CGS SUCCESS

Canadian Graduate Scholarship - Masters

CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC

Danine Farquharson, Associate Dean

daninef@mun.ca
School of Graduate Studies
October, 2019
 What is CGS?
Canada Graduate Scholarships Master’s (CGS M) Award
1. CIHR – Frederick Banting and Charles Best CGS
2. NSERC –Alexander Graham Bell CGS
3. SSHRC –Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS
4. $17,500 plus $5,000 SGS Dean’s Award
5. Online application process
6. One application goes to 3 universities (max)
 Some Reasons to Apply

• develop and refine clear ideas about your research

• prepare for graduate school application process
• demonstrate federal-level support for your research
• further proof of your academic excellence, research potential and good
communication skills
 Eligibility
• Must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
• Academic Standing: maintained 1st class average in last two
years MUN GPA 3.5 or better (but ... )
• Intend to pursue full time grad studies and research in the
following year
• Completed (as of Dec 31, 2019 ), no more than 12 months of full-
time studies in the master’s program for which you are
requesting funding
• Only one Tri-Agency at a time/ one per year*

*For eligibility details visit: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/Eligibility-

Admissibilite/students-etudiants_eng.asp
 Select the proper agency
• SSHRC: The intended outcome(s) of the research must primarily be to
add to our understanding and knowledge of individuals, groups, and
societies - what we think, how we live, and how we interact with each
other and the world around us.
• NSERC: The intended objective(s) of the research must primarily be to
advance knowledge in one or more of the natural science or engineering
disciplines.
• CIHR: The intended outcome(s) of the research must primarily improve
or have an impact on health and/or produce more effective health
services and products and/or strengthen the Canadian health care
system.
 Deadlines
 December 1, before 8:00 p.m. (ET)

 Do Not Wait! It may take a while to successfully

submit.

 CIHR: 24 hours to obtain registration number

NB: additional deadline to apply to university programs.

Applicants are eligible to receive or accept a CGS-M offer only
from an institution where they are currently enrolled or to
which they have applied.
How am I assessed?
Criterion
Academic Excellence (50%)
Research Potential (30%)
Personal characteristics and
Interpersonal Skills (20%)
Indicators
• scholarships/awards
• academic record
• duration of previous study
• scholarships/awards
• academic training/relevant experience
• contributions to research (publications, conference papers,
patents, reports)
• research proposal
• critical thinking
• ability to complete projects
• initiative, autonomy, independence
• work experience
• leadership experience
• project management
• communication of scholarly work
• academic life
• volunteering, community involvement
 What happens after you submit?

1. SGS receives applications Dec 1st, and verifies complete

applications
2. SGS confirms acceptance by department
3. Memorial’s three selections committees (CIHR, SSHRC or NSERC)
rank all applications submitted to Memorial
4. Offers made online by April 1st; by quota:
1. CIHR 3 (of 14 applications last year);
2. NSERC 11 (of 47 applications last year);
3. SSHRC 21 (of 40 applications last year).
5. You have three weeks to accept or decline.
6. If declined, offer will be made to the next student on the list
How do I apply?
 Application Requirements

1.Form (Research Portal)

2.CGS-M Canadian Common CV (CCCV)
3.All undergraduate transcripts: OFFICIAL including one
from Memorial
4.2 Letters of Reference
5.Statement of Proposed Research (1 page)
6.Bibliography/citations for Proposed Research (1 page)
 Information Needed for Research
Portal

• Title of Proposed Research

• Summary of Proposed Research (limited to 1,500
characters, use lay language)
• Up to 10 keywords
• Up to 3 programmes and institutions to which
you will be applying
http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-
CS/CGSM-BESCM_eng.asp
https://ccv-cvc.ca/
 Transcripts
• for academic record / excellence
• to verify registration and time in program
• all those referenced in your application
• even if no grades!
• OFFICIAL ONLY
• complete (careful when uploading)
• if your transcript includes Transfer Courses (T) from
another university or college, you will need to
provide a transcript from that institution
• no wiggle-room on deadline
 Reference Letters
You must include the required information for each of your referees. (An email containing the links will be
forwarded to them so that the proposed referees can complete their assessment and submit it to your application).

• Time sensitive • Give them information

o Give the referees a heads up on o Remind them of your
the deadline well in advance achievements and goals
o Contact referee in person if o so that they can personalize
possible the reference
o Establish that they will give you o and address each of the three
an “excellent” reference main criteria
o referees can access your file
after the invitation is
accepted.
 The Research Proposal
IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER:

•Masters thesis project title and brief description

•Context/background and review of literature (with citations)

•Objectives/goals/Research questions/Hypothesis (be as specific as possible)

•Experimental approach/Theoretical Framework and/or

Methodology/Procedures

•Contributions to knowledge and significance to the field (outcomes, impacts)

•If the output of your degree program is an artistic creation rather than a thesis,
indicate clearly the research component of your proposed work.
 Presentation Standards
•Text must be single-spaced, with no more than six lines per inch
•Times New Roman (regular, minimum 12-pt.)
•Condensed type is not acceptable
•Margins at a minimum of 1.87 cm (3/4 of an inch) all around
•left-justified, standard page layout
•Name in the page header on every page
•In addition, if you have transcripts or related documentation written
in a language other than English or French, you must provide them in
their original language with a certified English or French translation

•Applications that do not meet presentation standards are ineligible

 TIPS
• Start NOW: the forms and attachments take time
• Use all of the resources available to you, including your
supervisor
• PROOFREAD: everything – the forms and the
attachments
• Write your Proposed Research for intelligent, non-expert
readers
• Ask others to review your application and listen to their
ideas and feedback
 HELP!
Research Proposal Writing Workshop
November 14
3:00 to 4:30pm
Beatrice Watts Boardroom (IIC 2014)
Register for this session here:
https://www.mun.ca/sgs/current/funding/fundinginfo.php

For questions about the application/process:

Gail Lamkin, School of Graduate Studies
glamkin@mun.ca, or 864-2600