Overview
Open to domestic and international students Eligible for all fields of study Available for Master’s and PhD students Applicable to research-based or course-based programs
Open only to domestic students (Canadian citizens, PRs, Protected Persons) Restricted to research-based graduate programs Open for STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
Description
Open to domestic and international students Eligible for all fields of study Available for Master’s and PhD students Applicable to research-based or course-based programs
Open only to domestic students (Canadian citizens, PRs, Protected Persons) Restricted to research-based graduate programs Open for STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
Eligibility
1. Citizenship Requirements
International applicants: Must hold a valid study permit
Domestic applicants: Canadian citizen, PR, or Protected Person
2. Academic Requirements
Minimum A- / 80% average in the last two full-time academic years
Competitive applicants usually have:
a. 85%+ average b. Publications c. Conference presentations d. Previous scholarships
3. Program Requirements
OGS: Open to research & course-based programs
QEII-GSST: Restricted to research-based STEM programs
4. Registration Requirements
Must be full-time at time of holding the award
International students must already be enrolled at Waterloo
Domestic students may apply as incoming students (must apply for admission by Feb 1, 2026)
5. Other Requirements
Cannot hold OGS/QEII concurrently with Tri-Agency awards
Must meet program time limits (students exceeding limits may still apply)
Students with OSAP restrictions must clear them before disbursement
Additional Information
About The Ogs Qeii Gsst Scholarships
Open to domestic and international students Eligible for all fields of study Available for Master’s and PhD students Applicable to research-based or course-based programs
Open only to domestic students (Canadian citizens, PRs, Protected Persons) Restricted to research-based graduate programs Open for STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
Degree Level
Master’s Degree (research-based or course-based) Doctoral (PhD) Programs
Available Subjects
Eligible Subjects
OGS :
All academic disciplines including:
Arts Humanities Engineering Computer Science Environment Health Sciences Social Sciences Mathematics Sciences
QEII-GSST:
Only research-based STEM fields:
Physics Biology Chemistry Engineering Computer Science Mathematics Earth & Environmental Sciences Technology & Applied Sciences
Benefits
Both OGS and QEII-GSST offer the same funding structure:
Scholarship Value
$5,000 per term
Up to $15,000 for one academic year
Additional Benefit
All successful recipients also receive a President’s Graduate Scholarship (PGS) from the University of Waterloo.
Duration
Awards last one academic year
Not renewable (must re-apply each year)
Up to 2 years of OGS/QEII support for Master’s
Up to 4 years for PhD
Lifetime maximum: 6 years of government-funded graduate scholarships (including Tri-Agency)
Eligible Nationalities
Eligible Nationalities
OGS:
Canadian citizens Permanent Residents Protected Persons International students (with valid study permit)
QEII-GSST:
Domestic applicants only
Eligibility Criteria
1. Citizenship Requirements
International applicants: Must hold a valid study permit
Domestic applicants: Canadian citizen, PR, or Protected Person
2. Academic Requirements
Minimum A- / 80% average in the last two full-time academic years
Competitive applicants usually have:
a. 85%+ average b. Publications c. Conference presentations d. Previous scholarships
3. Program Requirements
OGS: Open to research & course-based programs
QEII-GSST: Restricted to research-based STEM programs
4. Registration Requirements
Must be full-time at time of holding the award
International students must already be enrolled at Waterloo
Domestic students may apply as incoming students (must apply for admission by Feb 1, 2026)
5. Other Requirements
Cannot hold OGS/QEII concurrently with Tri-Agency awards
Must meet program time limits (students exceeding limits may still apply)
Students with OSAP restrictions must clear them before disbursement
Important Dates 2026 2027 Competition
January 14, 2026 – 4:00 PM ET
OGS/QEII Intent to Apply Form deadline (mandatory)
February 1, 2026
Final deadline to submit:
Application form
Official transcripts
Reference letters
February 2, 2026
(Extended one day because Feb 1 is a Sunday)
February 1, 2026
Domestic applicants must apply for graduate program admission (if applicable)
Application Process Step By Step
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Review academic, citizenship, and program-based requirements.
Step 2: Select Department
Submit your complete package to the department where you plan to hold the award.
Step 3: Apply for Admission (Domestic Applicants Only)
Submit your graduate admission application by Feb 1, 2026.
Step 4: Submit Intent to Apply Form
Mandatory for all applicants by Jan 14, 2026.
Step 5: Collect Official Transcripts
New rule: Applicants themselves must gather all official post-secondary transcripts
Includes exchange-term transcripts even if grades do not appear on Waterloo transcript
Step 6: Choose Referees
Two academic referees must email signed letters directly to the department
Max 2 pages, on letterhead
Step 7: Complete OGS/QEII-GSST Application Form
Include research proposal, CV, contributions, leadership roles
Indigenous applicants must complete verification process
Step 8: Submit Application Package
Email the completed form + transcripts to your graduate department by Feb 1–2, 2026.
Selection And Ranking
International Competition
Departments rank applicants
Faculty selects top 3 to send to university-level committee
University awards 5 international OGS scholarships
Domestic Competition
Varies by faculty, but generally:
Departments review and rank applicants
Faculty committees allocate awards
Indigenous applicants are reviewed separately for reserved awards
Frequently Asked Questions Faqs
Can international students apply for the QEII-GSST? No. QEII-GSST is only for domestic students in research-based STEM programs.
Do I need to submit the Intent to Apply form? Yes, this is mandatory for all applicants and is new for the 2026–27 competition.
Can I apply to multiple departments for the scholarship? No. You may apply to multiple programs for admission, but you can submit only one OGS/QEII-GSST application at Waterloo.
Are course-based Master’s students eligible? Yes, for OGS, but your application must still demonstrate research ability. Course-based students are not eligible for QEII-GSST.
Can I hold OGS/QEII at the same time as Tri-Agency awards? No. These scholarships cannot be held concurrently with CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC awards.
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Card
Funding
Partial Funding
Organization
University of Waterloo
Degree
Masters, PhD
Subjects
All Subjects
Nationality
International Students, Domestic Students
Country
Canada
Source
Information provided by scholarships_ads.