Financial Support

Through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS), Western aims to provide each qualified Category I student (i.e. student enrolled in a research-based graduate program) offered admission into a program with sufficient financial resources to accept the offer. SGPS awards student support based on the initial nomination of the student's graduate program. Application by the student is not required. For comprehensive information regarding internal and external funding opportunities, visit the SGPS website.

Minimum Academic Requirement for SGPS Financial Support

To be eligible for SGPS Financial Support incoming students must have a minimum admission average of 75% as determined by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Continuing students must meet the graduate program conditions for progression towards the degree, as well as a minimum requirement of 75% based on all graduate courses completed in the current program.

Eligibility for SGPS Financial Support is Limited to the Normal Duration of the Student’s Program

Health & Rehabilitation Sciences provides funding for master's level students for six terms
Doctoral students are eligible for SGPS financial support for the first twelve terms of full-time registration
During their period of fundability, doctoral students must apply for Tri-Council (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) and Ontario government awards (OGS/ST) for which they are eligible
Students who transfer from a master's program to a doctoral program are eligible for financial support during the first fifteen consecutive full-time terms of registration (this includes both programs)

A Minimum Annual Financial Package for Doctoral Students

Incoming Doctoral students and continuing Doctoral students who meet the usual eligibility criteria must have access to an annual financial package (i.e., three terms commencing with the initial term of admission) of at least the annual cost of full-time tuition (www4.registrar.uwo.ca/index.cfm) plus $12,000, with the following caveats:

The financial package can come from a variety of sources and can differ from student to student. These sources include: supervisor research grant support; external scholarship support (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, OGS, OGSST, etc.); Graduate Teaching Assistantships; internal scholarship support (Western Graduate Research Scholarships, program-based scholarships, endowments, etc); and employment other than GTAships (ten hour rule applies). Students in receipt of external scholarship or other income that brings their package above the level of tuition + $12,000, will see a reduction in their support from on-campus sources to an amount of $8,000.
OSAP is excluded in the calculation of the financial package.
The student may decline all or part of the package without prejudice to his/her admission. Where the student declines part of the package, the program must submit a written statement to SGPS, signed by the student, documenting the adequacy of the student's financial resources for the length of the program and acknowledging the University has met its obligations.

A Minimum Annual Financial Package for Master’s Students

The master’s annual financial package of $10,000 can come from a variety of sources and can differ from student to student, based on a variety of circumstances. These sources may include internal academic scholarships, tuition scholarships, and/or teaching or research assistantships. In the situation where you are awarded a teaching or research assistantship, the University requires that you cannot work more than 10 hours per week. Should a student decline the offer of a teaching or research assistantship, funding amounts will be adjusted accordingly. In those situations where the student holds a major external award (e.g., OGS or CIHR), you will be funded up to a maximum of $3,000, and similar to other funding, it may be comprised of various sources.

Completion of the Student’s Program

When the student completes his/her program (or withdraws without completing) while receiving SGPS financial support, this support may be subject to repayment or pro-rating for the remainder of the term (consult the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for further details).
The University of Western Ontario and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies reserves the right to modify and/or discontinue the SGPS financial support packages. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies provides complete information on Financial Support available at The University of Western Ontario.

Internal University Funding Opportunities

Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS)

WGRS are funded by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and are applied directly against a portion of tuition fee bills. The tuition balance not covered by WGRS is payable at the beginning of each term. GTA & GRA funding is paid at the end of each month. This means you must arrive with sufficient funds to pay your outstanding tuition balance and September living expenses.

Graduate Thesis Research Fund

PhD Only in the Faculty of Health Sciences

Funds for this award are provided jointly by the Office of the Vice-President (Research & International Relations) and individual faculties. The purpose of this program is to help support costs of research undertaken by graduate students at The University of Western Ontario that are directly related to the successful completion of their thesis/dissertation requirements. See website for details

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Graduate teaching assistants assist with the teaching of undergraduate courses. In September 2009, a graduate student with a full GTAship received a base salary of $4,550 per term. Employment of registered graduate students as graduate teaching assistants is governed by the provisions of the collective agreement between the University of Western Ontario and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which can be found at www.uwo.ca/humanresources.

Research Assistantships

A Research Assistant is an hourly paid employee of a professor. The duties benefit the professors’ research and is not intended to develop the student.

External Funding Opportunities

Note: Most of these scholarships have application deadlines in the fall. OGS, NSERC and SSHRC have internal program deadlines. Students and faculty will be notified of these deadlines in early September.

TRI-COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIPS (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

CIHR is the major federal agency responsible for funding health research in Canada. It aims to excel in the creation of new health knowledge, and to translate that knowledge from the research setting into real world applications. The results are improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. See their website for more information.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

NSERC’s role is to make investments in people, discovery and innovation for the benefit of all Canadians. We invest in people by supporting some 23,000 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. We promote discovery by funding more than 11,000 university professors every year. And we help make innovation happen by encouraging about 1,300 Canadian companies to invest in university research and training. Over the last ten years, NSERC has invested more than $6 billion in basic research, university-industry projects, and the training of Canada’s next generation of scientists and engineers.

See their website for more information.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

SSHRC is an arm's-length federal agency that promotes and supports university-based research and training in the social sciences and humanities. Created by an act of Parliament in 1977, SSHRC is governed by a 22-member Council that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Industry.
SSHRC-funded research fuels innovative thinking about real life issues, including the economy, education, health care, the environment, immigration, globalization, language, ethics, peace, security, human rights, law, poverty, mass communication, politics, literature, addiction, pop culture, sexuality, religion, Aboriginal rights, the past, our future.

See their website for more information:

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program is designed to encourage excellence in graduate studies at the Masters and doctoral levels. An Ontario Graduate Scholarship is awarded for one academic year, which may consist of two or three consecutive terms. One-term awards are not granted. For 2007-2008, the value of the OGS is $5,000 per term. Thus, you may receive $10,000 for two consecutive terms or $15,000 for three consecutive terms. The province of Ontario contributes two-thirds of this amount and the university provides one-third.

Support for Student Travel

Support is available for students traveling for their presentations at conferences and scholarly meetings, including Health and Rehabilitation Sciences funding and SOGS travel subsidy.

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Travel Award

This award is available twice per year--October and February. The award will be allotted on the following basis:

International travel: $500.00
National travel: $400.00
Local travel: $300.00

Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Conference Travel Award

This award is available twice per year--October and March. The award will be allotted on the following basis:

International travel: $500.00
National travel: $400.00
Local travel: $300.00

Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) Travel Subsidy

Travel Subsidies are awarded to a maximum of $400 based on demonstrated need. Completed applications must be submitted within the term of the conference with proof of attendance. Deadlines are in April, August and December.

Additional Links

IMPORTANT DATES

Stay tuned

HRS Events Calendar

Web 2.0

Graduate Secretary

Cathy Collins
Phone: (519) 850-2440

• Application Process
• External Scholarships
• Thesis Defenses

Administrative Assistant

Nancy Inchley
Phone: (519) 850-2453

• Funding and GTA Letters
• Course Enrolment and Marks Management

Chair

Dr. Pamela E. Houghton
Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Room 1014, Elborn College
The University of Western Ontario
London, ON N6G 1H1

Also of interest: