Getting your Ph.D. is all-around tasking whether the period to complete it, the rigorous research work, or the financial commitment required. According to Beyond PhD Coaching, the average cost of completing your PhD is $240,000 (almost half a million dollars), and it can take up to 8 years.
You see, if you’re not careful, you’ll pile up a mountain of debt after you’re done with your Ph.D. program. So one of the best alternatives is PhD scholarships in Canada because they help to pay part or all of your tuition fees, and at the same time can provide stipends to help you with other expenses.
This is why there are countless scholarships out there even for the rarest things like fishing, using glasses and so on.
In this article, we’ll list some Canadian Ph.D. scholarships you can apply for. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
PhD Scholarships in Canada
We were very careful in choosing these 15 scholarships, we made sure they are renewable and evergreen. This means, even if you meet them during their deadlines, you can still try again in the upper year.
1. University of Alberta Postdoctoral Fellow Funding
The University of Alberta is one of the colleges that provide varieties of PhD scholarships in Canada. Just like most awards, their scholarships are also awarded to outstanding applicants, and these scholarships are funded by various sources such as;
- Government of Canada
- Government of Alberta
- The generosity of the university’s many donors
2. Concordia University – The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program
Concordia University provides lots of scholarships to its students. Yearly, they give out over 1,700 awards totaling more than $15 million.
And, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships competition is designed to attract excellent national and international researchers that have proven to have the capacity to become leaders in their fields. Seventy Banting fellowships (valued at $70,000 per year for two years) are awarded annually with an equal distribution among CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC.
3. Concordia University – Horizon Postdoctoral Fellowships
Concordia University created the Horizon Postdoctoral Fellowships to recognize the magnificent role the Postdoctoral Fellows always play in their research enterprise.
The school administers two Horizon Postdoctoral Fellowship Competitions per year. They fund 24 to 30 two-year fellowships per year in a range of disciplines where supervisors have demonstrated a link to their Strategic Research Plan.
4. Amelia Earhart Fellowships For Women
The Amelia Earhart Fellowship is one of the PhD scholarships in Canada that was established by Zonta International exclusively for women. The US$10,000 Fellowship is awarded annually to up to 30 women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences.
Amelia Earhart Fellowship has been able to produce women that have gone ahead to become astronauts, aerospace engineers, astronomers, professors, geologists, business owners, heads of companies, and even the Secretary of the US Air Force.
5. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CIHR is Canada’s federal funding agency for health research, Composed of 13 Institutes. The Scholarship is worth $35,000 CGS-D per year for three years, but you must be either a Canadian Citizen or a permanent resident, international students can’t apply.
6. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
NSERC funds research in the natural sciences and engineering and is open to current and prospective students. The awards are worth $21,000 PGS-D per year for three years and $35,000 CGS-D per year for three years.
It’s also exclusively for Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents.
7. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
This is one of the PhD scholarships that helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students. The Scholarship is valued at $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies.
Applicants must be Academically Excellent, must have Research Potential, and possess Leadership potential and demonstrated ability.
8. The University of British Columbia – Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF)
This is one of the best PhD scholarships in Canada which takes care of the full tuition of awardees plus an $18,200 stipend, per year. The Scholarship is available for Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, and International students.
By establishing this fellowship, the college attracts and supports outstanding domestic and international doctoral students.
9. Ontario Graduate Scholarship
This is $5,000 per session worth of scholarship provided by the University of Toronto. Awardees are likely to receive $10,000 for two consecutive sessions or $15,000 for three straight sessions.
You should note that OGS awards are not transferable between universities or between graduate units at U of T.
10. The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
Each year, more than $2 million dollars in university graduate fellowships are offered to full-time master’s and Ph.D. students to recognize and support academic excellence. These fellowships were established to recognize outstanding students in their academic performance.
The UMGF doctoral Scholarship is worth $18,000 per year, and it can cover periods of 12, 24, 36, or 48 months.
11. Ontario Trillium Scholarship
This is one of the PhD scholarships in Canada to attract top international students to Ontario for Ph.D. studies at Western University. Applicants must show interest in the scholarship when they are applying for admission to the school.
The Scholarship is worth $40,000 per year and it’s renewable for up to 4 years and will begin concurrently with the start of the recipient’s Ph.D. program.
12. University of Montreal Doctoral Scholarships
The University of Montreal is awarding Doctoral Scholarships to full-time students that have proven strong academic excellence. Their scholarships are of two categories;
- Scholarship for the fast-track master’s to the Ph.D. program: worth $7,000
- Scholarship for direct access to the Ph.D. program from an undergraduate program: worth $10,000
13. University of Lethbridge – Ph.D. Admission Scholarship
This is one of the few PhD scholarships in Canada that doesn’t have any deadline, and the University of Lethbridge automatically considers all full-time Ph.D. thesis-based programs.
14. University of Waterloo – Postdoctoral Affairs International Students Funding
The University of Waterloo provides varieties of awards to international students to enable them in their funding in the school. The International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA) will be automatically provided to eligible students who have registered full-time in a doctoral program at the University.
And so many other scholarships.
15. McGill University – Doctoral Student Funding Opportunities
McGill University provides lots of funding opportunities for doctoral students in Canada, some have no restrictions, some have little restrictions, and some are only restricted to Canadian Citizens.
Conclusion
Choosing to get your Ph.D. is not an easy choice, at the same time, it’s financially demanding.
If you’re not awarded any of these PhD scholarships in Canada, lots of schools also pay you when you enroll as a research assistantship. Through this research assistantship, you can get your tuition waived, plus you’ll get monthly stipends.
List of 10 best PhD scholarships in Canada
- McGill University – Doctoral Student Funding Opportunities
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- University of Alberta Postdoctoral Fellow Funding
- The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program
- Concordia University – Horizon Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Amelia Earhart Fellowships For Women
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- The University of British Columbia – Four-Year Doctoral Fellowship
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Is Ph.D. in Canada free?
No, Ph.D. in Canada is not free, but you can get fully-funded scholarships to help waive your tuition fee plus stipends.
How can I get a full scholarship in Canada?
We have listed 15 scholarships to further your Ph.D. in Canada, some of them are fully funded some are partially funding
Do Ph.D. students get paid in Canada?
Yes, like I said earlier some scholarships, fellowships, and research assistantships pay Ph.D. students monthly stipends.
How long is Ph.D. in Canada?
The average length to get your Ph.D. in Canada is 4 to 6 years.
Is a Ph.D. worth it in Canada?
Yes, it’s worth it to get your Ph.D. in Canada, in fact, it’s even advisable because you’re guaranteed a good job that pays very well.