How To Win PhD Scholarships in Canada

Looking for a Ph.D. scholarship in Canada? This article provides necessary guidance on how to win PhD scholarships in Canada and all the currently available Ph.D. scholarship opportunities in the country.

Thousands of students flock to Canada for study purposes, including students who want to continue their studies by pursuing a PhD degree, as Canadian institutions have been globally recognized to provide excellent education and all degree certificates, including Ph.D. certificates, obtained from known Canadian institutions are equally recognized in every part of the world.

Aside from offering world-class education, Canada is also known for the wonderful scholarship opportunities it offers to students on all levels of study, that is, there are available scholarships for undergraduate postgraduate and graduate students.

Through its scholarship provisions, lots of potential students have been attracted to study in Canada and partake in the excellent education its institution’s offers. Also, through the provided scholarships, which were made available on all levels of study, students have been able to unleash their full potentials, achieve their dreams and have had successful careers.

Why do students pursue a PhD degree?

There are endless numbers of reasons why a student may decide to get a PhD degree but the main reasons are;

  1. To contribute positively to your chosen field of study
  2. To improve and sharpen your skill and knowledge in a particular field
  3. To go higher the academic ladder and become more professional
  4. For personal academic reasons
  5. For long-term career goals
  6. To be open to even bigger, better opportunities.
  7. To improve yourself and your life
  8. Passion for learning and continuing education
  9. To be a don in a field who can contributions with authority and practical proves

In an ever-changing world, getting more knowledge, skills and enhancing them is necessary as you do not know how much effect the change will have and going up the academic ladder is just one of the many important ways to keep yourself ready and equipped for any change.

Getting a scholarship to pursue your PhD degree will help you greatly to focus on your studies without having to worry about funding.

These scholarships can help to pay for your PhD tuition fees or living expenses and in some cases, you can get scholarships that cover both fees and general expenses just like the Ms/PhD of Arts and Science scholarship of MIT (Though this one is online).

How are Canadian Ph.D. scholarships funded?

The PhD Canadian scholarships are funded by the following;

  1. The Canadian government
  2. Charity foundations
  3. Private/public organizations, firms and companies
  4. Generous individuals who may, in most cases be alumni of the school offering the scholarship.

Thanks to the people above, a lot of students, including PhD students, have been able to receive a world-class education in Canada through either partially funded or fully funded scholarships.

For those of the scholarships offered by the government, here is a full list of fully-funded Canadian government scholarships that any international students can apply for.

Why do PhD Students need Scholarships?

One good reason is that lots of PhD students have an overflowing schoolwork activity ranging from full course work schedule to graduate training thus they have very little or no time to get a job which could help them make money to pay up their PhD degree tuition fees and other expenses.

PhD students deserve scholarships as much as every other student who aims to pursue a university or college degree.

Also, some students do not have the financial capabilities to handle a PhD education but they still want to get the degree. These and many more reasons leave students with no other option but to seek out for scholarships that will help to cover the necessary expenses.

Is a PhD in Canada free?

No, PhD degree is not free in Canada. Students must pay to study and get the certificate except through scholarships which this article provides guidance on.

The financial cost of getting a PhD degree certificate in Canada varies between universities. For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, it is approximately $5,000 per year while for international students it is approximately $9,000 per year which includes living costs.

International students can also get financial aid from Canadian universities, see the lists Canadian universities that offer financial aid to international students.

How can I get a full scholarship in Canada?

There are several fully-funded scholarships in Canada that students can apply for and it is available to both domestic and foreign students and this is how you can get these scholarships;

  1. Choose a Canadian college or university, a degree program (undergraduate, postgraduate or graduate) and a field of study, and be admitted
  2. Proceed to contact your host school admissions officer on the matter of scholarships that are provided by the school.
  3. There are other available scholarships source that you can apply for, begin to seek them out by making the necessary research
  4. Inform everyone around you concerning the matter of a scholarship in case anyone pops up or they hold information concerning any scholarship program they can inform you.
  5. Apply to as many scholarships as you can, it increases your chances of getting a scholarship and always meet up with each of the deadlines.

There are several scholarship opportunities available in Canada and a number of them are fully funded. You can check out a list of available postgraduate scholarships in Canada that you can apply.

You can as well check out some of the scholarship opportunities in Canada that are fully funded, offered by the government of Canada and their allies. The Venier Canada graduate scholarship worth $50,000 is one of the most coveted scholarships in Canada, though it is basically for Canadian citizens.

The top universities in Canada offer scholarships annually, good a thing we have an article relaying all of the information which would help in your research for scholarships in top Canadian institutions, you can access our article compilation on the top Canadian universities that offer scholarships annually for free.

Do PhD students get paid in Canada?

In this case, it all depends on the student, the answer is yes and also no; I will tell you why.

PhD students can get employed in the same school where they are pursuing their PhD degrees but it is left for the student to decide whether to apply for the job or not. A PhD student could also be offered a job in his institution based on experience and performance but the student can also decide whether or not to accept the Job.

PhD students can work with the school’s research team, teach undergraduate students or any other job allocation that is suitable for them to do which they get paid for. In fact, the average salary for a PhD student in Canada is CA$24,000 per annum and that is a huge sum.

How long is a PhD in Canada?

In general, a PhD in Canada takes about 4 to 6 years. Depending on the field of study and institution, it takes about four to six years to complete a PhD degree in Canada.

Is a PhD worth it in Canada?

Getting a PhD in an accredited institution in Canada is worth every penny and other resources spent on getting it. You are a student on a higher level of study, learning higher things and making your own research to get answers or solutions that would contribute to the world and who knows, it may turn out to be a major contribution that will help change a lot of lives.

Also if you want to go into full-time research or be part of a private or governmentally funded research team, you would need a PhD to get a position in a research facility or organization and getting the degree in Canada is worth it.

Is there PhD in Canada with a stipend?

Yes, most of the top PhD scholarships in Canada come with monthly stipends for beneficiaries. These stipends are usually made available for the students to take care of their personal expenses.

Can I Get a PhD in Canada with scholarship?

For those out there looking for how to a get PhD in Canada with scholarship, I have listed a number of available scholarships in Canada that you can apply for with their respective application links.

Best PhD Scholarships in Canada

  • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
  • University of Waterloo International Masters Award Excellence (IMAE)
  • The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
  • Ontario Trillium Scholarship (OTS)
  • The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF)
  • Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships
  • Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS)
  • The University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships Office
  • Alberta Innovates Graduate Students Scholarships
  • Banting Post-doctoral Fellowships

1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS)

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) was launched by the Canadian government in 2008 and has since been providing PhD scholars with an annual scholarship amount of $50,000 per year for three years of doctoral studies at an accredited Canadian institution.

The Vanier CGS is open for application to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and foreigners, and 166 students are finally selected for the scholarship award. The scholarship is awarded to graduate students with excellent academic and research record, leadership skills and major involvement in extracurricular activities.

Fortunately, we have a well-detailed article providing all the information, including eligibility requirements and necessary guidelines a PhD scholar would need to win a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

2. University of Waterloo International Masters Award of Excellence (IMAE)

This award is only for international students entering a research-based doctoral program in the University of Waterloo, Canada. The IMAE scholarship is awarded to graduate students based on academic performance and it is valued at $2,500 per term for a total of five terms.

This scholarship does not require a special application process, all you have to do is be an international student with a valid Canadian study permit (student visa) entering the University of Waterloo graduate program for the first time and possess outstanding academic performance which is what your faculty will use to select you for the award.

We have prepared a guide on how you can get the Canadian student visa, the guide contains rules and requirements that will help you get a valid Canada study permit.

3. The Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS)

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is awarded annually to both international and domestic graduate students of Canada who want to pursue a doctoral degree program at an accredited university or college in Ontario and the winners are selected based on excellent academic performance.

The scholarship is valued at $5,000 per session for six years or till the end of the graduate program and the awardee must keep up with their academic performance also all nationalities are enjoined to apply for the scholarship program as long as you have a valid student permit and want to pursue a graduate program in an Ontario university.

4. Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS)

This is a $40,000 value scholarship awarded annually to a new incoming international student, with a valid Canadian study permit, who is registered in a full-time graduate degree program in an accredited university or college in the Ontario area.

To win the OTS, the recipient must have achieved a first-class average (A-/80% Ontario equivalent) in each of the last two years of full-time study and winners are automatically selected based on their application for the graduate program.

The scholarship is worth $40,000 per student and will go on for an extra three years (total is four years) as long as students maintain excellence in their academics.

5. The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF)

UMGF is an annual scholarship award offered to graduate students (international & domestic) who have been admitted into a full-time doctoral degree program into the University of Manitoba.

To be eligible for this award students must have a minimum admission GPA of 3.0 and above, and have demonstrated superior intellectual ability and academic achievement, also, the scholarship is worth $18,000 per year for up to 4 years of doctoral studies.

6. Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships

With a mission to create leadership scholars, this scholarship is a three-year program designed to train engaged leaders, equipping outstanding doctoral candidates with the tools to share and apply their research and be creative leaders in their institutions and communities.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have already been accepted into a full-time doctoral degree program in humanities or social sciences into an accredited Canadian institution.

Students can apply for the scholarship in any year of study and your doctoral work must relate to Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the world, and People and their Natural Environment for you to be considered for the scholarship.

The scholarship is worth $40,000 per year for three years, which covers tuition and living expenses, and another $20,000 per year for three years, which covers research and travel allowance, awarded to applicants with outstanding academic performance, leadership skills, communication skills and community engagement.

7. Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS)

This is a 12-month $17,500 non-renewable scholarship awarded to support students with a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies. To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must already be accepted into a full-time doctoral degree program, in any field of study, in a recognized Canadian institution.

Another eligibility requirement for the CGS is that applicants must have achieved a first-class average in each of the last two completed years of full-time study and must not have previously held a Canada graduate scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded annually to 3,000 students both international and domestic.

8. The University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships

The University of Calgary has various graduate scholarships award that international and domestic students can apply for, the list of these scholarships are long and endless with different eligibility requirement but they all have one thing in common which is;

Applicants must have already applied or want to apply to a doctoral degree program in a Canadian institution, international students must have a valid Canadian study permit and applicants must all meet up with the requirements for each scholarship program they apply for.

Also, applicants are accepted based on their outstanding academic performance and leadership abilities.

9. Alberta Innovates Graduate Students Scholarships

The Alberta Innovates provides annual scholarship funding to international students, Canadian citizens and permanent residents pursuing a doctoral degree program in any of the three eligible research areas; ICT, Nanotechnology or Omics at a university in Alberta, Canada.

There are three universities in Alberta namely;

  1. The University of Alberta
    .
  2. The University of Calgary
    .
  3. The University of Lethbridge

These three universities offer the Alberta Innovates graduate student scholarship to students at the doctoral level of study undertaking full-time research at any of the universities listed above, students with excellent academic performance are usually considered for the scholarship.

10. Banting Post-doctoral Fellowships

The Banting post-doctoral fellowship is an annual scholarship award open for application to citizens and permanent residents of Canada and international students in the eligible areas of research, Health research, Natural sciences and/or engineering, Social science and/or humanities into a recognized Canadian institution.

The fellowship is worth $70,000 per year for two years, awarded to the very best post-doctoral applicants, domestic and international, who will positively contribute to the country’s economic, social and research-based growth.

These are the best 10 PhD scholarships in Canada for graduate students can apply for. You can learn more about any of the listed opportunities through the provided links to know more about the deadline and other necessary requirements.

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