Concordia University in Montréal is home to one of Canada’s most vibrant research communities and for students seeking financial support for graduate studies, the university offers an exceptional opportunity through its Merit Scholarship. Designed to reward academic excellence and support students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral programs, this scholarship is one of the most accessible and prestigious entrance awards available for new Concordia graduate students.
For the 2025–2026 academic year, the Merit Scholarship provides $5,000 to $10,000 in funding to outstanding scholars, helping them reduce financial stress and concentrate fully on their research. What makes this scholarship especially attractive is its simplicity: no separate scholarship application is required. Your graduate program application automatically puts you in the running.
Below is a full breakdown of everything you need to know, from benefits and eligibility to tips for improving your chances.
What is the Concordia Merit Scholarship?
The Merit Scholarship is an entrance award offered by Concordia’s School of Graduate Studies to top-performing students admitted into research-focused master’s or PhD programs. Whether you are a Canadian or international student, you are eligible as long as you meet academic requirements and are entering (or already in) the early years of a research program.
This scholarship supports students financially so they can dedicate more time to research, writing, laboratory work, and academic development.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Merit Scholarship, you must:
- Be admitted (or already registered) in a research-based master’s or doctoral program at Concordia University.
- For Master’s students, be within the first two years of your program.
- For Doctoral students, be within the first four years of your PhD program.
- Hold full-time status, as disbursement and renewal typically depend on full-time enrollment. (Implied by disbursement process.)
- There are no citizenship restrictions — the scholarship is open to domestic and international students alike.
Benefits of the Merit Scholarship
The Concordia Merit Scholarship offers more than financial support — it provides flexibility, simplicity, and direct assistance where students need it most.
- Award Value: Recipients receive between $5,000 and $10,000 for one academic year. The scholarship is awarded once per year but varies by department and availability.
- Automatic Consideration: Your graduate admission application doubles as your scholarship application. No separate form, essay, or scholarship portal is required. This significantly reduces the workload for students and levels the playing field.
- Direct Credit to Tuition Fees: Once awarded, the scholarship is automatically credited to your student account. It is applied toward tuition and mandatory university fees.
- Refund Eligibility: If your award creates a credit balance after your fees are paid, you are eligible for a refund by cheque. Refunds are typically mailed within 10 business days to the address listed in your Student Centre.
- Simple & Transparent Payout Schedule: Scholarship funds are released about five business days after the DNE (Drop/No-Show) deadline of each term. Disbursement only happens after:
- you are fully registered, and
- full-time status is confirmed.
- Designed to Support Research Productivity: Concordia emphasizes that the scholarship exists to enable students to focus on research, not financial stress. This means more time dedicated to:
- thesis development
- lab research
- academic presentations
- publishing
- fieldwork
How Scholarship Selection Works
- Entrance scholarships are faculty-driven: each faculty identifies top admission-average students within their incoming class, submits recommended candidates to the Financial Aid Office, and then Concordia awards the scholarships.
- Because selection is automatic, there’s no separate scholarship application required for most entrance scholarships — your admission application is your scholarship application.
- For in-course scholarships, the process is renewal-based. The Scholarships & Awards Committee reviews students’ GPAs each year (or term), ranks eligible candidates, and awards available scholarships.
Application Process
1. Integrated with Your Program Application
- When applying for a research-based master’s or doctoral program at Concordia University, your admission application also serves as your scholarship application.
- You don’t need to complete a separate “Merit Scholarship” form. Because of this integration, early submission of your admission application is strongly recommended: it maximizes your chances of being considered for the Merit Scholarship.
2. Academic Program Selection and Nomination
- The selection of Merit Scholarship recipients is handled at the program (department) level. Each graduate program (master’s or PhD) assesses its incoming candidates and selects who will be awarded based on academic excellence and potential.
- This means that not all admitted students will automatically receive the scholarship — it depends on how your program ranks candidates for funding.
3. Program-Level Selection
- Each graduate program independently selects Merit Scholarship recipients.Your department looks at:
- academic excellence
- research potential
- strength of references
- fit with the program
- prior academic achievements
- So, competition varies by department — not across the whole university.
4. Communicate with Your Graduate Program Director (GPD), if You’re Already Enrolled
- If you are a current student (in your master’s or doctoral program) and did not receive the Merit Scholarship on admission, your best bet is to reach out to your Graduate Program Director (GPD).
- The GPD can advise you on whether your program has discretionary funding or whether you can be nominated for this or similar scholarships.
5. Monitor Communication from Concordia
- If awarded, you’ll receive official notification through your email or student portal. Keep track of:award lettersfunding updatesregistration reminders
6. Register Full Time
- You must be full-time for the scholarship to be released.Once your registration is confirmed:the award is processed,applied to your account,and refunded if applicable.
7. Keep Your Records in Order
- Make sure all your transcripts, reference letters, and admission documents are complete and submitted on time.
- Although there is no separate scholarship application form, incomplete admission documentation can jeopardize your scholarship consideration. (This follows the same logic as the admission → scholarship integration.)
- Confirm in your Student Centre portal that all “To-Do” items related to admission are completed so that your file is fully evaluated.
8. Refund and Disbursement
- Payment arrives five working days after the DNE deadline of each term.Refund cheques (if any) are mailed out automatically within 10 business days.
Check the official scholarship website for more information
Tips for a Successful Application
- Apply Early: Because the scholarship is tied to your admission application, submit your graduate application well before program deadlines.
- Highlight Research Potential: In your application, emphasize any prior research experience, publications, or academic projects — committees will look for future researchers.
- Maintain Strong Academic Records: Your grades and academic background are central to the evaluation; make sure your transcripts reflect your best performance.
- Communicate Clearly: If the application portal has a “research statement” section, explain how Concordia’s program specifically aligns with your goals.
- Follow Up with Your Program Director: If you’re a current student, touch base with your Graduate Program Director (GPD) to ensure your scholarship eligibility and selection processes are clear.
- Stay Informed: Monitor your email and Student Centre for any award-related messages or “To-Do” items so you don’t miss important deadlines.
Conclusion
The 2025–2026 Concordia University Merit Scholarship is one of the most straightforward and rewarding funding opportunities for graduate researchers in Canada. With automatic consideration, flexible benefits, direct tuition support, and a value of up to $10,000, it offers meaningful financial relief to help scholars excel academically.
Whether you’re a local or international student, starting a master’s program or beginning doctoral research, Concordia’s Merit Scholarship can significantly reduce financial barriers and help you focus on what truly matters: producing impactful, innovative research.
