1. Applying Successfully
for
Graduate Scholarship Funding
05 September 2012
Brendan Morey
Graduate Awards Manager

2. This presentation reviews the processes and
application materials for the annual Tri-Agency /
Affiliated Fellowships competition administered by
the Faculty of Graduate Studies. This competition
provides an example of a competitive, graduate-level
scholarship competition. This competition has a
great deal in common with other graduate scholarship
competitions, though some details will differ.

3. Competition Overview
CIHR
Affiliated NSERC SSHRC
Fellowships CGSM
Graduate Program
•Review apps for eligibility and completeness
•Rank apps (Masters and Doctoral separately)
•Forward top apps to Grad Studies
Grad Studies

4. Competition Overview
Grad Studies
•Review apps for eligibility and completeness
•Forward eligible apps to one of six adjudication
committees
Nat Sci & Nat Sci & Health Soc Sci Soc Sci Hum
Eng 1 Eng 2 Sci 1 2
Master Ranking List

5. Competition Overview
Master Ranking List
1. Jones – Affiliated Top NSERC apps forwarded
to NSERC
2. Singh - Affiliated
3. Cushan - NSERC
4. Wong - NSERC Top SSHRC apps forwarded
5. Thompson - SSHRC to SSHRC
6. Wright - NSERC
7. Tennebrau - Affiliated
Top CIHR CGSM apps
8. Lowrie - CIHR forwarded to CIHR
9. Etc.
Preliminary Results to Grad Programs early February

6. Competition Overview
Vanier, NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR release results
in late March to late April
Master List
1. Jones - Affiliated
2. Singh - Affiliated
3. Cushan - NSERC
4. Wong - Affiliated
5. Thompson - SSHRC
6. Wright -NSERC
7. Tennebrau - Killam
8. Lowrie - CIHR
9. Etc.

7. Academic Standing
To be eligible for any of these competitions, you
must have first-class academic standing in each of
the last two years of full-time study

8. Which Application?
NSERC
SSHRC Master’s
SSHRC Doctoral
CIHR Master’s
CIHR Doctoral
Affiliated Fellowships
Vanier*
*Vanier Scholarships are adjudicated through a separate, parallel competition

9. Citizenship
International students are eligible to apply only to
the Affiliated Fellowships competition.
International students are not eligible for the
NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR competitions*
*exception: Vanier Scholarships

10. Research Area
Natural sciences and engineering
OR
Social sciences and humanities
OR
Health sciences

11. Months of Study
• Each award types has restrictions on the number
of months of study you have completed as of a
certain date
• Limits and dates are different for each agency, so
pay careful attention

12. Where to Submit
• Where you submit your application depends on
the funding agency and your current registration
status
• Options:
• Current university
• Former university
• Directly to funding agency
• Make sure you get it right!

13. Deadlines
• Make sure you know which deadline applies to
you
• Deadline to grad program vs. deadline to
agency
• Signature deadlines
• Do not submit after the deadline – your
application will not be accepted

14. Selection Criteria
Academic Excellence
• academic record;
• scholarships and awards held; and
• duration of previous studies
Given more weight for Master’s applicants, less for
doctoral applicants

15. Selection Criteria
Research ability or potential
• quality of contributions to research and
development;
• relevance of work experience and academic
training to field of proposed research;
• significance, feasibility, and merit of proposed
research, and justification for location of tenure;
• critical thinking, problem-solving skills,
originality

16. Selection Criteria
Communication, interpersonal and leadership
abilities
• ability or potential to communicate scientific
concepts clearly and logically in written and oral
formats
• professional and relevant extracurricular
interactions and collaborations
• work experience, community involvement and
other extracurricular activities

17. Application Materials
• Application form
• CV (some competitions)
• Research proposal
• Transcripts
• Reference letters

18. Application Form
• Like a résumé: make a good impression
• Fill in everything that applies to you
• Most forms are online (you’ll need to create a
username and password)
• Three key things to remember:
• Follow the instructions
• Follow the instructions
• Follow the instructions

19. Common CV
• Some funding agencies use Common CV
(www.ccv-cvc.ca)
• Follow instructions
• Can be finicky when creating PDF file to upload
to application form – keep trying

20. Research Proposal
• One- to two-page summary of research you plan
to do while funded
• Samples available on Grad Studies website
http://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-
students/scholarships-awards-funding/resources-
award-applicants

21. Research Proposal
• Significance/relevance of research question
• Hypothesis to be tested
• Match between research question and
methodology
• Not too big and not too small
• Write for non-experts
• Font size and page margins

22. Transcripts
• Official transcripts
• All postsecondary studies (including programs
undertaken but not completed)
• Talk to your graduate program about which
transcripts they need from you

23. Reference Letters
• At least two, sometimes three
• Ask potential referees (they may say no)
• Help your referees help you; provide the
following to your referees:
• Application form
• Proposal
• Transcripts
• Selection criteria
• “Highlights” sheet

24. Ethics and Integrity
• Application must be an accurate picture of applicant
• Beware of hyperbole and embellishment
• Give credit where credit is due
• Review Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible
Conduct Of Research
(http://www.rcr.ethics.gc.ca/eng/policy-
politique/framework-cadre/)
• Who should write the research proposal?
• Applicant alone?
• Applicant together with supervisor?
• Consequences

25. Last Advice
• Check your spelling
• Be careful about formatting (font
sizes, margins, etc.)
• Have others read your application
• Follow the instructions
*This is a very important project,
and I am the very best person to do it*

26. Further Resources
www.grad.ubc.ca
Prospective Students
Scholarships, Awards & Funding
Resources for Award Applicants

27. Contact Info
Faculty of Graduate Studies
170 – 6371 Crescent Road
604-822-2848
www.grad.ubc.ca/awards
graduate.awards@ubc.ca