Research Awards and Scholarship Opportunities

This page contains information to help you fund your research project. These awards are for research-based students completing either their Master’s level project, or their Doctoral level project.

Funding Opportunities

Tri-Agency Funding

Brock Graduate students have the opportunties to apply for different external funders. There are ones from the Tri-Agency – which is made up of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). These can fund graduate research at different levels, from MA, to Phd, to Post-Doc.

Other Sources of Funding

There are other sources of funding. Some have been compiled and listed at the bottom of this webpage. There are also other places you can look for funding in your areas of research. For example, if there are research networks that you join (which you usually get for free or at a discount as a student) they will often have funding opportunities. There are also community partners that may be able to fund your research.

Awards for Doctoral Students

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Award Value: $50,000 a year for 3 years
Deadline: October 1, 2023

Quota*: CIHR = 0, NSERC = 1, SSHRC = 2 (1+1 floating quota)
*Refers to the number of awards we can put forward

ABOUT THE AWARD

Named after Major-General Georges P. Vanier, the first francophone Governor General of Canada, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) program helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students.

PROCESS

  • Before deadline date above:
  • After deadline date, Brock’s Internal adjudication committee reviews, and selects applicants to move forward by the date on the Vanier website.

ELIGIBILITY

Please refer to Vanier website for:

  • Eligibility
  • Application Instructions

You may submit only one application per year to one Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)

You may submit an application to NSERC Doctoral and to the VANIER CGS competition in the same year.

TRANSCRIPTS

Transcripts: Students must have their up-to-date and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate studies submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by the application deadline. This year, please upload them to the Brock Internal Link before deadline.

This is a national scholarship provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS – DOCTORAL (CGSD)

AND

NSERC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS – DOCTORAL (PGSD)

Award Value

CGS D: $35,000 a year (for two or three years)
PGS D: $21,000 a year (for two or three years)

Application Deadline: October 15, 2023 8:00PM
Level of Study: PhD
Brock’s Quota: 15

Link to agency information page

Your application must include a copy of all up-to-date official transcripts including a current transcript (even if you don’t have grades from this semester). Each transcript should include one copy of the legend.

For Brock students, you can order them through MyCreds.
Send them to yourself
Open the file and download (or print) to remove password protection
Upload to CGS-D.
You can watch a video on how to do it here.

THIS IS A NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL

JOSEPH-ARMAND BOMBARDIER CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS-DOCTORAL (CGSD)

AND

SSHRC DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

Award Value

CGS D: $35,000 a year for 3 years
Fellowship: $20,000 a year for 1 to 4 years

Application Deadline: October 15, 2023 8:00PM  October 24, 2023 at 4:00pm*

*Revised SSHRC CGS-Doctoral internal deadline due to SSHRC portal disruption 

Level of Study: PhD
Application Form: Web-based application
Brock’s quota: 16

About the Award:
Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral (CGS D) and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships provide financial support to high calibre scholars who are engaged in a doctoral program in the social sciences or humanities.  The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) offers two types of awards through one application.  The CGS D will be offered to the top-ranked applicants and the next tier of meritorious applicants will be offered a Fellowship.

PROCESS

Student submits application on SSHRC website through the Online Application
Brock Internal selection committees review applications
Institution forwards selected applications electronically to SSHRC.
You will be notified if your application was moved forward.
If moved forward, SSHRC verify eligibility
Members review and score applications
Final ranked list is produced
Results announced in April.

ELIGIBILITY

You may submit only one application per year to one Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)

You may submit an application to SSHRC Doctoral and to the VANIER CGS competition in the same year.

Please refer to SSHRC website for:

  • Eligibility
  • Application Instructions

TRANSCRIPTS

Your application must include a copy of all up-to-date official transcripts including a current transcript (even if you don’t have grades from this semester). Each transcript should include one copy of the legend.

For Brock students, you can order them through MyCreds.
Send them to yourself
Open the file and download (or print) to remove password protection
Upload to CGS-D.
You can watch a video on how to do it here.

Every possible effort should be made to get your original transcripts. If you are having challenges getting previous transcripts, please contact us, and we can use ones submitted during your application.

THIS IS A NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL 

SSHRC Impact Awards recognize researchers and graduate students to celebrate funding achievement, either entirely or partially, by SSHRC. Brock University will hold an internal competition for Impact nominations. 

SSHRC Impact Webinars: January 25, 2024. More information can be found here: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/impact_awards-prix_impacts-eng.aspx  

The Talent Award: The Talent Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual who, on April 1, 2024, holds a SSHRC doctoral scholarship or fellowship or postdoctoral fellowship and who maintains academic excellence, has a talent for research and knowledge mobilization, and has demonstrated clear potential to be a future leader within and/or outside the academic sector.   

Talent Award Value: $50,000
Internal Deadline: February 1, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Applicants submit applications to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs at graduatestudies@brocku.ca  

Talent Award application process: 

The following nomination materials should be emailed to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, graduatestudies@brocku.ca, as one document file by the internal deadline date of February 1, 2024: 

  • information supporting the nomination (if relevant, up to 2 pages); 
  • the nominee’s current CV; 
  • a list of the names and contact information of those who can provide letters of support (3 potential referees) 

Selection of Brock Candidates: February 14, 2024 

FGSPA works with candidates over the remaining period. During this period, FGSPA will support candidates in completing and/or compiling the additional documents required for the nomination package due to SSHRC on April 1, 2024. 

External Letters of Reference: March 22, 2024 

ORS Signature Sheet: March 22, 2024 

 More information on the Talent Award, including instructions to apply, can be found here: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/instructions/impact/applicant-candidat-eng.aspx  

More information on SSHRC Impact awards can be found here: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/impact_awards-prix_impacts-eng.aspx 

Talent Award- Selection criteria

  1. Challenge—ambition and importance (25%): 
  • originality and significance of the body of work within the nominee’s fields of research.

    2. Achievements—impact and outcomes (75%):
     
  • originality and significance of the nominee’s body of academic achievement and research, including quality of publications relative to stage of career; 
  • evidence of impact of the nominee’s work within their fields of research and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community; 
  • the nominee’s ability and commitment to communicate research results within and/or beyond the academic community; 
  • level of the nominee’s engagement with, and the quality of training and mentoring provided to, students, emerging scholars and participants relative to the nominee’s career level; and 
  • the nominee’s demonstrated potential for leadership and societal contributions within and/or beyond the academic community. 
THIS IS A NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED BY THE CANADIAN INSTITUTES OF HEALTH RESEARCH

CIHR Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Award Value: $17,500 to $35,000

Application Deadline: October 15, 2023 8:00 PM
Level of Study: PhD
Application Form: Web-based application

Quota: 3

About the Award:

PROCESS

Student submits application on CIHR website through the Online Application
Brock Internal selection committees review applications
Institution forwards selected applications electronically to agency.
You will be notified if your application was moved forward.
If moved forward, agency will verify eligibility
Members review and score applications
Final ranked list is produced
Results announced in April.

ELIGIBILITY

You may submit only one application per year to one Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)

Please refer to CIHR website for:

  • Eligibility
  • Application Instructions

TRANSCRIPTS

Your application must include a copy of all up-to-date official transcripts including a current transcript (even if you don’t have grades from this semester). Each transcript should include one copy of the legend.

For Brock students, you can order them through MyCreds.
Send them to yourself
Open the file and download (or print) to remove password protection
Upload to CGS-D.
You can watch a video on how to do it here.

This is a National Scholarship for students accepted into a one, two, or three year doctoral program

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship

ABOUT THE AWARD

Our scholarship program is a gateway for courageous, bold, original thinkers who seek unconventional experiences beyond the halls of academia. Our Scholars are hungry to play a leadership role in their communities and help inspire positive change. This year’s recipients were chosen based on their compelling research that contributes to one or more of the Foundation’s four themes. They will embark on a three-year journey that will foster their development as leaders and offer critical reflection on the subject of Power & Knowledge.

Due Date

December 1, 2023

Information Session hosted by the Foundation: November 6, 2023. Visit their website for more details.

PROCESS

Apply through their Application Portal 

ELIGIBILITY

More information can be found at their website

TRANSCRIPTS

Submitted to their portal.

Application Deadline: February 22, 2024

Award Value: Doctoral (Stream A): maximum of $50,000 per year up to 1 year, Post-doctoral (Stream B): maximum of $155,000 total for 2 years.

The Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship provides an embedded research opportunity for highly-qualified PhD trainees and post-doctoral researchers studying health services and policy research (HSPR), or related fields. This is a unique opportunity for awardees to:

  • apply their research and analytic talents to critical health system challenges that are being addressed by health system organizations (e.g., public, private for-profit, not-for-profit, and Indigenous health organizations) outside of the traditional university setting, and
  • develop and expand professional experience, new skills, and networks.

Apply through ResearchNet

Awards for Masters Students

Award Value: $17,500 for 12 months, non-renewable
Deadline: December 1, 2023 8:00PM
Submit application to:   Research Portal
Brock’s allocation:
NSERC: 4
SSHRC: 12
CIHR: 2

Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative: December 1, 2023. More information here.

The Tri-Agencies (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) established a “Harmonization Committee” to redesign the CGS Master’s programs. The aim was to create a harmonized, more flexible and effective system of application to fund students who demonstrate a high level of achievement in graduate studies.
Successful award recipients will receive one of the following awards depending on their area of research:

  • NSERC – Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship
  • SSHRC – Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship
  • CIHR – Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship

Application Form: Research Portal on-line application. If you have selected Brock University as one of the five institutions where you are planning on holding your award, the university will be able to access your online application.

Please refer to the Tri-Agency website for:

  • Eligibility
  • Application Instructions
  • Canadian Common CV (CCV) Instructions

Resources, information and updates to assist with your application.

Transcripts:

Your application must include a copy of all up-to-date official transcripts including a current transcript (even if you don’t have grades from this semester). Each transcript should include one copy of the legend.

For Brock students, you can order them through MyCreds.
Send them to yourself
Open the file and download (or print) to remove password protection
You can watch a video on how to do it here.

Note: If you have applied for an OGS award, you may include your official transcript(s) with your OGS application package.

Minimum Academic Requirements:
The applicant must, at minimum, meet the following eligibly requirements:

  • Students must have achieved a first-class average: an overall average of at least A- (80%) in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).

See the full list of Tri-agency eligibility requirements for the Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s program here.

Announcement of Results: Universities will post their competition results on the Research Portal no earlier than April 1, 2024.
Acceptance and Declines of Offers: Applicants will have three weeks to respond to offers of awards. Offers not accepted will be deemed to have been declined.

Brock Information Session

Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Scholarship Masters (CGS-M)

Award value: $17,500 for one year

Brock Information Presentations 2021

Tri-Agency CGS-Masters

Awards for Graduate Students at any level

This is a provincial scholarship

Award Value: $15,000 a year
Deadline: January 15, 2024 by 4 p.m.
Students submit application to: Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Brock’s allocation: 62

  • 60 OGS awarded to Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents, or Protected Persons (2 of these awards will be set aside for Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) applicants who self-identify on their OGS application)
  • 2 OGS awarded to international students who are studying in Ontario under a temporary resident visa

Please note, this information will pertain to the Brock University’s OGS application process. Each university will have its own application and deadline date.

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program encourages excellence in graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral levels. The value of an OGS award for one year is $15,000, $5,000 per term. Students may receive the award for two terms ($10,000) or three terms ($15,000), the majority of the scholarships will be awarded for three terms. One-term awards are not granted.
Students must apply for the award at the university where they plan to attend graduate studies. The award is not transferable from University to University. This means that all undergraduate and graduate students wishing to apply for OGS, who plan to study at the graduate level at Brock, must apply and submit their OGS application to Brock.

Eligibility criteria:
In order to be considered for an OGS, students must be:

  • A Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person [under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protections Act (Canada)] at the time of the OGS application deadline date.
  • Enrolled in or applying for admission to a graduate program on a full-time basis at Brock at the time of holding the award.
  • Taking an eligible research-based program on a full time basis.
  • Students cannot hold the award beyond their program funding window. Master’s and PhD applicants must have a minimum of two (2) terms remaining within their defined length of their graduate program at the time the award is disbursed.

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. Find official Provincial guidelines here.

Your application must include a copy of all up-to-date official transcripts including a current transcript (even if you don’t have grades from this semester). Each transcript should include one copy of the legend.

For Brock students, you can order them through MyCreds.
Send them to yourself; Open the file and download (or print) to remove password protection.

Visa Students:
International students who are studying in Ontario under a temporary resident visa – student study permit, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) are eligible for the allotted visa student awards (Brock’s allocation is 2).

Minimum Academic Requirements:
The applicant must, at minimum, meet the following OGS academic requirements:

  • students must have an overall average of at least A- (80%) in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).

Eligibility Conditions:
Master’s students can receive the scholarship for a maximum of two years and doctoral students for a maximum of four years, subject to a lifetime maximum of six years per student.

In addition, a lifetime maximum of six (6) years of government-funded student awards must have not have been exceeded by the applicant. Awards under the following programs will be counted toward this lifetime maximum:

  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEIIGSST)
  • Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)

Applicants cannot hold an OGS scholarship and an award from any of the following programs, concurrently:

  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEIIGSST)
  • Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)

Recipients must remain enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible program. Recipients who withdraw, transfer to part-time status, or fail to complete the term, will be required to repay the award.

OSAP Restrictions

Students who have an OSAP restriction on their file are ineligible from receiving their scholarship until the restriction has been cleared. At the time of disbursement, if the Faculty of Graduate Studies finds a restriction on the student’s file, the student will be contacted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and advised of a deadline by which they must clear the restriction or forfeit their award.

Evaluation Criteria:
Academic Excellence 50%
Research Potential 30%
Communications, Interpersonal and Leadership Abilities 20%

You can read more about the evaluation criteria weighting here 

Deadline Date:  January 15, 2024 by 4:00 pm.

Academic Assessments & Letter of Support:   

  • Academic Assessment Report – 2 required (to be submitted by referee)
  • Submission of the academic report and letter of support, must be submitted by the deadline date set above.

Announcement of results: April 2024 – Only successful applicants will be notified.

This is a provincial scholarship

Award Value: $15,000 a year
Deadline: January 15, 2024 by 4 p.m.
Students submit application to: Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Brock’s allocation: 8

The QEII-GSST scholarships must be awarded to Canadian citizens or permanent residents enrolled full-time in approved research masters and/or doctoral programs in science and technology at an Ontario university.

To be considered for QEII-GSST award, a student must be:

  • A Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) at the time of the application deadline [Exception: see note on international students below];
  • Enrolled at a publicly-assisted university in Ontario in a full-time research-based program of study that leads to a graduate degree and is approved for operating grant purposes by the ministry; and
  • Enrolled in 60% or more of a full course load as defined by the university, or 40% or more for students with permanent disabilities.
  • Enrolled in a research master’s or doctoral program in a science and technology discipline (See Appendix One for a list of eligible science and technology disciplines).
  • International students are ineligible for QEII-GSST awards

Eligible Disciplines For QEII-GSST Purposes

The QEII-GSST program supports graduate students enrolled in research master’s and doctoral programs in science and technology disciplines. Collaboration, inter-disciplinary study, and innovation are encouraged. The following are the eligible disciplines:

  • Applied Sciences:
  • Aerospace (may include Aeronautical Engineering)
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering and Architecture (may include Landscape Architecture)
  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering Science (may include Engineering, Engineering Physics, and
  • Nuclear Engineering)
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mining, Metallurgy, and Materials Science (may include Metallurgical Engineering)
  • Systems and Industrial Engineering (may include Systems/Design Engineering and Operational Research)
  • Biological and Life Sciences:
  • Biochemistry and Biophysics (may include Medical Biophysics)
  • Environmental Sciences (may include Agriculture, Ecology, Forestry, and Toxicology)
  • General Biological Sciences (may include Biology, Botany, Entomology, Microbiology, Mycology, Plant and Animal Biology, and Zoology)
  • Genetics, Cell, and Molecular Biology
  • General Health Science (may include research-oriented programs in Epidemiology, Human Kinetics, Hygiene, Nutrition, and Rehabilitation disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Audiology, and Speech Pathology)
  • Human Biology (may include Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences, Food Science, Immunology, Neuroscience, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physiology)
  • Medical and Veterinary Sciences (may include research-oriented programs in Dentistry, Medical Sciences, Nursing, Optometry, and Pharmacy)
  • Physical Sciences:
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science (may include Information/Systems Science)
  • Earth Sciences (may include Geology and Geophysics)
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Physics (may include Astronomy, Meteorology, and Space Science)

QEII-GSST Application

Application Deadline Date:  On or before January 15, 2024 by 4:00 p.m.

Eligibility Criteria:

In order to be considered for a QEII-GSST award, students must be:

  • a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protect Person [under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protections Act (Canada)] at the time of the QEII-GSST application deadline date
  • enrolled in or applying for admission to a graduate program on a full-time basis at Brock University at the time of holding the award
  • taking an eligible program on a full-time basis
  • students cannot hold the award beyond their program funding window. Master’s and PhD applicants must have a minimum of two (2) terms remaining within their defined length of their graduate program at the time the award is disbursed.

Find official Provincial guidelines here.

Your application must include a copy of all up-to-date official transcripts including a current transcript (even if you don’t have grades from this semester). Each transcript should include one copy of the legend.

For Brock students, you can order them through MyCreds.
Send them to yourself; Open the file and download (or print) to remove password protection.

Minimum Academic Requirements:

The applicant must, at minimum, meet the following QEII-GSST academic requirements:

  • students must have an overall average of at least A- (80%) in each of the last two (2) completed years of study (full-time equivalent).

Eligibility Conditions:

Master’s students can receive the scholarship for a maximum of two (2) years and doctoral students for a maximum of four (4) years, subject to a lifetime maximum of six (6) years per student.

In addition, a lifetime maximum of six (6) years of government-funded student awards must not have been exceeded by the applicant.  Awards under the following programs will be counted toward this lifetime maximum:

  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST)
  • Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
  • Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)

Applicants cannot hold a QEII-GSST scholarship and an award from any of the following program, concurrently:

  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
  • Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
  • Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)

Recipients must remain enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible program.  Recipients who withdraw, transfer to part-time status or fail to complete the term, will be required to repay the award.

OSAP Restrictions

Students who have an OSAP restriction on their file are ineligible from receiving their scholarship until the restriction has been cleared.  At the time of disbursements, if the Faculty of Graduate Studies finds a restriction on the student’s file, the student will be contacted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and advised of a deadline by which they must clear the restriction or forfeit their award.

Evaluation Criteria:
Academic Excellence 50%
Research Potential 30%
Communications, Interpersonal and Leadership Abilities 20%

You can read more about the weighting here 

Academic Assessments:

  • Academic Assessment Report – 2 required (to be submitted by referees)
  • Submission of the academic report and letters of support must be submitted by the deadline date as set above.

Announcement of Results: April 2024 – Only successful applicants will be notified.

Award Value: Up to $6,000
Deadline: September 30 & May 31

Submit application to: Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs

The Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) are available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada or Protected Persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) who hold a Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) at the master’s or doctoral level, or a Vanier CGS at the doctoral level.

The program description, application form and instructions for each agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) are available on the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements Program website, here.

Referee reports are due the same date and time as your scholarship application. Referees submit their report through https://brocku.ca/graduate-studies/award-reference-report/

This award is for graduates in any discipline.

Award Value: $8,500 to $10,500
Deadline: February 1 
Submit application to: Faculty of Graduate Studies
Eligibility and application: See requirements here

Award Value:
Master’s: $18,000
Doctoral: $20,000
Deadline: December 1 2023
Submit application to: Faculty of Graduate Studies

Eligibility and application: See requirements here

This award is administered by the Council of Ontario Universities.

Please carefully review the Announcement posted below for all eligibility criteria.

Learn more here 

Award Value:
Master’s: $25,000 plus $1,000 research allowance
Doctoral: $35,000 plus $2,000 research allowance
Post-doctoral: $50,000 plus $5,000 research allowance
Deadline: December 1 2023
Submit application to: Faculty of Graduate Studies

Eligibility and application: See requirements here

This award is administered by the Council of Ontario Universities.

Please carefully review the Announcement posted below for all eligibility criteria.

Learn more here 

Develop your career through new research connections, experience, and professional skills training. Mitacs programs are available for all disciplines. 

  • Mitacs Accelerate: Put your talent to work with a paid internship at an organization that needs your expertise. Funding starts at $15,000, and your partner organization’s financial contribution starts at $7,500. 
    • Open Projects: If you are a student (undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral fellows or a recent graduate from a Canadian institution), explore the available projects using the filters below, and apply using the link at the end of the project description. 
  • Mitacs Elevate: Build your career through this competitive annual fellowship for up to two years. Elevate includes a research management training program and a postdoctoral fellowship. Your partner organization’s financial contribution starts at $30,000 per year. 
  • Mitacs Globalink: Take your research abroad with Mitacs Globalink. Globalink offers travel funding between Canada and several international partners. 
  • Mitacs Entrepreneur International: Offers travel grants to Canadian start-ups housed in an incubator linked to an academic institution. The grant enables start-ups to connect with international incubators allowing you to explore new business development opportunities in global markets. 
  • Mitacs Business Strategy Internship: Put your skills to work through a paid internship and help Canadian businesses on the road to innovation! Provides $10,000 or $15,000 to students who develop innovative projects designed to help an organization thrive. 

Awards for International Students

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Award Value: $50,000 a year for 3 years
Deadline: October 1, 2023

ABOUT THE AWARD

Named after Major-General Georges P. Vanier, the first francophone Governor General of Canada, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) program helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students.

PROCESS

  • Students apply through Vanier Website
  • Students submit transcript through Brock Internal Link
  • Internal adjudication committee reviews, and selects applicants to move forward.

ELIGIBILITY

You may submit only one application per year to one Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)

You may submit an application to NSERC Doctoral and to the VANIER CGS competition in the same year.

Please refer to Vanier website for:

  • Eligibility
  • Application Instructions

TRANSCRIPTS

Transcripts: Students must have their up-to-date and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate studies submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by the application deadline. This year, please upload them to the Brock Internal Link before deadline.

This is a provincial scholarship

Award Value: $15,000 a year
Deadline: January 15 by 4:00 pm
Students submit application to: Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Brock’s allocation: 62

  • 60 OGS awarded to Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents, or Protected Persons (2 of these awards will be set aside for Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) applicants who self-identify on their OGS application)
  • 2 OGS awarded to international students who are studying in Ontario under a temporary resident visa

Please note, this information will pertain to the Brock University’s OGS application process. Each university will have its own application and deadline date.

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program encourages excellence in graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral levels. The value of an OGS award for one year is $15,000, $5,000 per term. Students may receive the award for two terms ($10,000) or three terms ($15,000), the majority of the scholarships will be awarded for three terms. One-term awards are not granted.
Students must apply for the award at the university where they plan to attend graduate studies. The award is not transferable from University to University. This means that all undergraduate and graduate students wishing to apply for OGS, who plan to study at the graduate level at Brock, must apply and submit their OGS application to Brock.

Allocation for International Students: TBD

Eligibility criteria:
In order to be considered for an OGS, students must be:

  • Students studying in Ontario under a study permit or visa.
  • Enrolled in or applying for admission to a research-based graduate program on a full-time basis at Brock at the time of holding the award.
  • Taking an eligible program on a full time basis.
  • Students cannot hold the award beyond their program funding window. Master’s and PhD applicants must have a minimum of two (2) terms remaining within their defined length of their graduate program at the time the award is disbursed.

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.

Find official Provincial guidelines here.

Your application must include a copy of all up-to-date official transcripts including a current transcript (even if you don’t have grades from this semester). Each transcript should include one copy of the legend.

For Brock students, you can order them through MyCreds.
Send them to yourself; Open the file and download (or print) to remove password protection.

Visa Students:
International students who are studying in Ontario under a temporary resident visa – student study permit, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) are eligible for the allotted visa student awards (Brock’s allocation is 2).

Minimum Academic Requirements:
The applicant must, at minimum, meet the following OGS academic requirements:

  • students must have an overall average of at least A- (80%) in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).

Eligibility Conditions:
Master’s students can receive the scholarship for a maximum of two years and doctoral students for a maximum of four years, subject to a lifetime maximum of six years per student.

In addition, a lifetime maximum of six (6) years of government-funded student awards must have not have been exceeded by the applicant. Awards under the following programs will be counted toward this lifetime maximum:

  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEIIGSST)
  • Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)

Applicants cannot hold an OGS scholarship and an award from any of the following programs, concurrently:

  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEIIGSST)
  • Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)

Recipients must remain enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible program. Recipients who withdraw, transfer to part-time status, or fail to complete the term, will be required to repay the award.

OSAP Restrictions

Students who have an OSAP restriction on their file are ineligible from receiving their scholarship until the restriction has been cleared. At the time of disbursement, if the Faculty of Graduate Studies finds a restriction on the student’s file, the student will be contacted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and advised of a deadline by which they must clear the restriction or forfeit their award.

Evaluation Criteria:
Academic Excellence 50%
Research Potential 30%
Communications, Interpersonal and Leadership Abilities 20%

You can read more about the weighting here 

Deadline Date:  On or before January 15, 2024 by 4:00 pm.  

Academic Assessments & Letter of Support:   

  • Academic Assessment Report – 2 required (to be submitted by referee – see below)
  • Submission of the academic report and letter of support, must be submitted by the deadline date set above.

Announcement of results: April 2024 – Only successful applicants will be notified.

International Students have the option to apply for funding opportunities through Brock International.

You can see them here at their website. 

Questions and Answer Sessions

Awards for Postdoctoral Students

Value: $70,000, 2 years (non-renewable)

Application Deadline: September 17, 2024

Application & Eligibility: Link to agency information page

CMHC-NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and NSERC partnered in 2018 to jointly fund the CMHC-NSERC PDF awards valued at $45,000 per year for two years.

Questions and Answer Sessions

Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research are competitive research funds that are intended to significantly develop all scientific research (research based on the free ideas of the researcher), from basic to applied research in all fields, ranging from the humanities and the social sciences to the natural sciences.

Questions and Answer Sessions

Application Deadline: January 12, 2024

The objective of this Canadian Space Agency Supplements to the NSERC PDF Program AO is to award a grant supplement to postdoctoral researchers who will have been awarded an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship under NSERC‘s PDF program.

Application Instructions can be found here.

Questions and Answer Sessions

HFSP Research Grants support innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries for early researchers.

Questions and Answer Sessions

In honour of the achievement of John Charles Polanyi, recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Government of the Province of Ontario has established a fund to provide annually up to five prizes to outstanding researchers in the early stages of their career who are continuing to post-doctoral studies or have recently started a faculty appointment at an Ontario university. In 2022, the prizes have a value of $20,000 each and are available in the areas broadly defined as Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Science.

To learn more, visit their website 

Apply here 

THIS IS A NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL

SSHRC Impact Awards recognize researchers and graduate students to celebrate funding achievement, either entirely or partially, by SSHRC. Brock University will hold an internal competition for Impact nominations.

SSHRC Impact Webinars: January 25, 2024. More information can be found here: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/impact_awards-prix_impacts-eng.aspx  

The Talent Award: The Talent Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual who, on April 1, 2024, holds a SSHRC doctoral scholarship or fellowship or postdoctoral fellowship and who maintains academic excellence, has a talent for research and knowledge mobilization, and has demonstrated clear potential to be a future leader within and/or outside the academic sector.

Talent Award Value: $50,000
Internal Deadline: February 1, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Applicants submit applications to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs at graduatestudies@brocku.ca

Talent Award application process:

The following nomination materials should be emailed to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, graduatestudies@brocku.ca, as one document file by the internal deadline date of February 1, 2024:

  • information supporting the nomination (if relevant, up to 2 pages);
  • the nominee’s current CV;
  • a list of the names and contact information of those who can provide letters of support (3 potential referees)

Selection of Brock Candidates: February 14, 2024

FGSPA works with candidates over the remaining period. During this period, FGSPA will support candidates in completing and/or compiling the additional documents required for the nomination package due to SSHRC on April 1, 2024.

External Letters of Reference: March 22, 2024

ORS Signature Sheet: March 22, 2024

 More information on the Talent Award, including instructions to apply, can be found here: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/instructions/impact/applicant-candidat-eng.aspx  

More information on SSHRC Impact awards can be found here: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/impact_awards-prix_impacts-eng.aspx 

Talent Award- Selection criteria

  1. Challenge—ambition and importance (25%):
  • originality and significance of the body of work within the nominee’s fields of research.

    2. Achievements—impact and outcomes (75%):
  • originality and significance of the nominee’s body of academic achievement and research, including quality of publications relative to stage of career;
  • evidence of impact of the nominee’s work within their fields of research and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community;
  • the nominee’s ability and commitment to communicate research results within and/or beyond the academic community;
  • level of the nominee’s engagement with, and the quality of training and mentoring provided to, students, emerging scholars and participants relative to the nominee’s career level; and
  • the nominee’s demonstrated potential for leadership and societal contributions within and/or beyond the academic community.

Application Deadline: February 22, 2024

Award Value: Doctoral (Stream A): maximum of $50,000 per year up to 1 year, Post-doctoral (Stream B): maximum of $155,000 total for 2 years.

The Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship provides an embedded research opportunity for highly-qualified PhD trainees and post-doctoral researchers studying health services and policy research (HSPR), or related fields. This is a unique opportunity for awardees to:

  • apply their research and analytic talents to critical health system challenges that are being addressed by health system organizations (e.g., public, private for-profit, not-for-profit, and Indigenous health organizations) outside of the traditional university setting, and
  • develop and expand professional experience, new skills, and networks.

Apply through ResearchNet

Funding SourceFunding NameDetails
Genome CanadaUkraine Research Trainee Relief Programmax $45,000
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
CIHRHostSeq/CIHR Joint Fellowship$70,000 per year for 1 year
Impact CanadaFellowship Program
SSHRCFellowship$45,000 per year, 1 or 2 years
NSERCFellowship$45,000 per year for 2 years
CIHR Fellowship$45,000 per year for up to 5 years
MitacsCanadian Science Policy Fellowship$70,000-$80,000 up to 1 year
MitacsElevate Fellowship Programmin $55,000/year + $7,500/year training curriculum
MitacsAccelerate Intership Programmin $15,000
Action CanadaFellowship
International Council for Canadian StudiesPostdoctoral Fellowships$2,500 per month, max $10,000 for 1 to 3 months
Cystic Fibrosis CanadaResearch Fellowship awards
Parkinson CanadaBasic Research Fellowship$40,000-$50,000 per year for 2 years
Parkinson CanadaClinical Movement Disorders Fellowship$50,000 for 1 year
Parkinson CanadaClinical Research Fellowship$50,000 per year for 2 years
Graduate Women in ScienceNational Fellowship Programmax $10,000 for 1 year
Canadian Blood ServicesPostdoctoral Fellowship Program$40,000-$50,000 for up to 3 years plus one time $20,000 research allowance
Liber EroFellowship Program$62,000/year for 2 years + $15,000 travel and research budget

Other Opportunities

These awards are external to Brock. They are vetted before we post them, but application questions should go to the funding agency.

Award NameAward ValueAward DeadlineAward Details
McCall McBain ScholarshipsFull tuition coverage and $2,000/month for living expenseson-goingThe McCall MacBain Scholarship will cover your tuition and fees for an eligible master’s or second-entry professional undergraduate program at McGill and provide you with a living stipend of $2,000 per month during academic terms.
CAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award$1,500To FGSPA for nomination process February 1, 2024; To agency March 29, 2024This award recognizes Canadian doctoral dissertations that make unusually significant and original contributions to their field.
Weston Family Awards in Northern ResearchVarious AmountsJanuary 16, 2024Weston Family Awards in Northern Research have provided unparalleled support to young scientists in Canada pursuing research in Canada’s North. These are for students pursuing a master’s degree, a doctoral degree or postdoctoral fellowship.
Soroptimist Foundation Awards$8,500January 31, 2024The Soroptimist Foundation of Canada annually offers several $8,500 grants to female graduate students in Canada to assist them with university studies which will qualify them for careers which will improve the quality of women’s lives.
Canadian Water Resources Association Graduate Scholarships in Water ResourcesVarious AmountsJanuary 31, 2024The Canadian Water Resources Association annually offers five scholarships awarded to graduate students whose programs of study focus on applied, natural, or social science aspects of water resources. Scholarship applications are typically open November-January.
Scholarship in Food Insecurity$15,000February 23, 2024Supports Master or PhD students who propose to advance a better understanding of food insecurity in Canada.
Henry Mandelbaum Graduate Fellowships for Excellence in Social Sciences, Humanities, or Arts$5,000March 8, 2024This is for students who are accepted or enrolled in a full-time doctoral program, or masters level program. Evaluated on academic excellence, promise and research potential, and leadership as defined by personal achievement, community service, involvement in academic life, volunteerism and civic engagement.
Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence$17,500March 21, 2024The Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence supports recruiting exceptional students to AI-related master’s programs in Ontario.
ESRI Young Scholars Awardsup to $1,500March 25, 2024For students in all disciplines using ESRI GIS software for their projects.
Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation of Canada Scholarship$10,000March 31, 2024For female Canadian citizens in a PhD program.
CSA Group Graduate Scholarship$10,000March 31, 2024For students completing a Masters level thesis on standards in any field (e.g. engineering, social sciences, health sciences).
Coalition Publica Scholarship ProgramMaster’s: $5,000

Doctoral: $10,000
April 8, 2024Are you exploring big data using digital humanities research methods? Interested in scholarly publishing and open access? A student researcher looking to delve deeper into the social dimensions of research communication? Consider applying for a Coalition Publica Scholarship! Masters and PhD students registered at a Canadian university (primary institution) are eligible.
Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence (CPCoE): Capacity Building Initiative$20,000April 12, 2024This capacity building initiative supports a graduate student conducting research in the field of Veterans’ chronic pain at the Master’s and at the Doctoral level.
Esri Canada GIS ScholarshipsVarious AmountsApril 15, 2024 (nomination deadline)For students in all disciplines using ESRI GIS software for their projects.
Richard M. Bird Post-Doctoral Fellowship$60,000April 26, 2024The Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance (IMFG) invites applications for a one-year Richard M. Bird Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Municipal Finance and Governance. Research should be pertinent to IMFG’s focus on the finance and governance issues faced by large cities and city-regions in Canada and around the world.
Dr. J.A. Campbell Young Investigator Award$5,000 April 30, 2024The Dr. J. A. Campbell Young Investigator Award supports any kind of research related to Celiac Disease and /or Gluten Sensitivity and is available to students and those who have recently completed degrees.
Lyle Makosky Values and Ethics in Sport Fund$2000April 30, 2024Awards to support the critical study of sport. Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; active in Canadian sport; as an athlete, practitioner or educator; and, if an athlete, must be engaged in post-secondary education.
Ages Foundation Fellowship & Bursaries$1,000 - $5,000April 30, 2024Applications that utilize multiple knowledge systems and diverse methodologies will be prioritized.
Kathryn Huget Leadership Award$1,000June 30, 2024The Kathryn Huget Leadership Award was created to improve the role of leadership in business and specifically the advancement of women in leadership roles.
Future Black Female STEM Bursary$1500June 30, 2024The Future Black Female is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering and supporting young Black women in our community. The bursary currently open to Black women who have been recently accepted into Brock University for a STEM program and have the intention of starting school this Fall 2023.
Savvy New Canadians Financial Literacy Scholarship 2024$1,000September 30, 2024The Savvy New Canadians Financial Literacy Scholarship runs twice a year, applicants must be enrolled full-time at an accredited university or college (any year and field of study). Two winners will receive a one-time scholarship award value of $1,000 each for the Winter and Fall terms.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Pursuit Awardsup to $3000April 14, 2023Recognizes outstanding PhD students and recent alumni each year for their exemplary contributions and achievements to the field of childhood disability research
The Simons Foundation Canada and the International Security Resarch and Outreach Programme of Global Affairs Canada$5,000April 28, 2023The primary objective of the award is to enhance Canadian graduate level scholarship on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation issues.
Bertram Scholarships$15,000May 19, 2023The scholarship will support the work of to PhD students registered at Canadian universities who are conducting research into organizational governance as part of their doctoral research project.
IDRC International Doctoral Research Awards (IDRC-IDRA)up to $20,000July 17, 2023 @ 1PM ETYour field research must be relevant to one of following five development outcome areas to which IDRC aims to contribute through its work: • Climate-Resilient Food Systems • Democratic and Inclusive Governance • Education and Science • Global Health • Sustainable Inclusive Economies
2023 Personnel Awards for Indigenous Scholars:
Master’s

Doctoral
Master’s: up to $50,000

Doctoral: up to $90,000
September 1, 2023 at 3:00pm EDTThe Personnel Awards for Indigenous Scholars aim to increase the number of highly qualified trainees working in heart and/or brain research from Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) communities whose traditional and ancestral territories are in Canada.
Rhodes Trust: CanadaVariesSeptember 28, 2023The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded, full-time, postgraduate award which enables talented young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford.
IODE Canada War Memorial PHD Scholarship 2023$15,000October 1, 2023IODE War Memorial Scholarship Application ​Applicants Must * Be a Canadian Citizen * Hold a first degree from a Canadian university * Be enrolled in at least the second year of a doctoral program
Black and Indigenous Doctoral Salary Award$20,000November 1, 2023These awards are intended for black and Indigenous research scholars who wish to pursue a career as a perinatal and/or child health researcher. This award will provide $20,000 of salary support for 3 years maximum.
Canada-US Fulbright Awards$25,000 USDNovember 15, 2023The Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program operates on the principle of reciprocal exchange and provides the opportunity for outstanding Canadian students to study and/or conduct research in the United States. Award recipients include Canadian citizens who are graduate students, prospective graduate students, or junior professionals.
BeSpatial Ontario: Nathan Adams Student Bursary$500April 2, 2023The BeSpatial Student Bursary is an annual award that recognizes the contributions of students studying at Ontario post-secondary institutions to the geospatial and information community. This is a great opportunity for students to get name recognition and begin participating in industry events.
Hugh C. Morris Experiential Learning Fellowshipup to $40,000Not accepting 2023-2024 ApplicationsThis award , is open to any graduate student studying in Canada who is working in a field related to earth, geosciences, environment, alternative energy, water, climate change, sustainability, or to the social impact, social sciences or design sciences related to these areas, and is designed to provide a unique experiential travel program designed by the student.
SWAAC Graduate Student Award of Merit$4,000Not accepting Ontario applicants until 2027At least three awards, each in the amount of $4,000, will be awarded annually to the women graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the university or general community while maintaining exemplary academic records.
Student Award in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion$4,000Not accepting Ontario applicants until 2027An award, in the amount of $4,000, will be given annually to a woman university or college student * who advances equity, diversity and inclusion within and/or outside their institution through outstanding dedication and excellence or community outreach and activism.

Prizes you can apply for:

These prizes are external to Brock. They are vetted before we post them, but application questions should go to the funding agency. These are typically smaller amounts and require you to write an essay or some level of competition.

Award NameAward ValueAward DeadlineAward Details
Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists$3,000July 15 2022A global Prize aimed at rewarding scientists at an early stage of their careers. 
GRADflix$300-100031-Jan-22Gradflix is a new competition that allows current and recent graduate students to share their research through a creative short video (60 seconds or less)
IHDCYH Talks Vido Competition$700-3000September TBDThe IHDCYH Talks Video Competition is a unique opportunity to submit a short video (5 minutes or less) that presents a clear evidence-based message to a lay audience that is designed to have a positive impact on the health of children, youth and families.
NewScientist Photography Awards£50-1000TBD - July?Celebrating the images that illustrate how science and technology impact our lives and the world around us.
More coming soon.

BROCK RESOURCES

University Designates: Tessa Mazachowsky & Emily Huneault, graduatestudies@brocku.ca, Research Awards and Scholarship Specialists, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1.

Future Events

Follow ExperienceBU for upcoming events.

Frequently Asked Questions About Funding

Your application must include a copy of all up-to-date official transcripts including a current transcript (even if you don’t have grades from this semester). Each transcript should include one copy of the legend.

Up-to-date transcripts – official transcripts that are dated or issued in the fall session of the application year (for current registration) or after the last term completed (if not currently registered).

Official transcripts – transcripts issued by the registrar’s office. Transcripts from other sources (e.g., printed from the student’s account/portal) are not official and will not be accepted. Opening and/or scanning a paper transcript will not render the transcript unofficial.

Transfer credits – If a transcript includes transfer credits from another institution, then the grades for these credits must be shown. If the grades are not shown, then the original transcript from the other institution must be included.

Every possible effort should be made to get your official transcripts. If you are having challenges getting previous transcripts, please contact us at graduatestudies@brocku.ca.

For Brock university students, please order your transcripts via your student portal.  Even if you began your graduate program in this Fall intake, you must submit a current transcript to show that you are registered in your program. There may be no marks but we need to see that you are registered in a program

For students who have applied to a Tri-agency competition, please feel free to use those transcripts for your OGS application.

For international transcripts, please contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies at graduatestudies@brocku.ca if you are having difficulty obtaining your transcripts.

Most funding agencies require you to provide references or sponsors who can provide information about the type of student you are. When you are selecting your references, make sure you:

Ask early!! Ensure they can complete the reference well before your deadline.

Ask people who know you well. This also means you have to find ways to get to know them – networking with them, volunteering with them, etc.

Provide information about you. Your CV or resume.

Provide details about the requirements of the funding agency. Some need a letter of reference, some need references to submit via a website. Be sure to be able to tell your potential reference or sponsor that information.

Some of our applications require that you submit through Canadian Common CV. If you do not, you can use the template ideas below:

CV Requirements (maximum 4 pages, 12 pt. font, single spaced)

Please provide your CV, including the following items:

  • Education (Degrees)
  • Academic and Non-Academic Work Experience including:

– Position title

– Start & End Date

– Organization – Department (Academic only)

  • List of Scholarships and Awards including:

– Type of award

– Organization

– Date / Amount / Award Name

  • Research Funding History including:

– Funding Title / Status / Start & End Date

– Funding Organization

– Program Name

– Total Funding Amount

  • Activities including:

– Advisory (e.g. Mentoring)

– Event Participation (e.g. Workshops, Fundraisers, Clubs)

– Community / Volunteer / Membership

Career Services provides templates and information on creating a Curriculum Vitae (CV). To access this information, please see the steps below. For more information on Career Services, click here.

Steps to Accessing CV Templates

  1. Login to CareerZone using your campus ID and password: careerzone.brocku.ca
  2. Click on the ‘Career Education’ menu item in the left-hand navigation
  3. Click ‘Online Resource Centre’ and then ‘Cover Letters, Resumes, CVs & Letters of Intent’

Some applications require you to complete a Canadian Common CV  and you will not need these templates.

Learning Services offers writing support workshops. This includes, but is not limited to, a critical read of a component of your paper. You can learn more about supports for graduate students at

If you receive an external scholarship or funding, you are no longer eligible to receive Fellowships administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. In lieu of this, you will receive a Dean of Graduate Studies Excellence Scholarship. This scholarship will be offered for the time period that you hold the external scholarship award; however, the annual value will be determined each year and subject to budgetary approval.

Thank you for taking the time to support your student by writing a letter of reference for them.  

Applying for scholarship and awards is an important part of the research process for many graduate students. Reference letters play an integral part in allowing the adjudication committee to understand the students strengths, and are critical in successful scholarship applications.  

In order to write a strong and effective letter, we recommend that the letter writer consult with the student to get the needed information. We have resources for students, where we ask them to take the onus on themselves to provide you with as much information as possible, to make this as easy as possible for you.  

This includes: 

  1. Link to the award, specifically to the evaluation criteria 
  1. Application draft  
  1. Details on what they want you to include – each award is different, and some have multiple referees. Some awards also have very limited space where students can write about their qualifications, so it is best to avoid too much duplication of comments.  
  1. Their CV  

Our adjudication committees have highlighted effective letters of support.  

These include: 

  1. How this student will excel with this award. Most applicants to external awards will have excellent grades, and a strong research record. A strong letter of support help to distinguish the applicant. Support your assessment with specific examples.  
  1. How this project is significant. Highlight the significance of the project, the feasibility in scope and methodology. Also address why this student is qualified to complete the work.  
  1. Describe the students work to date. This can include course preparation, and other experiences the student may have taken on to help them excel. *this can include details on why the student may have fewer publications or presentations than similar students.  
  1. Describe their research potential. This includes originality, judgement, written and oral skills, and research skills. Include concrete examples of these.  
  1. Reinforce key components of the application – especially things they cannot due to word length. For example, if the student has an exceptional publication, explain to adjudicators outside of your field why this is impressive.  
  1. The application and reference letter will be read by people within and outside of the students discipline. You can provide feedback on outputs, such as if it is not expected that a student would have a publication at the time of the application.  
  1. Reinforce evaluation criteria. Each application has a different criteria, so be sure to review them, and put a similar emphasis on each area.  
  1. *If you are the supervisor* Explain your training environment. Explain how you will facilitate the student  

 

Additional Tips 

-follow evaluation guidelines, such as page limit and format  

-expect it will take you longer than expected, and expect tech issues when uploading, so upload in advance of the deadline.  

-use letterhead whenever possible, and upload in PDF format (you can print from MS Word to PDF)  

-support descriptors with evidence. 

-use the space thoughtfully. Well received letters of reference are rich narratives about the student, outlining the students past experiences and skills in order to be successful if they receive the scholarship.  

-if you cannot write a meaningful letter, you can tell the student that, and suggest they find an alternate.  

-the tri-agencies strongly encourages the use of inclusive language (for example, “the applicant” or “they” instead of “he/she”)