Ontario Graduate Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide to Eligibility and Application

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program is a prestigious, merit-based scholarship designed to support outstanding graduate students pursuing Master's and Doctoral degrees at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario. Since 1975, the OGS program has played a crucial role in encouraging excellence in graduate studies across all academic disciplines, attracting and retaining high-caliber students within the province. Receiving an OGS is a significant accomplishment, showcasing a student’s exceptional academic standing and promising future in their chosen field. The OGS program is more than just financial aid; it’s an investment in Ontario’s future.

Funding and Value of the Scholarship

The OGS program is jointly funded by the provincial government, which contributes two-thirds of the grant total, and the university attended by the student, which provides the remaining one-third. The value of the OGS is $5,000 per session. Thus, awardees may receive $10,000 for 2 consecutive sessions or $15,000 for 3 consecutive sessions. Each scholarship is tenable for 1 year (i.e., 2 consecutive or 3 academic sessions). The value and duration of each OGS award will be determined by the awarding graduate unit and detailed in the offer letter. However, it's important to note that some universities depend on matching private donations to offer the scholarship. If these donations are insufficient, the student may not be eligible to use the award at that institution. One third of the value of every award is provided by the university from eligible matched sources.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, students must meet specific criteria related to citizenship/residency, academic standing, and program enrollment.

Citizenship and Residency

Applicants must be:

A Canadian citizen
A Permanent Resident of Canada
A Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
An international student holding a valid study permit (temporary resident visa)

Preference will be given to Ontario residents. Of the 3,000 scholarships awarded annually, 90 are reserved for students who have received a temporary resident visa as a member of the student class under the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, also referred to as the "Temporary Resident Visa Student Class".

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Academic Requirements

The student must satisfy eligibility criteria and maintain a minimum academic standard of an "A−" or 80% average over the preceding two years of study in order to qualify for the scholarship. If the student has completed two years of graduate studies at the time of application, they must demonstrate an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent) on all graduate courses completed.

Program Enrollment

Applicants must be registered or intend to register in an eligible program on a full-time basis for the academic year. An eligible program is defined as a full-time program of study of 2 or 3 sessions at a participating Ontario university, leading to a graduate degree.

Additional Eligibility Considerations

Students are limited in the number of years that they may hold an OGS. Master’s students may receive a maximum of 2 years of OGS awards. Doctoral students may receive a maximum of 4 years of OGS awards.
To hold an OGS award, recipients must register and remain enrolled as a full-time student at the university in an eligible program at the graduate unit from which the OGS was awarded.
Recipients must be in good standing with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Applicants who have defaulted on a Canada or Ontario Student Loan, or have failed to make satisfactory repayment on a loan overpayment, are ineligible to receive the award. Those with an OSAP restriction may still apply for the OGS.
Scholars may accept research assistantships, part-time teaching positions, or other paid employment that does not affect their status as a full-time graduate student and is commensurate with the graduate unit policies. Typically, students holding full-time paid employment are not eligible to receive an OGS.
The eligibility criteria provided here are the minimum requirements only. Graduate units may impose additional criteria to apply, receive, or hold an OGS.

Application Process

The application process for the OGS is decentralized, meaning that students must apply directly to the university they plan to attend.

Application Submission

Applicants must submit an OGS application to their proposed graduate unit using the university's centralized online OGS application. Each graduate unit will have its own internal submission deadline to which applicants must adhere. It's important to submit an OGS application to each institution for which you are seeking admission, as OGS awards are not transferrable from one university to another.

Key Steps in the Application Process

Check University-Specific Requirements: Contact the graduate program coordinator or the Faculty of Graduate Studies/Student Awards Office at the specific Ontario university you are attending or applying to, to inquire about specific requirements.
Obtain the Application Form: Applicants should use their school’s OGS application, each university has their own application form.
Meet the Deadline: Pay close attention to the internal deadlines set by the graduate unit to which you are applying.

Selection Process

The Selection Board (Ontario Graduate Scholarship) is an advisory agency that reports to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. It consists of a chairperson and eight members representing five broad disciplines of study.

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Evaluation Panels

The Selection Board establishes three-member panels which evaluate candidates based on the applications received; one member is selected as the chairperson. The panel will reject without qualification any application from a student that does not satisfy the eligibility criteria or is not submitted by the deadline.

Rating Sheet Components

For each application from an eligible student, a rating sheet is completed by the panel. It consists of three sections:

Student Identification: Name, student number, level of study, and a code for the discipline of study.
Panel Ranking: A panel number and panel chair signature, and either successful, reversion, or unsuccessful.
Board Ranking: Board member signature and either successful, reversion, or unsuccessful.

Anomaly Reports

If two panel members differ in their assessment of a candidate by three or more points, an anomaly report is generated, requiring a conference call between the panel chair and the other two members.

Notification and Acceptance

The ministry notifies successful applicants by mid-April, to which it must receive a complete Notice of Acceptance from the student by the end of June.

Deferral Requests

The student may request a deferral of the award of up to 16 months for medical reasons, a maternity or paternity leave, or on compassionate grounds for exceptional circumstances. The latter is considered by the Selection Board.

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Considerations for International Students

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship application is open for international students. International applicants must have received admission to a graduate program at a participating Ontario university.

Restrictions and Important Notes

Limitations on Receiving the Award: Master’s students can receive the scholarship for a duration of 2 academic years, and doctoral students can receive the same for 4 years.
Award Usage: The University of Waterloo considers students for the award using one application form. The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) is available for all disciplines of academic study.
Employment Restrictions: OGS recipients are restricted from working for more than an average of 10 hours per week per academic session. OGS recipients are not allowed to accept research assistantships, part-time teaching positions, or other paid employment that affects their status as full-time graduate students.
Non-Renewable: The OGS is a one-time payment scholarship; it is not renewable.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

While the OGS is a significant source of funding for graduate students in Ontario, it's also worth exploring other scholarship opportunities, such as:

Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES): A merit-based award open to international students attending Alberta post-secondary institutions.
University of East Anglia International PG Merit Scholarship: A merit-based scholarship offering tuition fee reductions for international postgraduate students.
SOAS University of London Postgraduate Scholarships: Offering substantial funding for postgraduate studies focusing on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships: Offered by various Australian universities, aligning with major intake rounds.

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