FHS Graduate Student Funding Policy

Effective July 1, 2023

For doctoral students whose guaranteed funding is provided by the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), Western guarantees a minimum annual funding amount, from all sources, of $17,000 plus tuition. Funding for master's students is managed at the graduate program level.

Effective July 1 2023, FHS will make the base rate of a full 140 Hours Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) position a core component of all master’s annual funding packages, and 210 Hours Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) a core component for doctoral annual funding packages. Should a graduate student turn down the offer of a GTA position, they are then turning down that portion of their funding package.

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Employment, value based on 140 hours for master’s students, 210 hours for doctoral students.
  • Any Western employment income (e.g., GTA) requires a valid study permit and Canadian Social Insurance Number
  • Scholarships referenced below pertain to any scholarship, award or bursary of $10,000 or greater per academic year

FHS Funding: Doctoral Students

Doctoral students are eligible to receive:

  • The total amount of guaranteed funding which includes:
    • A contribution from the student's Supervisor; and,
    • Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS), value per the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Funding Support Policy (PDF)
    • The amount of a full (210-hour) GTA position;
      • Should a doctoral student turn down the offer of the GTA position, the annual funding amount will be lowered accordingly
  • Applicable to:
    • All new and continuing doctoral students

Doctoral students who hold a scholarship are eligible to receive:

  • Their scholarship amount
  • A contribution from the student's Supervisor, if eligible per the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Funding Support Policy (PDF)
    Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS), value per the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Funding Support Policy (PDF)
  • The amount of a full (210-hour) GTA position;
    • Should a doctoral student turn down the offer of the GTA position, the annual funding amount will be lowered accordingly

FHS Funding: Master's Students

Master's students are eligible to receive:

  • The amount of a full (140-hour) GTA position or the value of domestic tuition, whichever is greater
    • Should a master's student turn down the offer of a GTA position, the annual funding amount will be lowered accordingly
  • Applicable to:
    • All new and continuing master's students

Master's students who hold a scholarship are eligible to receive:

  • Their scholarship amount
  • The amount of a full (140-hour) GTA position;
    • Should a master's student turn down the offer of the GTA position, the annual funding amount will be lowered accordingly
  • Applicable to:
    • All new and continuing master's students effective May 1, 2025.
  • Exemption:
    • Master's students that hold a multi-year external scholarship that was activated prior to May 1, 2025.

Additional Notes

  • Master's and doctoral students may still be eligible to receive additional funding support directly from their supervisor at the supervisor’s discretion