International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA)

International students with a valid Canadian study permit who are registered full time in a University of Waterloo doctoral program and assessed international tuition may receive this award automatically if they meet academic progress requirements. Recipients are determined by Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Students with outstanding probationary admission requirements, concurrent tuition awards, certain sponsorships or external scholarships above minimum PhD funding, or self-funded admission are ineligible.

The award value and duration vary by admission path and terms enrolled. A full IDSA is approximately the difference between domestic and international full-time PhD tuition, with values up to about $5,140 per term (rates effective May 1, 2025). Year-four and transfer/direct-entry paths have different term schedules and amounts.

No application is required; eligible students are selected automatically.