The Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (OGSST) program is designed to encourage excellence in graduate studies in science and technology. The program is supported through funds provided by the province of Ontario and by funds raised by the University of Toronto from the private sector. The Department of Chemistry has eight scholarships available annually for distribution.
Value and duration
- $15,000 per year or $5000 per term
- The scholarship is awarded for one academic year at a time, which may consist of two or three consecutive terms. (also see “maximum support” below)
- The award may begin in September or January.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be either Canadian citizens or permanent residents who plan to enrol full-time in a Master’s or Doctoral program in science and technology at the University of Toronto.
- Master’s students are not eligible for an OGSST after two years of study at the Master’s level; Doctoral students are not eligible for an OGSST after five years of study at the Doctoral level.
- Applicants must exhibit overall academic excellence. For applicants entering the 1st or 2nd year of graduate studies, they must have an average of at least A- (A minus), or the equivalent, on the last 20 half-course equivalents completed. For applicants entering 3rd year or beyond of graduate studies, they must have an average of at least A- (A minus), or the equivalent, on all graduate courses completed.
- Applicants will also exhibit research ability or potential, excellent communication skills, and interpersonal and leadership abilities.
- Applicants who have defaulted on a Canada or Ontario Student Loan or a loan made under the Ontario Venture Capital Program, or have failed to make satisfactory repayment on an Ontario Study Grant overpayment, may be ineligible.
Maximum Support
- Master’s students can receive the scholarship for a maximum of two years, and Doctoral students to a maximum of four years, subject to a lifetime maximum of four years per student. Master’s students are not eligible for an OGSST after two years of study at the Master’s level; Doctoral students are not eligible for an OGSST after five years of study at the Doctoral level.
- The award is not automatically renewed. Students must apply annually.
Conditions of the sholarship
- You must hold the award at the University of Toronto.
- You must be enrolled as a full-time student in a graduate program in science or technology.
- You will be required to repay the award if you are in full-time attendance fewer than 14 weeks in any term or transfer to another graduate unit.
- You cannot be enrolled in a qualifying or “make-up” year or be on a paid educational leave or sabbatical.
- You cannot hold the award for only one term.
- You will be required to repay the award if you withdraw or transfer to part-time status.
- You may hold other awards up to a total of $10,000 per year, but cannot hold an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) for the same year of study in which you hold an OGSST.
- You may also accept research assistantships, part-time teaching positions, or other employment, which does not exceed the maximum 10 hours per week on average.
Application
- Use the current Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) application form which will be provided by the Graduate Office.
- You must also complete the OGSST cover page which will be provided by the Graduate Office.
- Two reference letters and copies of all university transcripts must be submitted.
- One-page research proposal is required for all applicants. If you are not currently in a graduate program or have not yet formulated your research proposal, a statement of interest, indicating your reasons for pursuing graduate studies in your chosen field should be submitted.
- One-page summary of significant academic achievements (e.g., awards, publications, presentations, patents, etc.). A form will be provided by the Graduate Office.
- Students who applied to the current OGS competition may recycle application materials on file in the Chemistry Graduate Office. However, the research proposal and summary of accomplishments are required for all OGSST applicants, at both the Master's and Doctoral level. (This is different from the OGS guidelines.)
Deadline
The Chemistry Graduate Office generally sends out a notification in the spring.