BMO Financial Group Graduate Scholarship in Agriculture

What you will need

• ✓ Completed BMO Financial Group Graduate Scholarship application form (word-processed), sent to the Faculty of Agriculture Graduate Studies Office at gradagri@dal.ca
• ✓ Curriculum vitae (two pages maximum)
• ✓ Research proposal (two pages maximum) showing how your research fits the Faculty of Agriculture's and Dalhousie's research goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• ✓ Three academic letters of reference, one of them from your proposed supervisor
• ✓ To renew: a progress report, your current transcript and a letter from your supervisor

About this award

You can receive up to $25,000 for this scholarship, though the exact amount and the number of awards given each year are decided by the Graduate Studies Committee. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. If you already hold other scholarships, this award acts as a "top-up," meaning your total funding cannot exceed $25,000 per academic year or $8,333 per term. Note that fees are not waived, so you must use your award money to pay your tuition and fees. This is for you if you are an outstanding student with a record of academic and research excellence who wants to pursue a graduate degree in agriculture. The 2026 application deadline was June 30, 2026 (renewal requests were due April 30, 2026). The award is given every year, so check the Faculty of Agriculture's funding page for the next deadline. Late or incomplete applications are not considered. When you apply, ask Dalhousie University how and when you will be notified of the result — whether by email, phone, or a student portal. The Graduate Studies Committee picks the winners and sets each amount; one or more awards are given each year. The committee looks for academic and research excellence, and preference goes to students in the PhD Agricultural Sciences program. Ask Dalhousie University during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. The scholarship may be renewed at the committee's discretion, subject to a satisfactory annual progress review and keeping first-class standing.

Who qualifies

You must be applying for, or intending to apply for, full-time admission to an eligible graduate program leading to an MSc (Master of Science) or PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) at the Faculty of Agriculture. This award is tenable only at Dalhousie University, and you must begin your full-time graduate academic study there in the academic year the award is granted. You will need to show evidence of academic and research excellence and an admission GPA of at least 3.70. You must not have completed more than two semesters of full-time study in the program. Preference goes to students in the PhD Agricultural Sciences program; MSc students are considered if there are no suitable PhD candidates.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students
• ✓ Studying Agriculture

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

4. 4

   This round closed on June 30, 2026

   Check the award's official page for the next round before you prepare anything.

Tips for applying

• Research StatementAvoid writing a generic summary of your interests. Instead, provide concrete examples of your previous research excellence and how it prepares you for a graduate degree in agriculture. Detail a specific project where you achieved a measurable result.
• SupportAvoid providing references who only know you socially. Instead, choose referees who can speak directly to your academic and research capabilities. Ask a professor who supervised your lab work to write your letter.
• StrategyAvoid submitting your application late or leaving sections blank. Instead, treat the PDF application as a formal portfolio of your achievements. Double-check that every required field is filled before the June 30 deadline.
• RealismAvoid assuming this will cover all your costs. Instead, remember that you must pay your own fees out of the award money. Create a budget that subtracts your tuition from the maximum $25,000 to see what is left for living expenses.

Questions students ask

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