The Queen’s Graduate Award (QGA) is here to stay for the 2025-26 academic year.
After three weeks of prolonged efforts and continued advocacy by student groups, Queen’s announced on Oct. 9 no changes will be made to the QGA next academic year. Instead, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans will lead a review of graduate funding. The announcement confirmed no changes will be made until the review is complete.
According to the University, Research Master’s students receive an average annual stipend of around $23,000 and part of this funding comes from the Queen’s Graduate Award (QGA), which allocates $4,100 per domestic Master’s student through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
“This review will help us evaluate potential changes to graduate student funding and understand how we can best graduate students with the greatest financial needs,” Evans told the Gazette. “At the same time, the University will continue to assess options that will address our structural operating budget deficit to ensure our long-term financial sustainability.”
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The news brought a sense of relief to graduate students, many of whom had feared the QGA’s elimination and its impact on marginalized students. While student leaders welcomed the decision to keep the funding for the QGA for the next academic year, they stressed it’s only a first step towards long-term security for graduate funding.
“We must emphasize that almost all Master’s students are in need, as current stipends do not adequately cover tuition and the rising cost of living. It’s crucial that any changes resulting from the review provide stronger for both Master’s and PhD students,” Society Graduate Professional Students (SGPS) President Emils Matiss said in a statement to The Journal.
The SGPS shared the news on their Instagram, highlighting the remaining work to be done.
“However, this is just the beginning. Now more than ever, we need to demonstrate why the QGA is essential for future years. To all applicants—breathe easy. But to everyone else the work continues,” the caption read.
According to the University, the review will focus on “potential adjustments” to the QGA which includes the option of shifting it from a universal award to a needs-based model, as the University does for undergraduate students. The QGA review will examine how it can strengthen financial aid packages for PhD students while ensuring necessary for Master’s students.
Any changes resulting from the review will take effect for graduate students coming to Queen’s in the 2026-27 academic year.
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