The Organization of American States (OAS) provides academic scholarships, except in Canada (the nominating country), for study or research at the Master’s or PhD level that results in a degree at a university or educational institution in an OAS Member State.
One of the ways the Organization of American States fosters collaboration is through its scholarship program. Through improved training of its inhabitants in priority areas, its primary goal is to promote the economic, social, scientific, and cultural growth of the member states to forge closer bonds and improve understanding among the peoples of the Americas.
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The Organization of American States grants Canadians at least one fellowship for research or study each year.
There are two types of scholarships available:
Table of Contents
Scholarships at an OAS Consortium University:
Candidates apply directly to up to three programs in universities or educational institutions from the OAS Consortium of Universities list, located in up to three different countries. Candidates must consider at least two different countries of study in their OAS application to be eligible. Applying for this type of scholarship increases the candidate’s chances of being offered an OAS scholarship. Note that under this option, the OAS will reserve the right to select a country of study or research for selected candidates.
Scholarships at a Non-OAS Consortium University:
Candidates apply directly for admission to the universities or educational institutions of their choice and apply separately for an OAS scholarship.
The research project or academic placement must be completed full-time, and it can be done online, on-site, or a combination of the three.
Scholarships are not available for learning new languages or studying the medical sciences.
List of OAS states
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cub
Dominica (Commonwealth of)
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
The Bahamas (Commonwealth of)
Saint Lucia
Trinidad and Tobago
United States of America
Uruguay
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Eligibility for Organization of American States Academic Scholarships Program
To be eligible, candidates must:
- ✔ be Canadian citizens or permanent residents in Canada.
- ✔ have completed the prerequisite degree(s) for the proposed program of study at the time of applying.
- ✔ have an overall grade point average (GPA) that is above the minimum standard required by the host university.
- ✔ be in good physical and mental health to complete the proposed program of study successfully.
- ✔ possess the linguistic competencies necessary to undertake academic studies in the language of the institution in the country of study.
Candidates are in charge of pursuing their admission to the colleges or universities of their choosing and making sure all prerequisites are satisfied.
Scholarship value and duration for Organization of American States Academic Scholarships Program
| Award component | Value | Duration | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate | $10,000 USD* | One academic year minimum | Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD) |
* All amounts are subject to change.
Scholarships are tenable for a minimum of one academic year, which must begin between January 2024 and December 2024. Candidates who have already started a program of graduate studies are eligible to apply.
The scholarship can be renewed once for a total of two academic years. The renewal for the second academic year is subject to:
- the availability of funding
- good academic standing during the first year of the scholarship
- the confirmation by the academic institution that the award renewal is necessary for the student to complete their study program
Eligible expenses
Benefits are assigned on a case-by-case basis and may include:
- ✔ round-trip airfare via the most direct and economical route from Canada to the country of study
- ✔ tuition fees and mandatory expenses for the academic program
- ✔ monthly complementary subsistence allowance (on-site candidates only)
- ✔ health insurance (onsite candidates only)
- ✔ fixed annual book allowance
The benefits will vary according to the terms and conditions as well as the length of the scholarship. The Organization of American States scholarships do not include benefits for dependents nor do they cover the totality of awardees’ expenses. Language training is also not available through this scholarship unless language courses are a specific requirement of the candidate’s approved program or course of study.
Note that candidates selected for an Organization of American States scholarship will have to provide proof of additional funds for their monthly subsistence expenses.
Application process for the Organization of American States Academic Scholarships Program
Candidates must complete a two-step application process.
Step 1: Complete and submit the Organization of American States (OAS) online application form for graduate studies and provide the supporting documents as requested.
Step 2: Complete and submit the online application form of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (DFATD) on the My EduCanada portal.
Candidates are required to submit both the OAS application form and the DFATD application form by 11:59 p.m. EDT on March 12, 2024, to be considered for the scholarship.
Step 1: OAS online application
Applicants must complete and submit the online 2024 OAS Graduate Academic Scholarships Application and upload the requested supporting documents. Applicants must review the OAS Academic Scholarship Application Guidelines before proceeding with the application form.
All questions related to the OAS online application form should be directed to the following email: [email protected].
Supporting documents for the Organization of American States Academic Scholarships Program
- Copy of diploma
- for the highest degree obtained (bachelor’s or master’s).
- Copy of official transcripts
- a transcript of all post-secondary studies to date (complete academic records, including college and CÉGEP) with the cumulative grade point average (GPA) for each degree or certificate. Applicants enrolled in a program of study at the time of application must also submit their current academic transcript.
- Curriculum vitae
- must not include photographs or any personal information such as a date of birth (maximum two pages).
- Two stamped and/or signed recommendation letters
- preferably from current or former professors (using the OAS Recommendation Statement Form ) or from current or previous employers (using the Employer Recommendation Form ). If never employed, a reputable member of the community (ex., a business leader) may attest to the applicant’s qualities as a student or professional (using the OAS Recommendation Statement Form ).
- Letter of admission
- If the applicant is not currently enrolled in graduate studies, this letter must indicate a start date for studies between January 2024 and December 2024.
Step 2: DFATD online application
Application instructions for candidates.
- Select “Login or Register” to create a My EduCanada account.
- Once logged into your account, select the Organization of American States Scholarship Program and click “Apply.”.
- Enter the data in the required fields and follow the instructions on the application form.
- Click “Validate and Save” as you progress through the application form.
- Upload all the required supporting documents. Each document must be smaller than 5 MB and in.jpg,.gif,.png,.pdf,.doc,.docx,.txt, or.xlsx format.
- Review all components of your application for accuracy and completeness.
- Read and accept the conditions of the “Declaration and Permission” statement. Click “Submit”. You will receive a confirmation message and a reference number for submitted applications.
- Download the form for your records using the “Download” function.
Visit Help with My EduCanada for more information.
Supporting documents
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or Canadian permanent residency
- copy of a birth certificate, citizenship card, passport, or permanent resident card; a baptism certificate is not accepted as proof of Canadian citizenship.
- Letter of admission from the OAS host institution
- letter of admission from the host institution confirming the name and level of the program of study, the academic start and end date, and that the candidate has been admitted on an unconditional basis.
- Curriculum vitae
- must not include photographs or any personal information such as a date of birth (maximum two pages).
- Two letters of recommendation
- preferably from current or former professors (using the OAS Recommendation Statement Form ) or from current or previous employers (using the Employer Recommendation Form ). If never employed, a reputable member of the community (ex., a business leader) may attest to the applicant’s qualities as a student or professional (using the OAS Recommendation Statement Form ).
- Proof of registration for studies in progress
- including courses being taken (if applicable).
- Official transcripts
- a transcript of all post-secondary studies to date (complete academic records, including colleges and CÉGEPs) with the cumulative grade point average (GPA) for each degree or certificate. Applicants enrolled in a program of study at the time of application must also submit their current academic transcript.
- Copy of diploma
- for the highest degree obtained.
- Copy of the OAS online application form
Application review procedures
All applications received by the deadline and that meet the eligibility requirements will be evaluated by the Canadian Scholarship Selection Committee.
The Canadian Scholarship Selection Committee:
- is made up of individuals from the academic community representing all regions of Canada, both official language groups and a wide variety of academic and professional disciplines.
- reviews, evaluates, and ranks applications to recommend a list of pre-selected applicants.
Applications will be reviewed by the Canadian Scholarship Selection Committee using the following criteria:
- the merits and overall credentials of the applicant, including academic and/or professional experience:
- the quality of the written essays and how well the applicant explains the impact they believe their studies will have on their institution, community, and country, as well as their five-year plan upon returning to Canada.
- the applicant’s university grade point average (GPA)
- the level of completeness and detail put into the preparation of the application
- the quality of the recommendation letters, which attest to the applicant’s ability to perform and to succeed as a scholarship recipient and describe what contribution and impact the referee believes the applicant will have on the institution, community, or sponsoring country.
- potential and commitment of the applicant to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to the development of Canada.
- the adherence to the objectives and the priorities established in the OAS Strategic Plan (PDF, 44KB)
Preselected applications will be nominated to the OAS Secretariat, where the final selection of scholarship recipients will be made by the Academic and Technical Studies Scholarship Selection Committee appointed by the Secretary General of the OAS.
Application deadline
The deadline to submit the DFATD online application form and the OAS application form is March 12, 2024. Applications received late or incomplete will not be considered.
Notification of results
The final selection of scholarship recipients is made by the Academic and Technical Studies Scholarship Selection Committee, appointed by the Secretary General of the OAS and will be communicated to the scholarship administrator in June 2024.
Notifications will be sent out to successful candidates by the OAS Secretariat.
Scholarship conditions
Conditions for successful students
The terms and conditions are as follows:
- Applications are not eligible for a scholarship in the country of their citizenship or permanent residency.
- OAS staff members, OAS consultants, and staff members of the Permanent Missions to the OAS, as well as their relatives, are not eligible for OAS scholarships and must wait six months after the termination of their employment or contract before being considered eligible once again.
- Selected candidates must provide an unconditional acceptance letter and be ready to begin their studies between January 2024 and December 2024 for a minimum of one academic year.
- Selected candidates must agree to return to and reside in Canada for a period of no less than 24 months after completing the program. Recipients of online education programs must agree to remain in Canada for the same period of time.
- Selected candidates will be required to submit proof of additional funds.
Additional information
All recommendations of the Canadian Scholarship Selection Committee and decisions made by the OAS are final and are not open to appeal.
The Canadian Scholarship Selection Committee is not able to provide feedback for unsuccessful candidates.
These scholarships are subject to the availability of funding provided by the OAS through the Department of Human Development, Education, and Employment.
Contact us
Questions?
Contact the scholarship administrator by email at [email protected] or by phone at 613-237-4820.
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