The CSFP offers financial aid for students of Commonwealth countries to further their education in post-graduate studies. It began in 1959 as a way to share assets and information among Commonwealths, and is reviewed by each country's education minister. The availability of funding has been expanded to include professional fellowships and distance-learning programs. Canada's Bureau for International Education acts as liaison to the CSFP, and prospective students can contact them directly for funding availability.
The OGSP is for students at the graduate or doctoral levels who are seeking to finance their education at a qualifying institution in Ontario. Funding is available in a number of disciplines, including Social Science, Applied Science, Humanities and Physical Science. Awards are limited to $15,000 (Canadian dollars) per year, and are only given to students pursuing a full-time course of study. Eligibility requirements include an A- grade-point average, and Canadian citizenship must be held by the application deadline. Students with temporary visas or refugee status are also eligible.
The SICI promotes exchange between Canada and India through academic pursuits and cultural activities. The United Nation's Millennium Development Goals serves as a road map to guide policy and funding. Grants and fellowships are available for Canadian or Indian scholars only, and usually take six months to a year for peer review, adjudication and approval of a research visa. Prizes include visiting lecturer grants, travel grants, Doctoral Research Fellowships and Summer in India scholarships. The institute is named after Lal Bahadur Shastri, former Prime Minister of India.
The Graduate Student Scholarship Supplement Program is designed to provide students with research opportunities that they may not have at their university. Awards of CA$5,000 to $7,500 per year are given to master's or Ph.D students who are engaged in full-time study and already receiving a minimum of $12,000 in aid from provincial or private-funded aid. Students should commit to doing the bulk of their thesis research in an NRC institute, and should speak to their department heads about nomination for the award.