Skip to main content - Skip to contact information

NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) and Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS)

($17,500 & $17,300 per annum)

Note: If you are a current VIU Student (full time or part time) or completed all requirements for a degree from VIU in 2010, you must submit your application to the VIU Selection Committee (follow the instructions below). All other students must submit directly to NSERC by Oct. 15, 2010, see NSERC web site.

VIU Internal Application Deadline
What Kind of Support do these Scholarships Provide?
Which Students are Eligible for Scholarship Support?
How to Apply
Review Procedures & Selection Process
Tips

For additional help or advice, please contact Dr. Andy Spencer at Andy.Spencer@viu.ca .

VIU Internal Application Deadline

Students to submit their full application to Kathryn Jepson, Research and Scholarly Activity Office, Building 305 Room 446 by 4 p.m. Thursday, October 28th, 2010. The Vancouver Island University NSERC Selection Committee will review applications then submit successful applicants to NSERC. Students may be asked to revise their applications in order to better meet the NSERC criteria.

Back to Top

What Kind of Support do these Scholarships Provide?

Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) and NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS) provide financial support to high-caliber scholars who are engaged in master's or doctoral programs in the natural sciences or engineering. The CGS will be offered to the top-ranked applicants at each level (master’s and doctoral) and the next tier of meritorious applicants will be offered an NSERC PGS. This support allows these scholars to fully concentrate on their studies and seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields. NSERC encourages interested and qualified Aboriginal students to apply.

Since total NSERC scholarship support is limited to a maximum of four years full-time equivalence, scholars are encouraged to complete their studies in an expeditious manner.

To review eligibility of proposed application for NSERC PGS go to: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/BellandPostgrad-BelletSuperieures_eng.asp .

Back to Top

Which Students are Eligible for Scholarship Support?

To be considered eligible for support, as of the application deadline date, you must:

  • be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
  • hold, or expect to hold (at the time you take up the award), a degree in science or engineering from a university whose standing is recognized by NSERC (if you have a degree in a field other than science or engineering, NSERC may accept your application at its discretion);
  • intend to pursue, in the following year, full-time graduate studies and research at the master's or doctoral level in an eligible program (see Eligibility Criteria) in one of the areas of the natural sciences and engineering supported by NSERC; and
  • have obtained a first-class average (a grade of "A-") in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent).
  • You are not eligible to receive scholarship support while you are in a qualifying year of study.

NSERC uses the date of degree completion to determine the eligibility of applicants. This is the date on which all the requirements of your degree have been met, including successful defence and submission of the corrected copy of your thesis (in accordance with your university's regulations).

Note: You may submit only one application per year to one granting agency (NSERC or CIHR or SSHRC).

 

Back to Top

How to Apply

Students wishing to apply should go to the NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships and NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships web site, read through the program details, then select Apply On-line found under Overview. If you have not already used the NSERC on-line system you must register as a new user and read the instructions. On the eConsole in the on-line system under Forms Management select Forms-Student then select Form 200. This is an online fillable database which transfers your data to a form once completed. Read through each section and fill in the boxes. When you are satisfied that all sections are filled out correctly go back to the MY Portfolio page, select the verify button and print. It is required that you seek out two reviewers to complete Appendix 1 - 'Report on the Applicant'. You must direct your reviewers to fill out Appendix 1 on the on-line system. The reviewer is to hand back Appendix 1 to you in a sealed and signed envelope, this is to be submitted with your application.

Example forms and instructions for Form 200 'For Students' and Appendix 1 'For Reviewers' are found on the NSERC web site, http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/Forms-Formulaires_eng.asp.

Submit your full application package to Kathryn Jepson at the Research Office on or before October 28th, 2010 by 4:00p.m..

The full application package is to include:

  • Form 200
  • Signed cover page
  • Outline of proposed research (free-form)
  • Contributions and statements (free-form)
  • All official and up-to-date academic transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)
  • Appendix 1, Report on the Applicant, in a sealed envelope (two required)
  • Appendix 3 (optional)

Make sure to follow all of the instructions on how to complete FORM 200 to the letter (font size, margins, etc.). Applicants are encouraged to seek out advice from faculty mentors in the preparation of their application (e.g. It is advisable to seek editorial help and direction when preparing the outline of your proposed research and justification of place of tenure). It is also advisable to contact potential graduate supervisors before submitting your application as this will aid in the justification of tenure. Again, faculty mentors can be of great help in suggesting potential supervisors and institutions in which to conduct your graduate work.

Back to Top

Review Procedures & Selection Process

See Review Procedures section on the NSERC PGS program web site.

For additional help or advice, please contact:

Dr. Andy Spencer,
NSERC Liaison Officer
Chair, VIU NSERC Scholarship/Awards Selection Committee
andy.spencer@viu.ca

Or

Kathryn Jepson
Support, NSERC Scholarship/Awards Selection Committee
Building 305 room 446
kathryn.jepson@viu.ca

Back to Top

Updated October 29, 2009