Graduate Scholarships, Bursaries, and Awards

Funding Overview

Lakehead University provides funding opportunities to graduate students through various scholarships, bursaries, and awards.

Each funding opportunity has a different application criteria and process so be sure to read each option's description to ensure that you meet the necessary conditions. If you have any questions or concerns about a specific award opportunity, please contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

For more information regarding a specific scholarship, award, or bursary please use Lakehead University's Searchable Funding Database. To access the Funding Database, click the following link:

Scholarships, Awards, and Bursaries

The following awards either provide students with the opportunity to receive one of many scholarships, awards, and bursaries or involve a specific application process. Please read the following descriptions carefully as these awards provide you with substantial funding opportunities or the opportunity to apply to many awards simultaneously.

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s (CGS-M): CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC

The Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Awards (CGS-M) administered by the Tri-Council Agencies aims to help highly qualified students develop research skills and training associated with the following fields:

  • Health (CIHR)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering (NSERC)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities (SSHRC)

Prospective recipients must be exceptional students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate or early graduate studies.

To qualify for these awards, applicants must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) as of the application deadline date. Students must be enrolling in or currently enrolled in an eligible program as a full-time student. Students must demonstrate an exceptionally high potential for future research achievement and productivity in his or her chosen field.

Prospective recipients must apply for the CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC CGS-M Awards externally by December 1st of this year to be considered for next year's funding.

For more information regarding the CGS-M Awards as well as the external application processes and eligibility criteria, click the appropriate link:

 Please email funding.grad@lakeheadu.ca for any Tri-Council questions.
 
See additional information and tips here.
Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral (CGS-D): CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC

The Canada Graduate Scholarships—Doctoral (CGS D) program is a federal program of scholarships awarded through national competitions by the granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The program aims to promote continued excellence in Canadian research by rewarding and retaining high-calibre doctoral students at Canadian institutions. By providing support for a high-quality research training experience to awardees, the CGS D program strives to foster impacts within and beyond the research environment.​

Application Process
Students registered in a Lakehead University graduate degree program at any time between January 1- December 31, 2024, or on an approved leave of absence must complete the appropriate agency’s online application form submit through their current or proposed graduate program at Lakehead University.

*Please note that when applying directly to the agency there will be a different deadline*

Applicants must access the online application through the respective granting agency’s portal:

  1. CIHR CGS D: ResearchNet; see CIHR instructions.
    • Lakehead University internal deadline: October 21, 2024
  2. NSERC CGS D: NSERC On-line System; see NSERC instructions.
    • Lakehead University internal deadline: October 21, 2024
  3. SSHRC CGS D: SSHRC Online System; see SSHRC instructions.​
    • Lakehead University internal deadline: October 7, 2024

For more information, visit the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral Program Website

Unsure of which Tri-Agency agency to choose? Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency

Please email funding.grad@lakeheadu.ca for any Tri-Council questions.

See additional information and tips here.

 

Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer Term Graduate Bursaries

Deadline: November 15th, February 15th, and June 15th

The Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer Term Graduate Bursaries are awarded to a student based on his or her financial need. The values of these bursaries vary. Graduate students from any discipline can apply for these bursaries by completing the necessary application forms.

To be eligible for these awards a prospective recipient must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant of Canada who has lived in Ontario for at least twelve consecutive months
  • Be a full-time student in a graduate program
  • Be financially eligible for the bursary

Apply through:

MyAwards https://lakeheadu.academicworks.ca/

or

Emailing funding.grad@lakeheadu.ca with completed bursary form.

Download form here:

Fall Term Bursary Application Form 

Winter Term Bursary Application Form 

Spring/Summer Term Bursary Application Form 

 

 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The Government of Canada launched the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program in 2008 to strengthen Canada's ability to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Vanier Scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health.

Lakehead's Internal Deadline: October 7, 2024

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Graduate Student Professional Development Bursary

Deadlines: November 1st, March 1st, and July 1st

The Graduate Student Professional Development Bursary is awarded to students to assist in their professional development through conference presentations and participation in other academic activities.

Registered full-time graduate students who either are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant that has lived in Ontario for twelve consecutive months are eligible for the Graduate Student Development Bursary. International students (Visa) are not eligible for this bursary.

To be considered for this bursary, students must apply prior to the time of the conference or event.

Apply through MyAwards: https://lakeheadu.academicworks.ca/

For more information regarding the Graduate Student Professional Development Bursary, click the following link:

 
Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Deadline: December 2, 2024

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) encourages academic excellence in graduate studies at both the masters and doctoral level.

The OGS is available to full-time students either enrolled in or applying for admission to a graduate program at Lakehead University. Eligible students entering their first or second year of graduate studies must have an overall average of at least A- (80%) in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent), while students entering their third year must have an average of at least A- (80%) in all graduate courses completed.

The application for the OGS is now available on the Lakehead MyAwards site.

For additional information and application details see here.

You must be a current student or have a completed application to a graduate program at Lakehead University in order to eligible to apply to this opportunity. To access this opportunity, you must first complete the general application in the MyAwards portal.

Please email scholarship.grad@lakeheadu.ca for any OGS questions.