Student Funding
Why Western Chemistry?
-
Low Cost of Living: Your dollar goes further at Western. The cost of living is substantially lower in London, Ontario than in other major Canadian cities.
-
Included Transit: Your tuition package includes a year-round London transit bus pass (valued at approximately $1,100).
-
Guaranteed Funding: Stable financial support packages are built from a combination of internal and external sources.
⭐ Christian Sivertz Scholarship
Outstanding domestic and international applicants in physical chemistry are eligible for this $3,500 scholarship, awarded in addition to all other stipends. No separate application is required — the Graduate Admissions Coordinator selects recipients based on grades and supporting materials in the application file.
Funding Packages (effective September 1, 2025)
| Student type | WGRS | Graduate Fellowship (GF) | GTA | Scholarship | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year PhD no external award |
— | $15,250 | $14,953 2 units |
— | $30,203 |
| PhD upper years no external award |
— | $16,250 | $14,953 2 units |
— | $31,203 |
| OGS — 1st year PhD scholarship holder |
— | $8,726 | $7,477 1 unit |
$15,000 | $31,203 |
| OGS — upper years scholarship holder |
— | $9,726 | $7,477 1 unit |
$15,000 | $32,203 |
| CGRS-D tri-agency |
$6,360 + fees | — | $7,477 1 unit, optional |
$40,000 | $40,000 + tuition & fees |
* Total from Western includes funding from research grants. Scholarship holders perform 1 TA unit/year; non-scholarship students perform 2 TA units/year. Amounts shown are minimums — actual packages may vary. See the Graduate Studies funding page for full details.
| Student type | WGRS | Graduate Fellowship (GF) | GTA | Scholarship | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc no external award |
— | $13,886 | $14,953 2 units |
— | $28,839 |
| OGS — MSc scholarship holder |
— | $7,362 | $7,477 1 unit |
$15,000 | $29,839 |
| CGRS-M tri-agency |
$6,360 + fees | $2,000 | $7,477 1 unit |
$27,000 | $36,477 + tuition & fees |
* Total from Western includes funding from research grants. Scholarship holders perform 1 TA unit/year; non-scholarship students perform 2 TA units/year. Amounts shown are minimums. See the Graduate Studies funding page for full details.
How Your Stipend Is Paid
Stipends are divided across three terms per year. The example below shows a typical non-scholarship MSc student. Funding sources differ in taxability and how they are delivered.
Any tuition credit remaining after the fellowship is applied will be deposited to your bank account via EFT. In any term where you do not TA, your supervisor pays the full term stipend as a Graduate Fellowship. Non-scholarship students must complete 280 hours/year of TA duties (across 2 terms).
Tuition fees are posted each year on the Registrar’s website (see “Fee & Refund Schedule”). Fall term fees are higher as they include health and dental coverage. International PhD students pay domestic fees plus UHIP.
Types of Funding Available
Western Funding
Provided directly by your department, faculty, or the University. Distributed term by term and includes Graduate Fellowships, WGRS, and GTA pay.
Learn more about Western funding →External Funding
Awarded by federal, provincial, and private agencies through annual scholarship competitions. Major competitions are run through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Learn more about external funding →Key External Scholarships
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) — $15,000/year; open to domestic and international students.
- Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D) — $40,000/year tri-agency award.
- Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS-M) — $27,000/year tri-agency award.
- Chemistry Department donor awards & scholarships — The Scholarship Chair sends a call for applications by email throughout the year.
