If you’re an international graduate student eyeing Canada’s top-tier education, the Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship (GSS) at the University of Alberta should definitely be on your radar. This prestigious scholarship offers a generous $26,000 CAD stipend per year for master’s students—making it one of the most rewarding opportunities in Canada for international researchers and innovators ualberta.caAcadFly.
As we dive into the specifics for 2025, this guide will walk you through eligibility criteria, application tips, funding details, and answer your burning questions.
What Is the $26,000 Scholarship?
The scholarship in focus is the Alberta Innovates Graduate Student Scholarship (GSS), structured to support students pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral degrees at the University of Alberta. For master’s students, the scholarship provides $26,000 CAD per year, while doctoral candidates receive $31,000 CAD per year ualberta.ca+1immigration.ca.
Highlights:
-
Master’s full value: $26,000 CAD/year
-
PhD full value: $31,000 CAD/year
-
Additional top-up of $12,000 CAD/year available for students who already hold major awards (e.g., Tri-Council Scholarships, China Scholarship Council) ualberta.ca+1immigration.ca.
Why It Stands Out
At $26,000 CAD annually, this scholarship is significantly more generous than some of the university’s other graduate awards. For context:
-
The general Master’s Entrance Scholarship offers a base $17,500 CAD, sometimes with an additional $10,000 CAD for international students CollegeduniaOpportunities Info.
-
The Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) grants around $12,000 CAD for overall excellence Collegeduniaimmigration.ca.
The GSS is especially meaningful because it’s aimed at research-focused students in specific high-impact fields—making it both selective and ideal for funding research-intensive studies.
Who Is Eligible?
Here’s what prospective applicants need to know:
Broad Eligibility
-
Open to international students (no citizenship restrictions) ualberta.caAlberta Innovatesimmigration.ca.
-
Must be pursuing a full-time, research-based master’s or doctoral degree at the University of Alberta in emerging technology areas, such as:
-
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
-
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (AMM)
-
Areas where these technologies support Environment, Energy, Agriculture, Manufacturing, or Health ualberta.caAlberta Innovates.
-
Academic and Administrative Requirements
-
Minimum GPA of 3.5 required ualberta.caAlberta Innovatesimmigration.ca.
-
Master’s applicants must have been admitted no earlier than Spring 2024; doctoral applicants, no earlier than Spring 2022 ualberta.ca.
-
Requires a faculty supervisor endorsement who has a research track record in Alberta Innovates–funded fields ualberta.caAlberta Innovates.
-
Combined master’s/PhD funding from Alberta Innovates programs is capped at four years ualberta.caAlberta Innovates.
Application Process for 2025
-
Apply for a graduate program at the University of Alberta and secure acceptance.
-
Apply for the Alberta Innovates GSS via the GPS Awards Portal (GSMS) ualberta.ca.
-
Prepare supporting documents:
-
Scholarship application form
-
Official transcripts (undergraduate and any graduate work)
-
Supervisor support
-
-
Check guidelines and eligibility details in the 2025–26 Alberta Innovates GSS Program Guidelines and Handbook ualberta.ca.
Note: Be aware of internal nomination processes—the department and graduate office may oversee application endorsement.
What Funds Can Be Used For?
The $26,000 CAD scholarship is generous and flexible, potentially covering:
-
Living expenses
-
Tuition (though usually you’ll still receive a separate tuition waiver or funding)
-
Research-related costs (e.g., books, materials, conference travel, relocation, equipment) Alberta Innovates.
Comparative Snapshot of Graduate Scholarships
| Scholarship | Level | Annual Value (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Innovates GSS | Master’s | $26,000 | Research-focused; top-up possible |
| Alberta Innovates GSS | PhD | $31,000 | Higher stipend for doctoral studies |
| Master’s Entrance Scholarship | Master’s | $17,500 (+$10,000 for intl) | Wide eligibility, less selective |
| Alberta Graduate Excellence (AGES) | Grad | $12,000 | Merit-based, widely available |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is this scholarship available to international students?
Yes, international students are among the eligible applicants—there are no citizenship restrictions ualberta.caimmigration.ca.
2. How much money does the scholarship award?
Master’s candidates receive $26,000 CAD/year; PhD candidates get $31,000 CAD/year. Additional top-up awards are possible if you hold major external funding ualberta.ca+1immigration.ca.
3. What fields of research are eligible?
Only research in ICT and Advanced Materials & Manufacturing is eligible—or research applications that directly advance those areas ualberta.caAlberta Innovates.
4. What are the GPA and admission timing requirements?
You need a minimum GPA of 3.5. Master’s applicants should have been admitted no earlier than Spring 2024, and PhD applicants no earlier than Spring 2022 ualberta.caAlberta Innovates.
5. Who should apply and how?
Apply via the GSMS Awards Portal after securing admission to a relevant U of A graduate program. Ensure that your research proposal aligns with Alberta Innovates’ strategic priorities and secure a qualifying supervisor ualberta.caAlberta Innovates.
6. Can I hold other scholarships together with this?
Yes, you can hold external awards. If you already have a major scholarship (like a Tri-Council award), you may receive a $12,000 CAD top-up from the GSS instead of the full amount ualberta.ca+1. Total graduate funding is capped at four years ualberta.caAlberta Innovates.
Final Thoughts
The $26,000 University of Alberta International Student Scholarship 2025 is a standout opportunity for master’s students with strong GPAs, research focus in emerging fields, and solid faculty support. It’s competitive but offers substantial financial and academic recognition.