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Award Application Resources
The tips and resources on this page are intended for SFU students applying for Graduate level awards (ie., master’s and doctoral funding).
Finding Funding Opportunities
- Some awards are run through your department (keep an eye on departmental emails). You can see what awards may be open, and check your eligibility by reviewing your Academic Unit's award page.
- Search our Graduate Awards System for award opportunities; search for awards available in your unit AND those posted under a department called Dean of Graduate Studies – this is where we post awards that are open university-wide.
- Consider subscribing to funding agencies that align with your research so you can learn about funding, events, and job opportunities. Find funding agencies by research area in External and Additional Awards.
Watch a Video on How to Use the Graduate Awards System
Selecting a Tri-agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC)
- If you are unsure which agency your research falls under, visit Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.
- SSHRC provides guidelines for eligibility of health-related research (including psychology research topics) at SSHRC’s Subject Matter Eligibility.
Applying for Funding
- Learn everything you can about the award before you begin preparing your application and make sure you meet the eligibility criteria and qualifications. You don’t want to do all the work and then find out you aren’t eligible.
- Know the deadlines and plan your time accordingly; some awards have internal university deadlines. Some award deadlines are as early as September for the following year. Be sure to prepare well ahead of time.
- Check rules related to font size and page limits and stay within them (in most cases, extra pages are removed before the application is sent to reviewers).
- Learn how to write a Research Proposal:
- Most research proposals include the research question(s), context, objectives, methodology, significance and expected contributions to advancing knowledge. Be sure to read the instructions carefully to ensure your proposal provides all the requested information.
- Look at examples of successful applications in our Student Document Library (SFU students only)
- Attend a workshop on writing research proposals offered by your department, your faculty, and/or Graduate Studies.
- Write for the non-specialist. Some of the award adjudicators will be in complementary, but different disciplines. Make sure your proposal can be understood by academics outside your immediate field of research.
- Visual appearance is important; use concise and clear sentences when possible. Break up the text with paragraphs and use bolded headings or underlines where appropriate. Use lay language whenever possible; avoid jargon and overly technical language. Define acronyms and abbreviations the first time they are used.
- Review and proofread all your documents - spelling, grammar, and sentence structure is important in any scholarship application.
- Be professional; avoid using slang. Use your SFU email address.
Access the Student Document Library
Note: you must be a current SFU graduate student, using your SFU computing ID to access this Document Library.
If you're experiencing issues accessing it, please submit a ticket.
Applying for Funding
- Know what type of reference letter you are asking for: professional, academic, volunteer, etc. For example, if you are applying for a research award, select a referee who can speak to your research experience and/or potential such as a past or current instructor, USRA supervisor, project or thesis supervisor
- Request letters of recommendation as far in advance of the deadline as possible. When you ask, include the award deadline and a link to the opportunity. It is proper etiquette to ask if they can provide a reference before you enter their name/email address into any award system.
- If a referee agrees to provide a reference, consider sending them your academic Curriculum Vitae (CV)/resume. They may also request a copy of your transcript, work you have completed in the past such as an essay or research paper, and/or a copy of your research proposal. To make it even easier for them, provide some concrete examples of why you are a strong candidate for the award. All this material will help them write a stronger letter for you.
- If the application deadline is less than a week away and one or more of your letter-writers has not yet submitted their recommendation, consider emailing them a gentle reminder of the approaching deadline.
Common Application Mistakes
- Incomplete resume or CV A resume or CV for award applications should contain items relating to your academic career, not just your employment history. You should have one main resume or CV that can be easily tailored for the award applications or other purposes.
- Underdeveloped research statement Crafting a research statement is an art; expect to write at least three drafts. Build in time for receiving feedback from your supervisor and/or peers. Take advantage of SFU library’s Read Ahead service.
- Non-personal or overly-personal statements Some awards ask you to provide a personal statement. The purpose is to give reviewers insight into your individual journey, values, and motivations. Your personal statement should illustrate the alignment of your personal, academic, and professional journey in a way that matches the award’s objectives. You need only share information you are comfortable sharing.