Alberta Innovates and Alberta Advanced Education fund this annual scholarship for full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral study. It supports work that advances applied digital and emerging technologies in natural sciences and engineering.
Awards are held through five participating universities based in Athabasca, Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge, with Athabasca University operating online. Each university manages its own application, deadline, and first-stage review before aligned applications proceed to Alberta Innovates.
Benefits & funding
- Master’s recipients without another major award receive a CAD 26,000 annual stipend.
- Doctoral recipients without another major award receive a CAD 31,000 annual stipend.
- Recipients holding a qualifying major award receive a CAD 12,000 annual top-up; the 2026 Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship top-up varies by university.
- Funding lasts one or two years for eligible master’s students and up to four years for eligible doctoral students, with prior time in the graduate program reducing the available term.
- The stipend may support living costs, tuition, research materials, computing, publication costs, and eligible research or relocation travel.
Eligibility
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students may apply; there is no nationality or residency restriction.
- Applicants must pursue full-time, research-based master’s or doctoral study through Athabasca University, Concordia University of Edmonton, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, or the University of Lethbridge.
- The proposed project must advance an eligible applied digital or emerging technology in natural sciences or engineering; merely using an emerging technology to improve an unrelated product is not eligible.
- Each applicant needs a faculty supervisor with relevant research experience and sufficient resources for the project.
- A recipient may not hold more than one Alberta Innovates studentship at the same time and may receive no more than four combined years of Alberta Innovates graduate support.
- Universities may impose additional route-specific conditions and deadlines; applicants must verify the rules for their chosen institution.
Can you apply?
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Education required
Bachelor · Master
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Application process
- 1Choose one of the five participating Alberta universities and review its graduate-awards instructions and local deadline.
- 2Confirm admission or eligibility for a full-time research-based master’s or doctoral program and secure an eligible faculty supervisor.
- 3Prepare the university’s required application materials, which may include a research proposal, transcripts, curriculum vitae, and reference letters.
- 4Explain how the project advances an eligible technology, benefits Alberta, engages industry, and develops professional skills.
- 5Submit directly to the chosen university; the university reviews applications before forwarding selected files to Alberta Innovates.
Program timeline
September 1, 2026
One permitted start date for 2026/27 recipients.
January 1, 2027
Alternative permitted start date for 2026/27 recipients.
University of Lethbridge application deadline; other institutions set different deadlines.
May 15, 2027