Graduate Awards and Scholarships

About applying for awards

To all students:

  • You must apply for graduate awards; you are not automatically considered
  • Award application requirements may vary for every award. It is the applicants responsibly to fully read and submit the completed application in order to have your application reviewed

To prospective students:

  • You may apply for awards after you have submitted an application for admission and receive a University of Calgary student number (UCID)
  • You do not need to be accepted into your program before you apply for awards. 

To international students:

  • Some awards are restricted by citizenship; however, there are many awards for which international students are eligible. 

University of Calgary, Faculty of Graduate Studies - Scholarships and Awards

Graduate Award Competition

The Graduate Award Competition (GAC) encompasses a broad range of awards funded by donors and the University of Calgary.

Awards you can apply to through the GAC application:

Please Note: To be eligible for the Killam and Open Doctoral categories students must have achieved a first-class average, as determined by the university issuing the transcripts, in the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent). At the University of Calgary, a student must have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in the last 2 years of study. Each institution has their own definition of first-class average. The University of Calgary does not convert scales.

Competition Opens: November 1

Werklund internal application deadline which differs from the FGS deadline: December 15

Students are Eligible to submit an application: if you submitted an application to or are an in-program PhD and master’s thesis (MA/MSc) student. Doctor of Education, Master of Education, Diploma and Certificate students are not eligible for funding through the GAC, except for the AGES Indigenous award.

How to Apply: An application for this competition is submitted using the online scholarship application and selecting the Graduate Award Competition Application. Please refer to the Terms of reference section of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Entrance Awards page for further details on how to apply: Graduate Awards Competition 

FGS Graduate Awards Database:  Various Scholarships and Bursaries open to graduate students through the FGS Graduate Awards Database.  Search Engine with details found at FGS Award Opportunities.

Entrance Competition Awards

The Faculty of Graduate Studies offers awards to new students through the annual Entrance Competition. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) applicants to Graduate Programs in Education are encouraged to apply for Entrance Awards.

Competition Opens: November 1

Werklund internal application deadline which differs from the FGS deadline: December 15

Students are Eligible to submit an application: if you have not started your PhD program prior to the November 1 launch of the Graduate Award Competition. 

How to Apply: An application for this competition is submitted using the online scholarship application and selecting the Graduate Award Competition Application. Please refer to the Terms of reference section of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Entrance Awards page for further details on how to apply.

Please Note:  The GAC application can only be submitted once you submit your admissions application and receive your University of Calgary student number (UCID). You are not required to meet the eligibility requirements in the terms of reference of an award when you apply, but if successful, you must meet the eligibility requirements at the time the award is paid.

Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship

Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) recognizes outstanding academic achievement in graduate studies.

Competition Opens: November 1

Werklund internal application deadline which differs from the FGS deadline: December 15

Students are Eligible to submit an application: You must meet the eligibility criteria for each award for which you are applying.

Adjudication Process: Awards are adjudicated by both FGS and programs.

How to Apply: An application for this competition is submitted using the online scholarship application and selecting the Graduate Award Competition Application. Please refer to the Terms of reference section of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) page for further details on how to apply.

University of Calgary, Werklund School of Education – Program Specific Awards

Program Recommended Awards

Werklund School Program Recommended Awards are available specifically to Werklund School graduate students.

Competition Opens: September 1

Application Deadline: February 1

Students are Eligible to submit an application: if you are a current and entering students.  Please see the eligibility criteria for each award.

How to Apply: An application for this competition is submitted using Elevate. 

Current Werklund Graduate Programs in Education students, can log into Elevate by selecting Students and following the steps found in the How to Apply student job aid.

Applicants who submitted an application to a Werklund Graduate Programs in Education program (i.e., incoming students) and have been issued a UCID, need to log into Elevate by selecting Students one time to activate the account.  Once logged in, please email gpe@ucalgary.ca with your UCID so that we can update your Elevate account so that you can access the Werklund GPE Program Recommended Awards form.

Special Note:

Curriculum Vitae (CV):  This template is provided as a suggested format for CVs required for program-recommended award applications.  You do not have to use this template if you already have one you prefer to use.  Please remove the red instructions as you fill out the template. 

Transcripts: If you’ve completed University of Calgary graduate course work, you are required to submit a copy of your University of Calgary unofficial transcript.  The Graduate Programs in Education Office will not provide copies of unofficial transcripts to students. The unofficial transcript must provide grades up to Fall 2022. Final grades for Fall 2022 will appear on transcript by January 2023.  Unofficial transcripts can be viewed and downloaded at any time through your Student Centre. Learn how to view your unofficial transcript.

Adjudicated by: The Werklund School Graduate Programs in Education Scholarship and Awards Committee. If nominated for an award the Faculty of Graduate Studies will email with formal notification. If not nominated, the Graduate Programs in Education will email with this notification.

Receive award status notification: Beginning of July

List of awards

Werklund Doctoral Scholarship

The Werklund Doctoral Scholarship enables an exceptional new scholar working in the Werklund School of Education to consolidate his/her research training, to develop and initiate original research in creating Bold Solutions for a Complex Connected World and to participate in Werklund School of Education strategic academic initiatives and activities.

Competition Opens: September 1

Application Deadline: May 18

Students are Eligible to submit an application: By the application deadline the student must have completed at least 1 term in program

Receive award status notification: Beginning of July

Award details

Werklund Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future Doctoral Scholarship

The Werklund Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future Doctoral Scholarship enables an exceptional new scholar working in the Werklund School of Education to consolidate their research training, develop and initiate original research within the area of history education, and participate in a pan-Canadian Research Partnership supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada.

Competition Opens: September 1

Application Deadline: October 15

Students are Eligible to submit an application: if you were admitted as a full-time student in a doctoral program

How to Apply: Applications are to be addressed to the Associate Dean, Graduate Programs in Education and emailed to gpe@ucalgary.ca  with the subject line "Application - Werklund Thinking Historically for Canada's Future Doctoral Scholarship".

Adjudicated by: The Associate Dean, Graduate Programs in Education, in consultation with the Graduate Programs in Education Awards Committee.

Receive award status notification: Only successful applicants will be notified.

Award details

Achievement Awards - recognizing outstanding graduate student work and leadership

J.B. Hyne Research Innovation Award

Purpose:  The Faculty of Graduate Studies created this award to recognize graduate students in any discipline who excel in research. It is named to honour Dr. James B. Hyne, the first Dean of Graduate Studies (1966-1989).   

Qualifications: Open to students registered full-time in a thesis-based graduate program

Value: A commemorative plaque and $500 cash prize

Application Package: You must provide the following as one PDF document:

  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae that clearly indicates your contribution to publications and collaborative research activities
  • A one-page summary of your thesis that explains the research objectives and the significance, impact, and the originality of the results. This summary must be written, dated and signed by you.

Applications are to be emailed to gpe@ucalgary.ca with the subject line "2023 J.B. Hyne Research Innovation Award".

Werklund internal application deadline which differs from the FGS deadline: May 15

Faculty of Graduate Studies Achievement Awards

Michael Lazar Community Service Award

Purpose:  This award is presented to a graduate student from any discipline who, through a sense of personal commitment, has served the university community well beyond meeting academic requirements. Michael Lazar was someone who cared for the university and the community in which he lived. He served as Graduate Students’ Association president in 1992/93, was a member of the Alumni Association Board, a fundraising volunteer in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, a member of University search committees, and was appointed adjunct professor in the Faculty of Engineering. Michael’s longstanding commitment to the university was recognized in 1995 with the Order of the University of Calgary.

Qualifications: Open to students registered full-time in a thesis-based graduate program

Value: A commemorative plaque and $500 cash prize

Application: You must provide the following as a PDF document:

  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae that clearly indicates your leadership and involvement in the university community

Applications are to be emailed to gpe@ucalgary.ca with the subject line "2023 Michael Lazar Community Service Award".

Werklund internal application deadline which differs from the FGS deadline: May 15

Faculty of Graduate Studies Achievement Awards

University of Calgary

External Grants

Federal awards are funded by the Government of Canada and administered either through the University of Calgary or the Government of Canada. They are often considered the most prestigious awards for graduate students, requiring a very high standard of scholastic achievement and exemplary leadership.

These following federal awards are administered through the University of Calgary:

  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Please note the internal SSHRC application deadline is traditionally in October. The specific deadline date is communicated by various means to students.
    https://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/award-opportunities/sshrc
  • Killam Trust at the University of Calgary, Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).

Other Awards

University of Calgary Internal Grants - Office of Research

Research Services assists researchers in obtaining internal and external operating research grants, prizes and awards. They advise on and facilitate the nomination of University researchers for provincial, national and international awards.
Details

Graduate Student Association (GSA) Scholarships and Awards

Scholarships and awards administered by the Graduate Student’s Associate.
Details

Conference Travel Awards

Awards available for eligible students to offset costs incurred for conference presenting:

  • Werklund School of Education Graduate Student Conference Travel Awards (Not available for 2022)
  • Graduate Students Association Professional Development Grant
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies Profiling Alberta Graduate Students (Travel Award) Canadian and Permanent Resident - cancelled until further notice