Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) Indigenous

** This award currently accepting applications**

DEADLINE: October 18th at 4:00PM (MST)

The Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement of students pursuing graduate studies in Alberta. It was established to incent the best and the brightest students, including international students, to study in Alberta. 

The awards are valued at a maximum of $12,000 and paid out to the recipient as a one-time, lump sum, payment.  Students must have a Canadian bank account and Alberta address updated in Bear Tracks to be eligible to receive the award. The award tenure is from September 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

This award is NOT renewable.  A student may receive only one Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship per year.  

Read the below information carefully and apply if interested. The FGSR website provides further information regarding the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) Indigenous.

APPLICATION DEADLINE through GSMS Awards Portal: October 18th, 2023

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: 

To be eligible, students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Must have aboriginal ancestry and be Status Indian/First Nations, Non-Status Indian/First Nations, Métis, or Inuit

• Be a Canadian citizen

• Open to course-based or thesis-based study programs

• Open to masters or doctoral students. Students registered in a graduate certificate that can ladder into a Master's degree program are also eligible

• Students must be living in Alberta while enrolled (taking classes remotely/online or in-person) at the institution

• Current students must be registered full-time in Fall 2022 and/or Winter 2023 terms. Newly admitted January 2023 students must be registered full-time in Winter 2023. Note: Students who are registered with Student Accessibility Services or have a documented need for accommodation, can apply if they are enrolled in at least 40% of a full course load

• Must demonstrate academic excellence, as evidenced by one or more of the following:

  • • Current students must have earned a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 or greater over the most recent 15 units of course weight in current program. Where there are less than 15 graded credits in the current program, the admission GPA (AGPA) is a weighted factor. For students newly admitted in Fall 2022 or Winter 2023 terms in which graded coursework is not yet available in the current program, the Admission GPA (AGPA) will be used.

    • Research and/or academic contributions that may include published manuscripts, presentations, posters, exhibitions, community engagement, or performances

    • Previous record of scholarly achievement through awards, scholarships, prizes, among others

• Must be registered in years 1-4 of the master's program or years 1-6 of the doctoral program during the tenure of the scholarship.  If students transferred from a Master’s program to a Doctoral program, the number of months completed during the Master’s program will count towards the Doctoral Program.

• Qualifying students and students on academic probation are not eligible.

PREPARE TO APPLY:

Students must apply directly to FGSR by completing the online application in the GSMS Awards Portal; nomination by their home department is not required.  Students may be nominated by their department for the AGES.  Students who are successful in both AGES and AGES-Indigenous will be granted the AGES-Indigenous only.

Search for "Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship Indigenous" in GSMS to access the online application and for detailed instructions. It is students' responsibility to ensure their application is complete before submitting in GSMS. Students must click "submit" for FGSR to access their application. Successfully submitted applications will indicate the status of "FGSR Review".

For additional instructions, steps, and details of the application requirements, refer to the AGES Indigenous Help Sheet.  A complete application includes:

1.  Up to date unofficial UofA Transcript (printed in Fall 2023)

2.  CV

3.  Research Proposal (thesis-based students), or Explanation of Courses and End Goals or Final Project-Capstone Project (course-based students) - maximum 1 page in length

4.  Completed AGES Student Declaration form

5.  Academic Letter of reference (online request form is sent through the GSMS portal - refer to the Help Sheet)

6.  Proof of Indigenous ancestry is required. A photocopy (front and back) of one of the following documents must be uploaded to the online application in the GSMS Awards  Portal  for accepted proof of ancestry. Students are to write their status (Status Indian/First Nations, Non-Status Indian/First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) at the top of the document:

• certificate of Indian Status, a status card or a band membership card

• letter from their band verifying the student's status

• membership card issued by a Métis organization that the student is registered with (Metis organization must be a legal entity)

• a certified copy of a Nunavut Trust Certificate card or Inuit beneficiary card

• letter of support from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada or Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated

• a letter of support from an First Nation, Metis or Inuit organization (must be a legal entity) confirming the student's aboriginal ancestry

• proof that an ancestor's name has been entered;

  • 1. • in the Indian Register according to the Indian Act; OR

       • as beneficiary of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement