Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

Government of Ontario via participating Ontario universities

Ontario's flagship graduate merit scholarship: $15,000 for two academic terms at participating Ontario universities, international students included.

Published by G Paul · last checked August 31, 2026

Per year

$15,000

Level

Graduate

Open to

Ontario

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

Apply through your host Ontario university's School / Faculty of Graduate Studies on their internal deadline
Research statement / Plan of Study
Supervisor endorsement (if applying with a supervisor secured)
Enrolment / admission to a participating Ontario university
International applicants: confirm institutional quota slot before applying

About this award

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) is the Government of Ontario's flagship merit-based graduate scholarship programme, jointly funded by the province and participating Ontario universities. The standard award value is $15,000 for two academic terms (8 months) of study, paid in equal instalments, with the provincial contribution matched by the host institution. OGS is open to graduate students at participating Ontario universities — typically including the U15 institutions (UofT, McMaster, Western, Queen's, Waterloo, Ottawa) and the broader Ontario university system. Critically, unlike the federal Tri-Agency awards, OGS is open to international students at most institutions, though each university administers its own quota of OGS slots split between Canadian/PR and international applicants. OGS is stackable with federal Tri-Agency awards in many cases — a student can hold a CGRS-M and an OGS in the same year if the institution permits — but holding rules vary by institution and by the level of the federal award, so check with your Faculty of Graduate Studies. Both master's and doctoral students qualify. The competition is institution-administered: each university's School or Faculty of Graduate Studies runs the internal application + ranking + selection process, then submits final allocations to the province.

Who qualifies

You qualify for OGS if you (1) are a graduate student (master's or doctoral) at a participating Ontario university, (2) hold a strong academic record (typically minimum A- average in your last two years of full-time study), and (3) meet the institution's specific quota and ranking criteria. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students may all apply, though international applicants compete in a separate institutional quota that varies by university — typically 10-25% of OGS slots are reserved for international students. Returning OGS holders may renew, subject to ongoing academic performance. Some universities have additional eligibility layers (faculty-specific quotas, citizenship priorities) on top of the provincial framework.

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
Resident of Ontario

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Write your essay
Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.
Check this year's deadline
We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.

When is the deadline?

We don't have a confirmed deadline for this one. Check the award's official page for this year's date.

Can international students apply?

Yes. It is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and international students.

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FundMyCourse.ca · checked Aug 31, 2026