A master’s or PhD is funded differently from an undergraduate degree: research programs usually come with a funding package from the university, built from scholarships, teaching and research assistantships and sometimes a tuition waiver, and the largest scholarships come from the three federal research councils. Professional master’s programs are more often self-funded. This page covers graduate funding; the undergraduate picture is in the student money guide.
Types of Graduate Funding
| Type | Repayment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal research council scholarships (CGRS-M, CGRS-D) | No | Values below |
| Departmental and university funding | No | Set by each program |
| Teaching assistantship (TA) | No | Employment income, taxable |
| Research assistantship (RA) | No | Employment or award income, depending on how it is paid |
| Provincial grants and scholarships | No | See provincial student grants |
| Government student loans | Yes | See below |
Major National Scholarships
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral (CGRS-D, formerly CGS-D and Vanier)
Following Budget 2024, the three federal research councils harmonized their doctoral awards under the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS). The new Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral (CGRS-D) replaced the former Canada Graduate Scholarships - Doctoral (CGS-D), agency-specific doctoral awards, and the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, which no longer exists as a separate program.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Value | $40,000 per year |
| Duration | 36 months |
| Eligibility | Doctoral students |
| Criteria | Academic excellence, research potential, leadership |
| Funding agencies | NSERC (science), SSHRC (humanities), CIHR (health), jointly under CRTAS |
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Master’s (CGRS-M, formerly CGS-M)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Value | $27,000 for 12 months |
| Eligibility | Master’s or first year of PhD |
| Funding agencies | NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, jointly under CRTAS |
Provincial Scholarships: Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Value | Set per term by the province; see the school’s graduate studies office |
| Eligibility | Master’s or PhD students at Ontario universities |
Other provinces have similar programs (e.g., BC Graduate Scholarship, Alberta Graduate Student Scholarship).
University Funding Packages
Typical PhD Funding
A funded PhD offer usually combines a base scholarship or fellowship, a teaching assistantship and, in many science programs, a research assistantship paid from the supervisor’s grants. The guaranteed minimum differs widely by school and field, so compare offers on the total and on what each part requires (TA hours, years guaranteed, whether external awards replace or add to it).
Funded vs Unfunded Programs
| Program Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Funded | Guaranteed minimum income, TAship, tuition waiver |
| Unfunded | No guaranteed income, must find own funding |
| Professional | Often unfunded (MBA, JD, MD) |
| Research | Usually funded (PhD, research-based Masters) |
Student Loans for Graduate Students
Graduate students apply for government student loans and grants through the same provincial program as undergraduates, assessed on need. The federal portion charges 0% interest, and no interest is charged while you’re a full-time student. In Ontario this is OSAP; every province’s program is in the student loans hub, and the Repayment Assistance Plan applies after school. A bank line of credit is the other option, compared on student line of credit vs student loan.
Strategies to Fund Graduate School
Maximize Free Money First
| Priority | Source |
|---|---|
| 1 | Major scholarships (many deadlines fall in the autumn before you start) |
| 2 | Departmental funding/guaranteed packages |
| 3 | TAships and RAships |
| 4 | Provincial grants (non-repayable portion) |
| 5 | External scholarships (foundations, industry) |
| 6 | Student loans |
Reduce Costs
| Strategy | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Choose a funded program | A guaranteed package replaces most borrowing |
| Live with roommates or in university housing | Rent is the largest living cost |
| Tuition waivers | Some programs waive or offset tuition in the package |
| Health plan opt-out, if covered elsewhere | Removes a student fee |
Increase Funding
| Action | Potential |
|---|---|
| Apply to every scholarship you’re eligible for | More chances at an award |
| Strong supervisor relationship | More RA funding |
| TA more sections | More employment income, within program limits |
| Summer research | Continuous funding |
| Conference funding | Travel grants available |
External Scholarships
Industry and Foundation Scholarships
Foundations (such as the Trudeau Foundation doctoral scholarships), university endowed awards (such as Killam awards at the universities that offer them), professional associations and industry partnerships all fund graduate students. Values and deadlines change each year and are published by each funder.
Scholarship Databases
| Resource | Details |
|---|---|
| Universities Canada | Comprehensive database |
| Scholarship Portal | Canadian focus |
| Your university | Internal scholarship office |
| Professional associations | Field-specific |
Taxes on graduate funding
How grad funding is taxed depends on what it is. Scholarships, fellowships and bursaries are reported from your T4A and are generally exempt when you’re a full-time student; research grants and stipends follow other rules. The full rules, including the scholarship exemption and part-time students, are on are stipends taxable in Canada.
TA and RA positions paid as employment are T4 income: your university deducts income tax, CPP contributions and EI premiums, and the TD1 you give your employer sets the tax withheld. Tuition reduces tax through the tuition tax credit, with unused amounts carried forward, and filing as a student who works is covered on taxes for students who work.
Building RRSP room during graduate school
RRSP room comes from earned income, which includes employment income such as TA and RA pay on a T4 but not scholarship or fellowship income: each year adds 18% of the previous year’s earned income, up to the annual limit.
A PhD student earns $18,000 a year as a TA (T4) plus a scholarship reported on a T4A. Next year’s new RRSP room from the TA income is about $3,240; the scholarship adds none.
Unused room carries forward, so it can be used in a higher-income year after graduation, when the deduction is worth more. How RRSP room works is on the RRSP hub.
Timeline
Before Applying to Graduate School
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| 1-2 years before | Research funding packages |
| Fall | Apply to major scholarships (many October-December deadlines) |
| December-January | Apply to programs |
| March-April | Receive offers with funding packages |
| April 15 | Standard acceptance deadline |
During Graduate School
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| Annually | Reapply for competitive scholarships |
| Each term | Apply for TAships |
| Semester before funding ends | Seek additional funding |
Related Resources
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between August 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026. How we check facts.
- Canada Revenue Agency: How contributions affect your RRSP deduction limit
- Government of Ontario: Pay back OSAP