Graduate Awards and Scholarships

Rob AngoveGraduate Awards and Project Officer

What Types of Scholarships and Awards?

UNBC Awards (Travel, RPA, DDCA)External Awards (Tri Councils, Mackenzie King, and a

variety of others)Merit-based, not needs-based (needs-based funding,

see Awards and Financial Aid Office)

External – Tri Council Agencies

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

• Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)

• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Tri Councils FundingAvailable at the Undergraduate, Master’s and

Doctoral, and Postdoctoral levelsIncludes:

CGS-M and CGS-DIndustrial Postgraduate Scholarships (NSERC)Impart (Strategic Training in Health – CIHR)Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (all

three agencies)USRABanting PDFVanier

Are You Eligible for Support?Both the program of study and proposed

research must be in a Tri-Agency-supported field, and you are responsible for knowing which one

Consult “Eligibility Criteria for Students and Fellows” (NSERC, for example, does not support clinically-oriented research)

Can only apply to one agency per academic year

How to Apply for Tri Councils Awards

• You are responsible for applying correctly, and to the proper institution or agency. Some awards require an application submitted directly to one of the three agencies; others require a university endorsement; most require administration through my office.

• Consult the Agencies’ websites – each will help literally walk you through the process

• Give yourself time to apply – don’t expect to apply last-minute. Even if you get your application in on time, it is less likely to get through the internal review at UNBC, never mind the agency review.

• Give your referees PLENTY of notice, and choose the right referee.

When to Apply?

Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral Program and NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships-Doctoral Program: October 25, 2014

Canada Graduate Scholarships Program-Master’s (CGS-M): likely Dec 1, 2014

CIHR Doctoral Awards: October 1, 2014. Note: There is no university-level adjudication for these awards; however, applicants must submit their signature pages and a copy of their research proposal to Rob Angove in the Office of Graduate Programs. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST DAY OR THE SIGNATURE MAY NOT BE OBTAINED IN TIME.

Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program Doctoral Scholarships, and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships: October 24, 2014 – Please submit your complete application, excluding the departmental appraisal, to the Office of Graduate Programs (attn.. Rob Angove) by 12pm on the application deadline.

Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements: October 1, 2014 and June 2, 2015

NSERC IPS: No deadline Trudeau Foundation Scholarships: Likely October 2014 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship: October 1, 2014 – internal deadline

Other External AwardsMackenzie King Memorial Scholarships: Likely

February 1, 2015Trudeau Foundation Scholarships: Likely October

2014Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (consult Uvic

and the PICS site)Canadian Water Resources Association (TBA)Others (some adjudicated via my office, others

administered here but adjudicated at the granting agency itself)

With our Research Office, I have access to a database of a variety of other awards, which I would be happy to show any of you at any time

UNBC AwardsTravel Awards (Research and Conference)Research Project Awards (RPAs)Doctoral Dissertation Completion Awards (DDCAs)A host of other awards to which you will apply through the Awards and Financial Aid Office via your UNBC online services.

Travel AwardsA great opportunity for graduate students to help

fund their research or facilitate travel to present that research at recognized conferences in Canada and elsewhere.

Funding is limited both on a per-time/travel and overall basis. For example, as a Master’s student you may receive up to $2,000.00 for research travel during the course of your degree; however, the amount that can be given for any individual research travel award will never exceed the maximum amounts per location (e.g. $700 within BC; $1000 to the US; $1500 to Brazil).

Application and information is available on the UNBC Office of Graduate Programs website.

Research Project Awards• UNBC has funds for research support, including

support from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development to support student-led research.

• Value: Up to $5,000.00 • There are generally two competitions per year,

with the next deadline being October 1, 2014.• It is very competitive, with generally 30-35

applications per competition. The number of recipients varies depending upon their study level (Undergraduate, Master’s or Doctoral), and how much each student asks for and what recipients are granted by the committee.

Doctoral Dissertation Completion AwardsIntended to help support Doctoral students at the tail

end of their studies – specifically, to help them focus on and complete their dissertations.

The value is $5,000.00.Eligibility: Doctoral student in good standing with the

University. Expect to meet degree requirements within 2 semesters. All course work has been completed. Comprehensive exam completed. Dissertation proposal has been approved. Research work complete. In year 4 or 5 of the doctoral program.

Applications are due by 12pm on March 1, July 2, and October 1 each year.

How Can I Help?While you are responsible for your own applications for any

awards, for ensuring policy and processes are followed, and for the timeliness of application submissions, I am here to help answer any questions you may have.

As the scholarship liaison with the Tri Agencies, if I don’t have an answer to any of your questions, I will help you find it.

You may have questions about individual awards. Again, I am here to help walk you through the application process and, where possible, inform you about upcoming opportunities. To this end, make sure you sign up for the grads-admin listserv via the Office of Graduate Programs.

Internal awards – those offered and funded by this office – are usually administered by me. Don’t hesitate to ask about these awards either. Your applications are important, and different aspects (e.g. research proposals) are what awards committees base their decisions on.

Questions?