid programs such as Ontario Student Assistance Program, that is offered for both part-time and full time courses, Ontario Student Bursaries, and Other Ontario Grants for Students in Special Circumstances.