Graduate Funding in Canada: TA, RA, and Scholarships

How graduate funding works in Canada

Funding for a master's or PhD in Canada usually comes from a mix of sources rather than a single award: teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), scholarships and fellowships, and sometimes a funding package offered with admission. Research-based graduate programs are more likely to be funded; many course-based or professional master's programs are not, or are funded differently.

The total amount, the mix of sources, and whether funding is offered at all depend on the university, the department, the program type, and your supervisor. Because these vary so much, treat any stipend figure you see as something to confirm with the specific department and graduate studies office.

This is general guidance on how the pieces fit together — always verify the actual offer in writing before you accept a place.

Teaching and research assistantships (TA and RA)

A teaching assistantship pays you to support undergraduate teaching — leading tutorials or labs, grading, and holding office hours — usually for a set number of hours. A research assistantship pays you, typically from a supervisor's research grant, to work on research that often overlaps with your own thesis.

TA and RA pay rates, hours, and availability are set by each university and, where staff are unionized, by a collective agreement. They can vary significantly between departments and years, so ask the department what is typical for your program rather than relying on a general figure.

For international graduate students, paid on-campus roles like TA and RA are connected to your study permit conditions. Work eligibility and any limits are governed by IRCC and have changed recently, so verify the current rules on canada.ca before relying on them. This is general information, not immigration advice.

Funding packages and supervisor research grants

Some research-intensive programs state a minimum funding package in the admission letter, often combining TA, RA, scholarship, and a top-up for a set number of years. The package's value, duration, and conditions are defined by the university and department, so read them in the offer rather than assuming a standard amount.

In research-based degrees, your supervisor and their grants matter a great deal: an RA is frequently paid from the supervisor's funding, so the project's budget can shape how much support is available. It is reasonable to ask a prospective supervisor about expected funding before you commit.

Read any funding offer carefully for its duration, what is committed versus expected, and what you must do to keep it (such as satisfactory progress and full-time enrolment). Confirm anything unclear with the graduate studies office.

• Ask whether funding is committed in writing and for how many years.
• Clarify the mix: TA, RA, scholarship, and any top-up.
• Ask a prospective supervisor about RA funding for research degrees.
• Check the conditions for keeping the package each year.

Scholarships, fellowships, and Mitacs

Graduate students can also hold scholarships and fellowships. Canada's three federal granting agencies — NSERC (natural sciences and engineering), SSHRC (social sciences and humanities), and CIHR (health) — administer graduate research scholarships, with eligibility and citizenship rules set by each agency and program. Read each agency's official page to see which awards apply to you.

Mitacs, a national not-for-profit, runs research internship and fellowship programs that connect graduate students and postdocs with partner organizations; eligibility and terms are on mitacs.ca. Many universities and departments also offer their own internal graduate scholarships.

Values and eligibility for all of these change over time and some are restricted by citizenship or residency, so confirm the current rules on the official agency or university page before applying.

Putting your funding plan together

Start by checking whether your target programs state a funding offer and what it includes, then layer on scholarships you are eligible for and any TA/RA roles your department expects. Build the picture from the department's own information rather than general estimates.

For international students, also account for proof-of-funds and study-permit conditions, which are set by IRCC and can change; verify these on canada.ca, and treat this as general information rather than immigration advice. Tuition for international graduate students is set by each university and differs from domestic tuition — confirm the current figures on the university's own fees page.

Keep written confirmation of every funding source and revisit it before each year, since some support is annual and renewal depends on meeting conditions.