University of Alberta Graduate Recruitment Scholarship

The purpose of the Recruitment Scholarship is to recruit superior graduate students who have the potential to contribute to the University of Alberta's community and research.

Value

Scholarships will be offered in increments of $5,000. The department may decide how many increments of $5,000 to offer a student based on their allocation.

The award value varies and is indicated in the original letter of offer.

Eligibility

The scholarship will be awarded to students who:

  • Are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or students on a study permit
  • Are admitted to a doctoral or thesis-based master’s graduate degree program by the department or transferred from a master's to a doctoral degree program
  • Will be registered full-time in a doctoral degree or thesis-based master’s degree program
  • Have an admission GPA of at least 3.5
Departments might have additional selection criteria; for more details students are to consult the department into which they seek admission.
Application Procedures
There is no application form; students cannot apply for this scholarship. Eligible students are considered on the recommendation of the admitting department; students are to contact their admitting department for information.
Nomination Procedures

Each department is assigned an allocation (please see link below). Individual graduate departments are responsible for selecting nominees based on eligibility criteria and allocations. Departments may choose to nominate individuals based on a variety of criteria including academic record, letters of appraisal, statement of program, applicant's research, potential contributions to research, and other technical experience.

Department nominates students to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), formerly Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) by the nomination deadline. GPS verifies eligibility and notifies winners directly.

For Departments:

• 2024 UA Graduate Recruitment Scholarship Department Memo

• 2024 Department Recruitment Allocation Table

• UA Graduate Recruitment Scholarship Nomination Form

Deadline

Nomination deadlines are based on start dates and are as follows:

  • For students with a May 1, 2024 start date, the deadline is March 28, 2024
  • For students with a July 1, 2024 start date, the deadline is May 30, 2024
  • For students with a September 1, 2024 start date, the deadline is July 11, 2024
  • For students with a January 1, 2025 start date, the deadline is November 14, 2024
Note: Any changes to an original nomination must also be received by the above-specified dates.

Frequently Asked Questions: UA Graduate Recruitment Scholarships

What graduate degree programs are eligible for recruitment scholarships?
Students in doctoral or master’s thesis-based programs are eligible provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. Students who will be registered in course-based graduate programs are NOT eligible.
Is a student who has just begun a graduate program eligible to be nominated?
No, this is a recruitment scholarship.
If a student has been admitted to an eligible graduate program at the University of Alberta but wishes to delay their admission, is it possible to defer their scholarship?
Graduate recruitment scholarship deferrals within the same fiscal year are possible (i.e. from September to January). The new fiscal year begins April 1st. Thus, January Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship winners who wish to defer until May will have to be renominated.
What happens to unspent UAGRS allocations? Will they be rolled over to the next year?
UAGRS that have not been allocated in the current fiscal year cannot be rolled over for use in a subsequent year.
Can Departments inform applicants that they have won a UAGRS before GPS sends an official letter to the student?
GPS recommends that Departments do not tell students that they have won a GRS until an official offer is made. They may inform students that they have been nominated for the scholarship and that an official offer letter will be sent to them from GPS.
Does the Department have to admit the student in order for them to be considered for the UAGRS?
Only students admitted to their programs are eligible for the UAGRS.
2024 UA Graduate Recruitment Scholarship Memo

2024 Department Recruitment Allocation Table

UA Graduate Recruitment Nomination Form