University of Alberta Scholarship 2026-2027 | Canada

If you are planning to study in Canada with financial support, the University of Alberta Scholarship is one of the best opportunities available for international students. This scholarship provides fully funded programs across a wide range of fields. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the University of Alberta Scholarship, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.

The University of Alberta Scholarship 2026-2027 is offered for master’sand PhD studies. This scholarship provides the recipients up to $40,000 per year to support their studies in Canada.

The University of Alberta is one of Canada’s leading public research universities, located in Edmonton, Alberta. Established in 1908, it is consistently ranked among the top universities in Canada and is recognised globally for its excellence in research, innovation, and academic programs. The university is a member of Canada’s U15 group of research-intensive universities and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across faculties, including Engineering, Business, Science, Medicine & Dentistry, Arts, and more. With over 40,000 students from around the world, the University of Alberta offers a diverse and vibrant campus environment, as well as strong funding opportunities for graduate students, making it a popular choice for international students pursuing advanced degrees.

The University of Alberta has various awards, scholarships, and prizes to assist you in funding your graduate studies. The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) alone administers $29 million in scholarships every year.

Awards, scholarships, and prizes are funded by a variety of sources, including the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, and the generosity of our many donors.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Master’s, PhD
• Institution(s): University of Alberta
• Study Destination: Canada
• Course Level: Scholarship is available to pursue postgraduate degree programs.
• Program Period: 2 years for master’s and 3 years for PhD programs

University of Alberta Scholarship Application Deadlines

Scholarship values and deadlines can change by year and by department. Use this guide as your roadmap, then confirm the exact competition cycle on the official pages for each award. Some deadlines are as early as 12 months before the program begins.

Scholarship Coverage

The University of Alberta Scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:

University of Alberta Graduate Entrance Scholarship

This scholarship is for the faculty to provide funding and support for newly admitted graduate students whose admissions were ranked highly by their department.

The stipend value sits at $17,500 for master’s and $21,000 for PhD students. They must have a Canadian bank account and address to receive the award.

The students will receive an additional $10,000 to help cover the fees, which will be applied directly to their tuition and fees account.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) Department Award

The University of Alberta GPS hosts a central hub for university-level scholarships and awards across disciplines and degree levels. Some University of Alberta doctoral awards are listed at values like $40,000/year for up to three years (award availability varies by competition and unit).

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship

This is one of the most important changes in recent years: CGRS D includes a pathway for international applicants.

• Value: $40,000 per year for 3 years
• International rule: If you’re not a Canadian citizen/PR/protected person, you must be enrolled in a doctoral program at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline, and up to 15% of awards are available to international applicants.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship

For doctoral students whose work aligns with the Foundation’s themes (often social sciences/humanities/public-impact research), the Trudeau Foundation scholarship is a major option:

• Eligible candidates include foreign students studying at a Canadian university.
• Funding includes a stipend up to $50,000/year and an additional allowance up to $20,000/year (both for up to three years).

Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES)

Alberta’s provincial graduate award explicitly states it is intended to attract top international students:

• Value: minimum $11,000, maximum $15,000
• Eligibility includes being an international student and meeting full-time enrollment requirements (and other conditions).

Eligibility Criteria for the University of Alberta Scholarship

To be eligible for the University of Alberta Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Required Languages: English. Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to provide evidence of proficiency in English at the higher level required by the university.
• Eligible Countries: All World Countries
• Applicants must show an outstanding educational record to apply to the university.
• The following admission terms are eligible: January 2026, May 2026, July 2026 and September 2026
• Must be a newly admitted student in one of the above terms in a master’s or doctoral program
• Must meet an academic requirement by country.
• Must be a full-time registered student during the tenure of the award
• Students cannot transfer/switch between thesis-based and course-based programs

How to Apply for the University of Alberta Scholarship?

Please follow the steps below to avail this scholarship:

1. Prepare the list of required documents for international applicants:
   • Academic documents
   • English Language Proficiency scores (IELTS, Pearson, Duolingo, CAEL and TOEFL)
   • CV
   • Statement of intent
   • Writing samples
   • GRE, GMAT, Miller Analogies Test or other test scores (if required by the department)
   • References:
     • You will be required to submit the name, title, organization and email address of all your references.
     • An email with a secure link will only be sent to your references after you submit and pay for your application.
2. Choose your graduate program.
   • The University of Alberta offers more than 500 graduate programs in 300 research areas. To learn more about the programs, visit the Graduate Programs page.
3. Apply online.
4. Scholarship
   • You will be automatically considered for University of Alberta entrance scholarships once you’ve applied for admission.

For Master’s

1. Prioritise thesis-based programs (more likely to be funded).
2. Contact supervisors early with a focused research pitch.
3. Build a strong admission package (research experience, publications, strong referees).

For PhD

1. Do everything above, plus:
2. Map your timeline to CGRS D deadlines and institutional processes (some Canadian universities have internal steps/earlier deadlines).
3. If relevant, consider the Trudeau Foundation (big funding, but very competitive and theme/leadership dependent).

Website

To know more about the University of Alberta Scholarship, please visit the official website:

Apply for Scholarship