Alberta is one of the most attractive provinces in Canada for graduate study, especially for students seeking fully funded master’s and PhD programs. Many universities in Alberta offer funding packages that combine scholarships, stipends, and teaching or research assistantships. In many cases, these packages are sufficient to cover tuition and living expenses.
Below are the main schools in Alberta where graduate students commonly receive full or near-full funding.
1) University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is widely known for its strong graduate funding structure, particularly for research-based programs.
What funding looks like:
• Entrance scholarships for high-performing students
• Guaranteed funding for many PhD programs
• Monthly stipends through teaching or research assistantships
• Departmental and faculty-based awards
Many doctoral students receive multi-year funding packages, meaning their tuition and living costs are covered throughout the duration of the program.
2) University of Calgary
The University of Calgary offers competitive funding for both master’s and PhD students, especially in research-focused programs.
What funding looks like:
• Merit-based entrance scholarships
• Provincial graduate scholarships
• Teaching and research assistant positions
• Department-specific awards
Graduate funding is often layered, meaning students combine several awards to achieve full funding.
3) University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is smaller than the two major research universities, but it offers solid funding opportunities for graduate students.
What funding looks like:
• Internal scholarships and fellowships
• Research assistantships
• Competitive stipends for thesis-based programs
It features smaller class sizes and closer faculty supervision often improve students’ chances of securing funding.
4) Athabasca University
Athabasca University is known for distance and flexible learning, but it also supports graduate research.
What funding looks like:
• Graduate research scholarships
• External and provincial awards
• Limited assistantship opportunities (program-dependent)
This school stands out because it is ideal for students interested in flexible or remote graduate study, though funding is more competitive.
Province-Wide Graduate Scholarships in Alberta
In addition to university funding, Alberta offers provincial scholarships that students can use at multiple institutions.
These awards are usually based on:
• Academic excellence
• Research potential
• Full-time graduate enrollment
Many international students are eligible, depending on the award.
