Algoma University offers Master’s Award of Excellence scholarships to students entering a Master’s program with high academic standing. The scholarships are valued at up to $5,000 each ($2,500 over two terms). Awards are subject to availability and are not eligible for deferral; to receive the award eligible students must register for the term the award is offered on. Scholarships may be eligible for renewal based on availability. Applicants must abide by the scholarship deadline listed above for consideration.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

Graduate Success Bursary

Eligible graduate students with a demonstrated financial need can apply for the Graduate Success Bursary (GSB) once per academic year through the Financial Aid Office. The GSB opens in October with applications considered until October 31. To be considered for this bursary, students must demonstrate academic achievement as well as financial need. Bursaries are limited and may be received along with other financial support programs.

Emergency Bursary Program

Graduate students experiencing unforeseen emergency expenses are invited to apply for the Emergency Bursary. These funds are intended to provide limited financial support to students experiencing an urgent situation that could not be planned for, and that the student does not have enough resources to cover. Students in an emergency situation will need to submit an Emergency Bursary application through the Student Portal.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

This scholarship valued at $10,000 will be available to a domestic student in their first year of full-time studies in the MSc in Biology. Selection is based on the highest academic achievement with preference given to the student candidate demonstrating active community involvement through volunteer work throughout their undergraduate degree. Preference will be given to a student that is a graduate of a secondary school in the District of Algoma. This scholarship is non-cumulative with the CSG-M, OGS, or other NSERC or SSHRC scholarships. The award reflects the leadership work and vision of Dr. J. MacBain Cameron, a distinguished entomologist who became the first Director of the Insect Pathology Research Institute in Sault Ste. Marie, and devotes countless hours of volunteer community service. Dr. Cameron and a small group of like-minded advocates formed a citizens committee who eventually through their advocacy and committed efforts would make university undergraduate opportunities accessible in Sault Ste. Marie leading to what we today know as Algoma University. Students offered admission for the Fall intake that have completed all admissions requirements by May 1 will be invited to apply for this scholarship.

The Algoma University Golf Classic Scholarships are created from the proceeds of the annual Algoma University Golf Classic Tournament. Scholarships are awarded to students entering a Master’s program on the Sault Ste. Marie campus in the Fall term with the highest average, with preference to students who completed their undergraduate degree at Algoma University. These scholarships are valued at $5,000 each and are subject to availability.

The Ma’iingan Scholarships are available to students of Algoma University that are entering and continuing in the MSc Biology program. The eligible recipients will demonstrate continued academic achievement while meeting additional requirements. Preference will be given to a student that shows an interest in wildlife. Wildlife refers to all living organisms (plants, microbes, animals) that are not domesticated or cultivated by humans. Wildlife can be found in all ecosystems, including, but not limited to, forests, deserts, grasslands, and oceans. Applications are accepted through the General Entrance/Continuing Awards application. As this scholarship is renewable, if eligibility for renewal of the scholarship is not maintained, students will forfeit their scholarship. Visit our Continuing Scholarships page for further details. 

Ma’iingan Intention Scholarship – a $1,000 scholarship for a student in their 4th year of studies in the Biology or Environmental Science program with the intention to attend the Algoma University MSc in Biology.

Ma’iingan Entrance Scholarship – a $2,000 scholarship for a student that has completed their undergraduate in Biology or Environmental Science at Algoma University and is in their first year of studies in the MSc program in Biology.

Ma’iingan Renewable Scholarship – a $2,000 scholarship for a student entering their second year of the MSc in Biology at Algoma University who received the Ma’iingan Entrance Scholarship in the previous year and remains in good academic standing within the program.

The Orlando and Rose Rosa Family Scholarship provides a $2,000 award to a student entering postgraduate studies at Algoma University’s Sault Ste. Marie campus. Preference will be given to a student with demonstrated volunteerism and community involvement who obtained their undergraduate degree from Algoma University.

Awards are applied to a student’s account on a term-by-term basis. To be eligible for an award, students must be registered full-time for the specific term the award applies to and meet all eligibility criteria provided on our website, in publications, and in the award letter. Additionally, students must provide their Social Insurance Number (SIN) to the university in order to receive any award, scholarship, grant, or research assistantship funding.

You can track the status of your award through the Self-Service Portal. If a refund credit is available after the award is posted, you may request a refund by contacting the Student Accounts Office at [email protected].

For any questions regarding the status of your award, please contact [email protected].

MSc Biology: Graduate students in a thesis-based Master of Science in Biology are offered a guaranteed funding package which includes Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) valued at $10,000 annually, renewable for the second year. The GTA funding can be held concurrently with funding through Graduate Research Assistantship. Students who hold a competitive internal or external scholarship, grant, or other funding of $15,000 per year or higher (for example, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship or the NSERC CGS-M) may qualify only for a single semester paid teaching assistantship, pending availability. Students are required to remain in good standing and maintain full-time status.

Master of Computer Science: Graduate students in a course-based Master of Computer Science’s program are able to apply for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). GTA’s are available to eligible students on a competitive basis allowing graduate students the opportunity to work up to 10 hours/week for up to two semesters in an academic year as required by the department. GTA’s are subject to availability and as such are not guaranteed.

Master of Social Work: Graduate students in the Master of Social Work program (thesis or course based) may be able to apply for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). GTA’s are available to eligible students on a competitive basis allowing graduate students the opportunity to work up to 10 hours/week for up to two semesters in an academic year as required by the department. GTA’s are subject to availability and as such are not guaranteed.

MSc Biology: Graduate students in a thesis-based MSc Biology program receive generous guaranteed funding offered at the time of admissions which includes a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) valued at $7,500 annually, renewable for the second year. GRA funding is posted to the student’s account as an award and is split over two consecutive terms of study. Students are required to remain in good academic standing and maintain full-time status to continue qualifying for funding. 

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Graduate Scholarships (NSERC)

Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Program and Canadian Institute of Health Research Scholarships (CIHR)

The NSERC CGS-M program is designed to support outstanding students in the early stages of their graduate studies in the natural sciences and engineering fields. This prestigious scholarship provides funding for students pursuing a master’s degree at Canadian universities, helping them focus on their research and academic development. Students enrolling in the MSc Biology program at Algoma University can apply for one of these highly competitive awards that recognizes exceptional students with the potential to become leaders in the fields of natural sciences and engineering. The program aims to foster research excellence and innovation by supporting the most talented graduate students in their pursuit of knowledge.

As a recipient of the NSERC CGS-M, students are given the opportunity to work with leading researchers, contribute to groundbreaking discoveries, and develop their professional skills within a collaborative academic environment.

Key Information

Eligibility: To be eligible for the NSERC CGS-M award, applicants must be enrolled in, or planning to enroll in, a full-time master’s degree program at a Canadian university. The student must also be pursuing research in the natural sciences or engineering.

Award Amount: The scholarship provides a generous annual stipend for up to two years of study, which varies by year and competition cycle. Exact values and further details on funding amounts are available on the official NSERC website.

Research Focus: The NSERC CGS-M program supports research in a wide variety of fields, including but not limited to biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering, and environmental sciences.

Application Deadline: Applications for the NSERC CGS-M must be submitted through the NSERC Research Portal by December 1. 

Application Process

The application process for the NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Program is rigorous and requires careful preparation. All information must be submitted through the Research Portal. Please follow these steps to apply:

Eligibility Check: Ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements before proceeding with your application.

Field of Research: You must select your field of research. You can only select one field even if your proposed research is inter- or multidisciplinary in nature. Once you select your field of research on the application form, you will see if Algoma University is an available institution with a CGS M allocation in your chosen field. Algoma University has allocations for CIHR and NSERC.

Proposed Start Date: You will need to indicate the date you enrolled in or expect to enroll in the MSc Biology program.

Prepare Your Research Proposal Documents: Briefly outline your proposed research as a plain-language summary (abstract). This summary may be made publicly available if your application is successful. You will also need to attach to your application an outline of your proposed research along with a bibliography that includes citations. 

Gather Required Documents: Your application must include your academic transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate studies, your Canadian Common CCV, and two reference assessments. The reference assessments must be requested through the application form in advance of the deadline as they will complete their assessments through a secure link.

Verify Your Application is Complete: Extract a PDF copy of your application and attachments to review before submitting. Ensure the application is accurate and complete with all necessary attachments. 

Submit Application: Submit your application through the Research Portal by the application deadline. The Terms and Conditions of Applying will appear in a pop-up window. You must read and agree to these terms and conditions for your application to be accepted.

Notification of Results

Offers of awards will be made available through the NSERC Research Portal as of April 1. Students can check the status of their application through the Research Portal. If offered an award, students will have 21 days from the date of the offer to accept or decline through the Portal.

Contact

For questions about the CGS-M program, please contact the Financial Aid & Awards Office:

[email protected]

You can also contact NSERC or CIHR directly for information about this program.

NSERC, contact [email protected]

CIHR, contact [email protected]