Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Established in 1975, the OGS program has been providing merit-based scholarships to Ontario’s best graduate students in all disciplines of academic study. The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program encourages excellence in graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario. This scholarship programme is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto. The Province allocates OGS awards to universities specifying the number of awards that each may offer to their students annually.

Shortlisting Process

The selection of scholars for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship- Other Master Programs involves a multi-stage process. The scholars will be selected after a thorough assessment of merit of all the applicants. The selection process includes:

• Screening of scholarship applications based on financial need 
• Telephonic interviews for further shortlisting of candidates

Terms and Conditions

The continuation of the scholarship depends on the good academic performance of the scholars in the examinations conducted by their respective universities.

Renewal cases of stipend holders who are not promoted to the next year will not be considered for further renewal.

• Applicants must have not exceeded the lifetime maximum of government-funded support or maximum OGS support available for their current level of study.
• Applicants must have achieved at least A- (or equivalent) in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent); or if the student has completed two years of graduate studies at the time of application, the student must only demonstrate an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent) on all graduate courses completed.
• Must register and remain enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Toronto in an eligible program at the graduate unit from which the OGS was awarded.
• Must be in good standing with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Applicants who have defaulted on a Canada or Ontario Student Loan, or have failed to make satisfactory repayment on a loan overpayment, are ineligible to receive the award. Those with an OSAP restriction may still apply for the OGS. However, if awarded, they must have the restriction cleared within 30 days of notification in order to accept and hold the award;
• Accept research assistantships, part-time teaching positions, or other paid employment that does not affect their status as a full-time graduate student and is commensurate with the graduate unit policies. Typically, students holding full-time paid employment are not eligible to receive an OGS from the University of Toronto.
• Cannot hold an OGS award in the same session (overlapping) or in the same award year as a scholarship from SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, QEII-GSST, or another OGS.

Applicants must be registered or intend to register in an eligible program on a full-time basis. An eligible programme is defined as a full-time programme of study of two or three sessions at the University of Toronto leading to a graduate degree. A full-time student is one who is in at least 60% of a full course load (40% for students with a permanent disability) or as defined by their institution.