1. Applying for External Scholarships
Melissa Dalgleish, Research Officer, Faculty of Graduate Studies
September 2014

2. National and provincial scholarship opportunities
Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC)
Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC)
Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) and Queen Elizabeth II Scholarships in Science and Technology (QEII) – Master’s and Doctoral
*not an exhaustive list by any means!

3. FUNDING AND AWARDS INFORMATION

4. Canada Graduate Scholarships – Masters

5. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Three Funding Agencies:
CIHR- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
NSERC- National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
SSHRC – Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Objective: to help develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified personnel by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies
Value: $17,500 for 12 months (non-renewable)

6. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA To be eligible to apply, you must:
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Be enrolled in (or intend to apply for) full-time admission to an eligible graduate program that culminates in a significant research project (not a coursework-only Master’s)
Have completed (as of Dec 31, 2014) 0-12 months of full-time studies in the Master’s program
Have not previously held a CGS-M
Have a first-class average (A-) in each of the last two years of study
- Sometimes can apply without first class average if program supports

7. SUBJECT MATTER ELIGIBILITY
It is important that you select the correct agency under “Field of Research”
Please review the “Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency” page at science.gc.ca:
You should always carefully check if you should be applying to CIHR if you’re doing health-related research but you’re not in a health field
Ask your graduate program for assistance in determining the correct agency
You can also contact the agency correctly and ask them to decide which you belong to

8. APPLICATION
Single online application (Research Portal) for all three agencies (Master’s level only at this time)
Application includes:
Canadian Common CV (CCV) – includes template for CGS-M
Transcript(s) (upload)
Research proposal
Two (2) letters from referees
Transcripts from previous school AND York

9. TIPS AND HINTS
“Faculty” = “Faculty of Science,” “Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies”
“Department/Division” = “Graduate Program in English,” “Graduate Program in Science and Technology Studies”
Start filling out the CCV portion of your application early, as it’s complicated
If you’re unsure if you have an eligible grade point average, ask your graduate program assistant (or the assistant in the program in which you want to study)
Order your transcripts early– you need all undergraduate and graduate, including the ones from this term

10. SELECTION CRITERIA Applications are evaluated based on:
Academic Excellence – 50%
First class average
Scholarships and awards held
Research Potential – 30%
Quality and originality of contributions to research
Significance, feasibility and merit of proposed research
Judgment and critical thinking skills
Personal Characteristics and Interpersonal Skills – 20%
Work and leadership experience
Involvement in academic life, volunteerism
These are just some examples.
Allocations by university are available online (Tri-Council sites)

11. KEY DATES Application deadline is December 1, 2014
Results will be announced in April
Start now!
Requesting references
Drafting research proposal
Ordering transcripts

12. Canada Graduate Scholarships - Doctoral

13. OVERVIEW Three Funding Agencies:
CIHR- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
NSERC- National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
SSHRC – Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Objective: to help develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified personnel by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies

14. SSHRC (Social Science, Humanities Research Council)
SSHRC (Social Science, Humanities Research Council)
NSERC (Natural Science Research Council)
CIHR (Canadian Institute for Health Research)
Value
Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships: $35,000 per year
SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship: $20,000 per year
Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship: $35,000 per year
NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship – Doctoral: $21,000 per year
Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Awards (CGS-D): Trainee Stipend $30,000 per year & Research allowance: $5,000 per year
Duration
Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Doctoral Scholarships: 36 months
SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship: 12, 24, 36 or 48 months
Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship: 24 or 36 months
NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship – Doctoral: 24 or 36 months
Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Awards: months
Application Deadline
Program Deadline: TBD (late October)
Deadline Programs to FGS: November 21, 2014
Deadline York submit to Tri- council: January 8, 2015
Initial Deadline to provide transcripts: October 1, 2014
Final deadline for full application: October 13, 2014
Deadline Programs to FGS: October 31, 2014
Deadline York submit to Tri- council: November 25, 2014
Application due in Research Net September 30, 2014
Results announced
Spring 2015

15. SUBJECT MATTER ELIGIBILITY
It is important that you submit your application to the correct funding agency—ineligible applications will be discarded
Please review the “Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency” page at science.gc.ca:
Be especially careful with research that may overlap SSHRC and CIHR or NSERC and CIHR (i.e. you should always carefully check if you should be applying to CIHR if you’re doing health-related research but you’re not in a health field)
Ask your graduate program for assistance in determining the correct agency
You can also contact the agency correctly and ask them to decide which you belong to

16. APPLICATIONS & INSTRUCTIONS
SSHRC
NSERC
CIHR

17. OGS and QEII Scholarships

18. OVERVIEW
Objective: to encourage excellence in graduate studies at the Master’s and doctoral levels through the awarding of Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS). OGS awards are merit-based scholarships available to students in all disciplines of academic study. The OGS program is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and Ontario universities.
Value: $15,000 per year for a one year maximum (non-renewable, i.e. must reapply each year)
May hold the award for a minimum of two consecutive terms

19. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: OGS
Applicants must:
be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person
Or be a foreign student who is studying in Ontario under a temporary resident visa-student study permit
be enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution in Ontario be taking an eligible program on a full time basis. An eligible program is defined as a full-time program of study of two or three terms at an eligible institution leading to a graduate degree.
have a minimum GPA of (A-) in the last 20 one-term courses (or in all of graduate studies for PhDs in Year III and above)

20. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: QEII
Applicants must:
be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person
be enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution in Ontario be taking an eligible science or technology program on a full time basis. An eligible program is defined as a full-time program of study of two or three terms at an eligible institution leading to a graduate degree
have a minimum GPA of (A-) in the last 20 one-term courses (or in all of graduate studies for PhDs in Year III and above)

21. ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS: QEII
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science and Engineering
Geography
Earth and Space Science
Mathematics and Statistics
Kinesiology and Health Science
Nursing (MScN thesis option only)
Physics and Astronomy
Psychology

22. SELECTION CRITERIA Applications will be evaluated based on:
Academic Excellence 50%
Research Potential 40%
Communication 10%
Forms can be found at finances/funding-awards/ogs/

23. APPLICATION
How to apply:
Submit a complete application package to the appropriate graduate program by their internal program deadline (see programs)
Current graduate students will submit an OGS application through their graduate program of study
Prospective students will submit an OGS application through the program(s) from which they seek admission
Complete Application Form
2 Academic Assessment Reports
All university transcripts
You don’t need to submit a separate QEII application—if you’re in an eligible program, you will automatically be considered

24. KEY DATES Application deadline:
Each Graduate Program will set their own internal program deadline.  Please consult the applicable graduate program.
Results:
May 2014
Deadline programs to FGS is May 1, 2014—same as notification date?

25. Writing the Research Statement

26. RESEARCH STATEMENT
The research statement must be clear, concise, and interest the adjudicating reader right away. Research statements must address the following in an active voice:
Research Topic and Specific Question: Avoid vague/huge questions; be specific; propose to readers what you are seeking.
Development and Justification: Why is this question within this topic important to study? What sort of lack in current knowledge does it aim to address?
Literature: Reference the most important scholarly literature on the topic in order to set your topic, question, and justification in its proper context. The trick, however, is to be brief and to state points succinctly. The context demonstrates that one knows the background, but also, therefore, presents that background to a multi-disciplinary adjudicating audience.

27. RESEARCH STATEMENT
Research Method: It is critical that the research method demonstrate the student’s superior research ability, potential and vision. It must be appropriate, realistic and doable.
Contributions/Goals: Indicate the significance and/or implications of the research. Relative to “why” one seeks to research a particular topic and question is the “so what?” of what one will find. Why do or should the answers matter, to what and to whom?
Academic and Training Experience: What experience do you have as a researcher that positions you well to pursue this project? Have other agencies funded you?

28. HERO NARRATIVE

29. Selecting Referees

30. Ask if the referee can provide you a good letter
Choose referees who know you well—knowledge is better than a fancy title
Choose referees who can speak about your academic and research capabilities in detail
Ask if the referee can provide you a good letter
Provide information. At minimum:
A draft of your research statement
A copy of your CV
The description and selection criteria of the award
Ask early, and set a deadline and a date to check in
Send polite reminders and don’t be afraid to follow up
Say thank you! A personal note is ideal

31. WHERE TO GET HELP
Your graduate program, or the graduate program in which you’re seeking admission
Your supervisor, or a faculty member with whom you have a good relationship
Other students—peer review is a great tool
Someone who is not an academic—it’s always good to check if your proposal makes sense to a general reader
The funding agency to which you’re applying
Melissa Dalgleish in the Faculty of Graduate Studies

32. Questions, Comments, Discussion