University of Winnipeg Graduate Studies

We are hosting our Pre-Arrival Orientation on Friday, June 26. We invite all international students accepted to the Fall 2026 graduate programs to attend this session where we review essential topics that help you have a smooth transition to grad school. Learn about finalizing your university paperwork, registration, funding, accommodation, and supports available at the University. At the end of the session, a UWinnipeg Immigration Advisor will provide international students additional information about travelling to Canada.

Register ➡️ bit.ly/uwpaw

Jacqueline (Jackie) Dormer recently returned from Edmonton, where she presented on overlooked skills involved in Indigenous language revitalization at Discoveries and Insights in Intergenerational Language Sustainability (DISTILS). A second-year student in the MDP program, Jackie’s Major Research paper looks to create a community-based resource for learning the Southern Michif language.

“…we felt it was important to bring forward perspectives that are often underrepresented, and to present skills that are based in practice rather than purely in theory. We received positive feedback from other attendees and were pleased to see several other presentations similarly highlighted skills beyond linguistic training and ped**ogy, bringing into focus to importance of community building, mobilization, administration, and community building,” Jackie said, of her time at the conference.

Check out our blog to learn more about Jackie’s research and her conference-going experience! ➡️https://bit.ly/uwgsblog

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Meet the 2026 Indigenous Summer Scholars. Mentored by UWinnipeg faculty mentors, the ISSP scholars are getting their first steps on some groundbreaking research happening at UWinnipeg. Beyond their research projects, the scholars participate in professional skill-building workshops and deepen their connection to Indigenous ways of knowing through cultural teachings, ceremonies, and regular guidance from Elders and the Indigenous student mentor.

Each Scholar, along with their research projects and a short bio, can be found on our website (link in bio!). Featured in this post we have:

[Image 1] Wayne Major-- “My name is Wayne Major. I come from a background of Oji/Cree (or Anishinini) and Cree. As a dedicated biochemistry student, I am driven by a strong interest in medicine and therapeutic sciences. The ISSP allows me to gain hands-on experience in synthesizing novel chemical molecules, building a strong foundation in experimental methodologies to advance my academic career. My goal is to apply my foundational knowledge of biochemistry and molecular synthesis directly to pharmacology and healthcare solutions.”

[Image 2] Juscenta (Jessie) Haligowski-- “Aaniin! Jessie ndizhinkaaz, wiisaakodewikwe d**o anishinaabekwe niin. Gaa-gwekwekijiwang nindoonji. My name is Juscenta (Jessie) Haligowski. Born and raised in Winnipeg, I am Métis and Anishinaabe on my maternal side. I am a band member of Ebb & Flow First Nation.

As I will be entering the Cultural Studies MA program this fall, the ISSP will truly help me build foundational skills to conduct research at the graduate level while also allowing me to strengthen ties to my own culture.

Working on the Ishkodens dictionary this summer will be one of the first steps in my journey towards both becoming fluent in the language and in being a part of efforts to keep it alive. After my MA, I plan to pursue my PhD and become a university professor. My goal is to conduct research that gives back to our communities, and that includes passing on the gift of our language.”

[Image 3] Kaitlyn Duncan—“Hello, my name is Kate, and my spirit name is White Feather Woman. I am a proud third-year Métis student born and raised in Treaty 1 Territory. I am in my final year of a 4 year combined degree in Computer Science and Geography, with the goal of working at this intersection.

Through the ISSP program I will be working under the supervision of Dr. Ed Cloutis in the C-TAPE lab, helping to create interfaces to help analyze and view planetary remote sensing data. I hope to use my technical skills to help further the research in this field and gain valuable research experience in the process.

I hope that my participation in the program with allow me to better support my home community by creating accessible tools for future students, and that it will open the door to mentorship opportunities for other Indigenous students looking to pursue STEM education.”

[Image 4] Leiah Gibson—“Hello! My name is Leiah Gibson, I am a First Nations woman born and raised in Selkirk, Manitoba with roots in Peguis First Nation. I am double majoring in criminal justice and psychology, and will be entering the criminal justice honours program in the upcoming year.

The Indigenous Summer Scholars Program is allowing me to work alongside Professors Dobchuk-Land and Kennedy on research related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action regarding the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in Manitoba prisons. This opportunity supports my educational goals by providing valuable research experience that will contribute to my honours thesis focusing on targeting the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the criminal justice system. This program will also allow me to further reconnect with my community and prepare me for advanced education as I intend to pursue law.

Through my research I hope to contribute to meaningful solutions addressing the systemic disadvantages Indigenous Peoples face and break barriers for present and future generations.”

Thank you, Wayne, Jessie, Kaitlyn, Leiah, for sharing with us!
Check out the link in our bio to learn about the other summer scholars, too!

The UWinnipeg campus community gathered to celebrate the efforts of Indigenous students, staff, and faculty at the 2026 Honouring Indigenous Achievement (HIA) Awards on March 19.

The Office of Indigenous Engagement honours recipients who model leadership, academic achievement, and community-building. The recipients all contribute to Indigenous excellence at the University of Winnipeg and beyond.

Four of the eleven recipients were either alumni of the Indigenous Summer Scholars Program or current graduate students!

Em Penner (2025 ISSP alum) received the Indigenous Community Staff Award (under 10 years service).

Maya Tighe (2025 ISSP Alum, grad student in the Bioscience, Technology, and Public Policy MSc program) and Athena LeFort-Lynx (grad student in the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program) both received an Indigenous Community Graduate Award.

Simon DePasquale (grad student in the PhD in Bioscience and Policy) program was honoured for receiving the Weweni Future Scholars Award.

Congratulations to all recipients!

Check out the full story at https://news.uwinnipeg.ca/indigenous-uwinnipeg-community-members-honoured-at-awards-event/ .

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[Image Description] Pictured: Back row (L-R) Ambrose Bushie, Brad Blackbird, Jessica Mousseau, Em Penner, Maya Tighe, Sunshyne Pelletier, Athena Laforte-Lynx. Front row (L-R) Dr. Yvonne Vizina, Neepekan Hunt, Dawnis Kennedy, Ashley Sinclair.

Congratulations to Mahdis Hojjati (MSc in Applied Computer Science and Society) for successfully defending her MSc thesis "Emotion Regulation using EEG Signals in Young and Old Cohorts"!

News or accomplishments to share? We'd be happy to celebrate you! DM us or email [email protected]!
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[Image description] Mahdis Hojjati, friends, and examination committee pose for a photo after Mahdis's defense. From left to right: Dr. Nora Casson, Dr. Harinder Aujla, Dr. Sergio Camorlinga, Dr. Amy Desroches, Dr. Stephen Smith, Mahdis Hojjati, Mahsa Sadeghi, Marzie Niaki, Mahan Molaei, Ali Ebadi, Shyamal Dharia, Dr. Camilo Valderrama, Sayed Saminur Rahman.

Are you an international student keen to start your program in Fall 2026? Remember to apply for your study permit as soon as possible!

Processing times vary by country and are constantly in flux. Check the estimated times for your country and apply early to give yourself some room to breathe! Some sample processing times, as of March 24 are:
- 18 weeks for Ghana
- 11 weeks for Kenya
- 11 weeks for Pakistan
- 8 weeks for Nigeria
- 7 weeks for Bangladesh

Questions about the process? No problem! Join our study permit webinar on April 7 for guidance! Register at bit.ly/uwspweb!

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We ❤️ 3MT! The University of Winnipeg 3-Minute Thesis Competition finals wrapped up at 6:30 yesterday and we were grinning ear to ear. As always, each contestant absolutely wowed us!

Congratulations to Tabitha Evans (MA, Environmental and Social Change), who took home the People’s Choice Award for “Powering Sustainable Energy Transitions Through Diversity”.

The judges selected Imogen Bellinger (MSc, Bioscience, Technology, and Public Policy) for the $1,000 Second Place Prize for her talk titled "Can They Cope? Testing the Limits of Brook Trout in a Changing Climate".

Ishadie Namir (MSc, Applied Computer Science and Society) won the $2,000 First Place Prize. In her research, presented in three minutes as "Seeing From Space: Helping AI Describe Satellite Images Accurately", Ishadie develops methods to help artificial intelligence (AI) describe satellite images more accurately by teaching it to connect text and images through contrastive learning.

Yesterday we also celebrated the inaugural recipients of the Faculty Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentorship! Doctor Caleb Hasler and Doctor Sheela Ramanna were announced as the first University of Winnipeg faculty members to receive this honour. It made for a serendipitous evening: Dr. Hasler supervises the 3MT second-place recipient Imogen Bellinger, and Dr. Ramanna supervises first-place recipient Ishadie Namir!

Thank you to our judges, Jennifer Cleary, Paul Samyn, Niigaan Sinclair, and Sherri Walsh, for supporting and encouraging graduate student research at UW!
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Image description: All the 3MT finalists lined up on stage. From left to right: Minh Khoi Le, Ishadie Namir, Imogen Bellinger, Tabitha Evans, Yashodha Weerasekara, Hansika Lewkebandara

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our first-ever Graduate Student Career Expo!

To our exhibitors, thank you for sharing your expertise and opening for the next generation of leaders.

To our students: your ambition and engagement made this event a success!

Most importantly, could not have done without the whole FGS team, especially our student staff. Ranjini, Tabitha, Faith and Chathuri - we are so grateful!