Financial Assistance, Awards and Scholarships

Brock University and external agencies offers fellowships, assistantships, scholarships, prizes and grants. Prospective students are strongly urged to apply for any of the awards for which they are eligible. Scholarships from external agencies are listed on the Graduate Studies website - http://www.brocku.ca/gradstudies

Brock University Fellowships, Scholarships and Awards

Various forms of financial assistance are available to graduate students. In addition to the scholarships and awards listed below, Brock awards fellowships, teaching and research assistantships to incoming and full-time returning students on the basis of academic merit. No special application is required as all applicants are automatically considered for awards. Prospective candidates should direct their inquiries to the chair or graduate officer of the department concerned.

G. Ronald Brown Graduate Award

Value: to be determined

An annual award to a full-time student in good standing, in the Faculty of Mathematics and Science who has demonstrated financial need. Established in 2002 in memory of Dean Ron Brown. Applicants must complete a bursary application, available from the Office of Graduate Studies. The award will be made by the Brock University Senate Committee on Graduate Studies, based on the recommendation of the Dean 'or designate' of the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. The value of the award will be calculated as the interest earnings from the endowment contributed by the family and friends of Ron Brown and the faculty and staff of Brock University.

Excellence in Research Award

Value: $1,250

Awarded annually in May to two full-time graduate students at the master's or Doctoral level who have demonstrated excellence in research. Students are eligible for the award if they are actively engaged in thesis research. Candidates for the award will be nominated by the department/program in March and recipients will receive acknowledgment at the Spring convocation.

Faculty of Education Fellowships

Value: $1,500

A maximum of fifteen graduate fellowships are awarded each year to new and continuing full-time students in the Master of Education program who have achieved high academic standing. Prospective candidates for fellowships will be considered on application for admission to the Master of Education program. Continuing students will be considered after successful completion of their first year of study. In order to qualify, students must be registered as full-time students.

Faculty of Education Graduate Bursary

Value: $1,000

A number of graduate bursaries are awarded each year to continuing full-time students in the Master of Education Program who are experiencing financial difficulties. Only one such bursary can be obtained during the student's MEd program. Application details and deadlines can be obtained from the Chair of the Graduate and Undergraduate Department in the Faculty of Education. Applicants must provide evidence of on-going participation in the department, a statement outlining financial need and a reference letter from a full-time faculty member describing the student's academic progress.

The Gordon R. Finlay Scholarship

Value: to be determined

An annual award to an outstanding graduate student in chemistry who has an excellent record in research, course work and demonstrating. Preference will be given to international students.

Donor: The G. R. Finlay Family

Richard L. Hearn Scholarship

Value: to be determined

To be awarded to the Brock Physics graduate, with the highest major average, entering the graduate program in physics. Established in 1989 in memory of Dr. Richard L. Hearn, Brock University's first Chancellor.

Donor: The family of R. L. Hearn.

The Thompson-Harrison Graduate Scholarship

Value: $1,250

The recipient will be a visa student studying physics at the graduate level who has achieved a high academic standing in-course and whose studies are not fully funded by his/her government. Should no physics visa graduate qualify, the scholarship will be awarded to a top chemistry graduate student, qualifying under the same conditions.

In the event that no visa student qualifies, the scholarship will be awarded, in the first instance, to a physics student who has attained a high academic standing on entry or in-course. Should no physics student qualify, the scholarship will be awarded to a chemistry student, qualifying under the same conditions.

Donor: Bernard Harrison.

Established: 1991.

Ralph D. Morris Graduate Student Award

Value: to be determined

An annual award to a student in the first or second year of graduate studies at Brock who has been involved in university activities which reflect well on graduate students or extracurricular activities which enhance the University's role in the community. The successful candidate will be selected on the strength of responses to areas that reflect these qualities.

The value of the award will be calculated as the interest earnings from the endowment of $3,000 contributed to the university by the Graduate Student Association.

Donor: Graduate Student Association. Established: 1995.

Professor John R. A. Mayer Graduate Scholarship

Value: to be determined

An award made annually to a graduate student in the Master's degree program in Philosophy who has the highest academic standing. Applicants must meet OSAP residency requirements and complete a bursary application, available from the Graduate Studies Office.

Established: 1997

Donor: Brock Philosophical Society.

Wendy Murphy Memorial Award

Value: $1000

The award will be made annually to a returning Psychology graduate student based on consistent academic excellence and collegiality. The candidate will be nominated by a selection committee appointed by the Psychology Department.

Donor: Family and friends of Wendy Murphy

Established: 1998

Niagara District Chartered Accountants Association Award in Master of Accounting

Value: $1000

Awarded to a student entering the Master of Accounting (MAcc) program with the highest entering average and demonstrated financial need. Preference will be given to students from the Niagara Region. Applicants must meet OSAP residency requirements and complete a bursary application, available from the Graduate Studies Office.

Donor: Niagara District Chartered Accountants Association.

Edgar and Irmgard Penner Scholarship

Value: to be determined

To be awarded annually to an international student in any field, in the first or subsequent year of a graduate program, who has achieved high academic standing and does not receive financial support from his/her country.

Donor: Irmgard Penner.

Established: 1994.

Department of Physics Graduate Scholarship

Value: to be determined

To be awarded annually to a full-time graduate student in the first or subsequent year of a graduate degree in Physics. The recipient will be selected on the basis of academic performance and demonstrated financial need.

Bursary application forms are available from the Graduate Studies Office.

Established: 1997

Donor: Dr. Maureen Reedyk

The Governor General's Gold Medal

The Governor General's Gold Medal is awarded at Spring convocation to a graduate student who achieves the highest academic standing in a graduate degree program. Graduands from both the Spring and the previous Fall convocation are eligible. The medal will be awarded on the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Graduate Studies.

Jack Noble Book Prize

The book prize is awarded every year at both the Spring and Fall convocations to a Master of Education student who achieves the highest academic standing in the MEd program. The prize is awarded in the name of Jack Noble on the recommendation of the Faculty of Education.

Loans and Awards by Government Agencies

Unless otherwise noted information and application forms may be obtained from the Graduate Studies Office.

Ontario Student Assistance Program

All students who are residents of Ontario. Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and who satisfy the admission requirements of a Canadian university or an eligible post-secondary institution in Ontario may apply for an award under this program. To receive an award a student must establish a need for assistance and enrol in an eligible institution in the year of the award. An award under this program will be made to the extent of established need. Normally assistance will be in the form of a loan. Application forms are available from the Financial Aid Office.

Canada Student Loan Program

Students not eligible under the Ontario Student Assistance Plan may be eligible for a Canada Student Loan. The Application form for the Ontario Student Assistance Program is also used for the Canada Student Loan Program. The forms are available from the Financial Aid Office, Room ST402.

Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth scholarship plan provides opportunities for Commonwealth students to pursue advanced studies in other commonwealth countries. The scholarships are awarded to graduates of recognized universities for a period of two academic years and will cover the holder's travel, living and study expenses during the period of tenure. Commonwealth scholarships tenable at Canadian universities are open to commonwealth citizens other than residents of Canada. Citizens of commonwealth countries should make application in their own country for commonwealth scholarships tenable at Canadian universities. Information and application forms may be obtained from the Graduate Office, Office of the Registrar or from the Association of Universities and Colleges, 151 Slater Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5N1.

Deadline dates: October 31 (Australia), December 31 (New Zealand).

Sir John A. Macdonald Graduate Fellowship in Canadian History

This award is made available to a candidate who is a resident of Ontario and who is a Canadian citizen and is entering a master's or doctoral program at an Ontario university with a major emphasis in Canadian history.

Value: $8,500 per year (tenable for three years)

Deadline date: June 1.

Department of National Defence Scholarship and Fellowship Program

The Department of National Defence has established a number of scholarships and fellowships within the framework or strategic studies of relevance to current and future Canadian security. Studies may relate to any of the economic political, technological or sociological dimensions of national security. Applicants must be Canadian citizens.

Value: up to $10,000

Deadline date: February 1.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Graduate Scholarships

NSERC offers two types of postgraduate scholarships to students pursuing graduate studies at Brock. Postgraduate scholarships are awarded to students of high academic achievement who are working towards a master's or doctoral degree in the natural sciences or engineering.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Support at the master's level is limited to a maximum of two years.

Value: $17,300 per year for master's studies; $19,100 per year for doctoral studies.

Deadline date: Completed application must be returned to the appropriate department chair by mid-November.

1967 Science and Engineering Scholarships

Value: $21,300

Three scholarships are offered to outstanding students to enable them to undertake graduate studies and research leading to a doctorate degree in one of the natural sciences or engineering. Candidates are nominated by the University and must, at the time of application, be either in the final year of an honours degree program in science or engineering or in a qualifying year. Awards are initially for two years, with possible renewal for the third and fourth years.

Information on these and other NSERC awards may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies or from the NSERC website: http://www.nserc.ca

Northern Bursary Program

The Ministry of Community and Social Services offers financial assistance to post-secondary students pursuing careers in specialized social services. The program is designed to help students in psychology, social work, speech pathology and persons of native ancestry, interested in working in Northern Ontario.

Bursary recipients are required to work in areas of the province designated by the Ministry.

Deadline date: June 1.

Ontario Graduate Scholarships

Value: $5,000 per academic term

The Government of Ontario provides annually awards up to 1300 Ontario Graduate Scholarships which will be tenable at the Ontario university of the student's choice. The awards are tenable in all disciplines and the applicant must have high academic achievement and meet certain citizenship requirements. Awards will be for two or three consecutive terms.

For further information and application forms, contact the Graduate Studies Office.

Deadline date: November 3.

Institutional OGS Awards

Brock may nominate up to ten students for the institutional OGS awards to students beginning or continuing their graduate studies at Brock University. Other eligibility criteria and value are the same as for regular OGS awards. For further information, contact the Graduate Studies Office.

Ontario-Quebec Exchange Fellowships

Value: $10,000 masters; $12,000 doctoral

The two provincial governments will award ten fellowships to masters or doctoral students to study in the respective provinces in any field of study.

Deadline date: January 31.

Petro-Canada Graduate Research Award

Value: $10,000

Award was established to encourage research in specialized fields of study relating to the petroleum industry. Five awards will be offered annually to master's or doctoral candidates in physical sciences, social sciences applied sciences or business administration. Candidates must be Canadian citizens. The award is tenable at any Canadian university which is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

Deadline date: February 1.

John Charles Polanyi Prizes

Value: $15,000

The Government of Ontario has established a fund to provide annually up to five prizes to outstanding young researchers who are continuing to postdoctoral studies at an Ontario University of physics, chemistry, medicine or economic science.

Deadline date: January 1.

Awards and Scholarships by External Agencies

In addition to the University and government awards described above, there exist numerous other awards for graduate students offered by external agencies, foundations, companies and fraternal organizations. Some of these awards are briefly described below. For a listing of external funding opportunities please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website http://www.brocku.ca/gradstudies

Brock University has joined with the Community of Science, Inc. (COS), a leading Web Site for scientist and scholars, http://www.cos.com. COS provides access to an international network of nearly half a million peers at 700 universities and R & D institutions and corporation in more than 125 countries. COS helps scientiests and scholars find funding, promotes their research and collaborate with colleagues in a customized web community.

Canadian Federation of University Women

Various scholarships offered to candidates who are Canadian citizens.

Margaret McWilliams Scholarship $10,000

Professional Fellowships $5,000

Beverley Jackson Fellowship $3,000

Alice E. Wilson Award $2,100

Margaret Dale Philip Award $1,000

Deadline date: November 1.

Further information may be obtained from: Canadian Federation of University Women

58 Parkdale Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 1E5

Pestcon Graduate Scholarships

Value: $3,000

The scholarship is open to Canadian students who are pursuing graduate study in any area of pesticide research including alternative pest control strategies at a Canadian university.

Deadline date: March 1.

Frank Knox Fellowship Fund

Value: $9,600

This award enables two students from Canada to study for one academic year at Harvard University in one of the following faculties: arts and sciences, business, medicine, divinity, education, law, public administration. These fellowships are open to Canadian citizens who have graduated or who are about to graduate from a recognized Canadian university.

Deadline date: February 1.

IODE Scholarships

Value: $8,500 for study in Canada;

$12,000 for study overseas in other commonwealth countries.

Scholarships will be awarded to candidates who are Canadian citizens who hold a first degree from a recognized Canadian university and hold a master's degree or be in the final year of a master's degree. Candidates must not be more than 35 years of age on December 31 of the year in which they receive the scholarship.

Deadline date: December 1.

MacKenzie King Travelling Scholarships and the MacKenzie King Open Scholarship

MacKenzie King Travelling Scholarships value: $10,000. The MacKenzie King Open Scholarship value: $7,500.

The MacKenzie King Travelling scholarships are open to graduates of any Canadian university for study either in the United States or the United Kingdom, in the field of international or industrial aspects of law, history, politics or economics. The MacKenzie King Open Scholarship is open to graduates of any Canadian university for study in Canada in any field. Candidates are nominated by the University from which they have received, or will receive their most recent degree.

Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association Scholarships

Value of each of these awards is $7,000

The OECTA offers three scholarships for graduate study and three fellowships for religious studies to members in good standing with the Association.

Deadline date: April 1.

For further details and application forms are available from the General Secretary, Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, 65 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M4T 2Y8.

Soroptimist Foundation of Canada

Value: $5,000

The Foundation annually offers several grants to female students to assist them with university studies that will quality them for careers serving people by improving the quality of their lives. (As an example, but not limited to the following: providing legal counsel and assistance; counselling mature women entering or re-entering the labour market; providing counselling for battered women; administrative positions in women's centre.) To be eligible, an applicant must be a Canadian citizen and registered in a graduate program in an accredited university and pursuing a course of study that will lead directly to a career of service to people generally. Further details and application forms are available from: Soroptimist Foundation of Canada, c/o Doreen Dodd, St. Paul's College, Westmound Road North, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G5.