Win $100k Award with University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships in Canada | 2027

• Award: $40,000 to $100,000 in total
• Academic Level: Master’s and Doctoral
• Application Status: Open
• Location: Canada

Why the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships?

The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF) is a graduate funding program in Canada; it stands out not just for its generous funding but for the unusual way to qualify for the fellowship

The UMGF is awarded through departmental nomination. So, you don’t have to fill out a central scholarship form. You don’t submit a separate application. Instead, your academic department or unit recommends you to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for a fellowship.

This means your admission application and your relationship with a prospective supervisor are doing the heavy lifting long before any scholarship paperwork comes into play.

It’s open to all citizenships. Unlike many Canadian graduate awards that prioritize domestic students, the UMGF is explicitly available to all students regardless of citizenship. That makes it one of the more accessible major graduate awards in the country for international applicants.

The University of Laval Excellence Scholarship Program offers a similar “no separate application” structure for research master’s and PhD students — but UMGF’s maximum doctoral value of $100,000 and its all-citizenship eligibility make it a different proposition entirely.

Eligibility for the Graduate Fellowships?

To be considered for a UMGF for the 2027 cycle, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be admitted or in the process of being admitted as a full-time Master’s or PhD student at the University of Manitoba.
2. Have a minimum admission GPA of 3.0 — though your department may set a higher threshold.
3. Be recommended by your department or unit to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. 
4. Demonstrate excerptional ability and academic accomplishment — the UMGF’s stated selection criteria.
5. Be within the eligible window of your program — Master’s students are eligible for 24 months of funding if admitted at the beginning of their program; PhD students are eligible for 48 months.

The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships are not something you “apply for” in the conventional sense. Your department decides whether to forward your name. This means your engagement with the department is effectively your fellowship campaign.

Benefits of the Fellowships

• Master’s fellowships: $20,000 CAD per year for 1 or 2 years ($40,000 CAD total)
• Doctoral fellowships: $25,000 CAD per year for up to 4 years ($100,000 CAD total)
• Open to all citizenships — international students are fully eligible
• Departmental nomination means you’re evaluated based on your academic profile, not a separate application
• Can be combined with other awards — the UMGF may be held in conjunction with certain other University of Manitoba awards

The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship is designed to support you through your degree, not just your first year. A doctoral student entering at the beginning of their program and receiving the UMGF for four years receives $100,000.

 

Right way to Apply for the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships

The UMGF does not operate on a single central application deadline. Instead, each department or unit sets its own internal deadline for reviewing and forwarding nominations. Most departmental deadlines for the 2027 cycle are expected to fall between November 2026 and February 2027. The Faculty of Graduate Studies provides preliminary allocations to departments each January, and departments then begin submitting recommendations.

• Official UMGF Page: https://www.umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/funding-awards
• Graduate Awards Search Portal: http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/gradawards/
• Graduate Admission Application: https://applygrad.umanitoba.ca/apply

6 Steps Process to Apply

1. Apply for admission to a Master’s or PhD program at the University of Manitoba. This is the foundation of everything that follows.
2. Identify and contact a potential supervisor in your department. For research-based programs, a supervisor’s willingness to support your application is often a practical prerequisite — and their endorsement carries weight in the nomination process.
3. Contact your department’s graduate program office to confirm their specific UMGF internal deadline and nomination process. Deadlines vary by department.
4. Ensure your admission file is strong — your GPA, research statement, and academic references are the materials your department will use to evaluate you for nomination.
5. Wait for your department to nominate you to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. You will not submit a separate UMGF application.
6. If nominated and selected, you will receive a fellowship offer through the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

The single most important thing you can do for your UMGF chances is to secure a supervisor early. Departments nominate students they believe will succeed in their program, and a supervisor who knows your work and supports your application is often the deciding factor. 

What Enhances Your Chance Nomination?

Because the UMGF is a departmental nomination rather than a direct application, the strategies are different from a standard scholarship:

• Strong academic standing: A GPA above the 3.0 minimum is the baseline for departmental consideration.
• Supervisor support: Your prospective supervisor’s endorsement in the nomination process matters enormously. A supervisor who advocates for you within the department can make the difference between being nominated and being overlooked.
• A compelling research fit: Departments nominate students whose research interests align with their faculty’s expertise. Your application should make that alignment clear.
• Early engagement: The nomination process often runs parallel to admission decisions. Waiting until you receive an admission offer to contact your department about fellowships is too late.

If you’re also considering undergraduate entrance awards for a future degree, the York University President’s International Scholarship of Excellence offers $180,000 over four years.

 

Top 3 Canadian Graduate Funding to Consider

The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships is a strong option for graduate study in Canada, but it’s not the only one worth pursuing:

• For master’s and professional degree students: The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University offer full tuition, a monthly living stipend, and a leadership development program. Unlike UMGF, this requires a direct application and emphasizes leadership and community impact alongside academics.
• For doctoral research in the humanities and social sciences: The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarships provide up to $210,000 over three years, plus a leadership development program and a network of over 500 alumni shaping policy and research across Canada.
• For undergraduate entrance funding: The University of Alberta international entrance scholarships offer up to $120,000 over four years, with some awards requiring no separate application — a useful comparison if you’re considering both undergraduate and graduate pathways.

Reviewing these programs can help you map out a long-term funding strategy — whether you’re entering graduate studies now or planning ahead.

 

FAQs on the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships

Can I apply for the UMGF directly?
No. The UMGF is awarded through departmental nomination. You cannot submit a direct application. Your department recommends you to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

What is the deadline for the UMGF?
There is no single deadline. Each department sets its own internal deadline, which varies widely. Contact your department directly to confirm their specific timeline.

Are international students eligible?
Yes. The UMGF is open to all students regardless of citizenship.

What GPA do I need?
The minimum admission GPA is 3.0, but departments may set higher requirements. Contact your department to confirm.

Can I receive the UMGF for multiple years?
Yes. Master’s students are eligible for up to 24 months of funding; doctoral students are eligible for up to 48 months, depending on their time in program at admission.

What if I’m already enrolled at the University of Manitoba?
Current students may still be eligible, depending on their time in program and whether they are being nominated by their department. The eligibility table on the official page outlines the months of funding available based on time completed.

 

 A Good Day to Apply for UMGF

The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship is one of the most generous graduate awards in Canada and it’s open to international applicants on equal footing with domestic students. But its nomination-based structure means the traditional scholarship playbook doesn’t apply.

You can’t wait for a portal to open. You can’t submit a form. What you can do is build the kind of academic profile and departmental relationships that make you the obvious choice for nomination. That work starts with your admission application, your research statement, and your early contact with a potential supervisor.

The 2027 cycle is already forming. Departmental nomination windows for the 2027-2028 academic year will begin opening in late 2026, with many departments finalizing nominations by February 2027. The students who receive the UMGF are the ones whose names are already on their department’s radar before the formal process begins.

Your next steps:

1. Identify the graduate program and potential supervisor you want to work with at the University of Manitoba.
2. Contact your department’s graduate program office to confirm their UMGF nomination deadline.
3. Apply for admission as early as possible — your admission file is your nomination file.
4. Build your academic profile and research statement with departmental nomination in mind.
5. Mark November 2026 through February 2027 in your calendar for departmental nomination windows.