Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content
McMaster logo

Graduate Studies

Ontario Graduate Scholarship for Indigenous Students (OGS-I)

About

The Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development outlines that each university may allocate up to two OGS awards to Aboriginal graduate students. Each university will develop eligibility criteria to recognize excellence and promote equitable access and participation in the scholarship program by Aboriginal applicants for the purposes of the scholarship, an Aboriginal person is a person who self-identifies as a First Nations (Status/Non-Status), Metis, or Inuit (OGS and QEII-GSST Program Guidelines, version 1.0).

Terms

Tenable for one academic year once enrolled, beginning May 2025 or September 2025 for a minimum of two terms to a maximum of three terms. The Ontario Graduate Scholarship Indigenous award not exclusive to students from the Six Nations of the Grand River communities; the application is open to any current graduate student (or applicant to a graduate program at McMaster University) who identifies as First Nation, Inuit, or Métis.

Eligibility

Selection criteria

  • Exceptional promise in community leadership
  • Mentorship to other Indigenous students
  • Mentorship within First Nation, Inuit, or Métis communities
  • Leadership to advance Indigenous education, either inside or outside of a university setting
  • High academic achievement

Intent

This award is intended to recognize and acknowledge the academic achievement and exceptional promise of an Indigenous graduate student or students at McMaster University. Consideration is also given to Indigenous scholars who have demonstrated mentorship within community settings. In addition, the School of Graduate Studies would like applicants to be aware that the OGS-I scholarships can be awarded to Indigenous graduate students at McMaster University who face significant financial hardship, with priority given to women with family responsibilities.

Value

Ontario Graduate Scholarship-Indigenous award is valued at $15,000 ($5,000 per term).  Note: If the student only holds the award for two terms the value will be $10,000.

How to Apply

In addition to submitting the 2024-25 Harvey E. Longboat Graduate Scholarship for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Students application, you are required to submit the following documents for your 2024-25 Ontario Graduate Scholarship Indigenous (OGSI) application:

  • OGSI application form/checklist (can be found in the OGSI quick forms at the right hand side of the webpage)
  • Written submission-Using a maximum of one-page, identify the financial or other hardship you experience.
  • Budget template (can be found in the OGSI quick forms at the right hand side of the webpage)

Save the documents as one PDF, with the following naming convention Student Last Name_OGSI_2025 and upload it directly by using the MacDrive upload link for the OGS Indigenous applications.

Questions

If you have any questions, please email the School of Graduate Studies at graduatescholarships@mcmaster.ca and/or the Indigenous Financial Aid Specialist at indigfas@mcmaster.ca.