Graduate Student Scholarship
Workshop 2011
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Office
of Quality Assurance
Scholarship Sessions Fall 2011

Part 1 - Today

Part 2 - Monday September 19th
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Oak Room
“How to prepare a good application”
What Scholarships are Available?

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Council (NSERC)

Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council (SSHRC)

Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Designed to encourage excellence in graduate studies
at the master’s and doctoral levels.

$5,000 per term (2 or 3 consecutive terms). The
province of Ontario contributes two-thirds of this
amount and the university provides one-third.

Students may apply for year 1 or 2 of Masters and
years 1 to 5 of doctoral study but can only be funded
for 4 years in total.

All eligible applications get sent out of the university!
What Scholarships are Available?
NSERC



Applications to NSERC as the primary source of
research or research training support must meet the
following criteria:
The program of research must be primarily in the natural
sciences and engineering;
The intended objectives of the research must be,
primarily, to advance knowledge in one of the natural
sciences or in engineering.
What Scholarships are Available?
SSHRC

Applications to SSHRC as the primary source of
research or research training support must meet the
following criteria:
 The program of research must be primarily in the social
sciences and humanities (i.e., aligned with the SSHRC
legislated mandate) and;
 The intended outcome of the research must primarily be
to add to our understanding and knowledge of
individuals, groups, and societies - what we think, how
we live and how we interact with each other and the
world around us.
What Scholarships are Available?
CIHR

Applications to CIHR as the primary source of research
or research training support must meet the following
criterion:

The intended outcomes of the research must, as stated
in CIHR’s mandate, primarily improve or have an
impact on health and/or produce more effective health
services and products and/or strengthen the Canadian
health care system.
Which agency? A critical decision
• Applying to the wrong agency is a fatal error
• Get advice from Graduate Studies AND from the
program officer at the granting agencies you are
considering.
Often you will be asked to send a 1 page summary.
Make sure it has all relevant information in it.
Allow time for turnaround.
Which agency? A critical decision
•If your research is in an area “where boundaries overlap”
AND you have received advice from the staff at the
agency that it is eligible, you are still advised to state in
your proposal WHY your proposal is “appropriate for
support by the agency”
Health-related Research
• Investigators whose proposed research is health-related
should consult CIHR’s mandate first to explore eligibility.
CIHR has policies and procedures in place to adjudicate
the full range of social science and humanities research
proposals related to health research. Research eligible
under the mandate of CIHR will not be considered by
SSHRC.
• The use of social science or humanities theories,
methodologies and hypotheses is, in and of itself, not
sufficient to make a proposal eligible at SSHRC.
Ineligible for SSHRC support
• socio-economic and cultural determinants of health, including theoretical and
empirical research on the social construction of health, sickness and health behaviour;
health promotion (e.g., healthy eating, disease prevention, health and sexual
education)
• education and psychology research related to health service delivery (e.g.,
clinical/practical competencies, supervision, curriculum development)
• health behaviour (e.g., fitness, psychomotor learning, psychophysiology and
kinesiology; addictions, sexual activities, etc. as they affect health status)
• clinical research (e.g., treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a condition or disease;
testing the impact of medication or medical aids)
• therapy (e.g., counselling, psychotherapy, rehabilitation and occupational therapy,
validation/testing of diagnostic tools), including the use of performing/visual arts as an
element of therapy
 see website for complete listing
Psychology Research
• SSHRC considers eligible applications within the broad areas of social,
developmental, personality and educational psychology. SSHRC also
considers eligible proposals related to theory and methods in these areas.
SSHRC does not support clinically oriented research with a health intent, or
research involving clinical trials.
• NSERC considers eligible applications that relate to fundamental
psychological processes, their underlying neural mechanisms, their
development within individuals, and their evolutionary and ecological context.
Fundamental processes are understood to include:
sensation and perception;
sensorimotor integration;
motivation, emotion and reward;
learning and memory;
cognition and language;
sleep, arousal and the chrono-biological modulation of behaviour; and
statistical methods for analysis of psychological data.
Eligibility for Application
Funder
FullTime
Student
Citizen
or PR
Min.
GPA
(2 yr)
Min.#
Terms
Time in Program
to Apply
(a/o Dec 31)
Total Support
OGS
✔
(PT rare)
also
study
permit
Aavg.
2
-
1 year
4 yrs lifetime
incl. 3Tri-C
NSERC
✔
(PT rare)
✔
1st
class
-
M 0-12 mo.
D 0-24 mo.
M 12 mo.
D 24 or 36 mo.
SSHRC
✔
✔
1st
class
-
M 0-12 mo.
D 0-40 mo.
M 12 mo.
D 12, 24, 36 or
48 mo.
CIHR
✔
✔
1st
class
-
M 0-10 mo.
D 12-34 mo.
M 12 mo.
D max 4 yr total
** can’t apply for scholarship for same degree from another agency
You may only submit one
application per year to NSERC or
CIHR or SSHRC.
OGS Ranking
Grades are very heavily weighted for OGS

must have an A- average in last 20 courses or based on all grad
courses if you are in 3rd year of grad school or beyond

2 references - asked to rate you in top 2%, 5%, 10%, 20% etc.

Plan of study (will be enrolled in doctoral) /Statement of interest
(Masters level while holding the award)

List of significant academic accomplishments (GAs, refereed/nonrefereed publication/ presentation record, etc.) – may include
special circumstances (100 words)

Scholarships/awards
UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR UNIFORM PERCENTAGE
CONVERSION SCALE
( Passed by Senate March 17, 2004)
Grade Point
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Letter Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
F-
Percentage Range
93-100
86-92.9
80-85.9
77-79.9
73-76.9
70-72.9
67-69.9
63-66.9
60-62.9
57-59.9
53-56.9
50-52.9
35-49.9
0-34.9
Plan of study/ Statement of interest

OGS says “The statement of interest should
include your reasons for pursuing a graduate
program in your chosen field”

but how much you focus on that completely
depends on your level of study

all of you will go (far) beyond that

be specific, and good to include key/critical
references, but keep them to a minimum - citations
must also be shown in the space provided.
NSERC (CGS and PGS awards)
Masters (maximum one year)
 CGS (Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate
Scholarship) $17,500
 PGS (Post-graduate Scholarship) $17,300
Doctoral (min 2 yrs, max 3 yrs)
 CGS (Alexander Graham Bell) $35,000 for min 2
yrs, max 3 yrs
 PGS (Post-graduate Scholarship) $21,000
Note: applying for one is an application for both
NSERC (CGS and PGS awards)
** Clinical psychology programs are not normally eligible
for NSERC support – to be eligible your supervisor
must be funded by NSERC and you must be doing
basic research
** For all students – you must be supervised by a faculty
member whose own research program is in a field that
NSERC supports
NSERC Selection criteria

Academic excellence: (Masters 50% / PHD 30%)


Research ability or potential: (30% / 50%)


As evidenced in academic record, scholarships and awards held,
and duration of previous studies.
As evidenced by the quality of your contributions to research and
development, relevance of experience and training to field of
proposed research, significance, feasibility, and merit of proposed
research, ability to think critically and to apply skills and knowledge,
have good judgement, originality, initiative and autonomy, and
enthusiasm for research, and determination and ability to complete
projects in a timely manner.
Communication skills/ Interpersonal and leadership
abilities: (20% / 20%)

Seen in your ability or potential to communicate scientific concepts
clearly and logically in written and oral formats and your professional
and relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations.
SSHRC Graduate Awards
Masters
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships
 Valued at $17,500 for one year (non-renewable).
 Students in their 1st year M.A. (or 4th year undergrads) are eligible
to apply.
Doctoral
Fellowship
 Valued at $20,000 per year for up to 4 yrs.
 Students in Years 1 to 4 of doctoral study (post-Masters).
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships
 Valued at $35,000 per year for 3 yrs.
 Students in Years 1 to 3 or Years 2 to 4 of doctoral study (Masters).
By completing the SSHRC doctoral awards application, you are automatically
considered for both doctoral-level awards.
SSHRC

Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement ($6000) for
3–6 months

Sports Participation supplement ($10000) for 1 year

For disciplines where a MA thesis is not normally
completed, proposal must include a significant
research training component (defined on web site)
Masters Evaluation Criteria

Academic Excellence (60%)


Research Potential (30%)


As evidenced in academic record, scholarships and awards held,
and duration of previous studies.
As demonstrated in description of program of study, work
experience, letters of appraisal, and departmental appraisal.
Communication Skills (10%)

As demonstrated in quality of presentation of application, letters of
appraisal, departmental appraisal, and relevant work experience and
community involvement, if applicable.
Doctoral Evaluation Criteria
Selection committees evaluate doctoral fellowship applicants
solely on academic merit, measured by:
1. Past academic results, demonstrated by transcripts, awards and
distinctions
2. Program of study & potential contribution to advancement of
knowledge
3. Relevant professional and academic experience & research training
(papers presented at conferences; publication record)
4. Two written referrals/evaluations
5. Departmental rankings of applicants
CIHR CGS and PGS
Masters
 Frederick Banting and Charles Best ($17,500) for a
maximum of 1 year.
Doctoral
 Frederick Banting and Charles Best CGS Doctoral and
Doctoral Foreign Study Award (DFSA) $30,000 +
5,000 research allowance for up to 3 years.
The research for which support is being sought must be under the
supervision of a researcher who holds research funds obtained through a
recognized competitive peer review process. (This applies to both CIHR
Master's and Doctoral Awards.)
CIHR Priority Announcments

General focus on health related fields

Additional monies (specific to Masters or PhD) for
‘priority areas’, e.g., child cancer, HIV/AIDS, nutrition
etc

Make sure you look at these priority areas and if your
research fits, identify the area and submit an extra
page “relevance description”
CIHR online forms and
procedures are very complicated
Please start early ……….
Masters Evaluation Criteria

Achievements and Activities(40%)



Characteristics and Abilities of Candidate (40%)


Research Experience and Achievement (15%)
Academic Performance (25%)
Critical thinking, independence, perseverance, originality,
organizational skills, interest in discovery, communication skills.
Research Training Environment (20%)

Training program for the candidate
Gets converted to score between 0-4.9 – Only applications rated 3.5 or
higher are eligible for funding
Doctoral Evaluation Criteria

Achievements and Activities(35%)




Characteristics and Abilities of Candidate (40%)


Publication Activity (10%)
Other Research Activity ( 10%)
Academic Performance (15%)
Critical thinking, independence, perseverance, originality,
organizational skills, interest in discovery, communication skills.
Research Training Environment (25%)




Training program for the candidate (10%)
Scientific Activity (5%)
Research Resources (5%)
Training Record (5%)
Vanier Doctoral scholarships

Awarded by tri-councils
 $50,000/year
 Uwindsor has limited quota for nominations from each
funding council. “Realistically, the calibre of candidate that should be
forwarded for consideration will have ALL of the following: exceptional
grades, exceptional research publications in peer reviewed journals (or
creative equivalent), innovative proposals, and outstanding letters of
reference. Students who stand mid-tier in departmental rankings should
not be forwarded.” (Grad Studies, 2010)

Student must apply to Department to be nominated.
 Special emphasis on leadership.
 See www.vanier.gc.ca for more info.
Comparison of Weighting Criteria
Masters
OGS
NSERC
SSHRC
Achievement
A-
50 %
60 %
Potential
30 %
30 %
Communication
20 %
10 %
Masters
CIHR
Achievement
40%
Characteristics
40%
Training Environment
20%
Differences in Application Process





NSERC – complete application on-line; identify your referees, as well as
the person who will upload your transcripts. “Submit” on-line, but print off
a paper copy and submit to your department
OGS – complete application on-line; print off a paper copy and submit to
your department, along with all supporting documents (official transcripts,
plan of study, etc.)
SSHRC – complete application on-line; “submit” on-line, but print off a
paper copy and submit to your department along with all supporting
documents
CIHR (Doctoral) – complete application and submit everything on-line
through ResearchNet directly to CIHR. Signature required from the
Office of Research Services (ORS deadline October 11)
CIHR (Master’s) – complete application on-line through ResearchNet.
Upload all documents and “submit” so that your application can be
viewed on-line.
How to Apply?



Enter application process from Grad Studies website
Register for login and password
Order official transcripts for each award
Who Will Write Your Reference?
Pick someone who knows you

may have to explain anomalies in your transcript or
publication record
 should have time to meet with you and write an
assessment of your abilities with examples
 give reference your resume, transcript, proposal,
scholarship criteria and proposal before meeting
Pick someone who can/will make your case


reference letter speaks for you at committees
give them time to do a good job
Follow agency rules (e.g. former supervisor)
When are the Applications Due?
*** Check with graduate coordinator or graduate secretary for
Departmental deadlines
Faculty of Graduate Studies deadlines:






Vanier Doctoral
NSERC (Masters & Doctoral)
CIHR Doctoral
OGS
SSHRC (Masters & Doctoral)
CIHR Masters
September 30, 2011
October 7, 2011
Direct to CIHR by Oct.14
(signature required from
ORS by Oct 11)
October 28, 2011
November 25, 2011
January 6, 2012
Good luck!
Any questions?