Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program for international students

🎓 What is the OGS?

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) is a merit-based award for full‑time graduate students (Master’s or PhD) studying at participating public universities in Ontario Reddit
Scholarships range from CAD $10,000 (2 consecutive terms) to CAD $15,000 (3 consecutive terms) per academic year Masters Portal
Maximum funding: 2 years (Master’s), 4 years (PhD), or 6 years total across graduate studies Collegedunia

✅ Who is eligible?

Must be (or intend to be) enrolled in a full‑time graduate program at one of the participating Ontario universities (60% course load, or 40% for students with disabilities) for two or three consecutive academic terms gradstudies.ontariotechu.ca
Must achieve at least an A‑ average (approx. 80%) in the last two years of study, or in prior graduate courses if already in later years Masters Portal
Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Protected Persons, and international students holding a valid study permit (some universities designate limited slots for internationals) BeMo®
Cannot hold another major government-funded award concurrently, such as NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, QEII‑GSST, Vanier CGS, or OTS Wikipedia

1. 🏛️ Program Overview

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) is a merit-based award for students studying at the master’s or doctoral level in Ontario universities. It’s co‑funded by the Province of Ontario (2/3 of the award) and the host institution (1/3) Reddit

For international students, about 90 awards (typically) are reserved annually from the pool of approximately 3,000 total scholarships Wikipedia. Many universities also establish a small quota of awards specifically for study-permit holders Scholarships & Visa

2. Value & Duration

Value per term: CAD 5,000
Annual award:
- CAD 10,000 for 2 consecutive academic terms
- CAD 15,000 for 3 consecutive academic terms Reddit
Duration limits:
- Master’s: maximum 2 academic years (up to 6 terms)
- Doctoral: maximum 4 academic years
- Lifetime limit (across all Ontario government‑funded awards such as OGS, QEII‑GSST, Vanier, SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR): 6 years total Reddit

3. Eligibility Criteria for International Students

International applicants must meet:

Citizenship status:
- Must hold a valid Canadian study permit at the time of the application deadline and registration University of Waterloo
Academic performance:
- A minimum of A‑ average (equivalent to A− or 80%) in each of the last two full‑time academic years Uniplus Global
Program enrolment:
- Be enrolled, or intending to enroll, in a full‑time master’s or PhD program at a participating Ontario university during 2 or more consecutive terms Scholarships Future
Program type:
- Both course-based and research-based programs are eligible, though some universities may require evidence of research potential even for course-based applications University of Waterloo
No concurrent major awards:
- Cannot hold OGS concurrently with other major awards such as Vanier CGS or tri-council CF scholarships (SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR), or another OGS from different year/time overlapping Makeoverarena
Funding limits reached:
- Must not have already exhausted the maximum allowed duration (per program or overall) of government-funded postgraduate support Reddit

4. Participating Universities

Over 19–20 publicly funded Ontario universities participate in the OGS Program, including but not limited to:

University of Toronto
University of Waterloo
York, Western, Queen’s, McMaster
University of Guelph, Laurier, Brock, Windsor
Trent, Carleton, Lakehead, Nipissing, OCAD, Ontario Tech, and others LinkedIn

Each university administers its own internal process and may have limited awards earmarked for international students Scholarships & Visa.

5. Application Process

Step‑by‑Step

Choose your university and graduate program. You must apply for admission and OGS through that institution.
Visit the university’s Graduate Scholarships/Awards page for detailed instructions and internal deadlines.
Prepare required documents, typically:
- Official transcripts
- Academic CV/resumé
- Research proposal or statement of interest
- Two academic reference letters
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL) if required Reddit
Submit your application via the university portal by its internal deadline (ranging from October to January depending on the school) Scholarships Future
Nomination and review:
- Your department reviews and ranks candidates.
- Selected applicants are nominated to provincial OGS competition.
- Final award decisions are communicated typically between March and May Scholarships & Visa
Award start: Most awards begin in the Fall term (September) following selection Scholarships & Visa

University-specific deadlines and examples

University of Waterloo: For international applicants, the OGS/QEII‑GSST deadline is February 1, 2025 (ET), with materials due to departments by that time University of Waterloo
University of Guelph: Deadline for application is January 31, 2025 for the 2025–26 cycle; it allocates only 4 international student slots out of 137 total awards graduatestudies.uoguelph.ca.
Other universities like U of T, York, Queen’s, McMaster, Western typically have deadlines between November 2024 and February 2025 for the 2025–26 competition cycle Scholarships & Visa.

Ensure you check your target institution for its exact deadline and requirements.

6. Selection Criteria

Applications are judged on:

Criterion	Approximate Weight
Academic Excellence	~30%
Research Capability	~50%
Communication / Leadership	~20%

Craft your proposal to demonstrate your research potential, clarity of thought, and ability to contribute academically and in leadership roles Scholarships & Visa.

7. Benefits & Strategic Value

Financial support: CAD 10,000–15,000/year helps offset tuition and living costs.
Credential boost: OGS is widely respected in Canada and internationally.
Research focus: Freed from financial stress, recipients focus on academic achievements.
Resume weight: OGS adds weight when applying for future awards or employment opportunities Scholarships & Visa.

As a Canadian Reddit user noted:

“It was super tight for international students, per usual” — reflecting the competitive nature due to limited reserved spots Reddit.

International master’s students at some institutions (e.g. University of Ottawa) have reported receiving no guaranteed financial support, making OGS even more critical if available Reddit

8. Tips to Improve Your Chances

Apply early: Some universities allow rolling admissions; early submissions may enjoy additional consideration.
Tailor your research proposal: Align with faculty strengths and institutional priorities.
Select strong referees: Choose academic referees who know you well and can speak to research aptitude.
Highlight leadership and publications: These help strengthen the non-academic criteria.
Apply separately to each university: Your application is not transferable across institutions.
Consider applying for tri-council fellowships (SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR) as well—if successful, they often supersede OGS due to higher value (~CAD 17,500–35,000/year). OGS can't be held concurrently, but you can still list OGS as “awarded (declined)” Scholarships & Visa.

9. Summary

International students with a valid Canadian study permit can apply to OGS at participating Ontario universities.
Requirements include full-time enrolment in a master’s or PhD program and a strong academic record (A‑ average or equivalent).
Funding: CAD 5,000/term; up to CAD 15,000 per year; max durations of 2 years (Master’s), 4 years (PhD), and 6 years lifetime overall.
Apply through your university’s graduate office by internal deadlines (typically October–February).
Selection is competitive, especially for international quotas.
International students often rely heavily on OGS, as fewer universities guarantee funding otherwise.
Complement your OGS application with applications to your program admission and possible tri-council fellowships.

10. Checklist Before Applying

Confirm the internal competitive deadline at your chosen university for the relevant year (e.g. Jan, Feb 2025 for the 2025–26 award cycle).
Ensure you will hold a valid study permit through the deadline and start term.
Meet the academic average requirement: A‑ or ≥ 80% equivalent in last two years.
Prepare all required documents: transcripts, proposal, references, CV, English proficiency.
Apply separately to your graduate program and OGS scholarship.
Consider alternative or concurrent awards such as SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR; manage possible award conflicts.
Submit before deadline; monitor review timeline and decisions (typically March–May).
Plan your finances: OGS may cover part of tuition; living expenses may require additional funding.

In conclusion, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship represents a prestigious and valuable opportunity for international graduate students studying in Ontario. With proper planning, adherence to university‑specific timelines, and a compelling application, you can position yourself strongly for this competitive merit-based award.