Award Values of Graduate Student NSERC Scholarships

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Award Values of Graduate Student NSERC
Scholarships
CGS M PGS M CGS D PGS D
Value 17,500 17,300 35,000 21,000
Duration 1 year 1 year 2 or 3 years 2 or 3 years
Tenure Canadian universities ONLY Canadian or foreign universities Canadian universities ONLY Canadian or foreign universities
Must have obtained at least one Canadian
degree in NSE
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Writing an NSERC Post Graduate Scholarship
Application

• Workshop Agenda
• Introductions
• An Overview of a Complete Application Checklist
• Discussion of how your Application will be
  Evaluated Ranked
• Getting Started
• Panel Session on completing each of the sections
  of the application
• Verification of the Application and its Submission

Panel Members Gabe Alfaro, Ph.D. program,
Molecular Biology and Biosciences Heather More,
Ph.D. program, Biomedical Physiology and
Kinesiology Dr. Margo Moore, Biological
Sciences Jeff Mowat, Ph.D. program, Chemistry
Dr. Jian Pei, Computing Science Dr. Matt
White, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology
Rachel Dawson, Graduate Awards Manager, Graduate
Studies Dr. George Agnes, Associate Dean of
Graduate Studies
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An NSERC PGS application that is complete
includes the following sections
Form 200 Signed cover page Outline of
proposed research (free-form) Contributions and
statements (free-form) All official and current
academic transcripts (undergraduate graduate)
Appendix 1 - Report on the Applicant (completed
online or in a sealed envelope) Appendix 3 -
Optional (Explanation of Delay or Gaps in
Training Chronology) Submit the completed
application to your Department
Websites NSERC online forms - PGS, form 200
http//www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Index_eng.asp (from
this page, select online services) NSERC
Program information for students
http//www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/in
dex_eng.asp NSERC blank form 200 -
http//www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-Servic
esEnLigne/pdf/F200_e.pdf NSERCs tips and
suggestions for completing an application -
http//www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-Servic
esEnLigne/instructions/200/e.asp SFU Graduate
Studies, Notes from this workshop to be posted at
- http//www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/
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Prosperity and high quality of life for Canadians
vision and mission
NSERC
innovation
discovery
We invest in
Competitive research in science and engineering,
providing access to new knowledge from around the
world
Productive use of new knowledge in all sectors of
the economy and society
EXCELLENCE
people
Highly skilled, well educated and capable of
lifelong learning
Our goal is Canadian excellence in
USING NEW KNOWLEDGE
WORKING IN ALL AREAS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CREATING KNOWLEDGE
Partnerships of universities with industry and
other sectors for project research
Scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate
students, postgraduate students, postdoctoral
fellows and some university faculty
Research Grants for basic research in the
universities
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To Apply for NSERC SupportYou Must Be

• A Canadian citizen
• OR
• A Permanent Resident of Canada

Exceptions Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Program (Vanier CGS) Industrial Postgraduate
Scholarships Programs (IPS) Industrial Innovation
Scholarships (IIS) - for those registered in
Québec universities Visiting Fellowships in
Canadian Government Laboratories
(VF) Collaborative Research and Training
Experience (CREATE)

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PostGraduate Student Scholarship Categories

• Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate
  Scholarships (CGS)
• Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS)
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
• Canada Graduate Scholarships Michael Smith
  Foreign Study Supplements (CGS MSFSS)
• Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships (IPS)
• Industrial Innovation Scholarships (IIS) for
  students registered at a university in Quebec
• Summer Programs in Japan or Taiwan

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Time in Graduate Program Eligibility CGS/PGS M
and D
CGS/PGS M CGS/PGS M CGS/PGS D CGS/PGS D
Bachelors ? Master's or Masters ? Doctorate Bachelors ? Doctorate NO registration in Master's Master's ? Doctorate Bachelors ? Doctorate NO registration in Master's
Eligibility 0-12 months in Master's 0-12 months in Doctorate 0-24 months in Doctorate 4-36 months in Doctorate
1st class average Required in each of the last two years of full-time study (or equivalent) Exceptions to be justified by university. Required in each of the last two years of full-time study (or equivalent) Exceptions to be justified by university. Required in each of the last two years of full-time study (or equivalent) Exceptions to be justified by university. Required in each of the last two years of full-time study (or equivalent) Exceptions to be justified by university.
As of December 31st of the year of application
in program for which support is requested
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Eligibility of Program of Study and Proposed
Research

• Both program of study and proposed research must
  be eligible / in a field that NSERC supports
• Program
• Clinically-oriented programs of study are
  ineligible (e.g. clinical psychology)
• Joint graduate programs including a professional
  degree are ineligible (e.g. MD/PhD)
• Research
• Research challenge must lie within NSE
• For awards held at universities, research must be
  supervised by faculty member whose own research
  is in an NSERC-supported field
• May only apply to one agency per academic year.
• If in doubt, contact NSERC (schol_at_nserc-crsng.gc.c
  a)
• NSERC makes final decision

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CGS/PGS Selection Criteria and Weightings
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What Happens to the Application at Your
University?

• You submit to department/university
• University committees select applicants to fill
  NSERC quota
• Quota of applications sent to NSERC
• University informs unsuccessful applicants

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What Happens to the Application at NSERC?

• Verification of eligibility of applicant and
  proposed research by Program Officers
• Selection committee members review all
  applications
• Top-ranked applicants offered CGS
• PGS offered to next tier of applicants
• Applicants informed of NSERCs decision
• Feedback available upon request

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• Academic excellence
• Academic record
• Scholarships and awards held
• Duration of previous studies
• 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
• Ability to think critically
• Ability to apply skills and knowledge
• Judgment
• Originality
• Initiative and autonomy
• Enthusiasm for research
• Determination and ability to complete projects
  within an appropriate period of time
• Communication, interpersonal and leadership
  abilities
• The ability or potential to communicate
  scientific concepts clearly and logically in
  written and oral formats. For example, this could
  include
• quality of the application's presentation
• participation in preparing publications and

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(No Transcript)
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NSERC Getting Started

• Give yourself (and your referees plenty of time)
• Create a to do list and add each item to your
  agenda (eg. NSERC reference and PIN, line up your
  referees and information for them)
• Read through all eligibility criteria and
  instructions highlight anything relevant to you
  or that you may need to refer to later on
• Confirm your departments deadline (around
  October 2nd or 5th)

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NSERC Getting Started

• What browsers and operating systems are supported
  by NSERCs On-line System?
• NSERC has optimized their system to work with
  browsers and operating systems that the majority
  of clients use. They are as follows

Windows XP Windows 2000 MAC Windows 98
Internet Explorer 5.0x or higher Yes Yes Yes Yes
Netscape Navigator 6.0X or higher Yes Yes Yes Yes
Safari 1.0 or higher Yes
Firefox 1.0 or higher Yes Yes Yes Yes
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Form 200 - Proposed Research - Free Form

• Summary of proposed future research project
• Plain language
• 1 page max
• Include specific wherever possible
• Objectives, Outline, Methods
• Procedures, Significance, Anticipated Challenges
  Solutions
• Do not repeat info from Thesis summary
• Refer to it!
• Upload convert document to PDF format online

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NSERC Outline of Proposed Research

• Writing Tips
• Follow the guidelines and format standards can be
  found in the instructions section.
• Ensure that you abide by the page limits as
  outlined in the instructions extra pages will be
  removed from your application.
• Write in plain, clear language your outline
  should be readable by someone with a background
  in the discipline but with no specialized
  knowledge of the particular field of research.
• You should not repeat the information found in
  the Theses completed or in progress section,
  but may refer to it.
• Provide a detailed description of your proposed
  research project for the period during which you
  are to hold the award. Be as specific as
  possible.
• Provide background information to position your
  proposed research within the context of the
  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.
• Be sure to state the significance of the proposed
  research to a field or fields in the natural
  sciences and engineering.
• Include all relevant information in the outline.
  Do not refer members to URLs or other
  publications for supplemental information.
• If the proposed research is a continuation of
  your thesis, clearly state the differences
  between work done for your thesis and the
  research activities outlined in this proposal.
• PGS M applicantsIf you have not yet decided on
  a specific project, you must still provide a
  detailed description, as above, of a research
  project that interests you. You are not bound by
  this project. You may change your research
  direction or activities during the course of the
  award. Certain restrictions apply. For more
  information see the Award Holders Guide.

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• Form 200 - Thesis Information

• For CGS/PGS D, IPS 2 and PDF Only
• Most recently completed or in progress
• Plain language
• No Thesis?
• Only describe research project or
  research-related work experience that is not on
  the free-form page under Contributions and
  Applicants Statement

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Form 200 Contributions and Applicants Statement
(Free Form)

• Part 1 Articles published, accepted, submitted
• Part 2 Most significant contributions to RD
• Part 3 Applicants statement
• research experience
• relevant activities
• special circumstances
• Page limits PGS M 1 page total
• PGS D 2 pages total
• PDF 4 pages total

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NSERC Official Transcripts

• NSERC will accept ONLY current and original
  official transcripts from all post-secondary
  institutions attended by each applicant. The only
• exceptions to this rule are
• Where the student is unable to get an original
  from the issuing university because they do not
  produce them. An original letter from the
  university giving the exact dates of the
  students registration in the masters/ doctoral
  program, and the date the degree was completed is
  required.
•  Where the country is in a state of war,
  political upheaval or other types of disorder. In
  these cases, Canadian universities may provide
  photocopies of original transcripts for these
  students. These copies must be signed by Thea
  Hinds, the Scholarship Liaison Officer (SLO).

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NSERC Appendix 1 - Report on the Applicant
(references)

• Qualities that should be emphasized in your
  letters of reference include research ability or
  potential, leadership and interpersonal
  abilities, critical thinking, independence,
  perseverance, originality, interest in discovery,
  and organizational skills.
• Provide your referee with a list of the above
  qualities and some examples of how you have
  demonstrated them.
• Make submitting the report easy for your referee
  provide them with an addressed, stamped envelope
  and the date by which the document must be
  returned.

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Appendix 1 Report on the Applicant by Referee
( 2 Independent Referee Reports are Required)

• Person most familiar with applicants abilities
  research, etc. - Usually thesis supervisor
• Another person familiar with your abilities and
  research
• Able to provide specific examples
• Not proposed supervisor unless also past
  supervisor
• Form must be signed by referee

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NSERC Appendix 1 - Report on the Applicant
(references)

• Appendix 1 - Report on the Applicant
• Each application submitted to NSERC must be
  accompanied by two original Appendix 1s.
• One report should be from a person very familiar
  with your research and other abilities, e.g.
  current academic research supervisor, industrial
  or USRA supervisor.
• The second report should be from a person
  sufficiently familiar with your research and
  other abilities.
• Appendix 1 cannot be completed by a proposed
  supervisor unless that person is, or has been,
  your supervisor.
• To Do List
• Provide your reference number (assigned once you
  have completed the on-line application) or a
  photocopy of your completed application to each
  of the reviewers. Provide the reviewers with the
  instructions and the original of Appendix 1 if
  they are not using the on-line system.
• Allow sufficient time to enable each reviewer to
  complete, print and return the report.
• All Appendix 1 or reports submitted on letterhead
  must be typed and bear the signature of the
  referee
• If the reviewers submit a report on letterhead
  paper, they must also submit a signed copy of
  Appendix 1

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Transcripts / Support Letters

• Transcripts
• Must be current and official
• Indicate that paper copies will be attached
• Support Letters
• PDF Only to make exception to stay at PhD
  university
• Head of the Department
• Proposed Supervisor

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No electronic submission A paper copy must be
submitted
Create a form Select the program Or Edit
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Remember

• Follow instructions
• Font size, margins, page limits etc.
• Clear, concise writing
• Proofread for spelling, grammar
• Provide needed documentation
• Choose respondents with care
• Be aware of deadlines
• No On-line application submission!

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Common Mistakes

• Your department may accept applications with
  these
• common mistakes, but DGS will not
• Applications that are handwritten
• Applications that are not signed
• Applications that are not completed
• Applications missing one or both Appendix 1s
• Applications without official transcripts
• Incorrectly formatted Outline of Proposed
  Research
• Applications exceeding page limits

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Common Mistake Not Verifying Your Application
You cannot submit an application that has Not
Completed in the bottom right hand corner.
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How to Fix Verifying Your Application
Be sure to use the verify button on the
Portfolio page. This will ensure that all
mandatory fields are completed.
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NSERC Getting Started
Click the left hand menus On-line Services to
log on to the electronic application. Click
on Looking for an application form only for
samples. This link has .pdfs of the applications
and instructions.
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NSERC Complete the Application
Be sure to read and follow the instructions
given. For example, the Work Experience page
clearly states to list experience Beginning
with the most recent