Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

1. Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Alexander Graham Bell PGSM/PGSDScholarship Applications 2013-14 Competition

2. NSERC Scholarship Amounts • Master’s • PGSM = $17,300. for one year • CGSM = $17,500. for one year • Doctoral • PGSD = $21,000. per year for 24 or 36 months • CGSD = $35,000. per year for 24 or 36 months

3. Application Due DateFriday October 3rd • On-line application must be completed and submitted • Reports on Applicants must be submitted on-line • Original transcripts must be submitted to your department’s Awards Contact September 28thhttp://www.uoguelph.ca/graduatestudies/finance/awards_contacts

4. Application Process • 1. Go to: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/BellandPostgrad-BelletSuperieures_eng.asp and carefully read all of the information to ensure your eligibility to apply. • 2. Go to: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/Index_eng.asp • If you have never applied to NSERC before you will need to click on Register to obtain a login and password. • 3. Go to: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/instructions/201/e.asp • and carefully read and/or print off the Form 201 application instructions. Watch the Resource Videos: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/Videos-Videos/Index_eng.asp • 4. Go back to: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/Index_eng.asp and now you are finally ready to log in and begin to complete your on-line application!

5. Eligibility • Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident • A- (80%) average in each of last 2 years of study • Proposed research must be in NSERC supported fields • Criteria for clinically-oriented programs (eg. Clinical Psychology): research project must be deemed eligible to be funded by NSERC

6. Research Proposal • If your research is health-related it is absolutely essential that you consult the Eligibility Criteria for Students and Fellows section of the Program guide and if any doubt send a one page research summary to NSERC requesting confirmation that your research falls under their mandate • Send your research proposal to: schol@nserc-crsng.gc.ca • Applications are not transferred from one council to the other • Just because your advisor has an NSERC grant it does not automatically follow that your research will fall under NSERC’s mandate

7. Supporting Documentation • Transcripts: • Original transcripts of all post-secondary education must be submitted to your department • Even if you are in first semester at U of G you must order a transcript • No charge for U of G transcripts if sent directly to your department (must be ordered 5-7 working days in advance of due date) • Request by fax or in person at Enrolment Services (UC level 3) • Name & Email Address of person who will scan & upload your transcripts can be found at: http://www.uoguelph.ca/graduatestudies/finance/awards_contacts

8. Supporting Documentation • Reports on the Applicant: • Provide the name and email addresses of the 2 individuals selected to complete the Reports • Referees will be provided with a link that will allow them to view your application and complete the Report • Applicant will be able to see if the Reports have been attached but will not be able to view contents

9. Tips on asking for a reference letter • Give your referee lots of time to prepare the letter • Give them lots of information about you, including reminders of which courses you took with them • Give your referee the criteria that the selection committees will be using to evaluate the awards application

10. Selection Criteria • applicants are evaluated and selected according to the criteria in the following 3 categories:

11. Academic excellence • Academic record • Scholarships and awards held • Duration of previous studies

12. Research ability or potential • Quality of contributions to research and development • Relevance of work experience and academic training to field of proposed research • Significance, feasibility, and merit of proposed research • Ability to think critically • Ability to apply skills and knowledge • Judgement • Originality • Initiative and autonomy • Enthusiasm for research

13. Communication, interpersonal & leadership abilities • The ability or potential to communicate scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats • Professional and relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations

14. Selection Criteria Weightings

15. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship • aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health by offering doctoral scholarships valued at $50,000 per year for 3 years. Canadian and international students are eligible to be nominated for a Vanier CGS • Very prestigious and competitive

16. Vanier Eligibility • Outstanding grades and research are expected of all applicants • Strong emphasis on leadership skills both academically and within the broader community • Must apply through and be nominated by the Canadian University to which applying for Doctoral studies • Pursue doctoral studies at a different University than where previous degrees completed or in progress • Students already enrolled in their doctoral program are also eligible to apply as long as they will have completed no more than 20 months of their doctoral program as of May 1, 2013

17. Vanier Application Process • entire application is submitted electronically using ResearchNet: http://www.researchnetrecherchenet.ca/rnr16/LoginServlet?language=E • Hard copies of official transcripts submitted to Lois Bamsey, Awards Officer, Office of Graduate Studies • Due date: September 17, 2012 • Students applying for a Vanier Scholarship should also apply for NSERC PGSD or SSHRC Doctoral or CIHR Doctoral scholarship

18. Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (MSFSS) • Available to current CGSM & CGSD holders • If your research will involve travel outside Canada keep in mind if awarded a CGS in spring that MSFSS application deadlines are in May and September • Up to $6,000. for 3-6 months abroad

19. Other NSERC programs • Summer Program in Japan or Taiwan • Eight week period developing collaborative research links with Japanese or Taiwanese researchers – only CGS holders are eligible and must apply through MSFSS competition • NSERC Industrial Postgraduate Scholarship (IPS) • If you or your advisor have an industry contact who may be interested in partnering with you contact me or Kristin