Student Funding

The Department of Chemistry at Western offers stipends that are competitive with other Canadian universities. Your dollar also goes further at Western: the cost of living is substantially lower in London than in other cities, and your tuition also includes a year-round bus pass valued at approximately $1100.

Stipends vary according to whether you are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, or an international student, as outlined below.

(effective September 1, 2025)

 To receive the indicated stipends, non-scholarship students perform two TA units, while scholarship students perform either one unit or no units. The tuition and fees include a year-round, London transit pass valued at $1100.

Outstanding domestic and international applicants for a graduate program in physical chemistry are eligible to receive a Christian Sivertz Scholarship worth $3500. The Graduate Admissions Coordinator of the Chemistry Department will select awardees based on grades and supporting information in their application file, and all physical chemistry applicants will be considered, there is no need to apply. The Sivertz Scholarship is in addition to all stipends listed below. 

1. All Non-scholarship students 

M.Sc. (domestic, international) $28,838.66/year for 2 years max Includes 280 hours of Teaching Assistant Duties
Ph.D. 1st year (domestic, international) $30,202.66 Includes 280 hours of Teaching Assistant Duties
Ph.D. upper years (domestic, international) $31,202.66/year 3 years max Includes 280 hours of Teaching Assistant Duties
M.Sc. to Ph.D. transfer (domestic, international) $31,202.66/year 4 years max Includes 280 hours of Teaching Assistant Duties
 Students that transfer from the M.Sc. to Ph.D. ater their successful first year report will receive the stipend increase in the next term after the report. You must inform the Graduate Assistant if you receive an external scholarship as this may have an impact on your funding.

2. OGS or OGSST holders

 Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) or Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship in Science (QEII)). Students are responsible for tuition fees. 
Funding Available Amount
OGS or QEII Graduate Scholarship (all awardees)
$15,000
One unit of TA (All awardees) TA subject to change based on PSAC collective agreement
 $7476.56 (includes 4% vacation pay)
Fellowship for M. Sc. students
$7362.10 ($2454.33/term)
Fellowship for 1st year Ph.D. students
$8726.10($2908.70/term)
Fellowship for upper year Ph.D. students $9726.10 ($33242.03/term)
TA amount  $7476.56 (includes 4% vacation pay)

3. Canada Graduate Scholarship Master's holders

For holders of CGS Master's scholarships.
Funding Available Amount
CGS Master's Scholarship
$27,000
Western Graduate Tuition Scholarship 
current tuition fee
One unit of TA (Subject to change based on PSAC collective agreement)
 $7476.56
Scholarship (One time payment)
 $2,000

4. NSERC Postgraduate Doctoral holders

For holders of NSERC PGS Doctoral scholarships.
Funding Available Amount
NSERC PGS Doctoral Scholarship
$40,000
Western Graduate Tuition Scholarship (does not extend after department funding ends)
current tuition fee
One unit of TA offered over the duration of the 3 year award (if the scholarship is less than 3 years, no TA'ship will be offered)
 $7476.56

5. Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral holders

For holders of CGS Doctoral Scholarships. These students will not have any TA responsibilities allowing more time to concentrate on completing thesis work. If you wish to have one unit of TA during the award, please let the Graduate Assistant know.
Funding Available Amount
CGS Doctoral Scholarship
$40,000
Western Graduate Tuition Scholarship (does not extend after department funding ends)
current tuition fee
One unit of TA offered over the duration of the 3 year award (if the scholarship is less than 3 years, no TA'ship will be offered)
 $7476.56

Funding

All non-scholarship student stipends are paid as per the example below:

Example of term stipend:

M.Sc. Candidate (28,838.66/year is divided by three terms, $9612.88/term)

TA'ship=$7476.56 (140 hours) divided by 4 months and paid on the 2nd last business day of the month.

Fellowship=$2136.32 (applied directly to the students tuition account each term) Any credits on the account will deposited to the bank account on file in Human Resources. 

Total Term Stipend = $9612.88

Non-scholarship students mustTA 280 hours/year (2 terms). In any term the student does not TA the supervisor will pay the full term stipend.

The exact tuition fees for each year are posted on the registrar's office website. Click on "Fee & Refund Schedule". International Ph.D. students will pay domestic fees plus UHIP. 

Please note that fees are higher in the Fall as they include health and dental as noted on the Office of the Registrar's website under tuition fees.

International students interested in pursuing graduate studies should be aware that external scholarship programs also exist:

As one of Canada's leading research institutions, we place great importance in helping you finance your education. While at Western, you will want to devote your full energy to the successful completion of your studies, so we want to ensure that stable funding is available to you.

Some funding is awarded to you upon entry into a program, some are based on recommendations from the program that is admitting you, and others you must apply for yourself, either to The University of Western Ontario or to an external funding agency.

There are two main types of funding available to graduate students:

  • Western Funding - Provided directly by department, faculty, or the University, these types of funding are distributed to students on a term by term basis.

  • External Funding - Awarded by federal, provincial, and private agencies, to students who apply for scholarships and awards in annual competitions to support graduate study the following academic year. Major scholarship competitions are run through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Students for the 2+2 Ph.D. Program