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SSHRC Doctoral Awards — Applicant Instructions

SSHRC recommends clearing your browser cache to ensure the most up-to-date instructions are consulted. Check the date at the bottom of this webpage to ensure you have the latest instructions for this funding cycle.

Application process and deadlines

Application profile, program information, areas of study, research proposal, bibliography and citations, diversity considerations in research design module, transcripts, allowable inclusions (if applicable), research contributions, relevant experience and activities, supplement justification (if applicable), joint or special initiatives justification (if applicable), contact information, documents to read before applying.

The Canada Graduate Scholarships—Doctoral Program (CGS D)
The SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships
Definitions of terms SSHRC uses in the application process
Regulations Governing Fellowship and Scholarship Applications
Tri-agency Research Training Award Holder’s Guide
General Guidelines for the Eligibility of Subject Matter at SSHRC
Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research (if applicable)
Guide to Including Diversity Considerations in Research Design for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Award Applicants
Guidelines for Effective Research Training
Guidelines for Research-Creation Support Materials (if applicable)
Letter of Appraisal form—Instructions for referees

Accommodations and accessibility

If you need help completing online application forms because of a disability , contact your institution (scholarship liaison officer, research grant office or other applicant support office) as early as possible in the application process to investigate available supports. If your institution cannot help, or needs SSHRC to collaborate on a solution, contact [email protected] . You can also contact SSHRC if you have questions or are seeking specific adaptation arrangements. You do not need to share your medical or sensitive personal information and, to protect your privacy, should avoid doing so.

Frequently requested accommodations include, but are not limited to:

one-on-one phone or video appointment to clarify funding program information or the application process, or to receive technical support;
alternative formats of online materials to enable access using assistive technology; and
submission of the application (in full or part) through alternate means or format (e.g., hard copy, voice recording, or data entry by SSHRC staff on the applicant’s behalf).

Applicant responsibilities

You must complete and verify the online SSHRC doctoral awards application form and your SSHRC web-based curriculum vitae (SSHRC web CV) .

You must click “Preview” and “Verify” for each page of your application as you complete it, well in advance of the deadline. SSHRC ’s online system will not accept incomplete applications (i.e., that contain unverified sections). If you make changes to a page, you must click “Verify” again to confirm that SSHRC’s online system will accept the new information. The criteria for final verification of the entire application can be stricter than for individual modules. You might, therefore, need to adjust previously verified sections of the application. Verification only confirms that mandatory sections (including uploads and letters) have been completed; it does not verify the application content.

It is your responsibility to:

verify content;
the SSHRC web CV is verified;
the two Letter of Appraisal forms are completed by your referees; and
all PDF attachments are uploaded; and
submit your complete application through the correct channel (either through a Canadian institution with a quota or directly to SSHRC).

For complete details on where to apply, refer to Where should I submit my application? (PDF document, 146 KB).

Ensure that you have followed the instructions and accurately provided all required information. SSHRC cannot accept additional information after the application deadline, nor can it confirm the completeness of applications.

Note: Applicants requiring assistance while preparing their application are encouraged to communicate with SSHRC ’s Research Training Portfolio at [email protected] well in advance of the application deadline.

For applicants submitting directly to SSHRC

The complete application, including the PDF attachments (uploads) and the SSHRC web CV , can be viewed and printed, but must be submitted electronically using SSHRC ’s online system before the application deadline, 8 p.m. (eastern) on October 17 . If a deadline falls on a weekend or a public holiday observed in Ontario, where SSHRC 's offices are, the online application system will remain open until 8 p.m. (eastern) on the next business day. No changes or updates can be made to an application once it has been submitted, either before or after the deadline .

Note: SSHRC strongly encourages applicants to submit applications ahead of the deadline date. Typically, the online system handles a very high volume of users on the last day, which could create delays and put timely submission at risk.

For applicants submitting through a Canadian institution with a doctoral awards quota

Most Canadian degree-granting institutions receive a quota for the number of SSHRC doctoral award applications they can submit to SSHRC ’s national competition. If you are submitting through one of the Canadian institutions with a doctoral awards quota , you must submit your application by the date set by your institution, which may be well in advance of SSHRC ’s deadline. The institution will coordinate a review of the application and, if recommended, the scholarship liaison officer (SLO) will forward it to SSHRC ’s national competition. If changes are required, the SLO will return the application to you.

SLOs will be able to forward applications to SSHRC until 8 p.m. (eastern), November 21 . If a deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday observed in Ontario, where SSHRC ’s offices are, the online application system will remain open until 8 p.m. (eastern) on the next business day.

Note: Once the application deadline has passed for direct applicants 8:00 p.m. (eastern) on October 17), the application form will be offline and applications will not be accepted. The application form will come back online after 48 hours, but only applications from Canadian institutions with a quota will be accepted for the November 21 deadline.

Attaching a document

Many modules in your application will require you to attach a PDF file. You must follow the specified requirements for margins and font size or your application may be deemed ineligible. An error message will appear if the file you are trying to attach does not meet the required specifications for page length and file size. Once you have attached the electronic file, we recommend you click “View attached file” to ensure you have the proper file and it is not corrupted.

Acknowledgement of receipt of applications

After SSHRC receives your verified and completed application form, the data provided in your application and SSHRC web CV are transferred to SSHRC ’s corporate database. SSHRC will acknowledge receipt of your electronic application form once it has been processed and will assign you an application number. Cite this number in all correspondence with us. This acknowledgement refers only to the receipt of your application, not its completeness or its eligibility in the competition.

The email acknowledging receipt will be sent to your primary email address as entered in the SSHRC web CV , four to six weeks after the deadline date. If you do not receive an email from the Research Training Portfolio six weeks after the deadline date, contact us at [email protected] .

Application title

Provide a short, descriptive title for your research proposal using non-technical terms. Restrict use of acronyms (e.g., UN , NATO ). Use upper case only for the first word of the title, proper nouns and acronyms. Your application title will automatically be included in the “Activity details” screen.

Preferred selection committee

Based on the subject and discipline(s) of your proposed research, choose the most appropriate committee using the “List…” button.

The disciplines represented by each committee are:

If your main discipline is women’s studies, choose the committee appropriate to the aspect of women’s studies you are working on. For example, if your research involves women’s literature, you should choose Committee 1.

If your main discipline is interdisciplinary studies, choose the committee appropriate to your principal research subject. Committees are composed of experts in the disciplines listed. As SSHRC cannot guarantee expertise in each discipline, select the committee most relevant to your research proposal and career trajectory. Applicants are solely responsible for choosing the relevant review committee.

Supplemental awards

If you wish to be considered for a supplemental award, and meet the eligibility criteria, select the supplement from the drop-down menu. For each supplement selected, provide a maximum one-page justification. Successful applicants will be notified.

Joint or special initiative

If you wish to be considered for a joint or special initiative, and meet the eligibility criteria, select the initiative from the drop-down menu. For each initiative, provide a maximum one-page justification or other required information or form, as applicable. Successful applicants will be notified in the months following the competition results.

Note: By indicating you wish to be considered for a supplement and/or a joint or special initiative, you are agreeing to have SSHRC share information with the partner organization.

Does your proposal involve Indigenous research, as defined by SSHRC ?

SSHRC is committed to supporting and promoting research by and with Indigenous peoples. As such, SSHRC’s Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research are provided to merit reviewers to help build understanding of Indigenous research and research-related activities, and to assist committee members in interpreting SSHRC’s specific evaluation criteria in the context of Indigenous research. Concerted efforts are made to include experts in Indigenous research in doctoral merit review committees.

Review SSHRC 's Indigenous Research Statement of Principles and its Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research . Applications that meet SSHRC’s definition of Indigenous research will be reviewed in the context of these guidelines. Select “Yes” to signal to the multidisciplinary merit review committee members that your application should be reviewed according to these guidelines.

Option for self-identified Indigenous applicants

If you select this option, you choose to have your doctoral application considered for submission beyond your institution’s doctoral awards quota. Applications from self-identified Indigenous applicants who are required to submit directly to SSHRC are automatically evaluated in the national competition.

For more information, consult SSHRC ’s Indigenous Talent Measures .

Select the appropriate option below:

You are currently registered in a degree program at a Canadian institution with a quota .
You are not currently registered in a degree program but were registered at any other time during the calendar year of application in a degree program at a Canadian institution with a quota.
You are currently registered at an institution without a quota (Canadian or foreign).
You were not registered at any time during the calendar year of application in a degree program at a Canadian institution with a quota.

Organization at time of application

If you selected option A or B, indicate the name of the institution and department. Your application will be sent to this institution for an internal merit review process and, if recommended, will be forwarded to SSHRC ’s national competition.

Degree sought through this application

Type in the degree name (e.g., PhD, DPhil, SJD) and select the institution and the department/division that will award the degree. If the institution or department/division is not listed, select “Other” from the list and type the information in the box provided.

Note: Applicants applying to multiple doctoral-level degree programs must list their preferred program and institution in the application form.

Indicate the date you started or expect to start the program for which you seek support.

Support requested

Expected start date of the award.

Indicate when you propose to take up your award should you be successful in the current competition. The award can begin only on the first of May, September or January and should align with the start date of your program. You must not select a start date for the award that precedes the beginning of your program.

Number of months of doctoral studies

In evaluating your eligibility and eligible periods of support, SSHRC will consider all studies counted toward the graduate degree for which funding is requested, whether completed at the degree-granting institution or from previous studies.

Since SSHRC assumes that all studies were full time and uninterrupted (e.g., the beginning of September 2020 to the end of December 2021 means 16 months of study), you must take any approved leaves of absence and periods of part-time study into account and deduct those when calculating the number of months of studies you have completed.

Specify the number of months of full-time and/or part-time doctoral studies, including summer months, that you will have completed by December 31 of the calendar year of application. You must include all previous doctoral-level studies (full-time and part-time) that were credited to the degree for which funding is requested, including studies completed before you were officially registered in your doctoral program.

If you studied on a part-time basis or interrupted your studies with your institution’s official approval, you must append an official letter from the institution’s registrar (or assigned designate) to your application, specifying the dates of the change of registration status in your doctoral program.

To determine the period of support applicable, total your full-time months of study and one half of the part-time months of study: for example, eight months of full-time study plus 12 months of part-time study is 14 months of study (8 + 6 = 14).

Use the following table to calculate how much support you are eligible for depending on how many months you will have already completed of your doctoral (or equivalent) studies.

Specify the language(s) required to carry out your proposed research and indicate your current proficiency in each.

The information provided in this section refers to your research/study.

State whether or not your proposed research/study will involve human beings as research subjects. If it does, select “Yes,” and consult the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans and submit your proposal to the research ethics board of the institution where you will undertake your research. If applicable, you must also ensure that an ethics review is conducted in the host country (as per article 8.3 of the policy). You do not need to submit your proposal to the research ethics board before submitting your doctoral award application.

List keywords, separated by semicolons, that best describe your research/study disciplines.

Select appropriate entries under each of the sections below using the “List…” button. Duplicate entries are not permitted.

Disciplines

Indicate and rank up to three disciplines relevant to your proposed research/study, with Entry 1 the most relevant and Entry 3 the least relevant. Entry 1 must be a main discipline (main discipline codes end in 00). Entry 1 cannot be “Health.” “Health” is available as an option only for Entry 2 and Entry 3. For entries 2 and 3, if the applicable discipline is not listed, you can select an entry such as “Other (relevant discipline)” (e.g., other psychology, other anthropology, other sociology) from the list, and provide the information in the box provided.

You can choose “Other (relevant discipline)” only once. For instance, you cannot choose “Other psychology” in Entry 2 and choose it again in Entry 3. Also, you can only choose “Other” (with an explanation) once.

Areas of research

Indicate and rank up to two areas of research related to your proposed research/study, with Entry 1 the most important and Entry 2 the next most important.

Temporal period

If applicable, indicate the historical period covered by your proposed research/study.

Geographical regions

If applicable, indicate and rank up to two geographical regions covered by or related to your proposed research/study, with Entry 1 the most important and Entry 2 the next most important.

If applicable, indicate and rank up to five countries covered by or related to your proposed research/study, with Entry 1 the most important and Entry 5 the least important.

Maximum two pages

Attach a PDF copy of your research proposal. Write your proposal in clear, plain language. Avoid discipline-specific jargon, acronyms and highly technical terms. Your application will be reviewed by members of a multidisciplinary selection committee, not all of whom will be familiar with your area of research.

Ensure that your text includes the following required elements, especially with respect to your research proposal.

If you are not currently enroled in a doctoral degree program:

clearly state your current level of study;
give the title and a brief description of your master’s thesis or research project, if applicable;
identify the degree program you will pursue, including any relevant courses, and explain why you chose this program; and
provide an outline of your doctoral thesis or research project, including the research question(s), context, objectives, methodology, significance and expected contribution to advancing knowledge, as well as your special interests in the proposed research area.

If you are currently enroled in a doctoral degree program:

clearly state your current level of graduate study;
indicate at what stage you are in your thesis/research project;
provide the name of your supervisor of doctoral studies, if known;
provide an outline of your thesis or research project, including, for example, the research question(s), context, objectives, methodology, significance and expected contributions to advancing knowledge; and
describe what you hope to accomplish during the award tenure and what will remain for you to complete to obtain your degree.

Notes:

If your proposed research overlaps with areas supported by other federal research funding agencies, justify why you are submitting this proposal to SSHRC rather than to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, based on the General Guidelines for the Eligibility of Subject Matter at SSHRC . If in doubt about the eligibility of your proposed research, consult SSHRC staff by emailing [email protected] before submitting your application.
If your project involves Indigenous research, refer to the section Does your proposal involve Indigenous research, as defined by SSHRC ? before preparing your proposal.
If your project uses a research-creation approach, clearly indicate its research component. Outline the objectives of your research and the context, methodology and expected contribution to the advancement of knowledge.

Maximum five pages

Attach a PDF file of:

a bibliography for your proposed research (do not upload publications or include endnotes); and
bibliographic details for all citations included in your research proposal (ensure that these are clear and complete to allow reviewers to locate the sources easily).

SSHRC recognizes and allows the use of different referencing styles.

After you’ve answered “yes” or “no” to the question “Do diversity considerations apply to your proposed research design?”, indicate in the text box how diversity considerations are applicable or not to your research proposal (maximum 1,700 characters).

Before completing this module, read the Guide to Including Diversity Considerations in Research Design for Doctoral and Postdoctoral Award Applicants .

Note: Although mandatory, this module is not subject to merit review and is not shared with committee members.

Include up-to-date official transcripts of all your undergraduate and graduate studies in the application. Retain the paper copy of any uploaded transcripts, as you could be asked to provide it for verification purposes.

Up-to-date official transcripts are defined as transcripts issued by the registrar’s office and dated or issued in the fall session of the year of application (if currently registered) or after the last term completed (if not currently registered).

New for fall 2023: If you are applying through an eligible Canadian institution, you must confirm directly with your institution their policy on official transcripts and whether or not unofficial transcripts will be accepted as part of their internal review process.

For the review process at SSHRC , applications submitted with unofficial transcripts will not be rejected.

If you submit transcripts written in a language other than English or French, you must provide a certified English or French translation.
your program of study;
your registration status;
the date of initial registration;
the degree obtained or sought; and
that the institution does not provide transcripts.

Note: Applications without transcripts are considered incomplete as the selection committee(s) will have less information on which to base the assessment.

Official letter to confirm part-time study and/or leave of absence (if applicable)

Maximum one page

If applicable, combine this official letter with the PDF of your transcripts.

In calculating the value and duration of awards, SSHRC assumes that all doctoral studies were full-time and uninterrupted. If, as part of your doctoral studies, you studied part-time, or interrupted your studies with your institution’s official approval, you must upload an official letter from the institution’s registrar (or assigned designate) confirming the change of registration status in your doctoral program (including dates and duration). No deduction of months of study will be made unless you include an official letter with your application.

If applicable, attach a PDF document indicating your allowable inclusions.

SSHRC asks its selection committees to consider special circumstances that could have affected applicants’ research, professional career, record of academic or research achievement, or completion of degrees. Relevant circumstances could include administrative responsibilities, maternity/parental leave, child-rearing, illness, disability, cultural or community responsibilities, socio-economic context, health-related family responsibilities, trauma and loss, or the COVID-19 pandemic. Specify the dates for any delays or interruptions.

As part of the Indigenous Talent Measures , Indigenous applicants are encouraged to use the “Allowable inclusions” section of their application to describe special circumstances that could have affected their academic or career paths.

All information provided to SSHRC is subject to the Privacy Act . Applicants are reminded that the information included in the “Allowable inclusions” section of their application will be shared with selection committee members for consideration as part of their application. SSHRC merit reviewers cannot share this information outside the merit review process, which is subject to the Tri-Agency Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy . For more information, see the principles for SSHRC merit review .

Attach a PDF copy of your research contributions, including any knowledge translation outputs, as well as a description of your relevant experience and activities.

Given the page limits, be selective and summarize information where appropriate. Provide information in the two sections listed below. You can only use a maximum of two pages for both sections combined.

Part I—Research contributions

Provide details, as appropriate, on the contributions you list, as follows:

in its entirety—not merely an abstract or extract;
before publication; and
by independent, anonymous, qualified experts (“independent” in this context means at arm’s length from the author).
Specify your role in co-authored publications.
For published contributions, provide complete bibliographic details as they appear in the original publication (including co-authors, title, publisher, journal, volume, date of publication, page numbers, number of pages, etc.).
For publications in languages other than English or French, provide a translation of the title and the name of the publication.

Note: A thesis is not considered a refereed publication.

Include all relevant information in the application package. Do not refer members to URLs or other publications for supplemental information, except for examples of your research-creation achievements.

Group your contributions by category in the following order, listing your most recent contributions first:

Refereed contributions

Examples include books (where applicable, subdivide according to those that are single-authored, co-authored and edited works), monographs, book chapters, articles in scholarly refereed journals, conference proceedings, etc.

Other refereed contributions

Examples include papers presented at scholarly meetings or conferences, articles in professional or trade journals, etc.

Non-refereed contributions

Examples include book reviews, published reviews of your work, research reports, policy papers, public lectures, posters, community products, etc.

Forthcoming contributions

Indicate one of the following statuses: “submitted,” “revised and submitted,” “accepted” or “in press.” Provide the name of the journal or book publisher and the number of pages. Contributions not yet submitted should not be listed.

Creative outputs

Applicants whose research outputs include an artistic creation can list their most significant achievements, starting with the most recent, in a separate category: “Creative outputs.” Examples of creative outputs can include exhibitions, performances, publications, presentations, and film, video and audio recordings.

Although it is possible to list research contributions, SSHRC recognizes that some applicants might not yet have publications or other research contributions to list.

Note: Contributions in the context of Indigenous research can be listed within existing or additional categories, in line with the Scholarships and Fellowships section of the Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research .

Part II—Applicant’s statement

In this section, group your comments under the following headings:

Relevant experience

Describe the research abilities you have gained through your past research experience, including special projects, honours/master’s thesis, co-op reports, etc. If you have relevant work experience, discuss its relevance to your proposed field of study/research and any benefits you gained from it.

This section can also be used to describe any training relevant to your proposed research, such as knowledge gained through lived experience and traditional teachings.

Relevant activities

Describe your participation in relevant professional, academic and extracurricular activities, as well as collaborations with supervisors, colleagues, peers, students and community members, such as:

teaching, mentoring, supervising and/or coaching;
managing projects;
participating in science and/or research promotion;
community outreach, volunteer work and/or civic engagement;
chairing committees and/or organizing conferences and meetings; and
participating in departmental or institutional organizations, associations, societies and/or clubs.

Provide a maximum one-page justification for each supplement selected in the “Application profile” section indicating how your research proposal responds to the supplement’s objectives.

Aileen D. Ross Fellowship

A $10,000 supplement is awarded annually to a SSHRC doctoral award recipient conducting poverty-related research in sociology.

Queen’s Fellowship

A $10,000 supplement is awarded annually to a SSHRC doctoral award recipient entering a program in Canadian studies at a Canadian institution. At the time of application, SSHRC considers eligible candidates who intend to enrol in or are registered in the first year of such a program.

Successful candidates will be notified.

Provide a maximum one-page justification per initiative selected in the “Application profile” section, indicating how your proposed research responds to the initiative’s objectives.

Department of National Defence MINDS Scholarship Initiative

SSHRC and the Department of National Defence (DND) partner to offer doctoral awards to individuals conducting social sciences and humanities research in areas related to the Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (MINDS) Policy Challenges and/or Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged . The MINDS Initiative Doctoral Awards are valued at $35,000 per year and are tenable for up to 36 months. Learn more about the MINDS Scholarship Initiative .

To be considered for this initiative, you must:

select the “MINDS Scholarships Initiative” option from the drop-down menu in your application form; and
use the “MINDS—Justification” section in the form’s left-hand menu to explain how your proposed research project is related to one or more of the MINDS Policy Challenges and/or Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged .

Initiative for Digital Citizen Research

Through the Initiative for Digital Citizen Research, Canadian Heritage and SSHRC partner to offer doctoral award supplements, valued at $10,000, to individuals who are conducting research related to online disinformation, as well as its impact in the Canadian context. Comparative approaches to these themes that extend beyond, the Canadian context are also eligible for supplementary funding.

To be considered for funding under this initiative, you must:

select the “Initiative for Digital Citizen Research” option from the drop-down menu in your application form; and
use the “Initiative for Digital Citizen Research” justification section in the form’s left-hand menu to explain how your proposed research project addresses one or more of the specific areas of research listed under the “Eligible projects” section of the Joint Initiative for Digital Citizen Research webpage

To be offered a doctoral award supplement under this initiative, you must first be successful in the SSHRC doctoral awards competition, and you must be affiliated with a SSHRC eligible Canadian postsecondary institution during your award tenure.

Sport Participation Research Initiative

SSHRC partners with Canadian Heritage through the Sport Participation Research Initiative to provide doctoral award supplements.

select the “Sport Participation Research Initiative” option in your application form; and
use the “Sport Participation” justification section in the form’s left-hand menu to explain how your research meets the Sport Participation Research Initiative’s objectives.

Successful applicants will be notified.

Mitacs Training

As part of a joint initiative with Mitacs , SSHRC offers access to Mitacs Training for SSHRC Doctoral Award holders. The curriculum is designed to build competencies in five key areas recognized as vital to professional success: professional and career fundamentals; interpersonal skills; communication; leadership and management; and intrapreneuralism.

SSHRC Doctoral Award holders will be provided instructions for accessing Mitacs Training as part of their results package.

Note: By indicating you wish to be considered for a supplement and/or a joint or special initiative, you are agreeing to have SSHRC share information with the partner organization.

Instructions for requesting letters of appraisal

Enter the family name, given name and email address of each referee. These fields will be used to autopopulate the referee form.

After the data are saved, the system will automatically generate an email to each person, inviting them to complete a Letter of Appraisal form .

Inform your referees that they will receive an email with the subject line “Invitation to provide a letter of appraisal—Invitation à fournir une lettre d’appréciation.”

It is your responsibility to ensure that each invited person completes and verifies the form before the application deadline. Note that the application deadline for candidates applying directly to SSHRC is October 17. Applicants applying through a Canadian institution with a quota should consult with their graduate studies office to confirm their institution’s internal application deadline.

Your application cannot be successfully verified and submitted until each referee form has been completed.

Note: You will not be able to view the appraisals at the time you complete and submit your application.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all required application components have been submitted (including all attachments and letters). The system does not accept incomplete applications .

Notify your referees in advance that they will be receiving an invitation because firewalls and/or spam filters could limit their ability to receive the official system email invitation to complete a Letter of Appraisal form.

Make sure you give your referees enough time to complete and submit their support letter so that your application can be submitted in advance of the deadline date . Typically, the online system handles a very high volume of users on the last day, which could create delays and put timely submission at risk.

Provide information about the two referees who will each complete a Letter of Appraisal form, as instructed above.
Complete applications must include two letters of appraisal of one page each. Additional letters or pages will not be accepted.
Referees should have had sufficient opportunity to assess your research ability and potential and the relevance of your experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia, as described in the selection criteria .
One referee should be very familiar with your research and abilities (i.e., current or previous research supervisor) and the other should be sufficiently familiar with your research and abilities to provide a meaningful commentary.
Letters of appraisal provided in formats other than the form provided will not be accepted.

For help with technical difficulties, contact the helpdesk:

Phone: 613-995-4273 Email: [email protected]

If you have additional questions, contact:

SSHRC Doctoral Awards

Toll-free: 1-855-275-2861 Email: [email protected]

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Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's Program

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Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program (CGS - M)

The CGS M program provides financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in eligible master’s or, in some cases, doctoral programs in Canada.

NSERC Resource Videos
NSERC / SSHRC Research Portal The Research Portal is intended for use only by individuals participating in the preparation of applications for funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), in the administration of awards, and in the merit review of applications.
Research Portal Presentation and Attachment Standards

Instructions for Completing an Application

4. outline of proposed research (attachment).

The single attachment consists of two separate sections: Outline of proposed research and Bibliography and citations . Each of these sections must be only one page . Pages in excess of the number permitted may be removed before the selection process, and your application may be at a disadvantage as a result.

Outline of proposed research (maximum of one page)

Provide a detailed description of your proposed research project for the period during which you will hold the award. Be as specific as possible. Provide background information to position your proposed research within the context of current knowledge in the field . State the objectives and hypothesis, and outline the experimental or theoretical approach to be taken (citing literature pertinent to the proposal) and the methods and procedures to be used . State the significance of the proposed research to a field or fields in the health sciences, natural sciences and/or engineering or social sciences and/or humanities, as appropriate.

If the output of your degree program is an artistic creation rather than a thesis, clearly indicate the research component of your proposed work. Outline the objectives of your research, the context, methodology and contribution to the advancement of knowledge.

If your degree program does not involve a thesis, a major research paper/essay or a major research project, clearly outline the research component of the degree.

If you have not yet decided on a specific project, you must still provide a detailed description of a proposed research project. You may change your research direction or activities during the course of the award. Certain restrictions may apply. Refer to the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide .

In addition:

You are expected to write your outline of proposed research independently. Ideas and text belonging to others must be properly referenced.
Include all relevant information in the outline. Do not refer reviewers to URLs or other publications for supplemental information.
In the outline of proposed research, provide the requested information according to the guidelines and format standards outlined in the presentation standards .

Bibliography and citations (maximum of one page)

Provide a bibliography that includes citations for all works referenced in the research proposal. These citations should be in a format used by the primary discipline of the proposed research. You must ensure that all citations are clear and complete, to allow reviewers to easily locate the sources.

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Graduate Studies

Cihr, nserc and sshrc canada graduate scholarships – master’s.

The CGS-M Awards Program supports students in all research disciplines and is administered jointly by Canada’s three federal granting agencies: the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The selection process and post-award administration are carried out at the university level, under the guidance of the three agencies.

Information Session 2023

Value and Duration

$17,500 for 12 months, non-renewable

Assigned Allocations to McMaster

CIHR-38 NSERC-26 SSHRC-33

Application Deadline: December 1, 2023 – 8 p.m. (ET)

There are no extensions granted by the Agency . Applicants to the CGS M program must complete their application using the Research Portal, hosted by NSERC. It is a single application form used by all three Agencies (NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR) and the applicant can choose up to 3 universities where they would like to hold their award. Once the student submits the application in the portal, no additional changes can be made.

Other Awards

McMaster CGS M applicants are also eligible for additional McMaster awards such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology and the Ontario Graduate Fellowship. No additional application is necessary.

Eligibility

be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) as of the application deadline date;
be enrolled in, have applied for or will apply for full-time admission* to an eligible graduate program at the master’s or doctoral level at McMaster University
a master’s program
a doctoral program that you are entering directly from a bachelor’s program without having ever been enrolled in any graduate programs (direct-entry)
a combined master’s-doctoral program
a master’s program that will transition to an eligible doctoral program, either before or after award activation, with no master’s degree conferred (fast-track)
a master’s program for which the degree requirements will be completed before the end of the award, allowing the award to continue into an eligible doctoral program
or between four and 12 months of full-time study (or full-time equivalent) in an eligible master’s program for which the degree requirements will be completed before activation of the award, allowing it to be activated during the subsequent doctoral program for which you are requesting funding;
not have held or be currently holding a CGS M scholarship from NSERC, CIHR or SSHRC
not have held or be currently holding an Indigenous Scholars Award and Supplement
have achieved a first-class average, as determined by the host institution, in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent). At McMaster, a first-class average is a Minimum A- (10/12, 80%) . Note: If a transcript has both letter grades and percentages, you must calculate the averages by using the percentage grades.
submit a maximum of one scholarship application per academic year to either CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC

Research Portal

Students submit their application using the Research Portal . The Research Portal will allow the application to be submitted to up to three institutions – refer to Application Procedures . Applicants can be considered for a CGS M at McMaster University if they select McMaster as one of the institutions on their CGS M application and are enrolled in, have applied for, or will apply for full-time admission to an eligible graduate program at the master’s or doctoral level.

Program of Study Eligibility

An eligible graduate program must have a significant research component . A significant research component is considered to be original, autonomous research that leads to the completion of a thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital and/or exhibit that is merit/expert-reviewed at the institutional level as a requirement for completion of the program.

Joint programs with a professional degree (for example, MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/MA, JD/PhD, MBA/PhD, MA/MBA) as well as clinically oriented programs of study , including clinical psychology, are eligible if they have a significant autonomous research component, as described above.

Master’s programs that are based only on course work are typically not eligible since they do not include a significant research component, as described above. Given the specific requirements of certain disciplines, institutions are invited to contact the appropriate agency for guidance on the eligibility of programs of study.

Special circumstances

The agencies require institutions and reviewers to take into consideration special circumstances that may have affected your research, professional career, record of academic or research achievement or completion of degrees. Relevant circumstances might include administrative responsibilities, maternity/parental leave, child-rearing, illness, disability, cultural or community responsibilities, socio-economic context, trauma and loss, family responsibilities or a pandemic.

The following question may apply:

Do you have any special circumstances to take into consideration that may have affected your research, professional career, record of academic or research achievement or completion of degrees?

If you answered Yes to the above question, the following prompt and text field (5,000 characters maximum, including spaces) will appear:

Describe any special circumstances that have had an effect on your performance or productivity (required).

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The Tri-agency is acting on the evidence that achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise is essential to creating the excellent, innovative and impactful research necessary to advance knowledge and understanding, and to respond to local, national and global challenges. This principle informs the commitments described in the Tri-agency statement on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Black student researchers

The Government of Canada has deployed additional funds to increase direct support for Black student researchers . CGS M applicants who self-identify as Black and provide consent in their application to be considered for funds designated for specific groups may be able to receive this funding through a scholarship as part of this initiative. Each agency has a limited number of additional CGS M awards reserved for this initiative.

For more information, consult the Frequently asked questions about the new Black scholars funding

Self-identification information

You must complete the self-identification form found in the person profile of the Research Portal when applying for funding. This data provides information on the diversity of the population applying for and receiving agency funds. This information increases the agencies’ capacity to monitor their progress on increasing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in their programs, to recognize and remove barriers, and to design new measures to achieve greater EDI in the research enterprise. If you do not want to self-identify, you have the option to choose I prefer not to answer for each question, but you are required to select a response for the questionnaire to be marked as complete. Self-identification information is not part of your application and will be neither accessible to nor shared with external reviewers and/or selection committee members. For more information, refer to the Frequently asked questions about the self-identification questionnaire .

Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative (NSERC and SSHRC)

The Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative provides financial support to Indigenous scholars who are meritorious in the CGS M program.

select the Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative option from the drop-down menu
indicate your agreement with the self-identification and consent statement by selecting the appropriate checkbox
complete the Personal statement (3,000 characters max)

For additional information, consult the description of the Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative on the SSHRC website.

A complete application includes the following documents:

Outline of proposed research ( maximum of one page ); If the document is longer than one page, the excess copy will be deleted from the application when submitted to the ranking committee
Bibliography/citations ( maximum of one page ).
Up-to-date transcripts are defined as transcripts dated or issued in the fall 2023 session of the year of application (if currently registered) or after the last term completed (if not currently registered).
Official transcripts are defined as transcripts issued by the institution’s registrar’s office. Transcripts from other sources, such as those printed from the student’s account on the institution’s website, are not considered official.
Electronic transcripts provided by an institution’s registrar’s office are considered to be official transcripts. You should check with your institution(s) to verify whether this option is available to you.
Opening the transcript envelope and scanning the transcript will not render the transcript unofficial.
The agencies or McMaster University will not accept transcripts submitted outside of the application platform.
If you have transcripts written in a language other than English or French, you are required to provide a certified translation of the transcripts.
If your institution does not provide transcripts, you can submit, in lieu of a transcript, a letter bearing the official institution seal/stamp or a letter signed by the dean of graduate studies or an equivalent confirming 1) your program of study, 2) your registration status and 3) the fact that the institution does not provide transcripts.
Transcripts must be scanned (black and white recommended) and saved as a single PDF file.
Include one copy of the legend (reverse of each transcript). Do not scan the legend multiple times.
Maximum file size of 10 MB.
Page size 8 ½ in. x 11 in. (216 mm x 279 mm) or A4 (210 mm x 297 mm)
the CGS M Canadian Common CV (CCV)
two reference assessments.

Research Portal presentation and attachment standards

Prepare your attachments in any word processing program, following the requirements below. All text, including references (where applicable), must conform to these standards.

Acronyms and abbreviations must be spelled out completely on initial appearance in text;
Pages must be 8 ½” x 11″ (216mm x 279mm);
Pages must be single-spaced, with no more than six lines of type per inch;
All text must be in 12 pt. Times New Roman font;*
Condensed fonts will not be accepted;
Colour imagery is acceptable** but the text should be in black;
All margins must be set at a minimum of ¾” (1.87 cm);
Do not introduce hyperlinks or bookmarks in your documents (ensure that your software’s ‘Create bookmarks’ option is de-selected);
If you have supporting documents written in a language other than English or French, you are required to provide a certified translation of the document.

* The font type and size requirements do not apply to text inside tables and figures. However, for text inside tables and figures, you must use a font type and a font size that are clearly legible. NSERC reserves the right not to accept your application if it does not meet this requirement. Note that figures and tables count toward the specified page limits.

** Applicants who decide to use colour imagery should be aware that the application may not be reviewed in colour. Use of colour increases the file size of your application, and may lengthen download and upload times.

Selection Criteria

Selection Criteria is as follows:

Academic Excellence – 50%
Research Potential – 30%
Personal characteristics and interpersonal skills – 20%

Notification of results

Offers of awards will be available in the research portal as of April 1, 2024. Offers to alternate applicants may be made up until January 31, 2025.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to regularly check the research portal between April 1 and January 31 for results of the competition.

If you are offered an award , you will have 21 days from the date of each offer of award to accept or decline in the research portal. The status of offers not accepted within the 21 days will automatically be changed to Declined and cannot be reversed.

Applicants may accept only one CGS M offer. Once an offer has been accepted, the system will automatically change all other offers and statuses to Declined, and applicants will not be eligible to receive further offers.

Application statuses in the research portal

Received by administrator: The completed application has been successfully submitted to the institution by the applicant.

Offered: An offer has been made to the applicant by the institution.

Alternate: The application has been deemed meritorious in the institution’s competition; however, due to its ranking, it falls below the allocation cut-off. The applicant is therefore on the alternate list. Should an award become available due to a decline, an applicant on the alternate list may receive an offer.

Not offered: The application has been deemed non-meritorious in the institution’s competition. Subsequent offers will not be made to the applicant. Ineligible: The application has been deemed ineligible based on the eligibility criteria outlined in the funding opportunity description.

Accepted: The offer has been accepted by the applicant.

Declined: (a) The offer from the institution has been declined by the applicant; or (b) an offer from a different institution has been accepted by the applicant and, therefore, all other pending offers are automatically set to Declined; or (c) an offer has not been accepted within 21 days from the date of offer.

Deferred: Before commencing an award, the applicant may defer an award for up to three years, for a maximum of one year at a time. Conditions apply; see Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide for details.

Acceptance withdrawn: The acceptance of the offer has been withdrawn at the applicant’s request.

Useful Links

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s program resources

Competition Information

Instructions for completing an application

Research Portal – Frequently Asked Questions

Instructions for Completing the Reference Assessment Form

Create and account on the Research Portal

MyExperience

SSHRC Explore

* If a deadline falls on a weekend or a public holiday observed in Alberta, the deadline will be 4:00 p.m. MDT the next business day

Description:

Through its SSHRC Institutional Grants (SIG) funding opportunity, SSHRC provides annual grants to help eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions fund, through the University’s own merit review processes, small-scale research and research-related activities by their faculty and students in the social sciences and humanities. Complementary to, and in line with, SSHRC’s three main pillars of activities (Research training and talent development program , Insight research program and Research partnerships program ), SIG funds are intended to support researchers to strengthen research excellence in the social sciences and humanities.

SSHRC Explore Grants:

Support social sciences and humanities researchers with modest research funding requirements at any stage of their career;
Allow for small-scale innovation and experimentation by providing funding to develop a research project or to conduct pilot work; and
Enable researchers to hire students at any level to participate in their research projects, thereby contributing to the students’ professional development.

Awards to a single applicant or teams of applicants are limited to a maximum of $7,000.

Eligibility:

All University of Lethbridge members, as defined in the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association Collective Agreement, who hold continuing appointments with research duties as part of their appointment may be eligible to apply. Other University of Lethbridge members may be eligible to apply, pending approval by the Dean in consultation with the Department Chair where Departments exist. Applicants may only be named on one SSHRC Explore application per competition. Applicants cannot hold more than one SSHRC Explore at a time. Applicants also cannot hold more than one award simultaneously from internal funding sources, such as the ULRF, for the same project . Applicants are permitted, however, to hold a University of Lethbridge Travel Fund (ULTF) award concurrently with the SSHRC Explore. Applicants cannot apply to the SSHRC Explore program for a project that has been awarded external SSHRC funding, however, applicants are able apply for a project for which an external application was made, but was unsuccessful.

August – September: Launch of current competition.
November 1, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. : Application deadline.
November – December: Applications are reviewed by members of the Multidisciplinary Review SSHRC Sub-committee.
January – February: Applications are ranked by the Multidisciplinary Review SSHRC Sub-committee and recommendations for funding are finalized.
February: Notice of Decisions are distributed to applicants.
March 1: Start date of successful SSHRC Explore applications.
April: Launch of current competition.
June 1, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. : Application deadline.
June – July: Applications are reviewed by members of the Multidisciplinary Review SSHRC Sub-committee.
August: Applications are ranked by the Multidisciplinary Review SSHRC Sub-committee and recommendations for funding are finalized.
August: Notice of Decisions are distributed to applicants.
September 1: Start date of successful SSHRC Explore applications.

Use of Funds:

It is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to adequately justify the expenditures included in the application. Funds can be requested in line with the following criteria:

A grant may be directed toward costs to hire research assistants (students at any level, Postdoctoral Fellows, Associates, etc.) in accordance with UofL policy;
A grant may be used to hire external experts ( contract personnel ) such as designers, editors, technicians, etc., but must include cost breakdown such as hourly rate and anticipated scope of contract;
A grant may be used to pay for travel directly related to research, including travel by research assistants in the performance of their assigned duties;
Other items necessary for research may be considered for funding at the discretion of the Multidisciplinary SSHRC Review Committee; and
Research projects requesting retroactive funding prior to the application deadline or requesting funding for teaching development will not be considered.

How to Apply:

General Guidelines:

Submissions for the current competition are due by 4:00 p.m. on November 1, 2023 and 4:00 p.m. on June 1, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted and incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible.

An application consists of a document attached to the Internal Grant Application Form found under the Research Services tab in the BRIDGE system. The attachment must be prepared in accordance with the instructions found here.

NOTE: Do not complete the online form until your attachment is complete and ready to be uploaded, as you cannot save the online form for completion at a later date.

Complete applications require the following components:

Completion of the online application form available through the BRIDGE using the Internal Grant Application Form; and
Abstract and Key Words (max 1 page);
Research Proposal (max 5 pages);
References (max 2 pages);
CV (max 5 pages);
Budget with justification (max 2 pages); and
Reviewer information (optional) (max 1 page).

Application Attachment Instructions:

Applicants must complete the online Internal Grant Application Form available through the BRIDGE and include the required attachment. For the attachment, use font size of 12 point, black type. Maximum of six lines per inch. No condensed/narrow fonts, type, or spacing. Insert a margin of 2 cm (3/4 inch) - minimum - around the page.

The application should be clear and concise and justify the use of all funding and provide all requested information.

Abstract and Key Words (max 1 page): Provide a succinct project description written so that a non-expert in the field of study can understand the proposed research, the scope and objectives of the project. Also outline the potential significance of the study to the University, discipline, researcher, students, and/or society at large. Key words: At the end of your Abstract, provide a list of up to 10 key words which describe your research project. These words can include: themes; areas of research or creative activity; objectives; methods/approaches; study populations/experimental systems; and outcomes, among others. The Key Words will assist the Multidisciplinary Review SSHRC Sub-committee in gauging their level of expertise in reviewing your proposal.
Background : Define the problem clearly and concisely, providing any background information essential to understanding the importance of the work.
Theoretical Framework, Methodology and Proposed Outcomes : Outline the theoretical framework governing the work proposed, the methodologies to be undertaken and the proposed outcomes. For collaborative applications with multiple applicants, indicate the unique role that each applicant brings to ensuring the proposed outcomes. Describe how the anticipated outcomes will serve to contribute to each applicant’s program of research. Indicate if the proposed research falls in a new or existing research program.
Significance and Dissemination : Include statements of the potential significance, future use, relevance or application of the results. Explain how the proposed project is situated within the PI’s larger research plan, including plans to continue the research with external funding. Explain how the results will be disseminated.
References (max 2 pages): Include references, where appropriate, to similar or related work. Indicate if the field is largely untouched.
Publications and Prior Research (max 5 pages): Provide an Academic CV (any format) including only recent (last six years) and/or relevant publications, and prior research activity. An applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered an Emerging Scholar if not obvious from the CV documents and provide justification.
Budget and Justification (max 2 pages): Applicants must provide a breakdown of the expenses equalling the total amount requested. Applicants must provide information on other sources of funding for the project if the proposed costs exceed the maximum provided by this fund. Provide a concise justification for each budget item under the headlines below, where applicable.
Reviewer Information (optional) (max 1 page): If desired, applicants can include an additional page with the names of suggested (internal) reviewers, and any reviewers who should be excluded due to Conflict of Interest.

Eligible Expenses:

Research assistants: Research assistant costs must include each employee’s title and type of work to be performed, the estimated number of hours/months to be worked, and the rate of pay per hour/month plus 12% benefits.
Contract Personnel: Costs associated with hiring external experts (i.e. designers, editors, technicians, etc.) are eligible, but must include cost breakdown such as hourly rate and anticipated scope of contract.
Materials and Supplies: Requests for materials and supplies must clearly indicate their purpose in the proposed activities.
Equipment: A descriptive statement of each item of equipment must be included in the justification of the budget. Applicants are reminded that all equipment purchased with research grants remains the property of the UofL in accordance with university policy. Applications for computer equipment will need to provide a particularly strong justification, establishing the specific need of the item for the proposed research.
Travel: Travel costs must include the purpose of the travel for each destination, mode of travel, cost of meals and lodging, and the number of days of the travel.
Knowledge mobilization/dissemination: costs associated with knowledge mobilization/dissemination are not eligible . Please see UL SSHRC Exchange for information about funding for knowledge mobilization.

Conditions of the Award:

Use of Funds : Expenditures may be made only for those cost elements identified in the application or as limited in the Request for New Fund Form. Special conditions may include human subject research or animal welfare approval, expenditure limitations, etc. Minor transfers of funds from one budget category to another are permitted. Expenditures included in the application budget may be eligible if incurred between the application deadline and the Notice of Decision of the SSHRC Explore Competition if prior approval is granted by ORIS . Major transfers or the use of funds for a previously unspecified expense or a new budget item requires approval by ORIS.
Term : The term of an award is twelve (12) months or less, in accordance with the applicant's request. Requests for extensions should be submitted to ORIS thirty (30) days prior to the end date.
Reports : A final report on the work funded by the SSHRC Explore must be submitted within six months of the termination date. Subsequent applications can be considered only after receipt of satisfactory final reports and/or progress reports for previous or existing grants.
Equipment & Library Acquisitions : Equipment or library materials acquired with grant funds remain as property of the UofL in accordance with university policy.
Research assistants : Research assistants employed with grant funds are not regular University employees and are not covered by the provisions of the collective agreement with support staff.

Evaluation Process and Criteria:

The following priorities apply to all applicants:

Grants are awarded on the basis of merit. In most instances, SSHRC Explore applications will be reviewed by two Reviewers who are members of the Multidisciplinary Review SSHRC Sub-committee. Due to limits on funding availability, appeals will not be considered.
Proposals involving student participation are given priority. If student participation is not possible, it is strongly suggested that a brief justification be provided.

The SSHRC Explore awards will be allocated between Emerging and Established Scholars, according to tri-agency definitions. The number of each type of applicant to be funded will be considered annually based upon the number of applications, budget allocation to the competition, and the quality of submitted applications.

Emerging Scholar: An emerging scholar is someone who has not yet had the opportunity to establish an extensive record of research achievement, but is in the process of building one. Applicants identifying themselves as an Emerging Scholar must demonstrate that they have not applied successfully as the Principal Investigator or Project Director for a research grant offered through Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

In addition, Emerging Scholars must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Have completed their highest degree no more than six years before the competition deadline (the Committee will consider only the date of completion of the first doctorate).
Have held a tenured or tenure-track university appointment for less than six years.
Have held a university appointment, but never a tenure-track position (in the case of institutions that offer tenure-track positions).
Have had their careers significantly interrupted or delayed for health or family reasons within the past six years.

Established scholar: Someone who has established—or who, since the completion of his or her highest degree, has had the opportunity to establish—a record of research achievement.

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

Assessment of the Application (pass/fail): This is an overall rating for the proposal package.
Quality and Originality of Proposal (40%) including the clarity of purpose/objectives; potential significance of proposed research; suitability of research methods/strategies; relationship/importance to research program; and suitability of proposed timetable.
Research/Scholarly/Creative Achievements of Applicant (40%) including significance of previous work and level of research activity, taking into account the scholar's stage of career.
Justification of Proposed Budget (20%). It is the responsibility of the applicant(s) to provide adequate information and justification for activities and expenditures included in the application package.

The applications will be funded based on the ranking and the budget allotment for that funding year. It is expected that the number of fundable applications will exceed the amount of available funds for each competition.

Conflict of Interest Guidelines* for Reviewer Selection:

A conflict of interest occurs when a reviewer’s duties and responsibilities with regard to the review process are in conflict with that reviewer’s private, professional, business, or public interests. There may be a real, perceived or potential conflict of interest when the review committee member, external reviewer or observer:

May receive professional/personal benefit resulting from the funding opportunity or application being reviewed;
Has a professional/personal relationship with an applicant or the applicant’s institution; or
Has a direct/indirect financial interest in a funding opportunity or application being reviewed.

A conflict of interest may exist when review committee members, external reviewers or observers:

Are a relative or close friend or have a personal relationship with the applicant(s);
Are in a position to gain or lose financially/materially from the funding of the application;
Have had long-standing scientific or personal differences with the applicant(s);
Been a supervisor or a trainee of the applicant(s);
Currently supervise the applicant(s) (ie. Department Chair or Dean);
Collaborated, published or shared funding with the applicants, or have plans to do so in the immediate future; and/or
Feel for any reason unable to provide an impartial review of the application.

ORIS reserves the right to resolve areas of uncertainty and to determine if a conflict exists.

* Adapted from the Government of Canada website.

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SSHRC Scholarship Proposal Tips

Over the last couple years I put together a list of advice for graduate students applying for a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) scholarship or grant. SSHRC proposals have a different set of norms and requirements than many other other grants and scholarships, but I expect that many of these tips could also be helpful for other types of applications. I applied for a SSHRC scholarship four times before I was successful, and over the course of that time I took workshops, participated in writing groups, had many conversations with peers and mentors, and attended courses on how to write a SSHRC proposal. I have combined much of the advice I picked up along the way and combined it with approaches that worked for me personally (and others I know). I consider this a living document, so if you see any egregious omissions or shortcomings, do not hesitate contact me. I hope these tips can make the process somewhat less painful for other applicants.

School of Graduate Studies

Writing sshrc proposals: august 15-17, 2023, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm et (synchronous online), why, what, and how, why a sshrc writing intensive course.

Many departments in the Humanities and Social Sciences require eligible incoming graduate students to apply for ″SSHRC awards.″ The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), which is funded by the Canadian government, offers Master’s and doctoral awards for graduate students in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada are eligible to apply. Deadlines for the doctoral applications are set by graduate departments, and they are usually in late September or early October. For many years, the Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (GCAC) has offered courses on Writing SSHRC Proposals to graduate students who are preparing to apply for SSHRC Master’s or doctoral awards. Good SSHRC proposals are hard to write, and they are also hard to prepare during the busy beginning of term. The goal of this writing-intensive version of our SSHRC course is to encourage students to devote concentrated time to writing their SSHRC proposals before the business of term begins.

What is the difference between GCAC’s regular SSHRC course and the Writing Intensive version of the course?

The writing-intensive version of the SSHRC course takes place over three days from Tuesday August 15 − Thursday August 17 inclusive from 2:00 p.m. − 4:00 p.m. daily. The course also provides both online and in-person tutorials and one-on-one appointments to students who have drafts to submit for feedback (dates to be scheduled).

The August SSHRC Intensive course will be offered in a live online format. Given the proprietary nature of research grants, and the fact that this course shows samples of winning grants (with authors’ permission ), this course will only be offered live and will not be recorded. Students who wish to take the course must attend at the times of the live online classes listed above.

Eligibility & Registration Procedures

Enrollment is open to registered graduate students at the University of Toronto who are applying for Master’s or doctoral SSHRC grants or for OGS (Ontario Graduate Scholarships) in the fall of 2023. Those applying for postdoctoral fellowships are not eligible to participate.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a fully synchronous course that will not be recorded. Attendance at all 6 hours of the online course is mandatory for registration. Students who register and do not attend the full course will be ineligible to register in other courses with the Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (GCAC) during the fall term. To register, click the button below:

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca

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Home > Students and fellows > Postgraduate programs > Canada Graduate Scholarships Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements

Institutional links

NSERC website will be unavailable for a few hours on Saturday, March 23. The tri-agency Financial Data Submission and Reconciliation System (FDSR) will also be unavailable during that time. We expect service to resume the same day.

Canada Graduate Scholarships Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements

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 masters or doctoral level, or a Vanier CGS at the doctoral level.

Accessibility notice: If you cannot access the following content, contact the online services helpdesk by email at webapp@nserc-crsng.gc.ca or by telephone at 1-855-275-2861. Indicate the email address and telephone number where you can be reached.

Overview and objectives

The Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) support high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients will contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian and foreign institutions.

Supplements of up to $6,000 are available to active CGS (master’s or doctoral) or eligible Vanier CGS holders to help offset the costs of undertaking research studies outside Canada for a defined period. A total of 250 awards are available each year and are divided among the three agencies—the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). This reflects the distribution of CGS and eligible Vanier CGS across the health-related disciplines, the natural sciences and engineering and the social sciences and humanities: 45 for CIHR, 80 for NSERC and 125 for SSHRC. Additional supplements may be awarded should funds become available.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this supplement , you must.

undertake your proposed trip abroad no earlier than the competition deadline date
not hold, or have held, any other CGS-MSFSS during the course of your graduate studies

To remain eligible during the research study period abroad, you must

hold an active CGS at the time your research study period abroad starts
be registered in a graduate research studies program at a Canadian institution for the duration of your research study period abroad
take up the award within one year of receiving the notice of award for the CGS-MSFSS
return to complete your degree at your Canadian institution

Duration and start date of research study period abroad

The minimum length of stay abroad that the CGS-MSFSS will support is two months and the maximum duration of support is six months.

The start of your research study period abroad must be after the application deadline date, but within one year of receiving the notice of the award. Should you leave Canada before the results are announced, the agencies are not liable for any costs incurred if the application is not funded or is deemed ineligible.

A supplement must begin before the end date of your CGS or Vanier CGS and cannot be taken up during an interruption of a CGS or Vanier CGS award.

Note: The CGS award must be active at the time the research study period abroad begins.

Host institutions and supervisors

Eligible host institutions include foreign universities, inter-university research centres, international or national research institutes or laboratories, or other institutions with a research mandate.

A host supervisor must be a researcher affiliated with and employed full time at an eligible host institution. Research assistants and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible to be host supervisors. If the host supervisor’s primary place of employment is outside academia, they must demonstrate that they have supervised graduate student researchers.

The choice of host institution and host supervisor must be justified in your application. The application must also explain how the research study period abroad will further your research goals.

Note: If you are unsure about the eligibility of a particular host supervisor or host institution, contact the respective agency prior to submitting your application.

Award value and eligible expenses

The value of the CGS-MSFSS is up to $6,000, based on the information and budget justification provided in the application. The supplements are non-renewable.

The supplement will be paid to you through the Canadian institution where the CGS award is held.

The supplement will cover costs associated with travel, living and other expenses (such as accommodation, meals, tuition, travel or study visas, insurance and other necessary costs) unrelated to research during the research study period abroad. Costs directly related to the research must be covered by other funding sources.

Selection process

Completed applications must be submitted to the faculty of graduate studies (or its equivalent) at the institution where your CGS award is held.

For CIHR candidates, if your CGS award is held at an affiliate institution, your CGS-MSFSS application must be submitted to that affiliate institution.

The agencies will review the applications received from institutions for eligibility and completeness, and supplements will be awarded through the institutions on a first-come, first-served basis.

Late and incomplete applications will be rejected.

Selection criteria

The internal selection process and review procedures adopted by the institution must evaluate applications using the selection criteria listed below:

the linkage between the CGS research goals, the activities outlined for the proposed research study period abroad and your future research/career goals, considering
the significance, feasibility and merit of proposed activities at the foreign institution
the justification for the choice of host institution(s) and/or host supervisor(s)
the relevance and anticipated benefits of the proposed activities to your current graduate-degree training

The institution must notify you of the results of its internal selection process.

Application procedures

Each agency has its own application form , instructions and consent forms, and care should be taken to ensure that the appropriate form is used.

You will be required to provide the following information:

the name and contact information of your CGS or Vanier CGS research supervisor and of the proposed host supervisor
the name and location of the proposed host institution
a description of your intended research activities during your research study period abroad (including objectives, methodology, timelines and expected outcomes) and how they relate to your main graduate research topic, and a description of the potential benefits you will derive from the host institution in relation to your current research objectives (maximum two pages)
a budget that provides estimates for costs of travel, living and other expenses during your research study period abroad
a letter from your CGS or Vanier CGS research supervisor detailing their support for your research study period abroad and confirming that your proposed research aligns with the research from your CGS award (maximum one page)
a letter from your host supervisor detailing their support for your research study period abroad and the resources they have available—financial (if any), supervision time, equipment, library access, etc.—to support your planned research activities (maximum one page)

Notification of results

The agencies will notify you and the institutions of the results within two months following receipt of applications. CGS-MSFSS funds will be paid to the institutions, which will administer the supplements for the award holders on behalf of the agencies.

Upon receiving a CGS-MSFSS offer from one of the agencies, CGS-MSFSS recipients will be expected to abide by the terms of the award holders guide . This guide outlines the responsibilities of the award holder, including the steps required to make changes to the award and the requirement to submit an activity report following the research study period abroad.

CIHR Email: CGSMSFSS-SEEMSBESC@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

NSERC Email: schol@nserc-crsng.gc.ca

SSHRC Email: fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca

Jointly administered by

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SSHRC Doctoral Awards—Applicant Instructions
provide an outline of your thesis or research project, including, for example, the research question(s), context, objectives, methodology, significance and expected contributions to advancing knowledge; and ... If in doubt about the eligibility of your proposed research, consult SSHRC staff by emailing [email protected] before ...
SSHRC Research Proposal Guidelines
SSHRC Research Proposal Guidelines. Write your proposal in clear, plain language. Not all committee members will have an intimate knowledge of the subject matter of all proposals, so avoid jargon and highly-technical writing. Doing a first draft and then coming back to it might help you see flaws you may have overlooked the first time.
NSERC
4. Outline of proposed research (attachment) The single attachment consists of two separate sections: Outline of proposed research and Bibliography and citations. Each of these sections must be only one page. Pages in excess of the number permitted may be removed before the selection process, and your application may be at a disadvantage as a ...
Spotlight on NSERC or SSHRC proposals
4. Outline of proposed research (attachment) The single attachment consists of two separate sections: Outline of proposed research and Bibliography and citations. Each of these sections must be only one page. Pages in excess of the number permitted may be removed before the selection process, and your application may be at a disadvantage as a ...
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There are 3 federal research councils: Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) You need to apply to the correct council which is determined by the subject matter of your research, not by your department affiliation. SSHRC will ...
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CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarships
the outline of the proposed research (including the bibliography and citations); Outline of proposed research (maximum of one page); If the document is longer than one page, the excess copy will be deleted from the application when submitted to the ranking committee; Bibliography/citations (maximum of one page).
SSHRC Explore
Abstract and Key Words (max 1 page): Provide a succinct project description written so that a non-expert in the field of study can understand the proposed research, the scope and objectives of the project. Also outline the potential significance of the study to the University, discipline, researcher, students, and/or society at large.
PDF Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Presentation
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) have formed a Tri- Agency Harmonization Team to redesign the Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) Master's application. ... • Only one outline of proposed research can be attached, even if you are apply to more than one university.
DOCX Overview of the Program
Choose the committee which most closely represents the subject and discipline of the proposal. Please note that for each committee SSHRC may create several sub-committees, discipline-based where numbers of applications warrant, or based on groups of disciplines, and they may create sub-committees for Aboriginal research and research-creation applications.
PDF SSHRC MA PROGRAM OF STUDY
• Your Research Proposal • A description of your Degree Program Be sure to follow all instructions from SSHRC for formatting your document. If your Masters Degree Program involves the writing of a thesis, a major research essay or a major research project, you will need to provide a well-structured outline of your Research Proposal
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1. Relevant Research Contributions (over the Last Six Years) Follow SSHRC's instructions exactly for details on the contributions listed and grouping of contributions. 2. Other Research Contributions Select contributions that are related to the proposed project, including to non-academic audiences. 3. Most Significant Career Research ...
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SSHRC Scholarship Proposal Tips. Erik Nelson. Over the last couple years I put together a list of advice for graduate students applying for a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) scholarship or grant. SSHRC proposals have a different set of norms and requirements than many other other grants and scholarships, but I expect ...
Samples of Successful SSHRC Applications
Simon Fraser University respectfully acknowledges the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples on whose unceded traditional territories our three campuses reside.
PDF DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION VIA RESEARCH PORTAL https://www.nserc- crsng.gc
they agree provide them with a draft of your "outline of proposed research" (the SSHRC Program of Study) along with with digital samples of the best work you wrote in their course(s). This helps them to write your letters. Remember that letters of appraisal are submitted digitally, initiated by you through the online application program,
Structuring a research proposal for SSHRC? : r/PhD
For instance, on this page linked below the instructions under Research Proposal, If you are not currently enrolled in a doctoral degree program say to provide an outline of your doctoral thesis, which includes your research question, context, objectives, methodology, significance, and so forth.
Writing SSHRC Proposals: August 15-17, 2023, 2:00 pm
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), which is funded by the Canadian government, offers Master's and doctoral awards for graduate students in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada are eligible to apply. Deadlines for the doctoral applications are set by ...
PDF DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION VIA RESEARCH PORTAL https://www.nserc- crsng.gc
them with a draft of your "outline of proposed research" (the SSHRC Program of Study) and with digital samples of the best work you wrote in their course(s). This helps them to write your references. Remember that letters of appraisal are submitted digitally, initiated by you through the online application program, and must be completed by
PDF SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships -Master's (CGS-M
Assessments cannot be completed by a proposed supervisor unless that person is currently, or has already been, your supervisor and can provide an informed assessment **See upcoming slide! - 1 page maximum outline of proposed research -upload pdf; excess pages removed!!!! - 1 page bibliography maximum -upload pdf; excess pages removed!!!!
PDF SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR
Value and Duration: $17,500.00 for 12 months; non-renewable; tied to institution!!! Top up from Graduate Studies: $5,000.00 lump sum payment at start of award! Tenable: 21-22 academic year - start date options: May 2021, Sept, 2021, or Jan 2022 CGS-M Objectives: to help develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified ...
NSERC
the linkage between the CGS research goals, the activities outlined for the proposed research study period abroad and your future research/career goals, considering ; ... SSHRC Email: [email protected]. Jointly administered by. Date Modified: 2023-04-11 ^ Top of Page ^

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SSHRC Doctoral Awards — Applicant Instructions

On this page

Application process and deadlines

Accommodations and accessibility

Applicant responsibilities

For applicants submitting directly to SSHRC

For applicants submitting through a Canadian institution with a doctoral awards quota

Attaching a document

Acknowledgement of receipt of applications

Application title

Preferred selection committee

Supplemental awards

Joint or special initiative

Does your proposal involve Indigenous research, as defined by SSHRC ?

Option for self-identified Indigenous applicants

Organization at time of application

Degree sought through this application

Support requested

Number of months of doctoral studies

Disciplines

Areas of research

Temporal period

Geographical regions

Official letter to confirm part-time study and/or leave of absence (if applicable)

Part I—Research contributions

Refereed contributions

Other refereed contributions

Non-refereed contributions

Forthcoming contributions

Creative outputs

Part II—Applicant’s statement

Relevant experience

Relevant activities

Aileen D. Ross Fellowship

Queen’s Fellowship

Department of National Defence MINDS Scholarship Initiative

Initiative for Digital Citizen Research

Sport Participation Research Initiative

Mitacs Training

Instructions for requesting letters of appraisal

ANT430 Special Problems in Biological Anthropology and Archaeology (We Exist in Space - Biological Analysis through Geographic Space)

Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's Program

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program (CGS - M)

Instructions for Completing an Application

Graduate Studies

Information Session 2023

Value and Duration

Assigned Allocations to McMaster

Application Deadline: December 1, 2023 – 8 p.m. (ET)

Other Awards

Eligibility

Research Portal

Program of Study Eligibility

Special circumstances

Equity, diversity and inclusion

Black student researchers

Self-identification information

Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative (NSERC and SSHRC)

A complete application includes the following documents:

Research Portal presentation and attachment standards

Selection Criteria

Notification of results

Application statuses in the research portal

Useful Links

SSHRC Explore

SSHRC Scholarship Proposal Tips

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School of Graduate Studies

What is the difference between GCAC’s regular SSHRC course and the Writing Intensive version of the course?

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Canada Graduate Scholarships  Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements

Overview and objectives

Eligibility

To remain eligible during the research study period abroad, you must

Duration and start date of research study period abroad

Host institutions and supervisors

Award value and eligible expenses

Canada Graduate Scholarships Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements