Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program For International Students Requirements (2024)
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program is a merit-based scholarship for graduate students who are pursuing their master’s or doctoral studies.
It is offered by the Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto and is awarded to students who have achieved academic excellence.
The OGS program aims to promote graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario and to support students who are pursuing research and innovation in various fields.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the OGS program, international students must meet the following criteria:
1. Hold a valid study permit effective as of the graduate units’ OGS (international) application deadline.
Currently registered international graduate students who have not yet been able to obtain a study permit due to COVID-19 circumstances are eligible to apply.
However, these applicants must have a valid study permit in order to hold the award.
2. Be registered or intend to register in an eligible program on a full-time basis in 2024-2025. An eligible program is defined as a full-time program of study of two or three terms at the University of Toronto leading to a graduate degree.
3. Have not exceeded the lifetime maximum of government-funded support or maximum OGS support available for their current level of study.
4. Have achieved at least A- (or equivalent) in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).
If the student has completed two years or more of graduate studies at the time of application, the student must only demonstrate an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent) on all graduate courses completed.
Application Process:
To apply for the OGS program, international students must submit an OGS application to their proposed graduate unit using the U of T School of Graduate Studies centralized online OGS application.
The application must include the following components:
1. OGS application form
2. Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (unofficial and student-issued transcripts are permitted; e.g., ACORN screenshots).
3. Previous awards/publications/conference/research experience.
4. Plan of study (Maximum 2 pages: 1 page for Plan of Study, 1 page for references/citations).
5. Two academic references (referees will be required to submit online).
Value and Duration:
The value of the OGS is $5,000 per session. Thus, awardees may receive $10,000 for two consecutive sessions or $15,000 for three consecutive sessions.
Each scholarship is tenable for one year (i.e., two consecutive or three academic sessions). The value and duration of each OGS award will be determined by the awarding graduate unit and detailed in the offer letter.
Lifetime Maximums:
The OGS awards maximums are:
Master’s students: 2 academic years
Doctoral students: 4 academic years
Lifetime limit (all students): 6 academic years
In conclusion, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship program is a prestigious award that recognizes academic excellence and supports graduate students in their research and studies.
International students who are pursuing their master’s or doctoral studies at the University of Toronto are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
To be eligible, students must meet the eligibility criteria and submit an application to their proposed graduate unit.
The value and duration of the scholarship vary depending on the awarding graduate unit, but the maximum lifetime limit is six academic years.
