The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) programs encourage excellence in graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario. Both programs are jointly funded by the Ontario government and participating institutions. The government contributes two-thirds of the value of the awards and the university provides the remaining one-third. The application deadline is September 30, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. (ET).

About The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology

Students are considered for OGS and QEII-GSST at Waterloo by using one application. Both scholarships are of equal prestige. Students who are applying for tri-agency awards will NOT automatically be considered for OGS and QEII-GSST, and must submit a separate OGS/QEII-GSST application form. The differences between the OGS and QEII-GSST scholarships are as follows:

• OGS – merit-based scholarship program for Ontario’s best graduate students in all disciplines of academic study; available to Canadian Citizens/Permanent Residents and International students.
• QEII-GSST – merit-based scholarship program targeted specifically towards students in a research-based graduate program in one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines; only available to Canadian Citizens/Permanent residents.

Successful OGS and QEII-GSST recipients will begin their scholarship during 2023-2024. The allowable start terms are spring 2023, fall 2023 or winter 2024. Both scholarships are for Masters and PhD programs.

Eligible Fields

Below are the eligible fields for the two scholarships

• OGS awards are open to applicants in all disciplines of academic study.
• QEII-GSST awards are open to applicants in research-based graduate programs in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) discipline.

Eligible Criteria

Below are the detailed eligibility criteria required in order to be able to apply for an OGS or QEII-GSST. However, given the limited quota of awards available, Waterloo is required to be strategic in selecting recipients.

Citizenship

• International competition – applicants must be an international student studying in Ontario with a student study permit under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada). Note: international students are not eligible for QEII-GSST awards.
  • Successful OGS International recipients who are residing outside of Canada due to COVID-19 will be required to show either proof of existing study permit or in-progress study permit application before funds will be released to them.
• Domestic competition – applicants must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) at the time of the application deadline;

Minimum Academic Requirements

• Applicants must have achieved a first-class average (minimum of A-/80%), in EACH of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).
• Eligibility averages are calculated using grades from your most-recent academic history up to August 31, 2022, regardless of program or relevance to your proposed program. Waterloo is required to adhere to these parameters as dictated by Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).

Registration/Admission Status

• International competition – due to the limited quota of awards available for international students, applications will only be accepted from students who are currently registered in a graduate program (or on an approved inactive term from their graduate program) by at least the fall 2021 term. Current UW undergraduate international students are not eligible to apply.
• Domestic competition – applicants must either be currently enrolled in a graduate program, or must apply for admission to a graduate program by the February 1, 2022 deadline for entry into the spring 2022, fall 2022 or winter 2023 term.

Selection Criteria

There are three areas of evaluation under which the application will be considered. Each department and Faculty will determine the weight placed on each of the following criteria within the ranges indicated:

1. Academic Excellence (30-50%*); As demonstrated by:
   • academic transcripts
   • list of competitive scholarships, awards and honours
2. Research Ability and Potential in Program of Study (30-50%*); As demonstrated by:
   • publications
   • conferences
   • presentations
   • originality, artistic performance and creations broadly defined (where relevant to field of study)
3. Communication and Leadership Abilities (0-20%*); As demonstrated by:
   • list of relevant volunteer, leadership and academic work experience.

*Individual faculty weights:

• Arts, Engineering: (1) 50%, (2) 30%, (3) 20%
• Health: (1) 50%, (2) 40%, (3) 10%
• Environment, Mathematics, Science: (1) 40%, (2) 40%, (3) 20%

Successful recipients

When reviewing those who were selected to receive an OGS or QEII-GSST over the last several competition years:

• most had averages of 85% or above in each of their last two years of full time academic study;
• most had published journal articles, as well as refereed conference proceedings and posters or presentations; and
• most have held previous Provincial (OGS/QEII-GSST) or Federal Tri-Council scholarships (approximately 50% of applicants).

How Long will the Program Last?

• Awards are granted for up to one year in duration and are non-renewable. Applicants must apply annually in order to be considered.
• Recipients can hold the scholarship for a minimum of two terms (receiving $10,000 total) or three terms (receiving $15,000 total). One term awards are not permitted.
• For full details regarding holding an OGS or QEII-GSST, please refer to our Awards Holder’s Guide.

How to Apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology

An OGS/QEII-GSST application is required in order to be considered for the scholarship. Students only need to submit one application in order to be considered for both OGS and QEII-GSST.

For more information, visit the University of Waterloo scholarship webpage.