Types of Graduate Funding
| Type | Amount | Repayment |
|---|---|---|
| Major scholarships (Vanier, CGS-M) | $17,500-50,000/year | No |
| Departmental funding | $10,000-25,000/year | No |
| Teaching assistantship (TA) | $5,000-15,000/year | No (taxable income) |
| Research assistantship (RA) | $5,000-20,000+/year | No (taxable income) |
| Canada Student Loans | Up to ~$350/week | Yes |
| Provincial grants | Varies | No |
| Bursaries | Varies | No |
Major National Scholarships
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Value | $50,000/year |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Eligibility | PhD students only |
| Criteria | Academic excellence, research potential, leadership |
| Competition | Highly competitive (~150-170 awarded annually) |
| Funding agencies | NSERC (science), SSHRC (humanities), CIHR (health) |
Canada Graduate Scholarships — Master’s (CGS-M)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Value | $17,500 |
| Duration | 1 year (12 months) |
| Eligibility | Master’s or first year of PhD |
| Competition | ~3,000 awarded annually |
Canada Graduate Scholarships — Doctoral (CGS-D)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Value | $35,000/year |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Eligibility | Doctoral students |
| Competition | ~700 awarded annually |
Provincial Scholarships — Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Value | $15,000/year |
| Duration | 1 year (renewable) |
| Match | 2:1 provincial/university split |
| Eligibility | Master’s or PhD in Ontario |
Other provinces have similar programs (e.g., BC Graduate Scholarship, Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship).
University Funding Packages
Typical PhD Funding
| Component | Typical Amount |
|---|---|
| Base scholarship | $10,000-18,000/year |
| Teaching assistantship | $5,000-12,000/year |
| Research assistantship | $5,000-10,000/year |
| Total package | $20,000-35,000/year |
Funded vs Unfunded Programs
| Program Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Funded | Guaranteed minimum income, TAship, tuition waiver |
| Unfunded | No guaranteed income, must find own funding |
| Professional | Often unfunded (MBA, JD, MD) |
| Research | Usually funded (PhD, research-based Masters) |
Student Loans for Graduate Students
Canada Student Loans
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Weekly maximum | ~$350/week |
| Full-time requirement | 60%+ course load (or 40% with disability) |
| Interest during school | Accrues but no payment required |
| Interest rate | Canada prime |
| Repayment Assistance | Available after graduation |
OSAP for Graduate Students
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum funding | Similar to undergraduate limits |
| Assessment | Based on income, assets, family |
| Living allowance | Included in calculation |
| Tuition coverage | Included in calculation |
Strategies to Fund Graduate School
Maximize Free Money First
| Priority | Source |
|---|---|
| 1 | Major scholarships (apply early!) |
| 2 | Departmental funding/guaranteed packages |
| 3 | TAships and RAships |
| 4 | Provincial grants (non-repayable portion) |
| 5 | External scholarships (foundations, industry) |
| 6 | Student loans (last resort) |
Reduce Costs
| Strategy | Savings |
|---|---|
| Choose funded program | $20,000-35,000/year |
| Live with roommates | $500-1,000/month |
| University housing | Often cheaper than market |
| Tuition waivers | $6,000-15,000/year |
| Health plan opt-out (if covered elsewhere) | $500-1,000/year |
Increase Funding
| Action | Potential |
|---|---|
| Apply to ALL scholarships | Every application matters |
| Strong supervisor relationship | More RA funding |
| TA more sections | $5,000-15,000 extra |
| Summer research | Continuous funding |
| Conference funding | Travel grants available |
External Scholarships
Industry and Foundation Scholarships
| Scholarship | Field | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Trudeau Scholarship | Humanities/Social Sciences | $40,000 + $20,000 travel |
| Killam Scholarships | Any | Up to $35,000/year |
| Professional associations | Varies | $1,000-10,000 |
| Industry partnerships | STEM | $15,000-25,000+ |
Scholarship Databases
| Resource | Details |
|---|---|
| Universities Canada | Comprehensive database |
| Scholarship Portal | Canadian focus |
| Your university | Internal scholarship office |
| Professional associations | Field-specific |
Tax Considerations
Taxable vs Non-Taxable
| Income Type | Tax Treatment |
|---|---|
| Scholarships (enrolled full-time) | Non-taxable |
| TAship income | Taxable |
| RAship income | Taxable |
| Student loans | Not income |
Tax Credits
| Credit | Details |
|---|---|
| Tuition tax credit | 15% federal (carry forward unused) |
| Student loan interest | 15% credit on interest paid |
| Moving expenses | If moving 40km+ for school |
Timeline
Before Applying to Graduate School
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| 1-2 years before | Research funding packages |
| Fall | Apply to major scholarships (many October-December deadlines) |
| December-January | Apply to programs |
| March-April | Receive offers with funding packages |
| April 15 | Standard acceptance deadline |
During Graduate School
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| Annually | Reapply for competitive scholarships |
| Each term | Apply for TAships |
| Semester before funding ends | Seek additional funding |