Award winners

Distinguished Dissertation Award Winners

University of Manitoba Distinguished Dissertation Awards are given to graduating doctoral students who have been nominated by their faculty/college/school for a dissertation that represents a ground-breaking piece of original work. Each year, one award is offered in each of the following categories: applied sciences, health sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Awardees receive a $3,000 prize.

2023 Winners

Previous Distinguished Dissertation Award Winners

2022 

Wanda Philips-Beck

For her doctoral dissertation in the UM Faculty of Graduate Studies, Wanda studied the experiences of women who left their homes to give birth away from their communities.

Learn about Wanda's research here

Jose Sanchez

Jose's findings represent a major methodological contribution to the areas of archeology and anthropology which can help us better understand the lives of those who came before us.

Learn about Jose's research here

Wesley Silva

For his doctoral research, Wesley studied a series of molecules using a specialized technique called microwave spectroscopy to examine the rotation of the molecules for the first time in a laboratory setting.

Learn about Wesley's research here

Anne Lindsay

Anne Lindsay wrote her doctoral thesis for UM’s department of history on how the Canadian fur trade reflected the violence of the French and British empires and was not as passive or innocuous as it is painted in most accounts.

Learn about Anne's research here

Hongwei Lui

Hongwei has worked with Drs. Pooneh Maghoul, Ahmed Shalaby and others at UM to develop a device that uses ultrasonic waves that can be used in a lab or taken to a remote site to evaluate permafrost without disturbing the permafrost itself and possibly lead to structural problems.

Learn about Hongwei's research here

Award opportunities

These are a sampling of the many awards available to UM graduate students.  

Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) Statement on Transcripts for Tri-Agency Award Competitions at the University of Manitoba

Students are responsible for obtaining official, up-to-date, and complete transcripts and for ensuring transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended are included in their application(s).

FGS does not provide students with copies of transcripts from student records or copies of previously submitted transcripts. This includes transcripts from other Canadian or international post-secondary institutions, UManitoba, and transcripts submitted as part of previous or current admission or award applications.

Missing, unofficial, illegible, or untranslated transcripts may deem students’ applications incomplete or ineligible and will not be reviewed.

University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships (UMGF)

For: Master’s and doctoral students 

The UMGF Fellowships are valued for a 12-month period at $14,000 for Master's students and $18,000 for PhD students. Please check with your department for how to be considered for a UM Graduate Fellowship. 

Application deadline: Please contact your department. 

Learn more

G. Clarence Elliott Fellowship

For: Master’s and doctoral students 

Established in honour of a former Winnipeg vice-president and treasurer of The Great-West Life Assurance Company, the fellowship is awarded to a maximum of $10,000.  

Learn more

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

For: Doctoral students 

These scholarships help Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students. They are valued at $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies. 

Departmental awards

Many University of Manitoba departments have internal awards based on academic merit, the values of which vary by department. Please check with your department for deadlines and details

Upcoming award information sessions

There are currently no scheduled information sessions

Future information sessions will be updated as they become available.

Research funding

Find available research funding for master’s and doctoral students.

There are a number of funding opportunities available specifically for Indigenous and international students. 

Upcoming award deadlines

March 13, 2024 - Adalsteinn Kristjansson Travelling Scholarship

Value: (1) Scholarship valued at $27,650

For: Full-time Master's and PhD students

Details:  The purpose of the fund is to reward academic achievements of students who have completed an undergraduate degree from the University of Manitoba within the Faculty of Science of the Faculty of Arts within the past five years and have chosen to pursue graduate studies at an accredited university in Europe, the United States of America, or Canada (NOT including the University of Manitoba or any of its affiliated colleges)

Research field(s): Science and Arts

Learn more

March 15, 2024 - Governor General’s Gold Medal

Award: (1) Gold Medal for a Master’s student – (1) Gold Medal for a Doctoral student

For: Master's and PhD students

Details:  The Governor General of Canada offers two annual gold medals to recognize the outstanding performance of graduate students. These awards are based on overall academic excellence. Open to Master’s and Doctoral students who intend to convocate in May 2024, who convocated in February 2024, or convocated in October 2023 are eligible for this competition. Nominations (max. of two) must be submitted by each Faculty/School/College via email to graduate.awards@umanitoba.ca Attention: Allison Aubin prior to the deadline.

Research field(s): Unrestricted

Learn more

March 20, 2024 - Nancie J. Mauro (nee Tooley) Graduate Scholarship in Onocology Research

Value: $7,250

For: Full-time Master's & PhD students

Details:  For full-time students in a Master’s or Ph.D. program, either in the Faculty of Nursing or Medicine or in the Postgraduate Medical Education Program who are conducting or have proposed to conduct research in the area of Oncology

Research field(s): Oncology

Learn more

March 24, 2024 - Laura Bassi Scholarship

Value: Master’s students $750; Doctoral students $2,500; Junior Academics $500

Details:  All currently enrolled students are eligible and there are no institutional, departmental, or national restrictions. Application fee can be waived

Research field(s): Open to every discipline conducting research which focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed, within their disciplines

Learn more

March 31, 2024 - CSA Group Graduate Scholarship

Value: Master's scholarship valued at $10,000 per year

For: For Master's students

Details: Open to currently enrolled Master’s students within the eligible two-year time period

Research field(s): Engineering, Social Sciences and Health Sciences in standard development research

Learn more

April 1, 2024 - Canadian Japanese Mennonite Scholarship

Value: $3,000

For: Master's & PhD students

Details:  Open to Canadian, permanent resident and international students of all cultures and backgrounds studying at a Canadian University

Research field(s): Research on the protection of minority and human rights in Canada

Learn more

April 15, 2024 - 2024 Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black and Indigenous Scholars at York University

Value: (2) Fellowships valued at $70,000

For: PhD & Postdoctoral Fellows

Details:  One fellowship for a scholar identifying as Black and one fellowship for a scholar identifying as Indigenous

Research field(s): Address under-representation of Black and Indigenous scholars in many disciplines and fields of research and associated careers

Learn more

April 30, 2024 - Ages Foundation Fellowship & Bursaries

Value: $1,000 - $5,000

For: Master's & PhD students

Details:  Open to graduate students in a Canadian or International institution

Research field(s): Research/project has an environmental focus or component in conjunction with a rare Charitable Research Reserve

Learn more

April 30, 2024 - Celiac Canada Research Grants

Value: (2) Grants valued up to $30,000

For: Master's and PhD students

Details:  Open to all types of relevant research and is not restricted to medical research

Research field(s): Support research projects in Canada of a scientific, and/or medical nature relevant to celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, and/or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or the socio-economic implications of delayed diagnosis and/or living with these conditions

Learn more

June 30, 2024 - Kathryn Huget Leadership Award

Value: $1,000

For: Master's & PhD students

Details:  Applicants must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or on a Canadian student visa

Research field(s): Supports students who are working to improve the role of leadership in business and the advancement of women in leadership roles

Learn more

Mitacs Globalink Research Award

Value: $6,000

For: Master's, PhD and postdoctoral students

Research field(s):  Unrestricted

Recommended to apply 16 weeks in advance of planned start date

Learn more

NSERC Student Ambassadors

Value: $1,000

For: Master's and PhD students

Research field(s):  Science, Engineering

Applications must be submitted at least two months before the start of a proposed outreach activity.

Learn more

University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF)

Value: Master's scholarship valued at $14,000; Doctoral scholarship valued at $18,000

For: Full-time Master's and PhD students

Details:  en to Canadian and International students who have demonstrated superior intellectual ability and academic accomplishment. Applications are submitted to students’ home department/unit. Contact your home department for deadline and application details

Research field(s): Research-based program that is eligible for tri-council graduate student awards

Learn more

Financial aid

If you're facing financial hardship, or need support to pay your expenses as a student, there are programs available to help you. Apply for a loan, find on-campus employment or use our on-campus food bank.

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