Funding Your Graduate Experience
Graduate Student Awards & Fellowships
All applicants admitted to graduate programs in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) will be considered for awards for which they are eligible. The Dean of Graduate Studies website lists all scholarships and awards and the timelines/deadlines. The listings are by semester. http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/awards/awardstimeline/springtimeline.html
Graduate students receive financial support in the form of Teaching Assistantships and Research Assistantships, Special Graduate Entrance Scholarships, Travel Minor Research Awards, International Travel Awards, Graduate Fellowships, FHS Graduate Entrance Scholarships, Community Health Practice Awards, and Dr. Mowafaghian Child Health Practice and Research Awards. The Terms of Reference for many of these awards are applied by the office of the Dean of Graduate Studies. The FHS is responsible for ranking and recommending students and meeting the University’s deadline for recommendations. To understand how the FHS ranks and recommends its students, the Terms of Reference for adjudication of all awards are provided in the Graduate Student Handbook which is provided to all incoming students.
The FHS uses its allotment of Fellowships and Scholarships from the Dean of Graduate Studies primarily for incoming students. Currently enrolled students apply for all other awards for which they are eligible at specific times in a semester, and based on deadlines provided to us by the office of the Dean of Graduate Studies. Normally these awards are adjudicated as follows:
| Recruitment Awards | Adjudication |
| Graduate Fellowship (also for Current Students) | Spring Semester (April Deadline) |
| FHS Graduate Entrance Scholarships | Spring Semester (May Deadline) |
| Special Graduate Entrance Scholarships | Spring Semester (May Deadline) |
| Semester Awards | Adjudication | |||
| Travel and Minor Research Awards |
Fall Semester (November) & Spring (Feb) |
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| Community Health Practice Awards | Spring Semester (February) | |||
| International Travel Awards | Spring Semester (February) | |||
| Dr. Mowafaghian Child Health Practice and Research Awards | Spring Semester (March) | |||
| Aboriginal Student Health Sciences Conference Stipends (Merck Canada Aboriginal Youth in Health Sciences Fund) | TBD | |||
| Aboriginal Health Sciences Graduate Student Research Grants (Merck Canada Aboriginal Youth in Health Sciences Fund) | TBD |
External Awards
Students are encouraged to apply for a variety of individual awards from the following institutions:
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR)
- Vancouver Foundation Special Grants Program
These awards are overseen by the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies and are adjudicated by a University Graduate Studies Committee based on recommendations by Faculties and Departments. These awards are reviewed by the Dean of Graduate Studies throughout the Fall semester as follows:
| Award | Adjudication |
| NSERC | September |
| SSHRC | October |
| CIHR | November |
| MSFHR | November |
Incoming Graduate Students are encouraged to discuss research possibilities with their undergraduate or graduate Faculty advisors before they arrive on campus in the fall. In many instances the Faculty advisor from their previous institutions will act as referees in support of their award applications.
Research and Teaching Assistantships
Graduate Students may apply for teaching assistantships in any semester, though most openings are available during the Fall and Winter/Spring terms. Teaching assistantships are advertised through email and on the web every semester. Selection is guided by faculty needs and requirements, and student qualifications, and prior teaching experience.
Research Assistantship funding is normally provided on a case-by-case basis through grants made to individual faculty. The length of an RA appointment will vary according to faculty needs
Population Health Lab Research Assistantships.pdfPopulation Health Lab Research Assistantships (supported by the Merck Canada Aboriginal Youth in Health Sciences Fund)
TD Bank Financial Group Graduate Bursary Endowment for Health Sciences
The TD Bank Financial Group is committed to supporting Canadian students through bursaries, especially in the area of health education. To this end they have established a substantial endowment.Awards are allocated in any semester from a portion of the annual income earned from this endowment fund. Criteria for this award are:
- Registration at Simon Fraser University in a graduate program in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
- Demonstrated financial need.
To apply for a bursary, refer to Awards and Financial Aid for Graduate Students, or contact Financial Assistance at fiassist@sfu.ca. The award will be made by the Senate Undergraduate Awards Adjudication Committee.
Health Sciences Faculty and Staff Community Health Practice Awards
Established in 2006 by faculty members and staff in FHS, this is an achievement award for graduate students who are pursuing relevant public health practica. This award, known within FHS as "The Practicum Award," will be awarded annually for use during the summer term.
Depending on available funds, up to 10 awards ranging in value between $500 and $1,000 will be disbursed each year. Normally the adjudication of these awards are overseen by two faculty and one staff member from the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The timeline and the disbursement of the award is determined by the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Terms of Reference for this award are provided in the Graduate Student Handbook given to all students entering the program.
Faculty of Health Sciences Faculty & Staff Child Health Practice and Research Awards
Established in 2008 and named after the Dr. Djavad Mowafaghian Foundation, this endowment honours the commitment of the Mowafaghian Foundation and its founder, Dr. Djavad Mowafaghian to the improvement of child health worldwide.
This is an achievement award for Graduate studens in the Faculty of Health Sciences who are pursuing relevant practica or research projects.. This award will be awarded annually in the spring.
The awards will be given to graduate students in the Faculty of Health Sciences who are applying for a full-time practicum semester in child health or to support their work in child health research projects including travel for fieldwork or to present at conferences. The award is intended to help defray costs incurred by students engaged in MPH, MSc, or PhD related research and training activities in the child health sciences.
A request for proposals is sent to student early in the year.
Graduate Fellowships
The Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies oversees the adjudication and distribution of these awards. See the terms of reference for details on applying for and receiving graduate fellowships.
Academic merit is the primary criterion used to rank applicants. Academic merit is assessed on on the following criteria:
- Grades (The Graduate Studies Committee, the main policy-making body for FHS’s graduate program, is sensitive to the different grading criteria applied internationally and will pay special attention to ensure that international students are not penalized for such differences)
- Letters of reference for incoming students or input from the Program Advisor/Senior Supervisor for current students
- Evidence of current scholarly activity (conference presentation, reports, articles, grant proposals, etc.)