Graduate Scholarship
Information Session
Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral
Studies
September 2015
We’re Here
to Help You
Admission Scholarships
Excellence Scholarships
External Scholarships
Conference and Research Travel Grants
Mobility Scholarship
What We Will
Be Discussing
Tips
 How to improve the quality of your application
University of Ottawa Scholarships
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Excellence Scholarship
External Scholarships
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Provincial Scholarships
National Tri-Granting Agencies
Important Deadlines
Evaluation Criteria
Excellence
Scholarship
• Awarded to recipients of major external
awards: CIHR, FRQ, NSERC, OGS,
SSHRC, Vanier, QEII-GSST, Trudeau
• Covers your tuition fees.
• Valid for each session the external
scholarship is held
• If you were awarded an Admission
Scholarship it will be replaced by the
Excellence Scholarship
TRI – AGENCIES
PhD Deadlines
NATURAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH
COUNCIL
www.nserc.ca
Doctoral Awards Deadline: October 27, 2015
Submit applications online
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL
www.sshrc.ca
Doctoral Awards Deadline : November 13, 2015
Submit application and supporting documents
to your academic unit
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
www.cihr.ca
Doctoral Awards Deadline: October 1, 2015
Submit applications online
TRI – AGENCIES
CGS – Master’s
CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS –
MASTER’S PROGRAM (CGS – M)
*IMPORTANT*
The application portal is powered by NSERC,
therefore you will be applying for CIHR, NSERC
and SSHRC through this single application
portal
www.nserc.ca
(Click on “Students and Fellows”, then click on “Postgraduate
Programs” and your final selection is “Canada Graduate ScholarshipsMaster’s Program”
DEADLINE
December 1, 2015
(the portal will close at 8:00 p.m. (ET))
TRI – AGENCIES
Durations and
Values
NSERC
Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS)
NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS)
CGS – Doctoral
PGS – Doctoral
CGS – Master’s
$35,000 / year (for 2 or 3 years)
$21,000 / year (for 2 or 3 years)
$17,500 for 12 months
SSHRC
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS)
SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships
CGS – Doctoral
Doctoral Fellowship
CGS – Master’s
$35,000 / year (for 3 years)
$20,000 / year (up to 4 years)
$17,500 for 12 months
CIHR
Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS)
CIHR Ph.D. Foreign Study Awards
CGS – Doctoral
$35,000* / yr (for 3 yrs)
Ph.D. Foreign Study Award $35,000* / yr (for 3 yrs)
CGS – Master’s
$17,500 for 12 months
* $30,000 plus $5000 research allowance
TRI – AGENCY
Eligibility for CGS-M
•
•
•
•
•
•
be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
be enrolled in, or intend to apply for full-time admission to a graduate
program at the master’s or doctoral level at a Canadian university with a
CGS M allocation;
have completed, as of December 31 of the year of application, between
zero and 12 months of full-time graduate studies (or full-time
equivalent);
not have previously held a CGS M;
have achieved a first-class average, as determined by the host university
(UO has defined a first class average to be 8.0/10 (A-)), in each of the last
two completed years of study (full-time equivalent); and
submit a maximum of one CGS M application per year (the Research
Portal will allow the application to be submitted to up to five
universities).
TRI – AGENCY
Eligibility for
PhD and CGS-D
CRITERIA COMMON TO ALL COUNCILS
• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
• Intend to pursue, in the following year, full-time graduate studies and
research in a PhD
• not have already received a doctoral scholarship or fellowship from
SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR to undertake or complete a doctoral degree or
combined MA/PhD
• you must not hold, or have held, a CGS D, a Vanier CGS or a
doctoral scholarship from NSERC, CIHR or SSHRC.
TRI – AGENCY
Eligibility for
PhD and CGS-D
CRITERIA SPECIFIC TO NSERC
• hold, or expect to hold (at the time you take up the award), a
degree in science or engineering from a university whose standing
is recognized by NSERC (if you have a degree in a field other than
science or engineering, NSERC may accept your application at its
discretion).
• have obtained a first-class average (a grade of "A-") in each of the
last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).
• you must have completed, as of December 31 of the year of
application, between zero and 24 months of studies (full-time
equivalent) in the doctoral program for which you are requesting
funding.
TRI – AGENCY
Eligibility for
PhD and CGS-D
CRITERIA SPECIFIC TO SSHRC
• be applying for support to pursue your first PhD (or equivalent);
• you must have completed, as of December 31 of the year of application,
between zero and 40 months of studies (full-time equivalent) in the
doctoral program for which you are requesting funding
CRITERIA SPECIFIC TO CIHR
• All candidates must have completed a minimum of 12 months of
graduate study at the Master's or PhD level and no more than 22 months
in the Ph.D. as of the application deadline.
• Students who transferred from a Master’s to the PhD in less than 12
months are eligible to apply if they have no more than 30 months in the
PhD and students who were admitted directly from a bachelor’s to the
PhD are eligible to apply if they have no more than 34 months of PhD
studies as of the application deadline.
Vanier
Canada Graduate
Scholarships
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) was created to attract
and retain world-class doctoral students and to establish Canada as a global
centre of excellence in research and higher learning.
VALUE - $50,000 per year for 3 years
•
Scholarships are available to both Canadian and international PhD students
•
Students must be nominated by a recognized Canadian university with
which they intend to pursue their PhD studies
•
Candidates must apply via ResearchNet
DEADLINE: September 24, 2015
www.vanier.gc.ca
Vanier
Canada Graduate
Scholarships
Eligibility
• be seeking financial support to pursue your first doctoral
degree (or combined MA/PhD or MD/PhD). Note that only
the PhD portion of a combined degree is eligible for funding;
• have completed no more than 20 months of doctoral studies
as of May 1, 2016
• have achieved a first-class average, as determined by your
university, in each of the last two years of full-time study or
equivalent (UO has defined a first class average to be
8.0/10 (A-)); and
• not have already received a doctoral-level scholarship or
fellowship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC to undertake or
complete a doctoral degree.
External
Scholarships
PROVINCIAL
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Major changes were introduced in 2012 by the Ministry
of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).
You must apply to each Ontario university where
you intend on pursuing a graduate program.
Each university has set their own deadline.
More details* on the University of Ottawa
process are available on our website
http://www.grad.uottawa.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=1406
*2016-2017 competition information will be
available in the very near future
External
Scholarships
PROVINCIAL
•
•
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Value: $15,000 for one year
$5,000 per session
DEADLINE
December 1, 2015
16:00 (EST)
External
Scholarships
PROVINCIAL
Fonds de recherche du Québec
FQRNT – October 2, 2015 (16:00)
http://www.fqrnt.gouv.qc.ca/
FQRSC – October 7, 2015 12:00 (Master’s)
http://www.fqrsc.gouv.qc.ca
FQRSC- October 14, 2015 16:00 (Doctoral)
http://www.fqrsc.gouv.qc.ca
FRSQ – October 15, 2015 (16h30)
http://www.frsq.gouv.qc.ca
Value and Duration
Masters: $15,000 per year (up to 2 years)
Ph.D.: $20,000 per year (up to 3 years)
External
Scholarships
OTHERS
Trudeau Foundation
Rhodes (UK)
Fulbright (U.S.)
Polanyi
MacKenzie King
Please consult our website for deadlines and
more information
http://www.grad.uottawa.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=1406
External
Scholarships
TRUDEAU
FOUNDATION
TRUDEAU FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
INTERNAL DEADLINE: November 26, 2015
Applications are submitted to FGPS
Hagen Hall, Room 107
The annual value is up to $60,000 per Scholar (including
an annual travel allowance of $20,000) for up to four years.
The 4 themes:
- Human Rights and Dignity
- Responsible Citizenship
- Canada in the World
- People and their Natural Environment
Please consult the website to access the application form
and for more information on the scholarship.
http://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/en
EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Tips on How to Prepare Your Application
• Use most recent version of the form; use the web-based form if available.
• Order your transcripts from other universities as soon as possible. However
they must show your most recent results.
• Neatness, grammar and spelling count.
• Complete the entire application, including signatures.
• Clarity is essential.
• Get someone (ideally, your supervisor, your references, a professor, a more
senior graduate student, a current or past award recipient, your peers) to read
over your application and give you feedback.
• Strong references are important.
• Provide only the supporting documents specified.
• Keep your potential “audience” in mind.
• Allow yourself and your references enough time to do a thorough, careful job.
• Respect the minimum average and deadlines.
• You are responsible for ensuring that your application is submitted on time.
EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Getting Good References
• Give references plenty of time.
• When you approach a professor for a reference, ask if he or she feels able
to provide you with a strong reference:
• A strong reference is one that supports the information in the
application, is enthusiastic, focuses on your skills and past
achievements, stresses strengths and personal attributes and
demonstrates why you are of superior caliber and worthy of a prestigious
award.
• Provide referees with:
• the link for them to complete their appraisal;
• the form with your information already completed or the information
required to submit the reference online;
•the deadline by which they must submit their appraisal;
• and, if applicable, the location where their appraisal should be
submitted.
EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Getting Good References
• Be clear who will be responsible for submitting the letter to
your academic unit and make the proper arrangements with the
references.
• Include a copy of your Research/Program Statement, your
CV, your transcripts, a paper where you got an excellent mark,
a copy of a publication.
• Choose references who are able to comment on your abilities
within an academic context.
• Ideally one of your references should be your supervisor.
• Be mindful to thank your references.
• Your references may want to know the outcome of your
application.
EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Preparing Your Plan of Study or Statement of Interest
• Keep in mind that your application may be reviewed by someone outside of
your specific discipline.
• Don’t go into too many details about your thesis design or get too
technical, but don’t be vague either.
• Don’t rely on generalizations. Be focused and concise.
• Don’t claim you’ll address or fix all the problems in your discipline.
• Be grammatical and avoid words or technical terms that exceed your
grasp or the understanding of potential reviewers
• Avoid platitudes and warm “fuzzies” about the importance of your
interests or the importance of your chosen discipline.
• Focus on tangible aspects of your interest.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills and ability to successfully
complete the graduate program in a timely manner
• Ensure it is error-free
Tri-Council CGS-M
Evaluation Criteria
Applicants are evaluated and selected according to the criteria in the
following categories:
Academic excellence
Weighting: 50%
As demonstrated by past academic results, transcripts, awards
and distinctions.
Research ability or potential
Weighting: 30 %
As demonstrated by the applicant’s research history, his/her
interest in discovery, the proposed research, its potential
contribution to the advancement of knowledge in the field,
and any anticipated outcomes.
Communication,
interpersonal and leadership
abilities
Weighting: 20%
As demonstrated by the applicant’s past professional and
relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations.
NSERC PhD
Evaluation Criteria
Applicants are evaluated and selected according to the criteria in the
following categories:
Academic excellence
Weighting: 30 %
Academic record; scholarships and awards held; duration of
previous studies
Research ability or potential
Weighting: 50%
Quality of contributions to research and development ;
relevance of work experience and academic training to field of
proposed research ; significance, feasibility, and merit of
proposed research, and justification for location of tenure;
Ability to think critically ; Ability to apply skills and knowledge;
judgment; originality ; initiative and autonomy.
Communication,
interpersonal and leadership
abilities
Weighting: 20%
The ability or potential to communicate scientific concepts
clearly and logically in written and oral formats (can include:
quality of the application's presentation; participation in
preparing publications, etc). Professional and relevant
extracurricular interactions and collaborations (can include:
mentorship, teaching, supervisory experience, etc).
CIHR PhD
Evaluation Criteria
Applicants are evaluated and selected according to the criteria in the
following categories:
Achievements and Activities
of the Candidate
Weighting: 35 %
Publication Activity – 10 %
Other Reserach Activity – 10%
Academic Performance – 15%
Characteristics and Abilities
of the Candidate
Weighting: 40%
Critical thinking; independence; perseverance; originality;
organizational skills; interest in discovery; research ability;
leadership
Research Training
Environment
Weighting: 25%
Training program for the candidate – 10%
Scientific Activity – 5%
Research Resources – 5%
Training Record – 5%
CONTACT US!
We’re here to help
Graduate Awards Office
Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Hagen Hall, Room 107
115 Séraphin Marion St.
Tel: (613) 562-5742
Fax: (613) 562-5992
grad.awards@uOttawa.ca
The Graduate Awards Office team members are:
Daniel Melanson
Natalie Gendron
Paulette Arsenault
www.grad.uottawa.ca