Ontario Canadian Scholarship for Graduate Students Fully Funded

The Ontario Trillium Scholarship is an initiative of the Government of Ontario to help international students pursue a doctoral degree at a prestigious university in Ontario.

Ontario Scholarship Details

This scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years, and is awarded in a ratio of 2:3 to 2:1 between the government and educational institutions.

The program provides 15 types of scholarships to eligible students pursuing a doctoral degree. Universities in Ontario select candidates and distribute scholarships based on program criteria and the academic quality of the candidates to support their education and academic development in the Canadian province.

All eligible students receive an annual scholarship of $40,000 CAD while pursuing their doctoral degree. The postgraduate unit at each university manages the distribution of these scholarships. Applications are received and evaluated by the universities and students are selected accordingly.

• Scholarship type: Merit-based
• Donor: Governmental bodies
• Organization: Not available
• Number of scholarships available: 75

Ontario Scholarship Conditions

Eligibility criteria may vary based on the type of scholarship and the university offering it. Eligible candidates are nominated for admission to the following semesters (fall, spring, or winter).

To be eligible for the Ontario Scholarship, the applicant must:

• Must be proficient in the English language when submitting the application.
• Intends to enroll in a full-time doctoral program.
• Not be a recipient of any other Canadian scholarship.
• Be prepared to enroll in a doctoral program at an Ontario university.
• Must have achieved a grade point average of 8.0 on a 10.0 scale in a full-time master's degree (equivalent to 80% in Ontario).
• Not have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree at any university or college in Ontario immediately after applying for a doctoral program under the Ontario Trillium Scholarship.
• Not be a current student at any Ontario higher education institution at the graduate or undergraduate level.

Ontario Scholarship Application Process

The graduate unit at each eligible university oversees the application and selection processes for the Ontario Trillium Scholarship. Each organization has its own application process for the grant program.

Documents required for submission

• The application form is filled out correctly
• A copy of all university certificates
• A valid Canadian study permit
• A copy of the advanced average calculation
• Proof of standardized tests such as IELTS or SAT
• Letters of recommendation from candidates
• A list of the applicant’s research contributions
• A list of awards and scholarships received by the applicant
• Applicant's CV
• Study plan for the candidate
• A letter of support from an approved supervisor
• Proof of good health

Most of the universities like University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, York University, etc. automatically nominate outstanding students who have applied for admission.

Selection process

A selection committee, appointed by the Vice Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, evaluates files and selects recipients of the Ontario Trillium Scholarship. Students are selected based on their merit and program criteria.

Terms and Polices

The candidate can request suspension of the scholarship by obtaining approval for leave of up to one year. The grant suspension period cannot exceed 12 consecutive months and may be approved in cases such as:

• Maternity or paternity leave
• Immigration process
• Family leave (eg: mourning)
• Medical or family leave

The beneficiary must return the amount if:

• Move to another institution
• Complete the program before the end of the natural scholarship
• Withdrew from the program
• Unable to maintain acceptable academic performance
• Loss of full-time student status
• Loss of eligibility to renew the Ontario Trillium Grant

Eligible Nationalities