Fall 2015 External Scholarship Presentation

Tri-Council Agencies: CIHR, NSERC & SSHRC CIHR: Canadian Institutes of Health Research NSERC: Natural Science and Engineering Research Council SSHRC: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council CGS D: Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral PGS D: Postgraduate Scholarship Doctoral (NSEC only) OGS: Ontario Graduate Scholarship Abbreviations

 SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS D: $35,000/YR for 3 Yrs  SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship: $20,000/YR up to 4 YRs  NSERC Alexander Graham Bell CGS D: $35,000/YR for 3 YRs  NSERC Post Graduate Scholarship (PGS D): $21,000/YR up to 4 YRs  CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best CGS D: $35,000/YR for 3 YRs Why Submit an Application?

 CGS holders are also eligible to apply for the Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement ($6,000)  Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program Doctoral: $50,000/YR for 3 YRs  Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship: $60,000/YR up to 3 YRs; includes an annual travel allowance of $20,000  Ontario Graduate Scholarship: $15,000/YR (apply each year to be considered) Why Submit an Application?

It’s not just about the money... Recognition It’s an investment in you Experience preparing applications Experience writing proposals Review and fine tune research objectives Required at doctoral level to maintain MGF eligibility (up to term 12) Why Submit an Application?

You can apply to only one agency of the Tri- Councils (SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR) You can apply for the CGS AND the Vanier at the same time as long as it is the same agency If eligible, you can apply for both the Tri-Council CGS D & OGS awards However...you can only hold one award at a time. General Guidelines

Tri-Council stipulates that you can receive a maximum of four years of federal government- funded student awards (six for combined provincial & federal) Applications completed this fall 2015 are for awards to be held during the academic year. Eligible recipients may elect to start award in May 2016 You do not need to be admitted to a graduate program at the time of application General Guidelines Cont’d

#1 – Verify your eligibility Each competition clearly states eligibility criteria:  Citizenship  Academic standing (GPA)  Term of study (time in the program)  Lifetime maximum (four years federal; six years federal and provincial)  Research component (subject matter) Top 10 Things You Should Know

Must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada Must be applying to pursue your first PhD (or equivalent); Must be pursuing doctoral studies appropriate to the funding agency mandate Not have already received a scholarship or fellowship from a Tri-Council agency to undertake PhD or a combined MA/PhD Must be within term of study limits which vary by agency Eligibility – Tri-Council CGS D

Open to all students – domestic or international Academic Standing Have a first-class average of A- (80%) in each of the last two years of full-time study or equivalent If entering the 3 rd year of graduate studies at time of application you must have an overall average of at least A- (or equivalent), on all graduate courses completed Only grades completed up to the end of August 30, 2015 will be considered Eligibility – OGS All Levels of Study

#2 – Deadlines When & where to submit your application varies by competition, current registration status and Funding Agency: CIHR Doctoral: October 1, 2015 on ResearchNetResearchNet SSHRC & NSERC Doctoral: see dept. deadlinessee dept. deadlines OGS: January 15 th, 2016 (4:30pm ET) *Allow time for all components to be completed, including your references Top 10 Things You Should Know

#3 – Ranking Guidelines Considered based on: Past academic results Program of study and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge Relevant professional and academic experience incl. research training as demonstrated by conference presentations and scholarly publications Two references *See agency websites for specifics Evaluation Criteria

#4 – Council Mandates For Federal competitions, ensure you are submitting your application to the correct funding agency. For more information visit: E7261A-1 Top 10 Things You Should Know

CIHR Research Themes: 1. Biomedical Research 2. Clinical Research 3. Health Systems & Services 4. Population and Public Health (social, cultural, environmental and ethical dimensions of health)

#5 – Submit Complete Application Package Common application components:  Application form  Transcripts  References  Research Proposal ENSURE you have completed everything & followed all of the instructions! Top 10 Things You Should Know

Missing pieces or incorrect forms, etc., may deem the entire application to be automatically ineligible “Extra” pieces of information not asked for in the application could also deem the application ineligible; see allowable inclusions for exceptions **SSHRC Doctoral: “What’s in an application?”“What’s in an application?” **SSHRC: “Tips for grads & postdocs applying for a SSHRC grant” and see SSHRC’s tips“Tips for grads & postdocs applying for a SSHRC grant” SSHRC’s tips

#6 – References Very important element of application! 1) Ask early. 2) Choose wisely. 3) Provide referee with:  your research proposal  academic achievements (transcripts if necessary)  guidelines for the reference (format, deadline and where to submit)  competition review criteria Acknowledge their time and effort! Top 10 Things You Should Know

Doctoral One must be from your thesis supervisor & if you have a master’s the other should be from your Master’s supervisor. Letters of Appraisal/ References

#7 – Use Resources Available Bookmark and read the instructions! Agency websites have:  SSHRC has resource area of website  NSERC training videos; frequent Q&A  CIHR has a training center link on web site  Department, including advisor & current award holders  FGPS (Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies)  Writing Centre ( Top 10 Things You Should Know

#8 – Order Transcripts NOW SSHRC: submit original, official transcripts in sealed envelopes along with hard copy of application documents NSERC: submit original, official, sealed transcripts to FGPS by September 23 rd for uploading to your application CIHR: applicants upload official transcripts & must keep originals on file Certified copies of foreign transcripts if originals cannot be obtained (request to prior to September 30 th OGS: copies of official or web view transcripts to be uploaded with your online application *Transcripts must include registration for Fall 2015 term for Tri-Council applications Top 10 Things You Should Know

#9 – Research Proposal Follow format outlined in the instructions! Note page maximum limits, font, margins etc. Avoid jargon Research question – clearly state Context, Objectives & Methodology Contribution it will have on the advancement of knowledge? Borderline SSHRC/CIHR topics: Justify why your research falls under that agency *Be clear, concise, confident, coherent & error free Top 10 Things You Should Know

Selection committees do consider your level of study during evaluation Indicate your proficiency with any language required for your research Ensure your list of publications provides bibliographic information Do not include research contributions which have not been accepted for publication Program of Study/Research Proposal

OGS: Statement of Interest Not a personal statement Must be about research interests/program interests If your degree program does not involve a thesis/MRP, clearly outline research training component of degree Program of Study/Research Proposal

#10 – Evaluation and Results NSERC/SSHRC Doctoral Awards Top applications forwarded to national competition based on our quota/allocations You will be notified by FGPS if your application is moving forward or not to the national competition CIHR Doctoral Awards Applications are submitted directly to national competition & results are communicated to applicants by CIHR Tri-Council: final results typically released after May 1 st Top 10 Things You Should Know

Applications completed online using application link on FGPS site (available: Oct 1, 2015) Applications due Jan 15, 2016 at 4:30pm Deadline for referees to submit Academic Assessment Report is Jan 29, 2016 Copies of official or web view transcripts are uploaded with application References will be ed once application is submitted online Applications reviewed by WLU departmental & institutional committees; results released by end of March to early April by FGPS OGS Competition

Due online via ResearchNet by October 1, 2015 You will upload your own official transcripts You will need your Supervisor’s CCV so you will need a CIHR PIN (instructions provided on CIHR website) Applications are not reviewed by WLU, straight to national competition CIHR Doctoral

Application due online by your departmental deadline (see FPGS web site) Official, sealed transcripts must be in FGPS by September 23 rd and are uploaded to your application Applications reviewed by WLU departmental & institutional committees; successful applications forwarded to national competition Successful applications forwarded to NSERC November 25, 2015 NSERC Doctoral

Application due by department deadline Application online; print & submit with all required documents to appropriate department Submit official sealed transcripts with your application to department Applications reviewed by WLU departmental & institutional committees; successful applications forwarded to national competition Successful applications forwarded to SSHRC by January 8, 2016 SSHRC Doctoral

Applications are scanned into PDF when they arrive in FGPS. Therefore we ask that you:  Do not staple any portion of the application or supplemental forms – paperclips or binder clips are acceptable.  Do not print 2-sided. Single sided pages only. SSHRC Doctoral Cont’d

PROOF READ YOUR APPLICATION Final Tip

CIHR Doctoral SSHRC Doctoral NSERC Doctoral OGS (Application live Oct 1/15) WLU General Student Profile (by Sept 30/15) Links to Applications Sites

Contact Information Deborah Russell Graduate Admissions & Records Officer Cherie Mongeon Graduate Financial Aid and Awards Officer Jordana Garbati James Southworth Writing Consultants, Laurier Writing Centre

What: wlu.ca/writing Mon. Sept. 283:45-5pm International Policy & Global Governance Balsillie, Room 233 Mon. Sept :30pm ASPIRE (graduate students only) Library Learning Lab Tues. Sept. 299:30-11amPsychologyLibrary Learning Lab Tues. Sept :30pm Arts English & Film Studies Library Learning Lab Wed. Sept :30amScienceLibrary Learning Lab Wed. Sept :30pmSeminaryLibrary Learning Lab Thurs. Oct :30amBusinessENY Boardroom Thurs. Oct :30pmSocial Work Auditorium 120 Duke St. Fri. Oct. 28:30-11:30amBrantfordRCW002 WRITING OGS, SSHRC, and NSERC PROPOSALS A Writing Centre Workshop Series Open to Graduate and Undergraduate Students We use samples of successful OGS, SSHRC, & NSERC proposals written by Laurier graduate students to identify common features of successful scholarship proposals. We teach you how to apply winning writing strategies in your own proposal. Presented by Dr. Jordana Garbati and Dr. James Southworth, winners of major academic awards. When and Where: