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2013 External Scholarship Presentation. Agenda Abbreviations Why submit an application Top 10 things to know about applying What’s changed in the major competitions Other tips. Abbreviations. Tri-Councils = SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR NSERC – Natural Science and Engineering Research Council
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2013 • External Scholarship Presentation
Agenda • Abbreviations • Why submit an application • Top 10 things to know about applying • What’s changed in the major competitions • Other tips
Abbreviations • Tri-Councils = SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR • NSERC – Natural Science and Engineering Research Council • SSHRC – Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council • CIHR – Canadian Institutes of Health Research • CGS – Canada Graduate Scholarship • PGS – Postgraduate Scholarship • OGS – Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Why submit an application? • Show me the money… • Canada Graduate Scholarship – Masters • $17,500 • SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS • Doctoral - $35,000/year for 3 years • SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship - $20,000/year for up to 4 years • NSERC Alexander Graham Bell CGS • Doctoral - $35,000/year for 3 years • NSERC PGS • Doctoral - $21,000/year for up to 4 years • CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best CGS • Doctoral - $35,000/year for 3 years • CGS holders are also eligible to apply for the Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement
Why submit an application? But it’s not just about the money . . . • Recognition • It’s an investment in you • Experience preparing applications • Experience writing proposals • Review and fine tune research objectives • Required at doctoral level to maintain MGF eligibility
General Guidelines • You can apply to only one agency of the Tri-Councils (SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR) • You can apply for the CGS AND the Vanier at the same time as long as it is the same agency. • If eligible, you can apply for both the Tri-Council CGS and the OGS awards • However,.. • You can only hold one award at a time.
General Guidelines • Tri-Council stipulates that you can receive a maximum of four years of government-funded student awards (includes awards from the Ontario and federal government). • Applications being completed this fall are for awards to be held during the 2014-2015 academic year. • Eligible recipients may elect to start award in May 2014. • You do not need to be admitted to a graduate program at the time of application.
Top 10 Things You Should Know #1 – Verify your eligibility • Each competition clearly states eligibility criteria. • Citizenship • Academic standing (GPA) • Term of study • Lifetime maximum (four years; OGS six years) • Research component (subject matter) • You can submit only one application to either SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR for the 2014-2015 competition (not including the Vanier).
Eligibility for Tri-Council – Master’s • Must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada • Must be applying for support to pursue your first graduate degree and not have completed more than 12 months of full-time graduate study at the proposed start date of the award. • Have a first-class average (A- or 80%) in the last two years of full-time study or equivalent (approx. last 20 - 0.5 credit courses). • Have not already received an award for Master’s level study from a Tri-Council Agency • An eligible graduate program must have a significant research component.
Eligibility for Tri-Council - Doctoral • Must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada • Must be applying to pursue your first PhD (or equivalent); • Must be pursuing doctoral studies in the appropriate to the funding agency mandates • Not have already received a scholarship or fellowship from a Tri-Council agency to undertake PhD or a combined MA/PhD
Eligibility for an OGS • Open to all students – domestic or international • Academic Standing • If entering the first or second year of graduate studies at the time of application you must have an overall average of at least A-, or the equivalent, on the last 20 one-term/semester courses, or the equivalent, completed. • If you are entering the third year of graduate studies at the time of application you must have an overall average of at least A-, or the equivalent, on all graduate courses completed.
Top 10 Things You Should Know #2 – Deadlines • Know when and where to submit your application. • This varies by competition, current registration status and Funding Agency: • CIHR Doctoral – October 1, 2013 through ResearchNet • SSHRC & NSERC Doctoral (see dept. deadlines) • Tri-Council Masters – December 1st, 2013 (8:00pm ET) through Research Portal • OGS – all applicants – February 3rd, 2014 (4:30pm ET) • Allow time for all components to be completed, including signatures (CIHR) and references (all).
Top 10 Things You Should Know #3 – Ranking Guidelines • Available on competition websites. • Common criteria include: • Academic standing (GPA, awards) • Research ability or potential • Communication/interpersonal/leadership • Note your involvement in campus and community programs; volunteering
Evaluation Criteria • Master’s • 50% - Academic Excellence (transcripts, awards & distinctions) • 30% - Research Potential (work exp., research contributions, letters of appraisal etc.) • 20% - Personal Characteristics and Interpersonal Skills (description of your proposed program, work experience, community involvement, extra-curricular. activities, letters of appraisal, departmental appraisaletc.)
Evaluation Criteria • Doctoral Considered based on: • Past academic results • Program of study and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge • Relevant professional and academic experience incl. research training as demonstrated by conference presentations and scholarly publications • Two references • See agency websites for specifics
Top 10 Things You Should Know #4 – Council Mandates • For Federal competitions, ensure you are submitting your application to the correct funding agency. • For more information: • http://www.science.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=en&n=FEE7261A-1
CIHR Research Themes • 1.Biomedical Research • 2.Clinical Research • 3.Health Systems and Services • 4.Population and Public Health (social, cultural, environmental and ethical dimensions of health)
Top 10 Things You Should Know #5 – Submit Complete Application Package • Common components: • Application form • Transcripts • References • Research Proposal • Doctoral: You can submit only one application to either SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR for the 2014-15 competition (not including a Vanier). VERIFY ALL REQUIRED ELEMENTS ARE INCLUDED PRIOR TO SUBMISSION
ENSURE you have completed everything and followed instructions! • Have you filled out the correct form? • Have you provided all documents requested? • CIHR and all Tri-Council Master’s • applications will require a Common CV (CCV)
Missing pieces or incorrect forms, etc., may deem the entire application to be automatically ineligible. • “Extra” pieces of information not asked for in the application this could also deem the application ineligible. Exception: see allowable inclusions. • Good article on applying for SSHRC Doctoral: http://www.universityaffairs.ca/what-to-include-in-a-sshrc-fellowship-application.aspx
Top 10 Things You Should Know #6 – References • Very important element of application. • Ask early. • Can you provide me with a strong reference? • Choose wisely. • Provide referee with • your research proposal • academic achievements (transcripts if necessary) • guidelines for the reference (format, deadline and where to submit) • competition review criteria. • Acknowledge their time and effort.
Letters of Appraisal/ References • Undergrads • Choose faculty members who have had sufficient opportunity to assess your potential. • Master’s • One of the letters must be from your supervisor or equivalent. • Doctoral • One must be from your thesis supervisor and if you have a master’s the other should be from your Master’s supervisor.
Top 10 Things You Should Know #7 – Use Resources Available • Bookmark and read the instructions • Agency websites • SSHRC has resource area of website • NSERC training videos; frequent Q&A • Department, including advisor and current award holders • FGPS (Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies) • Writing Centre (www.wlu.ca/writingcentre)
Top 10 Things You Should Know #8 – Order Transcripts Now • Original, official transcripts must be submitted with application. • Exceptions: • NSERC Doctoral – original, official transcripts submitted to FGPS by October 1stfor uploading to your application • CIHR applicants and all Master’s applicants will upload their official transcripts but must keep original on file • Certified copies of foreign transcripts only if originals cannot be obtained will be accepted. • Please make your request to FGPS prior to September 28th. • OGS – transcripts will not be required. • Transcripts must include registration for Fall 2013 term for Tri-Council applications.
Top 10 Things You Should Know #9 – Research Proposal • Follow format outlined in the instructions • Note page maximum limits but don’t be afraid to use the full maximum allowed. • Avoid jargon. • If your program involves a thesis or MRP, include: • Research question • Context • Objectives • Methodology • Contribution it will have on the advancement of knowledge Borderline topics: Why your research falls under that agency Clear, concise, confident, coherent and correct (error free)
Program of Study/Research Proposal • Selection committees do consider your level of study during evaluation. • Indicate your proficiency with any language required for your research • Ensure your list of publications provides bibliographic information • Do not include research contributions which have not been accepted for publication
OGS - Statement of Interest • Not a personal statement • Must be about research interests/program interests
Top 10 Things You Should Know #10 – Evaluation and Results • Tri-Council Master’s Awards • applications reviewed and awards decided by a WLU selection committees • Results will be posted on Research Portal – April 1st • 3 weeks to accept or decline – online • NSERC/SSHRC Doctoral Awards • top applications forwarded to national competition based on our quota/allocations • You will be notified if your application is moving forward or not. • CIHR Doctoral Awards • Applications are submitted directly to national competition. • Doctoral - Final results are typically released after May 1st.
What’s changed? • OGS • All applications will be due on February 3, 2013 at 4:30pm EST. • Applications will be uploaded directly to FGPS using the submission form available on FGPS site. • Follow instructions and naming guidelines for documents. • No transcripts are required with application • References will submit reference forms by email to FGPS.
What’s changed? • Tri-Council Master’s applications: • All Tri-Councils have one common application date – December 1, 2013 • Applications will be completed online and you will upload your transcripts yourself. • You indicate up to 5 schools where you would potentially like to hold the award. • Tri-Council will distribute applications to those schools electronically. • WLU will only assesses applications that indicated they wanted to hold the award here.
Tri-Council Doctoral Applications: • They are the same. Nothing has changed. • SSHRC/NSERC - Ensure you check your department deadlines on FGPS website.
CIHR Doctoral • Due online through ResearchNet by: • October 1, 2013 • You will upload your own transcripts. • You will need your Supervisor’s CCV so you will need a CIHR PIN (instructions provided on CIHR website) • Applications are not reviewed by WLU, straight to national competition.
NSERC Doctoral • Application due online by your departmental deadline. • Official, sealed transcripts must be in FGPS by October 1stso that they can be uploaded to your application. • Applications are reviewed by WLU. • Forwarded? - End of November
SSHRC Doctoral • Application due by your department deadline. • Application online, print and submit with all required documents. • Submit official sealed transcripts with your application. • Applications are reviewed by WLU • Forwarded? – by the end of January
SSHRC Doctoral only • Applications are scanned into PDF when they arrive in FGPS. Therefore we ask that you: • Do not staple any portion of the application or supplemental forms – paperclips or binder clips are acceptable. • Do not print 2-sided. Single sided pages only.
Final Tip • PROOF READ YOUR APPLICATION
Links to Applications sites • CIHR Doctoral • SSHRC Doctoral • NSERC Doctoral • Tri-Council Master’s • OGS – not yet available
Graduate Scholarship Competitions Questions? FGPS Jennifer Williams (jennwilliams@wlu.ca) Arts, Balsillie School, Brantford, Business, Math Deborah Russell (drussell@wlu.ca) Education, Music, Science, Seminary, Social Work, Geography Rosemary Springett (rspringett@wlu.ca) Scholarship Liaison Officer Writing Centre JordanaGarbati (jgarbati@wlu.ca)
Writing Workshops • Questions? • wlu.ca/writing • 519-884-0710 • x 2220