Scholarship Awards & Funding

How Do I Pay for Graduate School ?
What Funding Award Opportunities Should I Apply To ?

The School offers competitive funding packages for all graduate students including Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships via supervisors, Queen’s graduate allocation, and internal funding awards through a competitive process.  External funding opportunities are also available through external funding agencies like Tri-Council (CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC) CGSM Master’s and Doctoral Awards.  All students are expected to submit applications for external funding each year they are funding eligible.

Funding Eligibility – Lifetime Restrictions

You must not exceed the lifetime maximum of six (6) years of government-funded student awards.  Details about this eligibility requirement may be found in the SKHS OGS Application Instructions available below.

Funding Eligibility – Grades

The minimum eligibility average for applicants for OGS and Tri-Council Funding Awards is the equivalent of one of either:   A-  /  80%  /  3.7 GPA grade average in your most recent twenty 3.0 GPA/0.5 credit courses.

The calculation varies by award type and will be calculated in one of four ways:

  • all grades from the most recent 2 years of study combined
  • average for each of the most recent two years calculated separately
  • average of 20 of the most recent grades noted on your transcript
  • average of graduate level courses (for continuing doctoral students only)

If you are unsure of your overall average, and you are a current Queen’s student, send an email to the SKHS Graduate Assistant at:  skhs.grad@queensu.ca  and request that your current average be calculated for funding application purposes – please include your Queen’s ID #. 

If you are a student external to Queen’s, you may either request that your own university run your grade average for you, or send an unofficial transcript to the SKHS Graduate Assistant via email at:  skhs.grad@queensu.ca  for calculation to verify your eligibility.

1.   OGS 2023 – SKHS Submission Deadline:   01 April 2023 by 11:59 pm

All eligible graduate students are highly recommended to apply for Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS).  Application to OGS ensures your eligibility for other internal fellowship award opportunities offered by the School. 

Deadline:  Applications are due 01 April each year.

Process:  Apply through the online OGS application site.

Funding Award Eligibility:  A- or 80% minimum overall average on the most recent twenty 3.0 GPA/0.5 credit courses completed.

Value:  $15K

CLICK here for OGS funding application instructions
2.1   CGSM Master’s Funding Award Information (CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC Master’s) (Tri-Council Funding)

All eligible graduate students are highly recommended to apply for TriCouncil CGSM Master’s Funding Awards.  Application to the TriCouncil ensures your eligibility for other internal fellowship award opportunities – including OGS – offered by the School. 

Deadline:  Applications are due in December of each year.

Process:  Apply via ResearchNet

Funding Award Eligibility:  A- or 80% minimum overall average on the most recent twenty 3.0 GPA/0.5 credit courses completed.

Click here for CIHR / NSERC / SSHRC Tri-Council CGSM Master’s Funding Award Information

2.2   Tri-Council Doctoral Funding Award Information – CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC

All eligible graduate students are highly recommended to apply for TriCouncil CIHR/NSERC Doctoral Funding Awards.  Application to the TriCouncil ensures your eligibility for other internal fellowship award opportunities – including OGS – offered by the School.   Check with your supervisor to determine whether you are a CIHR,  NSERC or SSHRC applicant based on your discipline area.

Deadline:  Applications are due in October of each year

Process:  Apply via ResearchNet

  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Value ~$17,500 – $21,000 – $35,000
  • National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) – Value ~$17,300 – $22,000 – $35,000
Click here for Tri-Council CIHR / NSERC  Doctoral Funding Award Information
3.  SPECIAL FEATURE at SKHS/QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY – Tri-Council Top-Up Funding Awards

All incoming master’s and incoming doctoral students who receive a Tri-Council Funding Award (CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC) in their first year of graduate studies, will ALSO AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE a Queen’s Tri-Council Top-Up Funding Award – AUTOMATICALLY – in addition to your original CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC Tri-Council Funding Award 

  • Queen’s University Master’s Tri-Council Top-Up Funding Award – Value $5,000 in Year 1 in addition to your original Tri-Council Funding Award
  • Queen’s University Doctoral Tri-Council Top-Up Funding Award – Value $10,000 in Year 1 in addition to your original Tri-Council Funding Award
Click here for CIHR / NSERC / SSHRC Funding Award Information (Tri-Council Funding)
4.   Queen’s University Doctoral Student Funding Minimum

The Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies mandates that all doctoral students in their first through four years of full-time study must be funded to a minimum of $20K per year.  Funding includes a combination of external funding awards, internal funding awards, Queen’s Graduate Award allocation, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, teaching fellowships, funding support from other external agencies, and funding support for international students from their government agencies.  SKHS graduate supervisors frequently provide research assistantships to enhance the $20K minimum funding requirement – speak to your potential supervisor about research assistantship opportunities.

5.    Funding Opportunities – Other Major Awards
Click here for Funding Opportunities – Other Major Awards
6.   Queen’s University – Internal Funding Opportunities
  • Internal Fellowship Awards – Value = $6K – $10K (average), some $15K, some $40K Awards also available.  All Queen’s University internal fellowships are made by nomination of students who have applied to and are eligible for the OGS funding award.  The SKHS Graduate Subcommittee identifies and nominates all eligible students – students do not have to make application for any internal funding award opportunities.
  • Queen’s Graduate Awards – Value = $7K (approximate).  All SKHS graduate students who do not secure an external or internal funding award are eligible for the Queen’s Graduate Award allocation funding.  The SKHS Graduate Subcommittee identifies all eligible students – students do not have to make application for QGA funding.
  • Queen’s Academic Excellence Awards – Value – $15K (incoming students only) – CLICK HERE for AE Awards application site
  • OGS (Ontario Graduate Scholarships) – see above
6.  Teaching Assistantships

All full-time students receive teaching assistantships – Value ~$7K.  All SKHS graduate students apply online for available TA opportunities.  The SKHS Graduate Assistant finalizes TA assignments and notifies students accordingly.

7.  Research Assistantships

Offered through individual supervisors at various rates depending on the nature of the duties.

8.    How to Ask for A Reference Letter             

All funding applications require strong academic reference letters

Here is a useful tool to ensure you obtain the best reference letters for your funding award application

9.    Tips document for referees writing reference letters for ALL funding award competitions is available here: 

Referees’ Tips To Writing Reference Letters.    This letter has useful information to guide students in preparing their referees to write strong letters.