Earth Sciences Graduate Student Funding Policy
The Department of Earth Sciences provides funding to graduate students in its MSc and PhD programs through a combination of teaching positions, Research Assistantships, and Graduate Fellowships. If students need such funding they are required to apply for, and to accept, positions as Teaching Assistants, particularly during the Fall and Spring semesters. Research Assistantships are typically provided from their supervisors' research grants, enabling students to work on their research projects. In addition, Graduate Fellowships may also be awarded to students who have completed all their required courses and achieved a high GPA.
At the time an offer is made to an applicant, a guaranteed minimum level of funding is specified; currently these levels are $17,000 for MSc students and $19,000 for PhD students. Subject to satisfactory performance in the graduate program, MSc students can expect to receive at least this level of funding for two years; PhD students for four years. Support may be reduced or eliminated if the student has secured external financial support.
Students may apply for entrance scholarships ( http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/funding.htm ). Applicants who hold major external scholarships may also be eligible for additional awards from SFU.
All PhD students are eligible to apply for a one-time President's Research Stipend upon completion of their required courses and PhD Oral Candidacy Examination.
A President's PhD Research Stipend is a one term award valued at $6,250 which is only available to students who began their PhD program by January 1, 2009 (students who began their program at the beginning of, or after, the summer 2009 term are not eligible to apply)."
In the interests of equity, students who hold major awards, such as an NSERC scholarship or a C.D. Nelson entrance scholarship, have lower priority for graduate fellowships and other funds awarded by the department.
Graduate students must pay tuition every semester from the funding they receive. International students pay the same rate as domestic students (http://students.sfu.ca/calendar/for_students/grad_tuition_fees.html). The cost of tuition decreases after six semesters for MSc students and after eight semesters for PhD students.