The Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS), valued at $40,000 per student will be awarded annually to new incoming international University of Waterloo doctoral students who hold a valid Canadian study permit and are registered full-time in a degree-granting program in any Faculty.

The $40,000 scholarship will be comprised of $26,666 paid by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, and $13,333 paid by the university as scholarship, TA/RA, or combination thereof. Recipients must have achieved a first-class average (A-/80% Ontario equivalent) in each of the last two years of full-time study prior to being awarded the OTS. Candidates will be considered automatically based on their application for admission to the graduate program annually in the winter term. 

Academic merit is the primary factor used to choose OTS awardees.
New/incoming doctorate students who are applying for admission for the forthcoming Spring, Fall, or Winter terms are eligible to apply.
Recipients must be international students with a valid Canadian study permit who do not qualify for an exemption from the higher international tuition and fees; if an OTS recipient obtains permanent residency status after the first term of study, he or she will remain eligible for the OTS for the remainder of his or her renewable OTS for a total of four years.
Recipients must intend to undertake full-time graduate study in a degree-granting Course at the PhD level.

Applicant must not be receiving government or agency sponsorships that cover overseas tuition fees, and must be self-funded in part or entirely.
If an OTS recipient becomes a Permanent Resident during the length of the scholarship, the student will no longer be eligible for IDSA funding, but will still be required to receive comparable matching funds from the University. For the remaining periods of the OTS, the student's Faculty/department/supervisor will be responsible for providing the 1/3 matching funds ($13,333).

Recipients who withdraw, transfer to part-time status, or fail to finish the term without consulting Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs may be compelled to refund the prize. Any due repayment will be prorated up to the recipient's last month of full-time education. Prior to the expiration of the student's OTS eligibility, no repayment will be required for the recipient's completed years, terms, or full months of study.