The purpose of the Graduate Recruitment Scholarship (GRS) is to recruit superior graduate students who have the potential to contribute to the University of Alberta's community and research.
The purpose of the Graduate Student Award (GSA) is to provide financial support to current graduate students undertaking full-time research. Additional selection criteria may be considered, and may include financial need.
About University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta, and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president. Its enabling legislation is the Post-secondary Learning Act.
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University of Alberta Graduate Recruitment Scholarship and Graduate Student Award
Aim and Benefits of University of Alberta Graduate Recruitment Scholarship and Graduate Student Award
The GRS and GSA both have a minimum value of $5,000 (one unit) increments; however, faculties may choose the number of units they wish to award to eligible nominees based on the allocation table.
The award value varies and is indicated in the original letter of offer.
Requirements for University of Alberta Graduate Recruitment Scholarship and Graduate Student Award Qualification
Both awards are open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or students on a study permit. Specific eligibility criteria for each award are as follows:
Graduate Recruitment Scholarship (GRS)
- Students must be newly admitted to a doctoral or thesis-based master’s graduate degree program, or have transferred (fast tracked) 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 by the admit term.
- Must have an admission grade point average (AGPA) of at least 3.5. Current students transferring (fast track) from a master’s degree to a doctoral degree are eligible provided that both their AGPA and current program GPA are 3.5 or over, or the average if one mark is less.
- Students admitted to course-based or qualifying programs are not eligible.
- Students may receive a GRS only once (unless they transfer from a master’s to a doctoral degree program). Faculties wishing to fund a GRS recipient may nominate them for a GSA in each year during which they meet the eligibility requirements.
Graduate Student Award (GSA)
- Students must be currently registered full-time in a doctoral degree or thesis-based master’s degree program.
- Must have satisfactory academic standing (equivalent to a grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or greater) over the most recent 15 units of course weight in the current program. Where there are less than 15 graded credits in the current program, the admission GPA (AGPA) is a weighted factor.
- Students registered in course-based or qualifying programs are not eligible.
- These awards are NOT automatically renewable. However, faculties may nominate students for a new award in each year during which they meet the eligibility requirements.
Faculties might have additional selection criteria; for more details departments/students may consult their Faculty.
Interview date, Process and Venue for University of Alberta Graduate Recruitment Scholarship and Graduate Student Award
Deadline
GRS and GSA nominations can be submitted on an ongoing basis, but GRS should be submitted by the applicable deadline.
- For students with a May 1, 2025 start date, the deadline is March 27, 2025
- For students with a July 1, 2025 start date, the deadline is May 29, 2025
- For students with a September 1, 2025 start date, the deadline is July 10, 2025
- For students with a January 1, 2026 start date, the deadline is November 13, 2025
Note: Any changes to an original nomination should also be received by the above-specified dates.
Application Deadline
November 13, 2025How to Apply
There is no application form; students cannot apply for these awards. Eligible students are considered on the recommendation of the Faculty.
For more details, visit University of Alberta Scholarship webpage
