University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships 2027 in Canada
The University of Calgary graduate scholarships 2027 offer prospective and current graduate students several ways to reduce the cost of advanced study in Canada. Funding is available through university awards, research scholarships, assistantships, bursaries and external competitions, with a number of opportunities open to international students.
One important distinction is often missed in scholarship articles. The University of Calgary does not operate one single award called the "University of Calgary Graduate Scholarship 2027." Instead, the university's Faculty of Graduate Studies administers a large collection of awards with different values, academic requirements, citizenship rules and application deadlines.
For international students, this makes the scholarship search slightly more demanding, but it also creates several possible funding routes. The university specifically states that international graduate students are eligible for many of its awards and can search the Graduate Awards Database by selecting International under the citizenship category.
What Are the University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships?
Graduate funding at the University of Calgary covers a broad collection of scholarships, fellowships, bursaries and other academic awards.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies distributes more than $42 million in graduate awards annually, according to the university. The available awards come from the university, donors, government agencies and external organisations.
Some awards are intended specifically for research-based graduate students, while others have broader eligibility rules. The university also provides graduate assistantships and other forms of financial support through individual faculties and academic departments.
This means a prospective student should not search only for scholarships carrying the University of Calgary name. A suitable funding opportunity may instead come from Alberta, a Canadian research agency, a donor-funded competition or an external organisation administered through the university.
Who Can Apply for University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships?
Eligibility depends on the individual award.
The University of Calgary has graduate funding opportunities for master's and doctoral students, but not every award is available to every programme. Some scholarships are restricted to thesis-based degrees, while others have specific subject, citizenship or academic requirements.
International students can apply for many graduate awards. The university defines an international student for these purposes as someone who is neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident and who is studying in Canada on a temporary basis.
Students should also be aware that some Canadian scholarships are restricted to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. For example, the current Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Master's programme at UCalgary lists Canadian citizenship or permanent residency as a requirement.
The safest approach is therefore to check the citizenship requirement for each scholarship rather than assuming that every award is open to international applicants.
University of Calgary Graduate Award Competition
The Graduate Award Competition (GAC) is one of the major funding routes administered through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
The competition covers a wide range of awards funded by the University of Calgary and donors. Current award values range from $700 to $36,000, with most awards paid during the following academic year. The university states that the competition is open to students applying to or enrolled in thesis-based graduate programmes, while course-based and professional degree students are not eligible for the GAC.
The competition includes awards such as:
Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarships
Izaak Walton Killam Doctoral Scholarships
Open Doctoral Awards
Special Awards
Cumming School of Medicine Harmonized Awards
International students can be considered for a number of awards within the competition, depending on the individual eligibility rules.
The GAC normally opens on November 1, but specific deadlines vary by programme.
Doctoral Recruitment Scholarships
Doctoral Recruitment Scholarships are another funding opportunity listed by the University of Calgary for graduate students.
These awards are designed to support doctoral recruitment and form part of the university's wider graduate award system. International students are encouraged to explore the Graduate Awards Database to identify awards for which they qualify.
Because doctoral recruitment awards can be tied to particular programmes or recruitment processes, applicants should contact their intended graduate programme for information about nomination procedures and deadlines.
International Graduate Tuition Award
The International Graduate Tuition Award is particularly relevant to students coming to Calgary from outside Canada.
The award is included among the funding opportunities available to international graduate students. It is intended to help address tuition costs associated with international graduate study.
The award should not be confused with a scholarship that covers every cost of studying in Canada. International students should examine the terms of the specific award and consider tuition, accommodation, food, transportation, health coverage and other expenses when preparing their financial plan.
Funding for Thesis-Based Master's and PhD Students
One of the most significant features of graduate study at the University of Calgary is the minimum funding commitment for eligible full-time thesis-based students.
For full-time PhD students beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the university guarantees a minimum annual funding package of $33,205 for international students and $31,426 for domestic students. The guarantee applies to the first four years of the PhD programme.
For full-time MA or MSc thesis-based students, the minimum annual funding package is currently $25,455 for international students and $23,676 for domestic students. The guarantee applies to the first two years of the programme.
These figures are important because they are not simply advertised scholarship prizes. They form part of the university's minimum funding commitment for eligible thesis-based students.
The funding remains conditional on continued full-time registration and satisfactory academic progress.
What Does the University of Calgary Funding Cover?
The exact financial package depends on the programme and the funding source.
Scholarships may provide a specified amount toward the student's educational or living costs. Assistantships can provide additional support through teaching or research work. Thesis-based graduate programmes may also provide guaranteed funding packages.
The university explains that most thesis-based graduate programmes provide funding during the first two years of an MA or MSc thesis programme and the first four years of a PhD. The exact arrangements are determined by the relevant graduate programme.
Students should therefore examine the funding information for their specific programme rather than treating every University of Calgary graduate student as having the same financial package.
Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Doctoral
International doctoral students may also encounter the Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Doctoral (CGRS D) competition.
The current UCalgary information lists the award at $40,000 per year for three years and describes the citizenship category as unrestricted. However, international students must be enrolled in a doctoral programme at an eligible Canadian institution at the time of application.
The award is administered through Canada's federal research agencies, including CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC, depending on the applicant's research area.
Students should check the current competition rules carefully because the application process can involve an initial institutional stage before applicants are invited to the main competition.
Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Master's
The CGRS Master's is another major Canadian graduate research scholarship, but it has a different citizenship rule.
The University of Calgary currently lists the award at $27,000 for 12 months, with a December 1 deadline. However, the programme is restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, so international students should not treat it as an available funding option.
This distinction is useful for international applicants because scholarship websites sometimes list Canadian awards without explaining their citizenship restrictions.
Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship
The Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) is among the major awards listed by UCalgary for international students.
It appears within the university's Graduate Award Competition and is included in the university's list of funding opportunities that international students should explore.
The award is administered through the relevant university competition, and students should check the current terms of reference for the specific programme, academic requirements and deadline.
Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarships
Another option for eligible international graduate students is the Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship.
The scholarship is listed among UCalgary's provincial award opportunities and can be accessed through the Graduate Award Competition.
Eligibility is not universal across all graduate disciplines. Applicants should check whether their research area and programme meet the current Alberta Innovates requirements before preparing an application.
Graduate Assistantships
Scholarships are not the only way graduate students can receive financial support at UCalgary.
The university states that most faculties have graduate teaching and research assistantships available each year. These positions can provide another source of funding for eligible students. Students are advised to contact their graduate programme for information about eligibility, application procedures and deadlines.
For international students, assistantships can be especially relevant when building a complete funding plan because scholarship awards and assistantship income may form different parts of a graduate student's overall support.
How to Apply for University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships
Students should begin by identifying awards that match their degree, programme, research area and citizenship status.
The University's Graduate Awards Database is the central place to search. Applicants can filter awards according to factors such as programme and citizenship. International applicants should select International in the citizenship category to narrow the results.
For many university awards, applicants are encouraged to begin the scholarship process after submitting their graduate admission application and receiving a University of Calgary student number, known as a UCID.
An important point is that students are not automatically submitted for every scholarship. The university specifically tells applicants to read the eligibility conditions and follow the application instructions for each award.
Can You Apply Before Being Admitted?
In many cases, yes.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies encourages prospective students to apply for awards after submitting their admissions application and receiving their University of Calgary student number. Applicants do not necessarily need to have already been admitted when applying for an award.
However, successful applicants must satisfy the award's eligibility requirements when the funding is paid.
This makes timing important. Students who wait until after beginning their programme may miss competitions that have earlier deadlines.
University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships 2027 Deadlines
There is no single deadline for all University of Calgary graduate scholarships for 2027.
The deadline depends on the award and the academic programme. For the Graduate Award Competition, the competition opens on November 1, while individual programme deadlines vary.
The university's awards calendar also lists separate deadlines for individual bursaries and scholarships. For example, the current UCalgary Graduate Support Bursary opens September 1 and has an August 31 deadline, while the Dr. Gary McPherson Leadership Scholarship has a November 1 application closing date.
Students preparing for 2027 admission should therefore avoid relying on one generic scholarship deadline. The specific award page and the graduate programme should be checked for the applicable date.
What Documents May Be Required?
The documents required vary according to the scholarship.
Graduate scholarship applications commonly require academic transcripts and information about the student's programme and research. Some research awards also require a research proposal, references or other supporting documents.
The University of Calgary notes that scholarship requirements can differ from ordinary admission requirements. For the Graduate Award Competition, for example, references used for admission may be used for the scholarship competition if they fall within the university's stated time limit.
Applicants should read the terms of reference before preparing their final application. Doing so can prevent a student from submitting a technically complete application that fails to satisfy an award-specific requirement.
Final Thoughts
The University of Calgary Graduate Scholarships 2027 in Canada should be viewed as a collection of funding opportunities rather than one single scholarship.
International students are eligible for many awards at the university, including opportunities within the Graduate Award Competition, International Graduate Tuition Award, Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship and Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarships.
For thesis-based students, UCalgary also has a significant funding commitment. Current university figures guarantee at least $25,455 per year for international MA or MSc thesis-based students for the first two years and $33,205 per year for international PhD students for the first four years, subject to full-time registration and satisfactory academic progress.
The best starting point for a 2027 applicant is the University's Graduate Awards Database. Search according to the intended programme, research area and citizenship status, then read the individual terms before applying.
Students should also contact their prospective graduate programme because some funding opportunities are handled at the departmental or faculty level. A well-planned application can therefore involve both the university-wide scholarship system and the funding opportunities attached to the student's chosen programme.
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