Annual Financial Support Package

Annual Financial Support Packages are offered to eligible Philosophy graduate students for one academic year (MA), four academic years (PhD) or five academic years (direct-entry PhD). Financial support packages are conditional upon full-time registration and meeting our conditions for progression towards the degree. Our Annual Financial Support Packages are provided to help off-set tuition and fees, the details of which can be found via the Office of the Registrar here. Financial support is subject to change each academic year, but will not go below the initial offer amount specified in the offer of admission to the program.

Individualized Annual Financial Support Packages are emailed by the Graduate Program Coordinator to each fundable graduate student upon their term activation outlining the financial support for the coming year. Eligible students are term activated August 1st and ongoing from that point as admission conditions are fulfilled (ex. study permits presented to SGPS), etc. 

This financial support package may include support funding from the supervisor’s research grant, external scholarship support (such as SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, OTS, OGS, QEII, etc.), a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, internal scholarship support (such as Western Graduate Research Scholarships, program-based scholarships, endowments, etc.), and employment other than a  Graduate Teaching Assistantship. When students do not hold external funding (e.g. SSHRC or OGS), a typical financial support package would consist of WGRS and GTA funding. The components of our annual financial support are detailed below.

Quick link: Tuition & Fees - Office of the Registrar

Western Graduate Research Scholarships (WGRS)

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities offers generous Western Graduate Research Scholarships (WGRS) to full-time incoming and continuing MA and PhD candidates in Philosophy.

How much is a WGRS worth?

Canadian/Canadian Permanent Resident 2019-20: $4,550/academic year (MA), $10,050/academic year (PhD), subject to change.
International 2019-20: $3,000/academic year (MA),  $10,650/academic year (PhD), subject to change.

Note: International PhD students pay domestic rate tuition as of 2018.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a WGRS, students must registered full-time, meet our program requirements for progression, and be within their funding period as stipulated in the SGPS Calendar (SGPS Regulations - Financial Support 5.03).
If you hold or are awarded an external scholarship (e.g., OGS, QEIIGSST, OTS, SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR), your internal funding may be adjusted. 

If your residency status changes at some point during your program of study, your funding package may be adjusted. A WGRS may be held in conjunction with a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). 

How is the WGRS awarded?

WGRS funding is applied directly to the student tuition account (see your Student Center) prior to the start of each term and before tuition for the term is due. Philosophy divides and dispenses the annual total awarded WGRS as follows: Fall Term= 35%, Winter Term= 30%, Summer Term= 35%.

After tuition is paid, if there is an overage on the tuition account due to the student, the amount will be paid to the student via direct deposit (EFT) on the second Tuesday of each term (and then each Tuesday for the remainder of the term if other funds are awarded). The Office of the Registrar has provided instructions for setting up banking information for student tuition account EFT here.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

The Department of Philosophy offers a number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) which involve leading undergraduate tutorials or other teaching related duties averaging ten hours per week. Students repeatedly cite their experience as a Teaching Assistant as one of the most rewarding aspects of their graduate program.

How much is a GTA worth?

In 2019-20 a two term GTA is worth $13,345.70 (including 4% vacation pay, before deductions), subject to change. GTA positions are normally only available in the Fall and Winter Terms/up to two terms per academic year.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a GTA, students must registered full-time, meet our program requirements for progression, and be within their funding period as stipulated in the SGPS Calendar (SGPS Regulations - Financial Support 5.03). Note: MA International graduate students in our program do not receive GTA funding.
If you hold or are awarded an external scholarship (e.g., OGS, QEIIGSST, OTS, SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR), your funding may be adjusted and the Graduate Chair will inform you of the program's policies.
In 2019-20, award holders are eligible for either a one term or two term GTA. 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 (PSAC). The Collective Agreement and other information can be found on the PSAC Local 610 site.
A GTA may be held in conjunction with a Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS).

How is a GTA paid?

Your earnings as a GTA are paid to you via Western Human Resources (HR), as a GTA is an employee of the university. Western payroll is monthly, falling on the second last business day at 12:00am. Pay is disbursed by HR via direct deposit (EFT).

To be activated in the HR system and be paid, prior to commencing your employment, you must sign a GTA contract and submit it to the Graduate Affairs Assistant. You will then be able to complete your myHR account and EFT banking information for payroll. To set up your myHR and EFT information, please go here. (Note: this is separate from your Student Center tuition account EFT.)

Additional Funding Sources

Every Annual Financial Support Package will reflect a student’s additional funding sources (if applicable) and the resulting adjustments to their funding. Additional funding sources include:

External Scholarships & Awards
Go to: SGPS > Funding Opportunities

Internal Awards (such as entrance scholarships)
Go to: SGPS > Arts & Humanities > Graduate Scholarships & Awards

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) & Graduate Student Assistantships (GSA)
Go to: SGPS > Financial Support > Compensating Registered Western Graduate Students