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External awards and fellowships

There are a number of national and provincial granting agencies that annually fund graduate students and their research. These are merit-based fellowships which must be applied for individually. Most of the agencies have specific application guidelines and deadlines.

The funding opportunities below all require an internal pre-selection process coordinated through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Other external funding opportunities

There are many other external funding competitions that you can apply for directly (they do not involve an extra pre-selection step at the university level). As we find out about opportunities we forward the information to departmental graduate secretaries across campus. They'll send out the announcements through their student email distribution lists. Please ensure that you get your preferred email address on your graduate secretary's email list.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Who should read this?

You should read this if you are interested in scholarship support for your studies in a health-related field, at a master's or doctoral level.

CIHR's find funding page provides a list of various funding opportunities under the "view all current opportunities" tab. You may need to refer to the "browse archived opportunities" tab depending on the time of year you visit their website.

Doctoral degree funding ($22,000 - $35,000/yr.)

  • You will apply online and submit your electronic application directly to CIHR for an opportunity to be funded with a Doctoral Research Award (DRA) or a Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) Doctoral Research Award.
  • There is no university pre-selection process; however, UVic grantscrafting support will be available to you.

Master's degree funding ($17,500)

  • You will apply online for the Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) and submit your electronic application to a temporary portal that will be accessed by Grad Studies for the university pre-selection process.
  • Full master's CGS program information can be found at CIHR ResearchNet
  • Please also refer to funding opportunities to support master's award applications in specific research areas: Master's award: priority announcements (specific research areas)

Are you eligible to apply?

To be considered eligible to apply for master's level support, a candidate must:

  • be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident;
  • at the time of the UVic deadline for application:
    • have completed or be in the last year of a bachelor's degree; or
    • have been registered for no more than ten months as a full-time student in a master's program; or
    • have been registered for no more than ten months as a full-time PhD student and were admitted to the PhD program directly from the bachelor's degree.
  • be applying for support to pursue their first graduate degree (i.e., master's or PhD). All previous studies at the graduate level, regardless of discipline, either course-based or research-based, will be included in determining eligibility; and
  • not have already held an award from SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR or any other federal source to undertake and/or complete a master's or PhD degree.

Application deadline

CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships Master's Award applicants who are registered at UVic for the Fall term of 2012 must submit their complete application via ResearchNet and in hard copy to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by Friday, December 7, 2012.

Need help?

Fall 2012 Grantscrafting Presentation

A presentation to provide tips on the preparation of a successful master's and doctoral CIHR application will take place on Monday, September 17/12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Clearihue Building, Room A311.

What happens to your application at UVic once you submit it?

The university is restricted by how many CIHR master's applications we can send forward to the national competition. We are assigned a quota each year by the council. The UVic health research committee will review the applications and decide which applicants will be forwarded with a recommendation to the national competition.

You will be advised if your application has been forwarded to the national competition in late January. Results of the national competition are announced in April.

Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships

Who should read this?

  • You should read this if you are interested in scholarship funding to support graduate study in any discipline, in Canada or elsewhere.
  • There are two scholarship categories:
    • The Mackenzie King Open Scholarship - open to graduates of any Canadian university who engage in (commence or continue) graduate study in any field, in Canada or elsewhere. One awarded annually, valued at $10,000 but subject to change.
    • The Mackenzie Travelling Scholarship - open to graduates of any Canadian university who engage in (commence or continue) graduate study, in the United States or the United Kingdom, of international relations or industrial relations (including the international or industrial relations aspects of law, history, politics and economics). Four awarded annually, valued at $11,000 but the number and value of scholarships are subject to change. 

Are you eligible to apply?

  • The awards will be based on high academic achievements (first class standing and equivalent), personal qualities, and demonstrated aptitudes.
  • Consideration will be given to the applicant's proposed program of study.

Application deadline

  • Applications must be made to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at the Canadian university from which you most recently graduated or at which you are currently enrolled.
  • Application forms and further information can be found on the Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships website
  • Deadline for submission to the University of Victoria Faculty of Graduate Studies is 4:30 p.m. on February 1, 2012. Please note that late or incomplete applications will not be considered and this deadline will not be extended.

What happens to your application at UVic once you submit it?

The university is restricted by how many applications we can send forward to the Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships Board of Trustees. The Faculty of Graduate Studies designated committee will review the applications and forward a short-list of recommended candidates together with their applications for competition at the national level.

You will be advised of the outcome of this internal pre-selection process in early March. Decisions in the national competition are usually announced by the end of April.

Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (MSFSS)

The MSFSS program supports active Tri-Council master's and doctoral CGS award holders with travel supplements of up to $6,000. These supplements are available to help offset the costs of undertaking research studies outside of Canada for a defined period. They are awarded by Canada's three federal funding agencies:

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, you must:

  • be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada by the application deadline dates;
  • be registered at an eligible Canadian institution at the time of application;
  • have accepted or currently hold one of the following Canada Graduate Scholarships:
    • Joseph-Armand Bombardier (SSHRC);
    • Alexander Graham Bell (NSERC);
    • Frederick Banting and Charles Best (CIHR); or
    • Vanier CGS (if eligible);
  • undertake your proposed trip abroad no earlier than the competition deadline date; and
  • not hold, or have held, any other CGS-MSFSS during the course of your graduate studies.

How to apply

  • There are two MSFSS competitions each year – one in June and one in October.
  • The Faculty of Graduate Studies has an internal deadline for your application (always set earlier than the deadlines noted on the NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR websites) and selects which applications to submit to the granting agencies.
  • If you are an active CGS award holder you will receive an email from the Faculty of Graduate Studies, before each MSFSS competition cycle, to advise you of the application process and internal submission deadline.
  • If you are a qualified applicant, you must complete the necessary documentation and submit it to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for consideration.

What happens to your application at UVic once you submit it?

The university is restricted by how many MSFSS applications we can send forward to the granting agencies. The Faculty of Graduate Studies is informed of the number of supplements available to them in each of the three areas of research disciplines. A committee of associate deans will review the applications and decide which ones will be forwarded to the agencies with a recommendation.

  • June MSFSS competition - you will be advised if your application has been forwarded to the appropriate agency in early June. Official funding decisions are announced in late July.
  • October MSFSS competition - you will be advised if your application has been forwarded to the appropriate agency in early October. Official funding decisions are announced in late November.

NSERC Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships

Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships (IPS) are available to highly qualified science and engineering students pursuing or wishing to pursue master's or doctoral degrees at a Canadian university. These scholarships are intended to help you gain research experience in industry while undertaking advanced studies in Canada in the hopes that you will consider a research career. 

Eligibility

  • You must have a sponsoring company willing to contribute a minimum $6000 per year toward the scholarship. Additionally, you must spend a minimum of 20 per cent of your time (at least 50 days per year) at the organization on activities related to your thesis project.
  • Full eligibility criteria

How to apply

  • You must submit the complete NSERC form 200, together with supporting documentation and a University of Victoria supplemental application form available from the Office of Research Services.
  • Full details of the UVic IPS application process and requirements can be found on the NSERC IPS checklist.

Application deadline

There are no NSERC deadlines for this program. We recommend you submit your complete application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies at least two months before the date you wish to begin the award.  

What happens to your application at UVic once you submit it?

  • your application will be checked for completeness
  • the remaining signatures will be obtained as per the UVic NSERC IPS checklist
  • a cover letter will be prepared to satisfy the NSERC requirement
  • your application will be sent to NSERC

NSERC will notify you and the Faculty of Graduate Studies of its decision within two months of the date NSERC receives a complete nomination.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada

Who should read this?

  • You should read this if you are interested in scholarship funding for your studies in the natural sciences or engineering fields, at a master's or doctoral level.
  • NSERC's Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships and Postgraduate Scholarships are relevant only to graduate students, or those considering graduate studies within the next year.
  • Master's-level funding ($17,300-17,500/yr.); Doctoral-level funding ($21,000-25,000/yr.)
  • NSERC is a federal agency that supports the advanced studies of high-calibre university students like you, the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Are you eligible to apply?

To be considered eligible for support, as of the application deadline date, you must:

  • be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
  • 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);
  • intend to pursue, in the following year, full-time graduate studies and research at the master's or doctoral level in an eligible program in an NSERC-supported field; and
  • have obtained a first-class average (a grade of "A-") in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).
  • Eligibility criteria for proposed research and programs of study.

Application deadline

  • If you are currently registered at UVic as a full-time or part-time 4th year undergraduate or graduate student in an NSERC-supported field, you must submit your complete NSERC form 201 electronically through the NSERC website as well as a printed paper copy to the Faculty of Graduate Studies office (UC A207) by Wednesday, October 3, 2012.
  • Form 201 and full NSERC eligibility and application guidelines can be found on the NSERC site. Please ensure you are using the 2012 version of form 201.
  • NSERC e-submission information for applicants

Need help?

What happens to your application at UVic once you submit it?

The university is restricted by how many NSERC applications we can send forward to the national competition. We are assigned a quota each year by the Council. The UVic natural sciences and engineering committee will review the applications to determine which applicants will be forwarded with a recommendation to the national competition.

You will be advised if your application has been forwarded to the national competition in late November. Results of the national competition are announced the following April.

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) – Graduate Fellowships

Who should read this?

  • You should read this if you are interested in fellowship funding to support your master's or doctoral research in an area related to climate change impacts and adaptation.
  • PICS Graduate Fellowships are available on an annual basis to outstanding master's and PhD students. Fellowship holders are expected to conduct research in an area that is both of importance to British Columbia and related to the PICS Strategic Research Plan, which incorporates research questions related to the following themes:
    • The low carbon-emissions economy
    • Sustainable communities
    • Resilient ecosystems
    • Social mobilization
    • Carbon management in BC forests
  • Fellowships are valued at $12,000 per year for master's and $18,000 per year for PhD students.

Are you eligible to apply?

To be considered eligible for support, as of the application deadline date, you must:

  • have a first class average (a grade of "A-") in at least the last 12-24 months of your current or previous studies
  • be conducting or intend to conduct research in an area that is both of importance to British Columbia and related to the PICS Strategic Research Plan

Application process

  • PICS posts a call for applications in early February of each year on their website. Our office will also send it out.
  • It is only during this time (between February and late-March) that the fellowship application is available on the PICS website.
  • Application forms and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically in pdf format (as one file if possible) via email to picsra@uvic.ca.
  • There is no internal pre-selection process done through the Faculty of Graduate Studies office.
  • Decisions on funding are announced mid to late May each year.

Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada

Who should read this?

  • You should read this if you are interested in scholarship funding for your studies in the social sciences or humanities fields, at a master's or doctoral level.
  • SSHRC's Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Doctoral Fellowships are relevant only to graduate students, or those considering graduate studies within the next year.
  • SSHRC is a federal agency that supports the advanced studies of high-calibre university students like you, helping to develop scholars and researchers into Canada's future leaders.

Are you eligible to apply?

Application deadlines

You do not get to choose whether you apply through UVic or as a direct applicant to SSHRC.

  • If you are currently registered in any capacity at UVic, are on an approved leave of absence, or were registered at UVic between January 1/12 and now, your complete SSHRC master's application must be submitted to your academic unit by Thursday, November 1, 2012.
  • If you are currently registered at UVic in any capacity, or on an approved leave of absence, your complete SSHRC doctoral application must be submitted to your academic unit by Monday, October 15, 2012.
  • If you are a registered interdisciplinary student applying for either a SSHRC master's or doctoral award, the same deadlines apply, but your application must be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies office (UC A207).

Need help?

What happens to your application at UVic once you submit it?

  • In the SSHRC master's process – the number of applications our selection committee can recommend depends on the allocation SSHRC assigns in a given year. The UVic social sciences and humanities committee will review the applications to determine which applicants will be forwarded with a recommendation to Ottawa for approval and funding.
    • You will be advised if your application has been forwarded with a recommendation for funding in late January. Official offers of funding from SSHRC are announced in April.
  • In the SSHRC doctoral process - the number of applications our selection committee can recommend depends on a quota SSHRC assigns each year. The UVic social sciences & humanities committee will review the applications to determine which applicants will be forwarded to the national competition.
    • You will be advised if your application has been forwarded to the national competition in early December. Results of the national competition are announced the following April.

Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship

Up to 15 Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships ($60,000/year) are awarded each year to support doctoral candidates pursuing research of compelling present-day concern, touching upon one or more of the four themes of the foundation:

  • human rights and dignity
  • responsible citizenship
  • Canada in the world
  • people and their natural environment

Read about UVic's 2011 Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship recipient.

Eligibility

Trudeau Scholars are highly gifted individuals who are actively engaged in their fields and expected to become leading national and international figures. To be considered eligible you must:

  • be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant applying to a doctoral program in the social sciences and humanities or registered full-time in the first or second year of such a program at a Canadian university;
    OR
  • be a Canadian citizen applying to a doctoral program in the social sciences and humanities or registered full-time in the first or second year of such a program at a foreign university;
    OR
  • be a foreign national (with a preference for candidates from the developing world) applying to a doctoral program in the social sciences and humanities or registered full-time in the first or second year of such a program at a Canadian university;
  • present a research project linked to one of the four themes of the foundation; and
  • be nominated by a university

How to apply

  • Full information and application forms can be found on the Trudeau Doctoral Scholarship page.
  • Late August/early September – Application form available online.
  • Trudeau doctoral scholarship applicants who completed a degree program at UVic or are currently registered at UVic must submit their complete application to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by Friday, November 16, 2012.
  • Applications must be submitted to the foundation directly by the nominating university.

What happens to your application at UVic once you submit it?

The Faculty of Graduate Studies will hold a competition in which approximately six candidates will be selected as nominees by our designated committee.

If you are nominated for a Trudeau Doctoral Scholarship, we will contact you in mid-December. The Trudeau Foundation will contact their selected finalists in early March for the next phase of their selection process.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) of $50,000/yr are available to Canadian and international graduate students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement and are pursuing doctoral study at a Canadian university. These scholarships are administered by Canada's three federal funding agencies:

  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • Natural  Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Social sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Eligibility

• Eligibility criteria

How to apply

  • The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship program does not accept direct applications. You must be nominated by a Canadian university with a Vanier CGS allocation
  • Only one Canadian university can nominate you and it must be the university where you intend to pursue doctoral studies.
  • If you want to be nominated by UVic, you should speak with your department's graduate adviser to express interest in the Vanier Scholarship. The Faculty of Graduate Studies will request one nomination from each department in early September of each year. 

How will you know if you are nominated by your department?

If you are nominated for a Vanier CGS, you will be contacted by email by the Faculty of Graduate Studies in September and invited to complete the online Vanier application form. The email will include the UVic deadline and resources available to assist you with the application.

What happens to your application at UVic once you submit it?

The University of Victoria is restricted in how many Vanier nominations we can send forward to the national competition for NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR.  The UVic Vanier CGS committee will review the applications and decide which applicants will be forwarded to the national competition.

You will be advised if your application has been forwarded to the national competition in early November. Results of the national competition are announced the following April.

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