Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence

Award Overview

ValuE$17,500
Duration 1 year (three consecutive terms)
NOMINEES

Nominees must be nominated by a Vector-recognized program/collaborative specialization, or must be pursuing an individualized study plan that is demonstrably AI-focused.

Funding Source

Vector Institute

Nomination Deadline

March 18

4:00 p.m. ET

The Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence is an entrance award that recognizes exceptional students pursuing AI master’s programs in Ontario. As a scholarship recipient, you gain enhanced access to Ontario’s thriving AI ecosystem. Connecting you with a community of over 960 researchers, major Canadian companies, and the startups solving tomorrow’s biggest challenges through unparalleled networking and career-defining connections. The award is non-transferable; selected recipients are required to register at the Ontario university and program to which they were nominated to receive the award. Please review the Vector Scholarship in AI webpage for the full scholarship details.


Nomination Process

Eligible nominees:

  • Have applied for entrance to a full-time master’s program in an AI-related field at an Ontario university for the upcoming academic year. The program must be Vector-recognized, or the nominee must be pursuing an individualized study plan that is demonstrably AI-focused.
  • Hold first-class standing (minimum of A- or equivalent) in the last two years of full-time equivalent study from a recognized university. Students’ transcripts should reflect preparedness for the proposed master’s program.
    • Consideration will be given to nominees with upper second-class standing (B+) and relevant work experience, only if rationale for consideration is included in the nomination package.
Click here to see the full eligibility criteria.
NOTE: The Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence is an entrance scholarship for AI-related master’s students who will register and begin their studies in the upcoming academic year. Currently enrolled master’s students are not eligible to be nominated.

Additionally, award holders must maintain enrolment in the program/collaborative specialization that nominated them to be eligible for the award. The scholarship cannot be transferred to a different program.

How to be Nominated:

Nominees must be nominated by a Vector-recognized program/collaborative specialization, or must be pursuing an individualized study plan that is demonstrably AI-focused.

If you are applying for a Vector-recognized program/collaborative specialization: please contact your program/collaborative specialization directly for information on their nomination process. Their contact information is available on our Program Contacts webpage.

The following are Western's Vector-recognized programs:

  • Collaborative Specialization in Machine Learning in Health and Biomedical Sciences
  • Collaborative Specialization in Artificial Intelligence
  • Master of Data Analytics (field of Artificial Intelligence)

If the program you are applying for is not Vector-recognized: your program may still nominate you if you are pursuing an individualized study plan that is demonstrably AI-focused. Please contact your program directly to discuss nomination.Nomination package requirements are available here.



 

1
January 5, 2026

Nominations open

2
Contact your program

Program internal deadline

3
March 18, 2026

Deadline for nomination submissions to Vector Institute

4:00 p.m. ET

 

Have a Question about this Award?

If you are an incoming Western student and you are unsure about who to contact to have your application considered for nomination to the Vector Institute, please email Alli McDonald, Scholarship Coordinator at amcdon72@uwo.ca.

Vector Institute Contact: aimasters@vectorinstitute.ai 

Holding the Award at Western

Activate Your Award for Payment

Initiate the payment process at Western through your Student Center account.

  1. Log in to your Student Center account.
  2. Select Student Financials from the main menu, then Financial Aid and Funding.
  3. Select Graduate External Scholarships and follow the activation steps.

The annual value of the CGRS D is divided into three equal instalments. Funds are applied to the award holder's Student Center account at the start of each term:

Fall Term September
Winter Term January
Summer Term May

Each instalment is applied towards any tuition and fees owing on the account before being refunded to the award holder.

It is the responsibility of the award holder to understand and abide by the terms and conditions of the award as set out of the Vector Institute in their Award Holder’s Policies and Processes Guide.

Award holders must inform the Vector Institute as soon as possible if their eligibility changes at any point during the tenure of their scholarship.

Award holders must maintain enrolment in the program that nominated them for the duration of the award.