Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Students
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We understand that finances can be a major concern for many students, and we offer a range of financial support options to help you achieve your academic goals. This webpage provides an overview of the financial support opportunities available to SEE graduate students to help them cover their expenses during their studies.
Funding Pathways
Admission to the graduate SEE program is based on one of the following funding pathways:
Please see below for more details.
1. SEE Financial Support
SEE financial support is awarded to graduate students with the potential to excel in their program. This support is available throughout the duration of the program, provided that the student makes satisfactory progress. To secure this support, a student must be recommended by their prospective research supervisor and pass the SEE admission process.
The minimum level of SEE financial support for students beginning in Fall 2024 is $18,000/year for MASc students and $28,000/year for PhD students. This support combines three components: True scholarships, teaching assistantships, and graduate awards. Please see below for more details.
True Scholarships
True Scholarships come from research grants held by the student's supervisor, who determines the amount and duration of this financial support. True Scholarships are based on the student’s satisfactory progress on the research project(s) agreed upon with their supervisor. For questions about True Scholarships, please contact your supervisor.
Teaching Assistantships
Graduate SEE students may serve as teaching assistants (TAs) during their program. This role involves duties such as grading, office hours, and preparing labs/tutorials, as agreed with the course instructor. The amount of pay—typically in the range of $3,000–8,000—depends on the workload associated with the course, as determined by the school, as well as the program the student is enrolled in. The TA opportunities available each term are announced several weeks before the start of the term. Students are encouraged to discuss with their supervisor their interest in serving as a TA before applying. TA positions are competitive and are assigned by the school based on course requirements and the applicants’ preferences and qualifications. For questions about TA positions, please contact the SEE Manager, Operations and Administrative Services at fas_admin_manager@sfu.ca.
Graduate Awards
Refer to the Awards + Funding page at SFU for a comprehensive list of graduate awards. The table below shows representative awards SEE graduate students may be nominated for or apply to.
| Representative Awards | Approximate Award Value | Deadline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Entrance Awards | Graduate Dean's Entrance Scholarship (GDES) | See GDES Guidelines | Nominated within SEE school |
| Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship (SGES) | $3,500 | ||
| Graduate Fellowships | Faculty of Applied Sciences Graduate Fellowships (FAS-GFs) | $7,000 (Matching funds basis) | Application falling between March - June |
| Sustainable Energy Engineering Graduate Fellowship (SEE-GFs) | $1,000 to $7,000 |
||
| Travel Award | Graduate Travel and Research Award (TARA) | Based on expenses being submitted, school approval and budgetary restrictions | |
| Other Awards | Dependent on the specific award | Application falling between March - June or nominated within SEE school | |
Graduate awards are competitive and involve specific eligibility requirements and selection processes. For questions about graduate awards, please contact the SEE Graduate Program Assistant at fas_pgm_asst@sfu.ca.
Selection processes
Internal + Donor Funded Awards
| Step 1: | Student Applies on GA3 |
| Step 2: | Department or Centre Review |
| Step 3: | Faculty Review (Some Awards) |
| Step 4: | GPS Offers Award on GA3 |
| Step 5: | Student Accepts Offer |
| Step 6: | GPS Pays Award |
External + Government Awards
| Step 1: | Student Applies on Agency System |
| Step 2: | University Committee Review |
| Step 3: | Selected Students Update Applications |
| Step 4: | University Submits Applications to Agency |
| Step 5: | Agency Decisions are Announced |
| Step 6: | GPS Pays Award |
2. Funding from Employers, Foreign Governments, or External Organizations
A student may be financially supported by their employer, a foreign government, or an external organization for part or the entirety of their SEE program. A prospective SEE student that intends to pursue this funding pathway needs to independently secure such funding prior to applying to a SEE program. To be admitted to the SEE program, the student will have to be recommended by their prospective research supervisor and pass the SEE admission process. In their SEE application, the prospective student needs to provide evidence of the secured funding arrangement to ensure the sustainability of their program.
