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External scholarships

There are a number of national and provincial granting agencies that annually fund graduate students and their research. These are merit-based fellowships that must be applied for individually. Most of the agencies have specific application guidelines and deadlines.

The funding opportunities below all require an internal pre-selection process coordinated through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Transcripts required for external competitions

All external scholarship competitions require official transcripts for all your completed post-secondary studies. You are responsible for ensuring that transcripts are either attached to the application or delivered to FGS, depending on the requirements of the competition. Make sure you are aware of the deadlines for any external scholarships you are applying for. Transcripts must be complete, official copies. Make sure to order transcripts very early and have them sent directly to you, not to a UVic office.

*If your transcript includes any transfer credits from another post-secondary institution, you must include an original transcript from that institution or your application will be ineligible. It your responsibility to ensure transcripts are uploaded or sent to FGS (check application instructions) by the required deadlines.

If you have any questions or concerns about transcripts, please contact Donja RobertsKathy McCarthy or Lisa Pender.

Other external funding opportunities

There are many external funding competitions that you can apply for directly. These do not involve an extra pre-selection step at the university level. As we find out about opportunities, we forward the information to departmental graduate secretaries across campus. They'll send out the announcements through their student email distribution lists. Make sure that you have your preferred email address on your graduate secretary's email list.

Available to all

Name Deadline Amount Audience Department
Sara Spencer Foundation Award
Awards are intended to encourage Social Scientists in cultural, environmental, and social studies, with a particular reference to the Capital Regional District.
Thursday, May 25, 2023 up to $3000 Masters Indigenous students PhD Gender-based External awards History Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies Biology Engineering and Computer Science Mathematics and Statistics Biochemistry and Microbiology Greek and Roman Studies Public Administration Physics and Astronomy Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Art History and Visual Studies Human and Social Development Sociology Theatre Environmental Studies Hispanic and Italian Studies Education Philosophy Pacific and Asian Studies Visual Arts Child and Youth Care French Library Music Science Writing Public Health and Social Policy Social Sciences Fine Arts Social Work English Political Science Computer Science Geography Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Economics Psychology Linguistics Germanic and Slavic Studies Medieval Studies Gender Studies Health Information Science Earth and Ocean Sciences Business Nursing Humanities Anthropology Law Chemistry
Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (MSFSS)
The MSFSS program supports active Tri-Council master's and doctoral CGS award holders with travel supplements of up to $6,000. These supplements are available to help offset the costs of undertaking research studies outside of Canada for a defined period.
June or October Up to $6,000 PhD External awards Masters Nursing Public Administration Social Work Biochemistry and Microbiology Germanic and Slavic Studies Education Business Computer Science Medieval Studies Art History and Visual Studies Visual Arts Hispanic and Italian Studies Mathematics and Statistics Linguistics Library Pacific and Asian Studies Health Information Science Biology Anthropology Environmental Studies Geography Humanities French Fine Arts Physics and Astronomy Psychology Chemistry Gender Studies Theatre Writing Social Sciences Economics Public Health and Social Policy Political Science Music Greek and Roman Studies English Child and Youth Care Science Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Earth and Ocean Sciences Sociology History Law Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Human and Social Development Philosophy
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) of $50,000/yr are available to Canadian and international graduate students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement and are pursuing doctoral study at a Canadian university.
September 01, 2023, by 12:00pm (noon). Application by invitation only. Annual Value $50,000/year for 3 years PhD Masters External awards Business Biology Linguistics Social Work Greek and Roman Studies Psychology Germanic and Slavic Studies Physics and Astronomy Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Medieval Studies Gender Studies Law Music Sociology Library Fine Arts Science Health Information Science Human and Social Development Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Political Science Chemistry Child and Youth Care Pacific and Asian Studies Theatre Humanities English Mathematics and Statistics Public Health and Social Policy Philosophy History Visual Arts Nursing Environmental Studies Economics Earth and Ocean Sciences Writing Geography Biochemistry and Microbiology Hispanic and Italian Studies Education Art History and Visual Studies Social Sciences French Public Administration Anthropology Computer Science
Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's
The objective of the Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master’s Program (CGS M) is to help develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified personnel by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies.
December 01, before 5:00 pm PT (8:00 pm ET) $17,500 External awards Masters Theatre Philosophy Art History and Visual Studies Visual Arts Pacific and Asian Studies Law Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Germanic and Slavic Studies Writing Business Social Work Health Information Science Music Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Anthropology Sociology Linguistics English Gender Studies Geography Human and Social Development Public Health and Social Policy Library Earth and Ocean Sciences Physics and Astronomy Hispanic and Italian Studies Public Administration Nursing Biochemistry and Microbiology Biology Chemistry French Mathematics and Statistics Social Sciences Economics Science Greek and Roman Studies Fine Arts Environmental Studies Humanities Medieval Studies Political Science Education Computer Science Psychology History Child and Youth Care
Google PhD Fellowship
Google PhD Fellowships directly support graduate students as they pursue their PhD, as well as connect them to a Google Research Mentor.
Applications for the 2024 program will open in September 2023. Full tuition and fees (enrollment fees, health insurance, books) plus a stipend to be used for living expenses, travel and personal equipment. PhD External awards Psychology Linguistics Education Gender Studies Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Philosophy Hispanic and Italian Studies Library Science Germanic and Slavic Studies Chemistry Public Health and Social Policy Law Pacific and Asian Studies Political Science Physics and Astronomy Earth and Ocean Sciences Theatre Nursing Social Work Greek and Roman Studies Writing Fine Arts Human and Social Development Computer Science History French Biochemistry and Microbiology Biology Environmental Studies Economics Art History and Visual Studies Geography Mathematics and Statistics Humanities Public Administration Visual Arts English Child and Youth Care Anthropology Health Information Science Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Business Social Sciences Music Medieval Studies Sociology
Rhodes Scholarship
A Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom includes course fees, an annual stipend, a settling in allowance, and two economy class flights for the beginning and end of studies in Oxford.
Varies by Rhodes constituency. Refer to the How to apply section below. Varies External awards Masters PhD Undergraduate Biochemistry and Microbiology Fine Arts Art History and Visual Studies Law Writing Human and Social Development Business Germanic and Slavic Studies Humanities History Hispanic and Italian Studies Library French Nursing Environmental Studies Social Work Public Administration Social Sciences Economics Public Health and Social Policy Education Theatre Science Pacific and Asian Studies Physics and Astronomy Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Anthropology Computer Science Music Earth and Ocean Sciences Greek and Roman Studies Gender Studies Geography English Mathematics and Statistics Sociology Political Science Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Philosophy Child and Youth Care Medieval Studies Visual Arts Health Information Science Psychology Biology Chemistry Linguistics
Canada Graduate Scholarships - Doctoral (CGS D) program
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).
2023 UVic deadline TBD $35,000 PhD Students with disabilities External awards Undergraduate Sociology Public Health and Social Policy Social Work Environmental Studies Writing Political Science Mathematics and Statistics French Nursing Gender Studies Health Information Science Business English Greek and Roman Studies Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Art History and Visual Studies Computer Science Geography Music Humanities Education Visual Arts Philosophy Fine Arts Theatre Pacific and Asian Studies Public Administration Physics and Astronomy Child and Youth Care Linguistics Library History Biology Chemistry Earth and Ocean Sciences Medieval Studies Hispanic and Italian Studies Economics Anthropology Human and Social Development Psychology Social Sciences Science Law Germanic and Slavic Studies Biochemistry and Microbiology
Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canada Graduate Scholarship (CIHR CGSD)
CIHR provides doctoral scholarships through their Health Research Training Award Programs to students pursuing a doctoral degree in a health-related field. CIHR Doctoral awards are valued at $35,000 per year for up to three years. To apply you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2023 UVic deadline TBD $35,000 External awards PhD Undergraduate Law Nursing Linguistics Writing Greek and Roman Studies Psychology Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Art History and Visual Studies Theatre Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Chemistry Environmental Studies Music Health Information Science Geography Public Administration English Social Sciences Hispanic and Italian Studies Economics Human and Social Development Sociology Fine Arts Public Health and Social Policy Anthropology Germanic and Slavic Studies Biochemistry and Microbiology Biology Social Work Mathematics and Statistics Medieval Studies Computer Science Political Science Visual Arts Philosophy Earth and Ocean Sciences Pacific and Asian Studies History Gender Studies Humanities Child and Youth Care Library Physics and Astronomy Business French Education Science
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
DAAD provides Study Scholarships to highly qualified Master’s students for one year of study in Germany and one-year Research Grants to highly qualified PhD students for a research project or continuing academic training to be carried out with a supervisor in Germany.
2022 UVic internal application deadline October 14 (no later than 4:30pm) Monthly stipend of €861 to €1,200 (euros) plus travel allowance and additional benefits External awards PhD Masters Nursing Library Physics and Astronomy Fine Arts Biochemistry and Microbiology Child and Youth Care Philosophy Engineering and Computer Science Linguistics Sociology Psychology Public Administration Hispanic and Italian Studies Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education History English Medieval Studies Writing Pacific and Asian Studies Biology Theatre Business Gender Studies Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health Geography Political Science French Art History and Visual Studies Visual Arts Humanities Germanic and Slavic Studies Economics Chemistry Computer Science Science Earth and Ocean Sciences Education Health Information Science Social Work Greek and Roman Studies Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies Public Health and Social Policy Human and Social Development Anthropology Music Social Sciences Environmental Studies Law Mathematics and Statistics

Computer Science

Name Deadline Amount Audience Department
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
NSERC provides doctoral scholarships to students pursuing a doctoral degree in natural sciences and engineering. To apply you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2023 UVic deadline TBD up to $35,000 PhD External awards Computer Science

Earth and Ocean Sciences

Name Deadline Amount Audience Department
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
NSERC provides doctoral scholarships to students pursuing a doctoral degree in natural sciences and engineering. To apply you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2023 UVic deadline TBD up to $35,000 PhD External awards Earth and Ocean Sciences

Engineering and Computer Science

Name Deadline Amount Audience Department
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
NSERC provides doctoral scholarships to students pursuing a doctoral degree in natural sciences and engineering. To apply you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2023 UVic deadline TBD up to $35,000 PhD External awards Engineering and Computer Science

Health Information Science

Name Deadline Amount Audience Department
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
NSERC provides doctoral scholarships to students pursuing a doctoral degree in natural sciences and engineering. To apply you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2023 UVic deadline TBD up to $35,000 PhD External awards Health Information Science

Humanities

Name Deadline Amount Audience Department
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
SSHRC provides doctoral scholarships to students pursuing a doctoral degree in social sciences, humanities and related fields such as fine arts, law, education etc. To apply you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2023 UVic internal deadline TBD up to $35,000 External awards PhD Humanities

Science

Name Deadline Amount Audience Department
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
NSERC provides doctoral scholarships to students pursuing a doctoral degree in natural sciences and engineering. To apply you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2023 UVic deadline TBD up to $35,000 PhD External awards Science

Social Sciences

Name Deadline Amount Audience Department
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
SSHRC provides doctoral scholarships to students pursuing a doctoral degree in social sciences, humanities and related fields such as fine arts, law, education etc. To apply you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
2023 UVic internal deadline TBD up to $35,000 External awards PhD Social Sciences

Application help

We have many resources to help you apply to external funding competitions.

Our resources include tips for scholarship referees. You can give this information to the academic professionals who are contributing letters of reference to support your funding application.