Ontario Graduate Scholarships

Eligibility: at least A- during each of your last two full years
Departmental deadline: end of September. (check with your graduate secretary)
Application form: Click here

This is a fairly simple application form.

• Do not forget to include a 1 page list of significant academic accomplishments (publications, talks given, research conducted)
• Students who will be enrolled in master's level studiesmust provide a one-page statement of interest or those at the doctoral-level a plan of study.
  • Show how what you plan to do, fits in with what you have done. Show that you have a clear idea of where you are going.
  • Select a potential supervisor and try to get her/his help in outlining a particular project.
  • State how working with this supervisor will help you get the skills that you need for your career goals 
• The important thing to get right here is picking two references and providing them with the material with which to write a good letter.

• Select some one who you believe has a positive impression of you (look at the form to be completed by Professor to see what will be judged) and who will take the time to write a good letter.
• Look at the referee report. Try to include information that will help your referee complete the form and write a good letter. Give them

• a copy of your marks
• an updated CV
• Add a short letter in which you highlight what you have achieved and what you hope to achieve.

In this letter you should also point out:

• Courses in which you have done particularly well in. If you know your ranking, state it.
• How well your research is going. Progress in publications. Meeting attended. Techniques mastered.
• Courses taught. TA's (ratings if available).
• Other research experience (publications if available).
• Contributions to the dept., university (e.g. student rep., committees, events organized).
• Often you have made important achievements but there is no space in the form to mention them. This can be included in a letter of recommendation. Mention these in this letter. 

• Ranking of the Dept./Program.

• To get an award you have to survive a 2 stage selection process.
  1. Departmental. Not a bad idea to find out who sits on the dept. committee and make sure they know you. Contributions to the department/program (teaching, student rep. etc.) are often given consideration at this stage.
  2. Note the referee will probably not know your field. Don't use jargon