The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is one of the most widely recognized graduate funding opportunities in Canada. It provides an opportunity to finance graduate students at different Ontario universities, either through the path of masters or doctoral programs. The OGS provides financial assistance to qualified students to further their advanced learning in health sciences, social sciences, engineering, and business studies.
It will cover everything you need to know, from eligibility criteria and scholarship value for the session 2025-2026 to application deadlines and requirements. Here’s how OGS can help you go further in your studies and make your financial burden a little lighter.
Overview to Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) 2025-2026
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is bankrolled by the Ontario government and Ontario’s higher education institutions. It is intended to attract and retain top graduate students to Ontario’s universities and support the research and academic excellence across a wide variety of disciplines. Each participating university administers the scholarship programme, setting specific internal deadlines and selection procedures.
Participating Universities of Repute
Most of the Ontario universities participate in the OGS program; these include the University of Toronto, the University of Ottawa, Western University, Queen’s University, McMaster University, and many others. Merit scholarships, considering academic excellence, research potential, and leadership, are granted. To be specific.
OGS Application Closing Date, 2025-2026
OGS application deadlines vary and are set by each participating university. Generally, deadlines occur between November 2024 and March 2025. Applicants MUST confirm this date with their proposed institution to ensure they apply on time.
Sample Deadlines:
- University of Toronto: Normally in early January.
- University of Ottawa: Usually in February.
- Queen’s University: Generally in late November of the previous year.
Each university’s internal deadline corresponds to the effective dates of admission to graduate studies at that university. You must, therefore, check the closing date with your university’s graduate studies office or financial aid office.
Eligible Student Types
OGS is targeted for a wide class of students, thus creating avenues both for Canadian citizens and for international students, given that certain conditions are met. The key eligibility criteria for the following are highlighted below:
Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents: Students who are Canadian by citizenship or permanent residence are fully eligible to apply for the OGS, provided they fulfill all the academic requirements.
International Students: The majority of the OGS awards are provided for students enrolled in graduate programs at participating Ontario universities. Normally, these are highly competitive, with institutional quotas being applied.
Full-time students: The scholarship is available for graduate full-time students who are studying at an Ontario university, either in a Master’s or Doctoral program.
Level of Study
OGS is given at different graduate levels, both in the case of Master’s and Doctoral degrees:
Master’s Degree Programs: All Master’s applicants who are eligible will be taken into consideration, but preference will be given to those joining two-year research-based programs.
Other Eligibility Categories that Consider the OGS Doctoral Programs: This is also open to students in doctoral programs; renewal, if necessary for program length may be permitted.
Combined Programs: Students in combined Master’s/Ph.D. programs are also eligible for OGS funding, assuming other eligibility criteria are met.
To be continued in funding for the term of their award, applicants must demonstrate good academic standing and satisfactory progress toward the completion of their degrees.
Areas of Study Eligible for OGS
The OGS program supports a wide array of academic research and study areas and financially helps students in various disciplines. Students in nearly all fields of study are welcome to apply, provided their research is aligned with graduate studies.
Examples of Eligible Study Areas:
- Health Sciences: Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy
- Natural Sciences and Engineering: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering
- Social Sciences: Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics
- Humanities: History, Literature, Philosophy
- Business and Management: Accounting, Marketing, Entrepreneurship
- Education: Curriculum Studies, Educational Psychology, Special Education
The OGS, in this respect, enriches innovation, creativity, and leadership in all areas of studies.
Scholarship Value and Duration
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is a prestigious award given to many graduate students to assist in covering the financial burden on tuition, research, and living expenses. The actual amount provided in the scholarship award is:
Scholarship Amount:
- $5,000 per Term: The OGS pays the students $5,000 per term. A minimum of two terms or ten thousand must be achieved before a maximum of three terms or $15,000 per academic year is met.
Maximum Duration:
- Master’s Students: Can receive the OGS for a maximum of two years, or six terms.
- Doctoral Students: Up to a maximum of 12 terms, but it is necessary that for every subsequent academic year an application needs to be made to continue the scholarship.
Every year, students can reapply in each subsequent year until they have reached the maximum numbers allowable to their scholarship duration. This scholarship allows students to focus on their research work without additional pressure of finding an independent financing toward the tuition fees.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship: Nursing Program Requirements
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is available to students in most disciplines; nonetheless, applicants to the nursing programs must meet some specified criteria for them to be eligible for the same. Below are some of the requirements that a student in nursing courses should have for OGS funding:
a) Academic Requirements
- Undergraduate Studies: The candidate applying to a Master’s level must have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing or any other related health sciences from an accredited college or institution.
- For Graduate Studies, for the Doctoral students, this entails the completion of a Master’s degree in nursing or a similar area as outlined by the program.
b) Academic Excellence
- Minimum GPA Requirement: An overall minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent is generally expected. A high level of GPA significantly improves the chances of being awarded the scholarship.
- Academic Achievements: Excellent academic performance, such as publications, honors, or previous research experience, would definitely add to the success probability.
c) Research Proposal or Plan of Study
Applicants must also give a well-structured research proposal in the statement of their study goals, research methodology, and probable contribution towards the nursing field.
The research proposal should fall within nursing studies and be found to be innovative within the thinking of healthcare or nursing practice.
d) Professional Experience
- Clinical Experience: Most graduate programs in nursing prefer students that have clinical experience. Although it may not be considered a requirement at OGS, having previous health-related experience will be advantageous.
- Certification: Relevant certifications, including but not limited to, CPR, First Aid, or ACLS, will add value to the application.
e) Miscellaneous Requirements Letters of Recommendation
The candidate shall provide two to three letters of recommendation from faculty members, healthcare professionals, or research mentors who can comment on the candidate’s academic and research capabilities.
Statement of Intent: A statement that identifies the reason the applicant is interested in the nursing field, their intended career goals as well as how the OGS will contribute to attaining those goals.
Proof of Enrolment: Students must demonstrate proof of full-time enrolment in an eligible graduate nursing program at an Ontario university
How to Apply for the OGS (2025-2026)
- Choose a University: Make sure that the Ontario university you have applied to or will be applying to is a participant in the OGS program. Each university administers its own process for OGS applications. You can check the university’s official website for further information.
- Prepare Your Application Forms: Amass your transcripts and whatever recommendation letters are required, and compose your statement of purpose and, if required, a research proposal.
- Apply: Submit your application via your university’s portal for graduate studies or scholarships by following that application process.
- Deadlines: Check and adhere to the internal OGS deadlines. These vary by institution, but in general, applications received after the deadlines will not be accepted.
Conclusion
The class of 2025-2026 Ontario Graduate Scholarship is considered one of the better opportunities for students pursuing their higher education within Ontario, Canada. OGS covers the cost for tuition, living, and research expenses through their period of study; therefore, allowing students to focus on studies in order to be able to contribute to their fields of study.
Be it nursing, engineering, humanities, or social science, the OGS can surely make quite a difference in your graduate experience at school. Warm reminder: check deadlines to apply, ensure eligibility criteria, and that your application is robust and competitive. Good luck with studies and the scholarship application!