Scholarship Details
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program encourages excellence in graduate studies at the master’s and Doctoral levels. It is a merit- based scholarship. Awards are available to students in all disciplines of academic study. An Ontario Graduate Scholarship is awarded for one academic year, which may consist of two or three consecutive terms.
The Province of Ontario and post- secondary institutions jointly fund the OGS program. The Province of Ontario contributes two- thirds of the value of the award and the university provides one- third.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Program
You must be taking an eligible program, which is defined as a full-time program of study of two or three terms at an eligible institution leading to a graduate degree. Each of the components that determine an eligible program is outlined below.
Course Load
You must be enrolled as a full-time student, as defined by the institution. To be considered a full-time student, you must meet the following conditions:
- be pursuing studies as a full-time occupation;
- not be employed, for more than an average of 10 hours per week for any term during registration as a full-time graduate student. Note: If you are employed as a teaching fellow or demonstrator, the ten hours per week should represent the total time spent by you in connection with the appointment, including preparation and marking examinations, etc.
- Students who are unable to study full-time due to a permanent disability may still be considered for an award provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
Level of Study
You must be enrolled in a graduate level program. You may apply for an OGS prior to admission to a graduate program provided you will be enrolled in graduate studies for the duration of the award.
Terms of Study
You must be taking two or three consecutive terms of study. You are not eligible if your program length is one term (this includes any change to the program length that results in a one term period of study for the current application).
Term of study is a period of study, including examinations, of approximately 15 to 17 weeks in duration (but not less than 12 weeks in duration). The terms are deemed to be:
- The period from May to August is the spring term.
- The period from September to December is the fall term.
- The period from January to April is the winter term.
- Generally non-consecutive terms of study are not eligible. Contact your Graduate Studies Office
to discuss your situation if you are in a co-op program are on maternity or paternity leave or have extenuating personal circumstances.
Academic Requirements
You must meet the following OGS academic requirements:
- If entering the first or second year of graduate studies at the time of application you must have an overall average of at least A-, or the equivalent, on the last 20 one-term/semester courses, or the equivalent, completed.
- If you are entering the third year of graduate studies at the time of application you must have an overall average of at least A-, or the equivalent, on all graduate courses completed.
- If master’s or doctoral degree marks used for calculating an applicant’s GPA are not available (e.g., courses were graded on a pass-fail basis), then the ministry or universities Graduate Studies Office will use the most recently available undergraduate or graduate marks to calculate an student’s GPA.
Age Requirements
You must be at least 16 years of age.
Citizenship Requirements
If you are a Canadian citizen you are eligible to be considered for an OGS award. If you are in any of the following citizenship categories, statuses, you must have obtained that status no later than the OGS application deadline date in order to be considered for an OGS award:
- Permanent Resident
- Protected Person [under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protections Act (Canada)]
- Temporary resident visa as a member of the student class under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) Restrictions
- If you are restricted from receiving OSAP assistance, have defaulted on student loans or have an OGS overpayment you may not be eligible for an OGS. Contact your Financial Aid Office to discuss your personal situation.
How to Apply
Contact the Graduate Program Office to apply.