University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF) in Canada
The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF) is a genuinely substantial, merit-based award supporting full-time Master’s and PhD students across virtually every field of graduate study, open to applicants of any nationality. PhD students can receive up to $100,000 total, and Master’s students up to $40,000 — but the process runs entirely through your specific department, not a single central application, so understanding how that actually works matters as much as the eligibility criteria themselves.
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University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship Summary
| Fellowship Name ⇒ | University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF) |
| Host Country ⇒ | Canada |
| Host University ⇒ | University of Manitoba |
| Study Level ⇒ | Master’s | PhD |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All nationalities |
| Reward ⇒ | Up to $40,000 (Master’s), up to $100,000 (PhD) |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Set individually by each department — no single university-wide date |
About the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
UMGF recognises genuine intellectual ability and academic accomplishment among full-time graduate researchers, and it’s awarded purely on merit. Unlike a single, centralised scholarship application, each department at the University of Manitoba sets its own deadline, GPA threshold, and nomination process — your own department recommends you directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), rather than you applying to FGS yourself.
A real example of how this plays out: the university’s own Biomedical Engineering department requires a minimum GPA of 3.5 in your last 60 credit hours, notably higher than the university-wide 3.0 minimum, and its own 2026-2027 application window has already closed — a genuine illustration of why checking your specific department directly matters far more than relying on one general figure.
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What the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship Offers
- Master’s level: $20,000 per year, for 12 or 24 months, up to a total of $40,000
- Doctoral level: $25,000 per year, for 12, 24, 36, or 48 months, up to a total of $100,000
- Genuine recognition as a high-achieving graduate researcher at the University of Manitoba
The exact value and duration awarded is determined by your specific department, not fixed university-wide.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply:
- Have a minimum admission GPA of 3.0 — some departments set a higher requirement, so confirm directly with yours
- Be open to applicants of any nationality
- Be in a graduate programme in any field, provided it’s eligible for Tri-Agency funding
To hold the award, once granted:
- Be admitted to a Master’s or PhD programme at the University of Manitoba — pre-Master’s and occasional students are not eligible
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, with no grade below C+ (including AX courses)
- Demonstrate genuine promise as a researcher and graduate student
- Have no active, admission-related hold on your student account during your provisional admission period
- Be registered full-time in the specific unit that recommended you, progressing satisfactorily in your funded programme
- Not have already held UMGF support for more than 4 years in total — this is cumulative across your entire graduate career, not per degree. A student who received two years of UMGF funding during their Master’s is only eligible for three further years at doctoral level, not the full four
- Not simultaneously receive another award of equal or greater value — if you’re offered one, you must notify the FGS Awards Office directly to terminate your UMGF
- Not change programmes or departments while holding the award
- Accept your award within the same academic year it’s offered — awards not accepted in time must be declined
This isn’t an exhaustive list — the University of Manitoba’s own FGS Award Holder’s Guide covers additional conditions worth reading in full once you’re considering applying.
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Required Documents
Required documents vary by department — some, like Biomedical Engineering, run a multi-part process (an initial submission with transcripts, followed by further stages). Confirm the exact requirements directly with your own department before assuming a general list applies.
How to Apply
- Confirm your admission GPA meets your specific department’s threshold — not just the general 3.0 minimum, since many departments set it higher
- Contact your department or unit directly to ask about their specific UMGF process and deadline — these vary significantly and aren’t published centrally
- Complete whatever application steps your department requires, submitting transcripts and any other requested documents
- Once your department completes its own selection process, they recommend their chosen candidates directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
- FGS reviews these recommendations and notifies successful recipients by official email
- If awarded, accept your fellowship within the same academic year it’s offered — a delayed acceptance means automatically declining it
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one central deadline for the UMGF, or does it vary?
It varies entirely by department. There’s no single university-wide deadline — contact your specific department or unit directly for their exact process and timing.
Can international students apply for the UMGF?
Yes. It’s open to applicants of any nationality, with no citizenship restriction.
If I received UMGF funding during my Master’s, can I still get the full amount during my PhD?
Not necessarily. The 4-year cumulative cap applies across your entire graduate career, not per degree — years used during a Master’s reduce what’s available at the doctoral level.
Do all departments require the same minimum GPA?
No. The university-wide minimum is 3.0, but individual departments can and do set higher thresholds — Biomedical Engineering, for example, requires 3.5 in your last 60 credit hours.
What happens if I’m offered another scholarship while holding the UMGF?
If the new award is equal to or greater than the UMGF’s value, you must notify the Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards Office directly to terminate your UMGF, since you can’t hold both simultaneously.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, including funding values and eligibility criteria, were verified directly against the University of Manitoba’s official Faculty of Graduate Studies page as of August 2026. Deadlines and specific requirements vary by department — always confirm current details directly with your target department before applying.
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