Discover Funding Opportunities

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.

ORDCF Bell Scholarship

The ORDCF Bell Scholarship provides financial support to doctoral students registered full-time in Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, with preference given to students specializing in communication research. Up to three scholarships are awarded each term based on scholastic excellence. The scholarship value is equivalent to the current PhD minimum level of GRS funding per term as set by the Faculty of Engineering. Recipients are selected automatically by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering each term without requiring a separate application. Students must maintain a minimum 80% cumulative average in their current program or over the last two full-time academic years to be eligible.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) programs encourage excellence in graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario. Since 1975, the OGS program has been providing merit-based scholarships to Ontario's best graduate students in all disciplines of academic study. In 1998, the Ontario government introduced the QEII-GSST, a merit-based scholarship program targeted specifically toward graduate students in science and technology. Both programs are jointly funded by the Ontario government and participating institutions, with the government contributing two-thirds of the value of the awards and the university providing the remaining one-third. The University of Waterloo reserves two OGS awards specifically for Indigenous applicants each year, recognizing citizens or members of First Nations communities (Status/Non-Status), Métis, or Inuit as defined in the Canadian Constitution Act 1982.

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.

Nanofellowships

A major endowment has been established to annually award 42 graduate Fellowships in Nanotechnology at the University of Waterloo. These prestigious fellowships are open to both graduate students currently pursuing nano-research at the University of Waterloo and to new students applying for admission. Fellowships can be held simultaneously with other graduate awards. Special consideration will be given to students intending to pursue projects involving cross-disciplinary collaboration in nanotechnology. Selection of recipients for the fellowships will be made by a committee chaired by the Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology. Recipients must satisfy the general eligibility requirements for the University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarships and maintain a minimum 80% academic average. Applicants must be registered full-time in a nanotechnology graduate program with at least two academic terms remaining in their degree program.

Mrs. Samia Barakat and Dr. Soliman Abdelfattah Soliman Graduate Scholarship in Engineering

Three scholarships valued at $10,000 each will be provided annually to international graduate students who are or will be registered full time in a research-based master's or doctoral program in the Faculty of Engineering. Selection will be based on academic excellence with a minimum 80% cumulative average or equivalent required. Preference will be given to students who graduated from an accredited University in Egypt. If a suitable candidate cannot be found, then the scholarship will be awarded to any international student in a research-based graduate program in Engineering. The Faculty of Engineering will identify candidates based on their application for admission. This fund is made possible by a donation from the Soliman family, in honour of their parents, Mrs. Samia Barakat and Dr. Soliman Abdelfattah Soliman's 50th anniversary of making Canada their home.

Mehta-Jenner Climate Change Mitigation Graduate Scholarships

Two scholarships, valued at $10,000 each, will be awarded annually to graduate students who identify as women who are registered full-time in a Master's or Doctoral program in the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo, wherein women are underrepresented. Students must be conducting research on assessment and/or mitigation of climate change. Preference will be given to international students. This scholarship is in addition to any funding indicated in the offer of admission and will be paid in equal instalments across two or three academic terms. Selection will be based on a demonstrated passion for the environment and climate change, and will be made by a committee led by the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Mathematics. This fund is made possible by a donation from Adarsh Mehta, BMath'98, Applied Mathematics, and Jeffrey Jenner, BMath'84, Math Accounting.

Master of Taxation (MTax) Graduate Entrance Scholarship

This entrance scholarship is awarded to full-time students entering the Master of Taxation program at the University of Waterloo who have achieved a 90% or above average mark in selected tax courses in their undergraduate program at a participating university. The scholarship provides 50% of the first term's tuition, valued at $3,500. Up to four entrance scholarships are awarded annually in the Fall term. Students must have completed a four-year honours undergraduate degree within the past five school years. Eligible students must have completed two advanced-level tax courses as part of their degree requirements. These courses are normally a third year personal tax course and fourth year corporate tax course as recognized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO) as qualifying for their 51 credit-hour requirement. The courses should be half-credit courses of 12 weeks in length in a classroom setting, not online learning.

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 Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) Graduate Scholarship

Scholarships valued at $17,500 per year will be awarded to graduate students registered full time in the Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) program in the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. Students will be selected based on academic excellence with a minimum cumulative average of 80% or equivalent. The award will be given out annually in the fall term and will be paid across three terms. Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents, though international students on study permits are also eligible. Students will be automatically considered for the scholarship annually by a committee chaired by the Director of Data Science based on their application for admission to the program, so no separate application is required.

Martin Basiri Graduate Scholarship in STEM

The Martin Basiri Graduate Scholarship in STEM provides two scholarships valued at up to $15,000 each annually to international graduate students registered full-time in their first term of a research-based master's program in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (MME) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Selection is based on academic excellence and demonstrated interest in areas of research currently being conducted in Professor Amir Khajepour's lab. The scholarship is paid in equal installments across 6 academic terms, as long as the student remains registered full-time in the program for which the award was issued. Selections are made annually in the fall term. This scholarship was made possible by a donation from Martin Basiri Engineering (MASc '12, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering) to inspire and support the future generation of engineers and entrepreneurs. Recipients must maintain good academic standing with a minimum 80% cumulative average or equivalent.

Mackenzie King Scholarships

The Mackenzie King Scholarships were established as an independent trust under the will of the late Rt. Hon. William Mackenzie King (1874-1950). Two classes of Mackenzie King Scholarship are available to graduates of Canadian universities: the Open Scholarship and the Travelling Scholarship. Both are to support graduate study. The Travelling Scholarship is available to graduates of Canadian universities who pursue graduate study in the United States or the United Kingdom in the areas of international or industrial relations. The Open Scholarship is available to graduates of Canadian universities who pursue graduate study in any discipline, in Canada or elsewhere. The primary criterion is the strength of the applicant's university academic record. Personal qualities, demonstrated aptitudes, and the proposed program of study are also taken into account. Applicants must be a graduate (holder of a degree) of a Canadian university when tenure of the scholarship begins.

M Moo-Young Biochemical Engineering

The M Moo-Young Biochemical Engineering scholarship was established from revenues generated by an international biotechnology conference for which Dr. Murray Moo-Young served as Vice-Chair of the organizing committee. One or more scholarships are awarded annually to graduate students enrolled in the Biochemical Engineering (Biotechnology) option within the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Recipients are selected automatically by the Department of Chemical Engineering from new and continuing graduate students. The award is available to both Canadian/permanent residents and international students pursuing masters or doctoral degrees in this specialized field of chemical engineering focused on biochemical and biotechnology applications.

Layer 6 - TD Graduate Scholarship in Data and AI

Two scholarships, each valued at $15,000, will be provided to PhD students registered full-time at the University of Waterloo. Selection will be based on academic excellence and demonstrated research interest in the areas of Large Language Models, Agentic Systems, Tabular Data Modelling, or Trustworthy AI. The Waterloo Data & Artificial Intelligence Institute will select recipients based on an award application with award payments starting in the fall term. This fund is made possible by a donation from TD. Scholarship will be awarded in addition to any minimum funding the student is offered. Award recipients and their supervising professors may be offered the opportunity to work jointly with TD which may include paper authorship, internships, and/or opportunities to connect with company leaders.

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.

Jon W. Mark Graduate Scholarship in Communication

The Jon W. Mark Graduate Scholarship in Communication at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is established to honor the significant accomplishments and contributions of Dr. Mark, including serving as former Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, being recognized as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Life Fellow of IEEE, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Founder and Director of the Centre for Wireless Communications, in company with more than forty years of services as an eminent teacher, distinguished researcher, and mentor to hundreds of engineers, faculty and staff. Scholarships, valued at $3,000 each, will be provided annually to full-time graduate students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering. Preference is given to students involved with communication research. The Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Engineering, in consultation with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will identify candidates and select recipients normally each Fall. This fund is made possible by a donation from several donors in honour of Jon W. Mark to continue his legacy, while paving the way for the successful careers.

Janet E.A. McDougall Graduate Scholarship in Pharmacy

The Janet E.A. McDougall Graduate Scholarship in Pharmacy provides scholarships valued at up to $15,000 annually to full-time graduate students enrolled in the master's or doctoral program in the School of Pharmacy in the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo. Selection is based on academic excellence with a minimum cumulative average of 80% or equivalent in their current program or over the last two full-time academic years, combined with a passion for improving medication, health outcomes, and/or health-related issues as demonstrated through a combination of research, community engagement and/or professional practice. Interested students must submit an application supported by up to two references, a CV, and a letter (maximum 2 pages) that outlines their goals and demonstrated commitment to improving health. Preference is given to students from diverse backgrounds who bring unique perspectives to their work and research. The School of Pharmacy Graduate Studies and Research Committee selects recipients each Spring, and this award is provided in addition to any minimum funding the student may already be receiving. This fund was made possible by a donation from Lynne Howarth in memory of Janet McDougall. Applications can be found on the School of Pharmacy website and must be submitted to the Administrative Coordinator, Graduate Studies, School of Pharmacy by April 1.

James & Elise Devitt Graduate Scholarship

Two scholarships, valued at up to $5,000 each, are awarded annually to full-time University of Waterloo graduate students in any graduate program. The fund was established by a donation from Elise Devitt, a Waterloo retired staff member, in memory of her husband, T. James Devitt. The scholarship recognizes scholastic excellence and demonstrated interest in graduate studies while addressing financial need. Recipients must be Ontario residents who have lived in Ontario for 12 months prior to beginning their post-secondary education. The award is open to both master's and doctoral students across all faculties and programs at the University of Waterloo. Selection is made by Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs on a university-wide rotating basis.

International Master's Award of Excellence (IMAE)

The International Master's Award of Excellence is a scholarship program at the University of Waterloo for international master's students entering research-based graduate programs. Effective May 1, 2019, this award provides $2,500 per term for a maximum of five full-time terms within the allowable program time limits (6 terms). The total maximum value is $12,500 over the course of a master's degree. Faculties nominate eligible students based on their award allocation, with students selected based on academic excellence as demonstrated through their application for admission. Students are automatically considered for this award based on their application for admission, with departments and faculties defining their own internal selection process. The award is designed to support outstanding international students pursuing research-based master's degrees at the University of Waterloo. This award can be held in addition to other internal or external scholarships but normally cannot be held concurrently with foreign government or agency sponsorships.

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.