Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Are you a student looking to pursue a Master’s or Doctoral degree in any subject at the University of Toronto? If so, you might be interested in the Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) program. Established in 1975, the OGS program aims to support and encourage outstanding graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario.

This merit-based scholarship, jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto, is available to Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, protected persons, and international students from around the world.

Scholarship Details:

The OGS offers a financial reward of $5,000 per session, allowing recipients to receive either $10,000 for two consecutive sessions or $15,000 for three consecutive sessions. Notably, the awarding graduate unit contributes one-third of the total award, further enhancing the financial assistance provided.

Duration and Limits:

Each OGS scholarship is valid for one year, equivalent to two consecutive or three academic sessions. The specific value and duration of the award are determined by the awarding graduate unit and communicated in the offer letter. Master’s students can receive a maximum of two years of OGS awards, while doctoral students can receive up to four years. However, both are subject to a lifetime limit of six years per student.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the OGS, applicants must be Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, protected persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), or international students holding a temporary resident visa (student study permit) for the University of Toronto. Additionally, they must be enrolled or intend to register for an eligible program on a full-time basis for the academic year.

Applicants must have achieved at least an A- (or equivalent) in each of their last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent). If the applicant has completed two years of graduate studies at the time of application, they should demonstrate an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent) for all completed graduate courses.

Moreover, recipients of the OGS must remain enrolled as full-time students at the University of Toronto in the eligible program from which they received the award. They should also be in good standing with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), and applicants with OSAP restrictions may still apply for the OGS but must have the restriction cleared within 30 days of notification to accept and hold the award.

Application Process:

Applications for the OGS are submitted through the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies centralized online application. Each graduate unit sets its internal submission deadline, which may vary from December to April for Fall 2020 entry. Interested students must submit separate OGS applications to each institution they are seeking admission to, as the award is not transferrable between universities.

Conclusion:

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program at the University of Toronto is a valuable opportunity for students seeking financial support to pursue their Master’s or Doctoral degrees. With its commitment to fostering excellence in graduate studies, the OGS program provides a platform for outstanding students to achieve their academic and professional goals. While the application period may currently be closed, aspiring scholars should keep an eye on the official website for updates on future application openings and deadlines.