Discover Funding Opportunities

Pasupalak CS Capstone Award

The Pasupalak CS Capstone Award provides one or more awards valued at up to $5,000 each term to full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a Computer Science program at the University of Waterloo who are undertaking a one-term or two-term CS Capstone team project or a one-term eCapstone team project. Selection is made at the end of each term and is based on the team that is most likely to transform their project into a startup, who will continue working on their project/startup full-time for the foreseeable future, and who is likely to see commercial success. Award funds totaling $5,000 are distributed equally among the winning team members. No application is required; all students who have completed the requirements of their capstone course are eligible. Selection is made by Capstone course instructors at the end of the term, after the requirements of the capstone course are complete, and taking into consideration comments from external judges from the Waterloo startup and entrepreneurship community. This fund is made possible by a generous donation from alumnus Sam Pasupalak (BCS '12). The award period was initially defined from 2021 to 2023, with the first selection made in Fall 2021 and the last in Spring 2023. The award recognizes exceptional Computer Science capstone teams that demonstrate strong entrepreneurial potential and commitment to commercializing their projects.

Order of the White Rose Scholarship

The Order of the White Rose is evolving and, in 2025, becomes an annual Canada-wide scholarship program with a leadership development support. Initiated by Polytechnique Montréal, this program is made possible thanks to the support of the Philanthropic Circle of the Order of the White Rose. These non-renewable $50,000 scholarships will be awarded to Canadian female engineering students who wish to pursue graduate studies (master's or PhD) in engineering at the institution of their choice, in Canada or abroad. The scholarship recognizes outstanding merit in three key areas: academic record (30%), technical achievements (30%), and social commitments (40%). Recipients can pursue their graduate studies at any institution in Canada or internationally.

Norman Esch Graduate Scholarship

Three scholarships, valued at $10,000 each, will be awarded annually to full-time graduate students enrolled in the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology Program in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Recipients must demonstrate academic excellence and possess a strong entrepreneurial outlook with business concepts that have the potential to become viable businesses. Preference will be given to students who are actively working on a technology/engineering-based venture. Scholarship recipients will be selected by a panel of faculty based on entrepreneurial passion and record of academic achievement as demonstrated through their application for admission to the program. Awards will be given to students with an undergraduate degree in Engineering and who are actively working on a technology/engineering-based venture. This fund is made possible by a donation from The Esch Foundation.

Nitin Jain Family Award for Entrepreneurship

The Nitin Jain Family Award for Entrepreneurship is an annual award valued at $5,000 that supports undergraduate or graduate students participating in Concept or Velocity programming at the University of Waterloo. The award is designed to encourage student entrepreneurship and support those pursuing start-up ventures. Preference is given to students pursuing this experience on a co-op term. Selection is based on a merit-evaluation process that includes assessment of the start-up's business model and viability for commercial success. This fund was made possible by a donation from proud UWaterloo alumnus Nitin Jain (BASc '01) and the Vijay Anand Foundation to support student entrepreneurship at Waterloo and to encourage more students to follow their passion in the start-up community. The award is available from 2025 to 2031, with the first selection made in fall term 2025 and the last in fall term 2031. Applications must be submitted to Velocity by the Friday of the second week of the fall term. In the case of group submissions, award funds will be divided equally among each team member.

Master of Public Service Internship Award

The Master of Public Service Internship Award provides financial support to students in the Master of Public Service (MPS) program at the University of Waterloo who have arranged unpaid internships. The award is designed to help offset the costs associated with participating in an internship when paid co-op employment is not available. Decisions regarding the allocation of internship awards and the amounts awarded to each recipient are made by the Director of the Master of Public Service program. These decisions are based on several factors including the anticipated costs associated with a particular internship, considerations related to the student's financial need, and the overall availability of award funds. To apply, students must submit an application to the MPS Program Officer that describes the internship and provides an estimate of costs for the term. The application form is available on the MPS Learn site and is due on the last business day of the first month of the internship term. The maximum award a student can receive is $3,000 per term.

Master of Mathematics for Teachers (MMT) Indigenous Scholarship

Up to three scholarships will be awarded annually to students entering into the Master of Mathematics for Teachers (MMT) program at the University of Waterloo. Each scholarship is valued at a maximum of $15,000 and is designed to cover the full cost of tuition and incidental fees while the student is registered in the MMT program. In order to be considered for the scholarship, candidates must be active mathematics teachers, demonstrate a strong connection to an Indigenous community, and show an ability to impact Indigenous students. Preference will be given to Indigenous candidates, defined as citizens or members of a First Nations community (Status/Non-Status), Métis, and/or Inuit as defined in the Canadian Constitution Act 1982. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents who teach mathematics at a school in Canada. The scholarship aims to support Indigenous educators pursuing advanced mathematics teaching credentials while maintaining connections to their communities and demonstrating commitment to impacting Indigenous students.

Master of Environment and Business Award

The Master of Environment and Business (MEB) Awards are available annually to eligible MEB students who are currently registered or will be registered in the MEB program and who are not receiving full tuition funding from their employer or another source. Selection will be based on diversity of sector involvement in a specific cohort as well as financial need. Financial need will be based on personal/household income. Students may apply annually if their individual income is less than $50,000/year, or in the case of married students, less than $100,000/year. The award provides $500 to $2,000 per course to support students enrolled in the Master of Environment and Business program at the University of Waterloo. Interested applicants must complete and submit the application form to the Graduate Program Administrator by May 31.

Marzieh (Mari) Foroutan Memorial Graduate Scholarship

A scholarship, valued at up to $2,000, awarded annually to a full-time international graduate student enrolled in any program in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. Selection is based on scholastic excellence with a minimum cumulative average of 80%. Preference is given to students who demonstrate leadership and community engagement. This fund was established in honour of Mari Foroutan who lost her life on January 8, 2020 aboard Ukraine International Flight PS752. The scholarship can be held in addition to minimum funding and in conjunction with other major awards.

Lemay Change Maker Award

An award, valued at $5,000, will be presented annually to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in any year of the undergraduate or master's program in the School of Architecture in the Faculty of Engineering. Selection is based on excellence in design and/or design initiative with distinctively actionable potential to positively impact Canadian communities with architecture that is thought-provoking, collaborative, and sustainable. Selection will consider all or some of the following categories: sustainability; transdisciplinary thinking; social value; and design excellence. This fund is made possible by a donation from Lemay Architects. Students interested in applying must submit an application form that can be found on the School of Architecture website, by the deadline advertised, normally each spring.

KIRKOR Architects + Planners Graduate Scholarship in Entrepreneurship

One scholarship, valued at $5,000, will be awarded annually to a full-time graduate student enrolled in any year of the master's program in the School of Architecture in the Faculty of Engineering. Selection is based on research or a project demonstrating merit in entrepreneurship within the field of architecture. The recipient will be a current or aspiring start-up founder, and/or have an idea that solves a problem not yet demonstrated in the market. Research projects should have clear entrepreneurial applicability. This fund is made possible by a donation from KIRKOR Architects + Planners.

KEEN Graduate Entrance Scholarship

Two entrance scholarships valued at $5,000 each, will be awarded annually to graduate students registered full time in the first term of either the Master of Climate Change (MCC), Master of Development Practice (MDP) or the Master of Economic Development and Innovation (MEDI) programs in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. Selection will be based on scholastic excellence with a minimum cumulative average of 80% or equivalent. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate leadership and community engagement. The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies along with recommendations from the Department of Geography and School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, in the Faculty of Environment will select recipients by March. This fund is made possible by donations from KEEN.

James and Nora Nelson Bursary in Environmental Planning

This bursary is in memory of James and Nora Nelson and is awarded to a graduate student with proven financial need whose program of study or research is in Environmental Planning including land use, ecological, institutional, or other approaches to planning for the environment. The bursary supports graduate students at the master's or doctoral level enrolled in Environment programs at the University of Waterloo, specifically in Environment, Enterprise & Development, Environment, Resources & Sustainability, Geography & Environmental Management, or Planning. Eligible students must have resided in Ontario for twelve months prior to beginning their post-secondary education and must demonstrate financial need through their current term budget where expenses exceed income. Applications must include a proposal outlining a program of study or research in Environmental Planning. Applicants must apply to OSAP for the term in which the award is due and provide documentation of their OSAP funding summary or proof of restriction from OSAP.

Jain Family Award for Entrepreneurship

Two awards, valued at $5,000 each, are provided annually to undergraduate or graduate students participating in Concept or Velocity programming at the University of Waterloo. Preference is given to students pursuing this experience on a co-op term. Selection is based on a merit-evaluation process including, but not limited to, the progress of the start-up's business model and viability for commercial success. This fund is made possible by a donation from the Vijay Anand Foundation to support student entrepreneurship at Waterloo and to encourage more students to follow their passion in the start-up community. Note: Effective 2025, this award has been replaced with the Anuj Jain Family Award for Entrepreneurship and the Nitin Jain Family Award for Entrepreneurship. The award period runs from 2022 to 2031, with selections made in winter term annually.

Innovation in Psychology Graduate Scholarship

Two scholarships, valued at $7,500 each, are awarded annually to graduate students in the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo who are conducting innovative research on improving the mental health outcomes for children and their families. This could be helping children and adolescents function better in a variety of environments, including school, their peer group or in their family. The period of this defined term award will be from 2025 to 2029. The first selection will be made in Winter term 2025 and the last in Winter term 2029. This award was made possible by the generous contribution of an anonymous donor. Students are required to submit an application which can be found on the Department of Psychology website. The deadline to apply is February 15.

Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowship

The Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowship is a doctoral scholarship program designed to support Indigenous and Black students pursuing full-time doctoral studies in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo. The fellowship recognizes and provides financial support to exceptional students who meet the academic requirements and identify as Indigenous or Black. Valued at $30,000 per year, the fellowship includes $25,000 from the university plus an additional $5,000 contribution from the supervisor. This award aims to promote diversity and inclusion in engineering and technology graduate programs while supporting the research and academic development of underrepresented groups in STEM fields. The fellowship is available for students admitted to PhD programs in Spring 2021 or later, and students transferring from eligible incomplete Master's programs to PhD may also be considered. Eligibility requires Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, a cumulative average of at least 80%, and verification of Indigenous identity through the Office of Indigenous Relations where applicable.

Stipend for Children without Glasses

The Stipend for Children without Glasses (SCWG) is a charitable foundation established in 2012 dedicated to supporting youth who have maintained natural visual acuity throughout their developmental years. Founded by optometrist Dr. Helena Brightwell, the organization awards annual grants of $500–$2,000 to children ages 8–17 who demonstrate both exceptional uncorrected vision and academic achievement. The foundation's somewhat tongue-in-cheek mission arose from Dr. Brightwell's observation that while numerous programs exist to provide corrective eyewear to those in need, no recognition existed for children whose genetic fortune and eye-care habits preserved their natural sight. Recipients must submit proof of 20/20 vision or better from a licensed eye care professional, along with a short essay on eye health awareness. The SCWG distributes approximately $150,000 annually across 200 grants and has funded vision health education programs in over 40 schools nationwide.