Tips on Applying for Scholarships & Fellowships

(SSHRC, CIHR, OGS)

September, 2015

Dr. Sandra den Otter, Dr. Lynda Jessup and Dr. Don KlingerExpanding Horizons Workshop

Selecting the Appropriate Funding Agency

• Must check Tri-council guidelines on applications related to health to determine whether a project is SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR at http://www.science.gc.ca

• Inter-disciplinary projects

• Cannot apply to more than one funding agency in any single year

• Program of research must be primarily in • social sciences • humanities

• Intended outcome of the research must primarily • to add to our understanding and knowledge of

individuals, groups, and societies • what we think • how we live • how we interact with each other and the world around us

• Double check directly with appropriate agency for Inter-disciplinary projects, particularly health-related research (by email, WELL BEFORE DEADLINE)

Selecting SSHRC

Selecting NSERC

• The program of research must be primarily in • natural sciences • engineering

• The intended objectives of the research must be, primarily• to advance knowledge in one of the natural

sciences or in engineering

Selecting CIHR

• The intended outcomes of the research must, as stated in CIHR’s mandate, primarily:• improve or have an impact on health and/or • produce more effective health services and

products and/or • strengthen the Canadian health care system

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

• Tri-Agency program for outstanding students• who will pursue a doctoral program • in a Canadian University

• Nomination by the University • Check with program coordinator

• Eligibility• Canadian Citizens• Permanent Residents or• Foreign students

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

To Apply

• www.vanier.gc.ca

• $50,000 / yr for 24 or 36 months

• Eligible candidates should also submit an application for SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR doctoral level funding

• Deadline: October 15

OGS SSHRC CIHRDeadline Variable PhD November 19

(due at SGS – check with department for internal deadline)Masters CGS December 1 Online Application due

PhD October 1(direct to CIHR)

Masters CGS December 1 Online Application Due

M (1 year)

D

15 K

15 K

17.5 K

35K/20 K

17.5K

35K/21K

MastersPhD Quota

196 M, D domestic

6 international

Masters 45PhD 81

~ 8

NA

• With the exception of OGS and SSHRC PhD fellowships, limits are 3 years at PhD

• Cannot apply to more than one of the tri-councils

Lifetime Funding Maximums

• Lifetime maximum: – must have not exceeded 4 years of government

support (includes NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)

Geographic Boundaries

• SSHRC CGS-M: tenable only at Canadian Universities

• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship : tenable at any university

• SSHRC CGS-D (for PhD): tenable only at Canadian Universities

CGS Master’s

• Harmonization means common application and application deadline for all TriCouncil Master’s applications

• One page instead of 2 page proposal

• New Common CV (start early)

• Adjudication takes place at Queen’s

CGS Master’s Assessment

Academic Excellence 50%

Research Potential 30%

Personal/Interpersonal Skills and Characteristics

20%

Indicators of Academic Excellence (50%)

Academic record (first class average) • Scholarships and awards held •Duration of previous studies •Type of program and courses •Course load •Relative standing (if available)

Research Potential (30%)

• Quality and originality of contributions to research and development

• Relevance of work experience and academic training to proposed field

• Significance, feasibility, and merit of proposed research • Judgment and ability to think critically • Ability to apply skills and knowledge • Initiative, autonomy and independence

Personal/Interpersonal (20%)

• Work experience • Leadership experience • Project management including organizing

conferences and meetings • The ability or potential to communicate concepts

clearly and logically in written and oral formats • Involvement in academic life • Volunteerism/community outreach

SSHRC Criteria for PhD Evaluation

• Past academic results

• The program of study and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge

• Relevant professional and academic experiences

• Written evaluation from referees

• Departmental appraisal

Adjudication within Queen’s

• Initial ranking of all PhD applications within programs/departments

• Fellowship Committee of the Arts Graduate Council reviews and recommends which SSHRC PhD applications will go forward to national competition. Applicants whose applications are not forwarded are contacted

• Fellowship Committee of the Arts Graduate Council reviews all CGS Master’s SSHRC applications. Decisions will be made at Queen’s on those recommended for funding

• Each committee reads 70-90 files in early January

• Each application is assigned a score between 1 and 10.

• Each reviewer’s scores need to range from best (10/10) to worst (1/10).

• Reviewer’s scores are compared during a conference call and discrepancies are solved.

National Adjudication of PhD

A Sample SSHRC PhD Scoring Table for 75 Applications

Recommendation Score% of applications to be

assigned the score# of applications to be

assigned the score

Should be funded 10 2% 2

9.0 - 9.9 5% 4

8.0 – 8.9 10% 8

7.0 – 7.9 14% 11

Could be funded 6.0 – 6.9 9% 4

5.0 – 5.9 9% 4

Not recommended 4.0 – 4.9 14% 11

3.0 – 3.9 10% 7

2.0 – 2.9 5% 3

1.0 – 1.9 2% 1

Top Tips - I

• Start early• Read other successful applications• Visit the website, know what is expected of you, your

referees and your institution. Follow the instructions.• Give yourself enough time to submit drafts and

incorporate feedback• Choose your referees carefully and provide your

referee with information about:• The adjudication criteria• The timeline• Yourself and what you have done to merit an excellent

reference

Top Tips - 2

• Structure your proposal clearly• Start snappy • Speak outside your discipline and your field• Keep literature review section succinct• Get “in sync” with your referees• Understand the difference between refereed and non-

refereed contributions• Clarify your research contributions if necessary

Top Tips - 3

• Suggested structure: • First page (the “what”):

• Broad topic, brief reference to gaps in literature, research questions and objectives

• Second page (the “how”): • Methodology, theory, aspirations/contributions, justification for

program/supervisor

• Consider using subheadings• Use the space allotted (additional info discarded)

Top Tips - 4

• Be concrete and feasible, avoid speculation and over ambitiousness

• Describe your research in lay language, limit jargon and use of acronyms

• Saying it does not make it so – provide evidence, support your statements

• The submitted application should be polished.

In Sum: The Art of Writing Proposals

• Capture the reviewer's attention

• Aim for clarity• Establish the context• What's the pay-off?• Use a fresh approach • Describe your

methodology• Specify your objectives• Final note

1. Exceed space allowance or do not use all the space (e.g. short proposal)

2. Miscalculate average

3. Fail to abide by instructions about margins, font, transcripts

4. Incomplete applications

5. Missed deadlines

Common Errors

Resources

SSHRC: Resource Center

SSHRC Youtube

SSHRC PhD Video Walkthrough

CIHR: Videos and Webinars

For further information contact: Dr. S. den Otterdenotter@queensu.ca

For Sample Proposal discussed, contact Dr. S. Kingkingsj@queensu.ca