Fall Graduate Award Competitions

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Fall Graduate Award Competitions
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External

• NSERC - Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
  Council

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NSERC Application

• NSERC on-campus presentation
• Tuesday, September 18 900 am UC room 103
• Deadline for submission to department by student
  is October 5
• Deadline for submission by department to Graduate
  Program Services is October 19
• Applications are available only from the NSERC
  web-site at www.nserc.ca

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SSHRC Application

• SSHRC Social Sciences and Humanities Research
  Council
• CGS Doctoral Scholarships 35,000 per year (for
  36 months)
• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship 20,000 per year (for
  12, 24, 36 or 48 months)

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SSHRC Application

• SSHRC CGS Masters
• CGS Masters Scholarships 17,500 per year (one
  time, non-renewable)
• Available to masters students

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SSHRC Application

• SSHRC on-campus presentation
• Tuesday September 18 200 UC room 103
• Applications are only available from the SSHRC
  web-site at www.sshrc.ca
• Deadline for submission to department by student
  is October 29
• Deadline for submission by department to Graduate
  Program Services is November 9

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CIHR Scholarship

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• CIHR CGS Masters
• 17,500 per year
• One year awards only
• Must be held at a Canadian institution
• Applications are only available from the CIHR
  web-site at http//www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/

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CIHR CGS Masters Deadline

• Deadline for submission by student to department
  is January 4, 2008
• Deadline for submission by department to Graduate
  Program Services is
• January 11, 2008

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HSF Application

• Heart and Stroke Foundation Masters Studentship
  Award
• Limited number of awards for students
  undertaking cardiovascular/cerebrovascular
  research under an identified supervisor
• 18,000 per year for up to 2 years
• Applications are only available from the HSF
  (Ontario) web-site at http//www.hsf.ca/research/e
  n/provincial-programs/ontario-masters-studentship-
  award.html

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HSF Application

• Deadline for submission by student to department
  is March 7, 2008
• Deadline for submission by department to Graduate
  Program Services is
• March 21, 2008

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Ontario Graduate Scholarships
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Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS)

• Ontario Graduate Scholarships are designed to
  encourage excellence in graduate studies at the
  master's and doctoral levels
• Awarded for 1 academic year with two or three
  consecutive terms at 5,000 per term
• 2,000 Ontario Graduate Scholarships
• 60 for international students studying on a visa
  (Visa students must now include a copy of Student
  Authorization with application)

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Application

• Deadline for submission by student to department
  is October 19
• Deadline for submission by department to Student
  Financial Services is November 2
• Information and on-line application
  http//osap.gov.on.ca/eng/not_secure/OGS.htm

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Eligibility

• Plan to be enrolled full-time in a graduate
  program at an Ontario university
• Canadian citizen, permanent resident or an
  international student studying on a visa
• A- average OVER the last two years of study if
  less than two years of graduate work or the
  cumulative graduate average if more than two
  years

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Eligibility Conditions

• Maximum of four years of government funding
  (including NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)
• Cannot be held with a scholarship from NSERC,
  SSHRC, CIHR or an OGSST
• Can receive up to two OGS at the Masters level
  within first two years of study
• Can receive up to four at the Doctoral level
  within first five years of study in program

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Acceptance Conditions

• Must be enrolled as a full-time student
• May change to another approved discipline or
  program with university approval
• May hold other awards to a maximum of 10,000
• May accept research/teaching assistantships
  providing remain full-time student

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On-line Application

• Application is now available on-line
• Built in smarts
• Alternately available in PDF fillable. Space
  provided must not be made larger
• Checklist must be handed in with application
• All attached pages must be in 12 point font with
  ¾ margins

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Application

• Application form
• Personal data
• Education information
• Summary Sheet
• Academic Assessment Report
• from professor MOST familiar with your work
• from professor who is familiar with your work
• Statement of Interest (masters) or Plan of Study
  (doctoral)
• Bibliographies or references must be included
  here

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Application continued

• List of Significant Academic Accomplishments -
  publications, presentations etc. (if applicable)
• List of Other Scholarships or Awards (if
  applicable)
• Transcripts - official transcripts of marks
  completed up to August 31, 2007
• Copy of Student Authorization if Visa student

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Criteria/Ranking

• Academic excellence determined by transcripts,
  referee reports, list of academic
  accomplishments, and plan of study (if
  applicable)
• Department ranking
• Note there is no central ranking mechanism

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Statistics

• No limit on number of applications submitted by
  the university
• 488 applications apps sent to OGS with 162
  successful 33.1 success rate

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Creating a Strong Award Application
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Application Procedures

• Read the application thoroughly and ensure your
  eligibility. If you are unsure check
• Make/use a checklist of all items required
• Deadline date
• Submission procedures
• Number of reference letters
• Max. pages for each section
• Transcripts allow time for ordering and ensure
  that you have all required transcripts
• Required signatures

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Application Procedures - Style

• Some applications have strict formatting rules
• Pleasing visual presence
• 12 point font easily readable
• Set margins
• Never exceed the number of pages requested
• Never hand write an application

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Application Procedures - Style

• Some applications require creativity
• Front cover
• Index
• Chapter titles
• Some form of binding
• College Logo
• Pictures

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Application Procedures - Descriptions

• Thesis/research
• How does it relate to the mandate of the award?
• Provide evidence of your connection to the
  mandate
• Describe your research in plain language if
  requested in application
• Work Experience
• emphasize related experience

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Application Procedures -Descriptions

• Awards
• In some instances you may include community
  service awards etc.
• Publications
• List related or important publications in the
  format required
• Impressive excerpts from publications (if
  allowed)

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Reference LettersTips for the Applicant

• Request letters early
• Request letters from referees whom you know will
  provide a positive reference
• Some scholarships require letters from specific
  types of referees
• Provide the referee with all required information
  (transcripts, addresses, project description)

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Reference LettersTips for the Referee

• Letter should refer to the mandate or
  objectives/criteria of the award and how the
  applicant fulfils concerns
• Fill the space provided
• Be glowing and specific use examples of
  achievement

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Reference LetterTips for the Referee

• What makes this applicant stand out from all
  other applicants
• Best student of 50 in the last ten years ranks
  the student, but many applications have a
  similarly ranked reference
• Stress strengths

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Reference LetterTips for the Referee

• If there is a description of the donor or
  namesake mention how the applicant might embody
  that persons vision
• Remember that a very strong reference letter may
  sway the committee
• Read the application and support information
  provided by candidate

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Finished with Application?

• Proof read
• Review checklist
• Submit application package
• Good Luck!

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Do you need help?

• Faculty
• Graduate coordinators
• Frances Determann Graduate Program Services
• determan_at_registrar.uoguelph.ca
• Pauline Sinclair - Graduate Program Services
• sinclair_at_registrar.uoguelph.ca
• NSERC Website - http//www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/
• SSHRC Website - http//www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/
• OGS Website - http//osap.gov.on.ca/eng/not_secure
  /OGS.htm
• CIHR Website - http//www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/
• HSF Website - http//www.hsf.ca/research/en/provin
  cial-programs/ontario-masters-studentship-award.ht
  ml