Scholarship & Fellowship Information
Whether you are looking to pursue graduate studies at Oxford, Stanford, McGill, or beyond, we are here to support your application journey. These awards look for more than just academic excellence . They recognize exceptional character, leadership potential, and a deep commitment to your community.
Prestigious Scholarship Information Session
Are you interested in applying for the Rhodes, McCall MacBain, Knight-Hennessy, Gates-Cambridge, or Schwarzman scholarship? Join us to learn the eligibility requirements, walk through the application process, and get your questions answered by previous scholarship winners!
- Who should attend: Open to all undergraduates. This session is particularly relevant to students with a 3.5+ GPA and a strong extracurricular record who plan to apply to graduate school in the next 1–2 years.
- Date: Thursday, June 18th
- Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
(Note: This session will be recorded and shared with all students who register.)
Prestigious Scholarships
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship covers full tuition and living stipends to pursue a postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford.
- Important Update: The Rhodes Trust no longer requires institutional endorsement letters. They have moved to a certification model where the University completes a short form to authorize your application. This means any eligible student can now apply without institutional vetting.
- While vetting is no longer required, the University can provide optional commentary on your certification form. To receive this commentary , which significantly strengthens your application, we strongly encourage you to submit a preliminary application to sasha.massey@ucalgary.ca by Monday, August 17, 2026. Doing so will also make you eligible for application mentoring, where students that meet the selection criteria will get expert guidance on strengthening their application in preparation for the final deadline on September 24th. Guidance will be holistic in nature, as students are not permitted to receive specific feedback on their written statements for the Rhodes scholarship.
- Eligibility: Canadian citizen or permanent resident, exceptional academic record (typically 3.7+ GPA), proven leadership, and a commitment to service.
- Applications Open: June 1, 2026
- Application Deadline: September 24, 2026 (Internal UCalgary preliminary deadline August 17, 2026)
Resources for Applicants:
Information for Applicants: canada-information-for-candidates-document-2027-final.pdf
Application Guide for Applicants: canada-scholars-guide-for-applicants.pdf
McCall MacBain Scholarship
A full scholarship for your master’s or professional studies at McGill University, mentoring, leadership development and an interdisciplinary learning community.
- Eligibility: Canadian, US, or international students applying for a master’s or professional degree at McGill. Requires outstanding character, community engagement, leadership, and intellectual curiosity.
- Applications Open: June 1, 2026
- Application Deadline: September 23, 2026 (for students from Canada and the US).
Gates-Cambridge Scholarship
Established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this scholarship covers the full cost of pursuing a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge.
- Eligibility: Citizens of any country outside the UK applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at Cambridge. Candidates must show outstanding intellectual ability and a commitment to improving the lives of others.
- Applications Open: September 2026
- Application Deadline: Early December 2026 or early January 2027 (depends on your specific Cambridge course).
Knight-Hennessy Scholars
A multidisciplinary graduate fellowship providing up to three years of financial support to pursue graduate studies at Stanford University.
- Eligibility: Open to citizens of all countries applying to any full-time graduate degree program at Stanford, within seven years of earning a bachelor's degree. Seeks visionary thinkers with a civic mindset.
- Applications Open: June 1, 2026
- Application Deadline: October 6, 2026
Schwarzman Scholars
A fully-funded, one-year master’s degree and leadership program in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
- Eligibility: Undergraduates ages 18–28 proficient in English. No specific major is required, but candidates must demonstrate extraordinary leadership qualities and a desire to understand global trends.
- Applications Open: April 8, 2026
- Application Deadline: September 9, 2026
Additional Global Scholarships
Killam Fellowships & Fulbright Canada Awards
Opportunities for Canadians to study or conduct research in the United States.
- Eligibility: Canadian citizens. The Killam Fellowship is for undergraduate academic exchange, while the Fulbright Student Award helps fund prospective or current graduate students to study or research in the US.
- Applications Open: May 2026 (Fulbright) / Fall 2026 (Killam)
- Application Deadline: November 15, 2026 (Fulbright) / Mid-January 2027 (Killam).
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
Fully funded scholarships allowing students to earn a joint master's degree by studying at multiple universities across different European countries.
- Eligibility: Students globally who have completed (or are in the final year of) a bachelor's degree.
- Applications Open: Varies heavily by specific program, typically opening in October or November 2026.
- Application Deadline: Varies, typically between November 2026 and February 2027.
Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)
Funding for postgraduate study in the UK for citizens of Commonwealth countries, aimed at supporting future innovators and leaders.
- Eligibility: Canadian citizens with high academic standards applying for master's or PhD programs at UK universities.
- Applications Open: September 2026
- Application Deadline: Typically October to November 2026.
Need Application Support? Book an Advising Appointment
Navigating graduate school applications and prestigious scholarships can be a complex process, but you don't have to do it alone! You can book a one-on-one appointment with a graduate school application advisor at the Student Success Centre (SSC). They can provide tailored support with program selection, academic statements, personal essays, and timeline management.
- How to book: Log into Elevate to schedule your appointment, or email success@ucalgary.ca.
- Location: Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL), 3rd Floor or via Zoom.