University of Alberta Graduate Recruitment Scholarship and Graduate Student Award

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.

Value

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.

Eligibility

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, and students on academic probation 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.

Application Procedures

There is no application form; students cannot apply for these awards. Eligible students are considered on the recommendation of the Faculty.

Nomination Procedures

Effective 2025/26, faculties are responsible for selecting nominees based on eligibility criteria and their allocation (please see link below). Departments are to consult directly with their faculty for their internal process.

Faculties may choose to nominate individuals based on a variety of criteria including academic record, letters of appraisal, statement of program, applicant's research, potential contributions to research, and other technical experience.

The Faculty Dean (or delegate) nominates students to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) by the nomination deadline. GPS verifies eligibility and notifies winners directly.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What graduate degree programs are eligible for GRS and GSA?
Students in doctoral or master’s thesis-based programs are eligible provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. Students who will be registered in course-based graduate programs are NOT eligible.
Does the Department have to admit the student in order for them to be considered for the GRS?

Yes, only newly admitted students are eligible for the Graduate Recruitment Scholarship (GRS).

If a student has been admitted to an eligible graduate program at the University of Alberta but wishes to defer their admission, is it possible to defer their scholarship?
Only the GRS deferrals within the same fiscal year are possible (i.e. from September to January ). The new fiscal year begins April 1st. Thus, January recruitment scholarship winners who wish to defer until May will have to be re-nominated for the next fiscal year.
Is a student who has just begun a graduate program eligible to be nominated?
Current graduate students can be nominated for Graduate Student Award (GSA).
Can Departments/Faculties inform applicants that they have won a GRS/GSA before GPS sends an official letter to the student?
GPS recommends that Departments and Faculties do not tell students that they have won a GRS/GSA until an official offer is made. They may inform students that they have been nominated for the scholarship and that an official offer letter will be sent to them from GPS.
What happens to unspent GRS/GSA allocations? Will they be rolled over to the next year?
No, units that have not been allocated in the current fiscal year cannot be rolled over for use in a subsequent year.
2025/26 U of A GRS/GSA Memo

2025/26 Faculty GRS/GSA Allocation Table

2025/26 GRS/GSA Nomination Form