Government-of-Alberta-Graduate-Excellence-Scholarship-AGES
The Government of Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) 2026 is a prestigious award designed to attract and support top-performing international and domestic students studying at Alberta’s publicly funded post-secondary institutions.
This scholarship offers financial support to graduate students pursuing master’s or doctoral programs, helping them focus on their research and academic goals.
Scholarship Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Country | Canada 🇨🇦 |
| Province | Alberta |
| Category | Scholarships in Canada |
| Eligible Countries | Domestic & International Students |
| Scholarship Value | Up to CAD $15,000 |
| IELTS | No IELTS Required |
| Application Deadline | November 14, 2025 |
The AGES program was created by the Government of Alberta to reward academic excellence and support talented students enrolled in graduate studies. The scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential, and contributions to the academic community.
This funding allows students to focus on their research, coursework, and professional development without financial stress.
Scholarship Value
The value of the scholarship may vary depending on the university, but recipients typically receive:
- Up to CAD $15,000 as a one-time award
- Financial support to cover tuition, research costs, and living expenses
- Recognition for outstanding academic performance
Eligibility Criteria for AGES 2026
To qualify for the Government of Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a protected person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada); or be an international student with a valid study permit.
- Update citizenship status in their Bear Tracks account by the GPS deadline.
- Be enrolled in a course-based or thesis-based program.
- Be registered in a master’s (years 1–4) or doctoral program (years 1–6). Students transferring from a master’s to a doctoral program will have their master’s months counted toward the doctoral timeline.
- Students in a graduate certificate program that ladders into a master’s program are also eligible.
- Live in Alberta while enrolled at the University of Alberta (online or in-person).
- Update their Alberta home/residential address in Bear Tracks before the deadline (university department addresses are not valid).
- Complete and submit the AGES Student Declaration Form to confirm Alberta residency during enrollment.
- Be registered full-time in Fall 2025 and/or Winter 2026 terms (newly admitted January 2026 students must be full-time in Winter 2026).
- Students registered with Student Accessibility Services or needing accommodations may apply if enrolled in at least 40% of a full course load.
- Demonstrate academic excellence through:
- A GPA of 3.3 or higher over the most recent 15 units of course weight. If fewer than 15 graded credits are available, the Admission GPA (AGPA) is considered.
- For newly admitted Fall 2025 or Winter 2026 students without graded coursework, the AGPA will be used.
- Research and academic contributions such as published manuscripts, presentations,
- exhibitions, or community engagement.
- Previous scholarly achievements, including awards, scholarships, and prizes.
- Qualifying students are not eligible.
See also: 2026 University of Toronto Mastercard Scholarships for Africans | Fully Funded
How to Apply for the AGES 2026 Scholarship
Unlike most scholarships, students cannot apply directly online. Instead, the process involves faculty nomination:
- Nomination by Faculty:
Students must be nominated to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) by their home faculty. Applications through the GSMS Awards Portal are not accepted. - Complete the Declaration Form:
Students must complete the AGES Student Declaration Form and submit it to their home faculty by their internal deadline. - Consult Your Faculty:
Each faculty sets its own internal deadline and process, so students must check with their faculty for:- Internal application procedures
- Deadlines
- Nomination status
Why You Should Apply
The AGES scholarship not only provides financial support but also recognizes academic excellence and research contributions. It’s a great opportunity to study in Canada, enhance your academic portfolio, and receive support while pursuing graduate studies at one of Canada’s top universities.
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