Award and scholarship sources
Finding scholarships isn’t always as easy as it sounds – at USask there are several options to find funding opportunities that are right for you.
Awards, scholarships and prizes, which are awarded to outstanding applicants, are funded by a variety of sources including the Government of Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the generosity of the university's many donors. Some awards are exclusive to specific programs.
Program specific awards
Did you know? Students entering a USask doctoral program typically receive a minimum stipend guarantee from their home academic unit at the time of admission. Through a combination of teaching, research, student assistantships and various award opportunities, many graduate students receive some type of financial support.
The first step to obtaining graduate funding is to talk to the Graduate Administrator or Graduate Chair of the unit where you are currently studying or would like to study to see what awards are available. Please note that entering students will need to first contact the unit to see if they are accepting new students
Centrally administered awards
The College of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies administers $14 million in scholarships every year. Competitions are adjudicated by the Scholarships & Awards Committee of CGPS Faculty Council. For information on central funding policies, visit the Policy and Procedures governing graduate studies at USask.
The following scholarships are among CGPS’ centrally administered awards competitions. Scroll through to learn more about the awards, eligibility requirements and how to create a high-quality application.
Dean's Scholarships
Open to both domestic and international students who have outstanding academic records, show research promise and are entering or continuing their doctoral studies at USask.
for domestic students
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for international students
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Walk through a Dean's International Scholarship application:
Indigenous Graduate Leadership Award
The Indigenous Graduate Leadership Awards are open to Canadian Indigenous students at the Master's and PhD level who demonstrate leadership through active community engagement and/or involvement.
- Master's: $20,000 per year for two years
- Doctoral: $24,000 per year for two years
Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowships
In partnership with the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning, Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowships are awarded through a university-wide competition for both international and domestic doctoral students in their second to fifth year of their program. Successful recipients receive training in university teaching and will deliver a course under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
- Value: $15,000 over one year plus sessional lecturer stipend
Tri-Agency funding programs
Tri-Agency is the umbrella term used to describe the three Canadian government research funding agencies:
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
USask students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents (landed immigrants) are eligible to apply for Tri-Agency funding. International students are only eligible to apply for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.
The application process, the nomination of candidates and the administration of awards for the following competitions are managed by the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Each Tri-Agency competition has unique eligibility criteria.
Learn more about Tri-Agency awards and how and when you should apply.
Finding awards by term
Awards calls are circulated three times a year, prior to the beginning of the Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer terms. Calls are distributed through PAWS and your USask email account and include a list of awards open for applications throughout the term as well as their deadlines and other relevant details. If you have questions regarding an awards call, contact Graduate Awards for more information.
Hantelman Humanities Scholarship
Rhea Ritchie Scholarship in Human Nutrition
Dr. Rui Feng Graduate Scholarship
Roman & Sonia Stratychuk Graduate Scholarship
Wolfe Family Graduate Student Scholarship
Robert R. Moffat Memorial Scholarship
Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement Program
Tri-Agency Doctoral National Competition
Tri-Agency Master's National Competition
To search for awards based on keywords and other criteria, visit the Graduate Awards Database.
Awards calls are circulated three times a year, prior to the beginning of the Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer terms. Calls are distributed through PAWS and your USask email account and include a list of awards open for applications throughout the term as well as their deadlines and other relevant details. If you have questions regarding an awards call, contact Graduate Awards for more information.
Canadian Federation of University Women
MacKenzie King Open and Travelling Scholarships
Walter Sumner Memorial Fellowship
Dean's Doctoral Scholarship for International Students
Wanda Young Scholarship in Doctoral Studies
Indigenous Graduate Leadership Award
Robson Bursary for Graduate Students
QEII Aboriginal & Parliamentary Graduate Scholarship
CAGS Distinguished Dissertation Award
Sask Canola Scholarship
Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowship
To search for awards based on keywords and other criteria, visit the Graduate Awards Database.
Awards calls are circulated three times a year, prior to the beginning of the Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer terms. Calls are distributed through PAWS and your USask email account and include a list of awards open for applications throughout the term as well as their deadlines and other relevant details. If you have questions regarding an awards call, contact Graduate Awards for more information.
Tri-Council Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement Program
COGECO Graduate Communications Scholarship
Frederick Wheeler & WHT Spary Graduate Scholarship
George & Arlene Loewen Family Bursary
Gerry Rempel Graduate Scholarship
Ivan & Margaret Toutloff Bursary
John Larson Cancer Research Scholarship
Robert Ernest Guy Memorial Scholarship
Robert Falside Stoddart Memorial Scholarship
John Spencer Middleton & Jack Spencer Gordon Middleton Graduate Bursary
To search for awards based on keywords and other criteria, visit the Graduate Awards Database.
Applying for awards
The process of applying for awards at all levels can be confusing. If you have questions about an award application, reach out to the Graduate Awards team for more information to ensure that your application includes all necessary components and remains eligible for competition.
Award Eligibility
Students may be eligible to apply for most award funding once they have applied for a graduate program and paid their application fees, even if they have not yet been accepted to the program. Please refer to the individual award listing in the Graduate Awards Database for specific eligibility requirements.
As outlined in the CGPS policy on Centrally Administered Funding, a student may not hold two major internal institutional scholarships at the same time, or a major institutional scholarship and a major external scholarship. A major scholarship is defined as equal to or more than $17,500 per year. Top-up awards and honorary scholarships at a reduced value may be combined with major scholarships. It is your responsibility to inform the College of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies of any such funding that you are receiving.
Accessing and submitting transcripts
You can request up-to-date USask transcripts from the Registrars’ Office via PAWS. For awards applications, your transcripts must reflect your current status, whether or not you are registered in any courses.
CGPS may have electronic copies of your previous transcripts available (those provided at the time of admission).
Maintaining your awards
If selected as a recipient of an award, there may be administrative actions required to receive funding and maintain award eligibility.
Award fund administration and payment schedule
Payroll occurs twice each month, on the 15th & the last day of the month. To avoid delays please ensure you submit all required documentation and are registered in your graduate program at least one week before the beginning of the term.
If you have not previously been paid by the university you may need to submit documentation. You can submit your documents via our JIRA e-form. Documents may include:
- direct deposit form
- study permit (international students only)
- SIN (employment only)
- Canadian residential address
Tuition payments and awards
Unless otherwise stated in your award letter, you are responsible for paying your tuition and fees. Failure to pay tuition will result in a student no longer being considered in good standing with the University, resulting in automatic termination of award payments.
Late registration and awards
We cannot assign or activate any award funding until you are registered as a full-time graduate student for the funding period. To be considered a full-time graduate student, you must be registered for classes in all three terms of the academic year: Fall (September to December), Winter (January to April) and Spring/Summer (May to August).
Students must be registered by the last working day of the month before the start of a term for payroll to be submitted on time. Failure to register in time will result in automatic termination of award payments.
Leaves of absence
Students who are on a leave of absence are not normally eligible to receive scholarship funding. Find further information about leaves and related procedures in the CGPS Policies and Procedures Manual.
Early program completion
If you complete your degree program prior to the end date of your scholarship, you will receive a tuition rebate based on the number of months left in the term. However, if you complete your degree requirements in the last month of a term you will receive a final scholarship payment in lieu of a tuition rebate.
Award overpayments
If you receive a payment in error, you must notify the Graduate Awards office immediately. You will be required to pay the amount back in full. Our office will consult with ConnectionPoint to arrange a repayment schedule on your behalf.
Award payments and income tax
Income tax is not withheld from scholarship awards.
USask will provide a T4A form at the end of the calendar year for all award payments received during the calendar year. Students can download T4A from PAWS.
Students are responsible for filing income tax returns on these awards.
Policies and procedures
For a full look at the CGPS Policies and Procedures related to Centrally Administered Funding, visit the Polices and Procedures Manual.