Reviewed 8 October 2026. This guide covers the University of Waterloo’s published 2027–2028 Ontario Graduate Scholarship information. Applicants at another Ontario university should use that institution’s process and deadlines.
Know which award fits your status
Waterloo distinguishes the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) from the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST). Its current guidance makes OGS available to eligible domestic and international graduate students, while QEII-GSST is for eligible domestic students in research-based STEM programmes. The awards are not interchangeable for international applicants.
Read the official Waterloo programme guidance before beginning. It gives the current eligibility, funding limits and application process. Check your residency status and study stage against the rules rather than relying on a broad ‘all countries’ label.
Check the current dates
Waterloo’s 2027–2028 timeline lists 14 January 2027 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time for the Intent to Apply form, and 1 February 2027 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time for the application package and references. Check the official page for changes and any instructions relevant to your department.
International applicants must meet Waterloo’s current registration or approved leave/inactive-term condition by 1 February 2027. Prospective international applicants should not assume that simply applying for admission makes them eligible for this competition.
Prepare a submission plan
Identify the department that will receive your application and ask about any unclear instructions. Work backwards from the official deadline: allow time to obtain transcripts, write the required materials and secure references. Keep the Intent to Apply step distinct from the completed scholarship application.
Make your evidence specific
Choose examples that show academic preparation and relevant research potential. Explain your role in a project, the method you used and what you learned. If a publication or presentation is still in preparation, describe its status accurately. Referees should be able to discuss your work rather than repeat a generic character reference.
Check costs and award conditions
Compare any prospective award with your tuition and living budget. Read the provider’s rules about holding other funding, maximum support and the institution where the award can be held. Do not assume funding transfers automatically if you change universities or programmes.
Before you submit
Use the current application instructions, check that all documents are legible and arrange for references through the required route. Keep a copy of your final submission. Contact your department graduate coordinator through Waterloo’s official website if eligibility or document requirements remain unclear.
This is a Waterloo-specific guide, not a promise of selection. The university’s official competition rules and written decisions determine eligibility and awards.
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