Resources

Glossary

In a graduate application, your statement of purpose explains your goals and why the program fits. An entrance committee reviews applications, while a supervisor is the faculty member who oversees your research after admission. A thesis is the major research project in a research-based degree; a course-based program centres on coursework rather than a thesis.

Funding offers often mention a research assistant (RA) or teaching assistant (TA) role. Canada’s three major research funding agencies are NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR, often called the Tri-Agency funders. The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Master’s (CGRS M) and Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral (CGRS D) are the current award names; older resources may use CGS-M and CGS-D.

A graduate calendar is the university’s formal record of program regulations, rather than an event calendar. It explains requirements such as course credits, examinations, and time limits. An academic unit may be a department, school, or faculty. A graduate coordinator or program administrator can help you navigate that unit’s procedures, while a supervisor advises on the research itself.

For research terminology, see the academic research guide’s explanation of ontology, epistemology, theory, and method. Its working bookshelf guidance helps you organize the papers and books you will return to as your question develops.

Transfer credit means an institution recognizes learning completed elsewhere toward its own credential. It does not, by itself, tell you whether you have met admission requirements or whether every credit will count toward your intended major. Similarly, an articulation agreement describes a pathway with stated conditions. Read those conditions alongside the receiving program’s requirements before choosing courses.

Useful resources & links

Official funding and immigration sources checked on 13 October 2026. Use the current program page for eligibility and deadlines.

Start with official guidance

The University of Lethbridge’s graduate funding and fees pages are a useful starting point for local costs and support. For national research awards, read the current CGRS M master’s program or CGRS D doctoral program requirements. International applicants should also consult IRCC’s study-permit guidance for graduate students.

Keep the Canadian university directory and map beside your shortlist. Use it to reach official institutional and program information, then save the precise degree page for the campus and intake you are considering. A national directory helps you discover options; the university’s current calendar and admissions instructions answer whether a particular option fits your preparation.

Government funding

Explore the funding agencies according to your research area: NSERC for natural sciences and engineering, SSHRC for social sciences and humanities, and CIHR for health research. If you are still comparing institutions, the Universities Canada member directory can help you continue your search.

For student assistance beyond research competitions, start with Canada’s province and territory application directory. Research scholarships, need-based assistance, employment, and university bursaries follow different eligibility and payment rules. Keep those categories separate when making your budget, and ask your institution’s financial aid office about the options that apply to you.

Programs & opportunities

For projects with partner organizations, compare Mitacs Accelerate with the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship. Their official pages explain the types of work and participants each program supports. For AI projects, also explore Mitacs AI Advantage, including ADOPT for adoption and implementation and AI+X for research and innovation.

You can broaden an award search through ScholarshipsCanada.com, then confirm details with the award provider. University program directories, such as UBC’s graduate directory, help you compare degree options and find the relevant department.

For undergraduate transfer routes, consult the BC Transfer Guide, Transfer Alberta, or ONTransfer’s Ontario guidance. These tools help you identify agreements and questions to bring to an adviser. The receiving institution determines your final assessment, so keep course outlines, learning outcomes, and transcripts for courses you hope to transfer.

Read an opportunity page with a specific question in mind. For a degree, check prerequisites, the final project or thesis, and the available study mode. For an internship, check who can participate, how the project is approved, and what support is provided. Waterloo’s graduate co-op information is a useful example of why a program’s name alone is not enough to establish what work experience is available.

Where to get help

Make your first message easy to answer. Include the exact program and intake, briefly describe what you have already checked, and ask the question that remains unresolved. If you have received contradictory advice, include the relevant page links and dates. Avoid sending unnecessary personal documents until the office tells you which secure submission process to use.

For a difficulty after enrolment, your supervisor or program administrator may be the first contact, but independent student advice can also be helpful. Waterloo’s graduate support directory, for example, identifies academic support and an ombudsperson service. Find the comparable route at your own university and keep a written record of the issue, deadlines, and advice received.