McMaster University Autism Scholars Award 2027

The Autism Scholars Awards Program was established with the support of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to ensure that Ontario attracts and retains pre-eminent scholars studying autism.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineDecember 1, 2026
• Study LevelMasters , PhD
• SponsorMcMaster University
• City to studyHamilton
• School to studyMcMaster University
• Course to studyAutism , Autism and Neurodevelopmental Conditions Research
• Eligible CountryCanada

Benefits

• Master’s Award: $18,000 ($6,000 per term beginning September 2027)
• Doctoral Award: $20,000 ($6,666 per term beginning September 2027)

Requirements

• To be eligible to receive an award, an applicant must be:
  • a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada at the time of the application deadline (January 29, 2027), and
  • registered as a full-time student in a master’s or doctoral program at an Ontario university at the beginning of the award period (fall 2027), and remain registered as a full-time student throughout the term of the award.
• A master’s student remains eligible until the end of the sixth term of full-time study.
• A doctoral student remains eligible until the end of the 15th term of full-time study.
• During the year an Autism Scholars Award is held, the recipient is precluded from holding any other award that offers financial support of more than $30,000 for that same year (subject to the university’s own policies).

Selection Process

Members of the Selection Committee are nominated by the Deans of Graduate Studies in Ontario’s universities, and selected by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies. The Selection Committee assesses applicants for Autism Scholars Awards on their talent, the excellence of their work, the vision that they bring to their endeavours, and the impact that the committee expects to result from the applicant’s work, as indicated by:

• The program of study and research and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge about autism;
• Past academic results, demonstrated by transcripts, awards and distinctions;
• Relevant professional and academic experience, including research training, as evidenced by papers presented at conferences and the candidate’s publication record;
• Written letters of appraisal; and
• Appropriateness of the choice of institution and supervising investigator.

Check also:
Free Ongoing Fully Funded Scholarships Guide 2026 (Download Now)

Application Deadline

How To Apply

School of Graduate Studies deadline is Tuesday, December 1, 2026.

Each applicant must upload to MacDrive the following documents as one PDF (using file name: Last Name_Autism 2027-28_MsC or PhD) document.

Note: Applicant’s can only apply through one sponsoring university.

1. An application form completed by the applicant. Note: The Dean’s signature is NOT required at this stage. Should your application move forward to the provincial competition the Dean will sign the application at that time.
2. A curriculum vitae, which should include information regarding the eligibility criteria.
3. A statement of no more than 1,000 words describing the research to be undertaken during the period of graduate study, and a non-technical summary of no more than 500 words, both written by the applicant (one additional page is allowed for diagrams, bibliography etc.);

The candidate must also provide by Tuesday, December 1, 2026:

4. All official undergraduate and graduate transcripts sent directly by the Registrar’s office of the issuing university.
Note: Transcripts are NOT part of the electronic application. They are sent separately to the McMaster University’s School of Graduate Studies in one of two ways:

• If the issuing university sends electronic transcripts, have them emailed to [email protected]
• If the university sends official transcripts by mail the must be sent in sealed envelopes by the issuing university to:

Scholarships – School of Graduate Studies
McMaster University
1280 Main Street West, GH 212
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8

5. Confidential letters from two assessors, signed and on letterhead, which should focus on an evaluation of the applicant’s research to date, and the research being undertaken during the period of graduate study for which the applicant will hold an Autism Scholars Award, if successful.

• The applicant must ask each assessor to upload their appraisal electronically (using file name: Applicant’s Last Name_Autism Letter_Assessor’s Last name), directly to MacDrive by Tuesday, December 1, 2026.

Note: Include this MacDrive upload link in your request to your assessor.

For more information, visit McMaster University scholarship webpage.