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Travel Awards are primarily intended to support the travel component of the scholarly activity of graduate students related to their research. Graduate programs are encouraged to promote and enhance their students' graduate experience by supporting their attendance and active participation in conferences in their field of study through the use of these funds. Direct costs of doing research may also be supported.
Eligibility + How to Apply
Because the travel awards listed on this page come from a variety of sources (internal university funds, faculty or departmental funds and/or external and government funds) the process for applying for each award differs. Students should read the eligibility and application process for each award carefully.
More Information
If you have any questions about the awards listed below, please contact your academic unit.
Featured Award Recipient
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Tara Limothei in REM studied mercury contamination in mining sites in BC.
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Lucy Bell in INS studied repatriation and restitution in Chile.
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Lucy Bell in INS travelled to Haida Gwaii to begin her dissertation research.
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Tim Dueck in Faculty of Education studied Indigenous Instructor Identity and Curriculum in Winnipeg.
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Anna Maslouskaya in Anthropology studied how Brazilian telenovelas influence the understanding of race and class.
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Blake Danis in Biological Sciences studied the impact of agricultural and industrial practices on amphibian life in Indiana.
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Reese Muntean in Interactive Arts and Technology studied the use of 360° video and drone documentation in cultural safeguarding practices in Thailand.
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Tanya Prinzing in Biological Sciences studied metabolism in Horned Sharks in the USA.
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Vienna Chichi Lam in Criminology studied aquatic human body detection, recovery and repatriation in the Netherlands Antilles.
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Yujuan (Jade) Wu in Education studied digital literacies among English language learners in rural China.
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Natalie Kinloch in Health Sciences traveled to the USA to study the genetic characteristics of HIV.
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Siling Tao in History studied overseas Chinese communities in the Fujian province in China.
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Michaela McGuire in Criminology presented on a panel on Indigenous issues in Toronto.
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Lena Ware in Biological Sciences studied Black Oystercatchers in Alaska.
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Tamara Kazmiruk in Biological Sciences studied the impact of plastics and microplastics on aquatic ecosystems in Russia.
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Carlos Ponce in Criminology studied gang violence in Central America.
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Rui Zhang in History studied different measures to safeguard workers in Hong Kong.
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Allison Hotti in Education studied Indigenous research methods, including the Kaupapa Maōri ways, in Hawaii.
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Joseph Burton in History conducted biographical research on labour union activist, Frederick Thompson, in the USA.
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Curtis Platson in History studied the colonial politics of witchcraft in Zanzibar and Pemba, during the 1920s-1964.
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Konstantin Lehmann in Physics studied particle physics in Switzerland.
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Stevan Bozanich in History & Hellenic Studies studied the Chetnik movement from Yugoslavia in Southern Europe.
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Yi Chien Jade Ho in Education studied environmental education in Taiwan.
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Lindsey Bannister in English studied the lives and writings of Twentieth Century Canadian authors who were regarded as racial imposters in Ontario and Alberta.
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Jennifer Bigman in Biological Sciences studied metabolism and respiratory morphology in the East Coast of the United States.
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Chapin Korosec in Physics worked on an artificially designed molecular motor called the Lawnmower in Lund, Sweden.
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Jayme Lewthwaite in Biological Sciences studied the effects of climate change on butterfly species in Washington, D.C.
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Nicolas Salcedo in Biological Sciences studied the immune system of the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus (R. prolixus) in Brazil.
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Robin Bunton in History studied the political dimensions of British representations of Egyptian female entertainers throughout the nineteenth-century at Oxford University.
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Xiao Mei Kuang in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry studied TB and HIV in Durban, South Africa.
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Milad Doroudian in History studied the Kastner affair in Romania.
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Jordan Lui in Engineering Science studied Visible Light Communication in Rome, Italy.
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Lauren Rattray in International Studies studied the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar in Tanzania.
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Biftu Yousuf in Criminology and Health Sciences studied Oromo conceptions of well-being in metropolitan areas of Canada.
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Shaun Fickling in Engineering studied brain vital signs for sports-related concussions in the USA.
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Sarah Vanderveer in Sociology studied how female academics in Ghana are challenging gender norms.
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Gyuzel Kamalova in Anthropology studied the experience of orphanage graduates in Kazakhstan.
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Benjamin Dipple in History studied 20th-century Ottoman and Turkish figures in the USA and Turkey.
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Songwei He in History studied the Temple Destruction Movement during the Qing Dynasty in China.
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Panagiotis Delis in History studied ethnic cleansing in the Balkan Wars in Europe.
Travel Awards
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Terms of Reference
- The purpose of this award is to support the travel and/or research component of the student’s graduate degree.
- The maximum award amount is $7,000 but individual award values will vary, depending on the expenses being submitted, academic unit approval and budgetary restrictions.
- Master’s students must hold the award within 3 years (9 terms) of the beginning of their program; Doctoral students must hold the award within 5 years (15 terms) of beginning their program. These times may be extended for students who have taken an approved leave. Students who did not complete a Master's program before transferring into a PhD are eligible to hold the travel award within the first 15 terms of their PhD, from the PhD start date.
- While holding this award, the student must be registered full time, regular (not on leave or part time), in good standing in a master’s or doctoral program. Students cannot hold this award while on a co-op or practicum term.
- If award is being used to cover travel expenses:
- Students travelling to Northern Canada, the Northwest Territories or the Yukon are also encouraged to apply for the Northern Studies Training Program (NSTP).
- Students holding a Tri-agency CGS award, including Vanier CGSD awards, are also encouraged to apply to the Tri-agency Michael Smith Foreign Studies Supplement (MSFSS)
- Awards may be paid before or after the travel takes place. In the event of travel cancellation or changes, any award payment must be reimbursed to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
- Students apply/are nominated through the graduate awards application system. The application should include documentation relevant to the expense. This might include:
- Most recent transcript (unofficial SFU transcript for current students; previous university for new students)
- A description of the travel and/or expenses and how they are relevant to the research
- A letter of support from the supervisor confirming the expenses
- Awards are approved by the Senate Graduate Awards Committee Chair on the recommendation of the Graduate Program Chair.
- Examples of ELIGIBLE travel expenses include travel for research purposes, travel to present at or attend a conference, workshop or seminar related to research.
- Examples of ELIGIBLE research related expenses include direct costs of doing research such as interpretation services, paid data sets, computers/laptops, reasonable computer peripherals (keyboard, mouse, microphones), art supplies. This award may also be used to reward research excellence.
- Examples of expenses NOT eligible include travel to practicums, co-ops, internships, job fairs or interviews, business or first class travel, course related travel or supplies (such as textbooks or journals).
- Check to ensure your expense is eligible
- Search and apply for the award in the Graduate Awards Application System
- Can’t find the award in the system? Check with your academic unit - not all units hold competitions for this award
Terms of Reference
- The purpose of the Indigenous Graduate Travel Award is to provide financial support for Indigenous graduate students for the travel and/or research component of their research. Students can only apply for the Indigenous travel award once per academic year. Indigenous graduate students may apply for this fund before their travel to pay for costs in advance.
- To be eligible for this award, the following criteria must be met:
- This award is for Indigenous graduate students attending Simon Fraser University.
- Indigenous or “Aboriginal” is defined by Canada’s 1982 Constitution as people identified as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Canada.
- Disbursements of up to $1000 each may be applied for in each academic year (starting September 1 of each year).
- The funds will be given out on a first come / first applied for basis. The fund will be considered used for the year when the $5,000 limit for the year has been reached. Once the total fund has been distributed for the year, a message will be sent out through the Indigenous graduate student listserv.
- Repeat applications will be allowed from year-to-year. Preference, however, will be given to students who have not yet received money from this fund (this is at the discretion of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies).
- Application includes:
- A completed budget which accounts for the requested amount;
- A letter of support from the applicant’s academic supervisor or a faculty member familiar with your work (to verify the student’s academic status, intent, and need).
Travel Report
Upon completion of travel, successful applicants will need to submit the following within two weeks to the Graduate Awards Assistant: gpsaward@sfu.ca
A concise Travel and Activity Report, written in language suitable for the general public. Contents and/or quotes from the report may be published in Graduate Studies promotional material. If you do not wish for your travel report to be published, please indicate so.
The following could be included in your report:
- The activities that were carried out, in respect to how the travel contributed to your research and/or scholarly activities
- Any unanticipated benefits derived from the travel, including those in relation to your current research objectives an/or to your general experience as a graduate student
- Any special issues or problems you encountered
- Read about the award to ensure you and your research travel/expenses are eligible.
- Search for the award in the Graduate Awards Application System (GA3). Deadlines to apply are November 30thand May 30th of every year.
- Students need to submit a travel report after completion of their travel.
This award is funded by the Tri-Agencies (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) and interested applicants must check eligibility criteria before applying, or you can also contact our office at gpsaward@sfu.ca. For more information about the award, please visit here.
Competition Timelines
June 2023 INTAKE:
Mid-April | Competition Launch |
May 26 |
Student deadline to submit full application to gpsaward@sfu.ca. Referee deadline to submit the Letter of Support directly to gpsaward@sfu.ca. Please put subject line as - MSFSS June 2023 Application - Full Name |
June 10 | SFU final submission deadline to the Tri-Agency |
August | Notice of Decision |
OCTOBER 2023 INTAKE: TBD
Mid-August | Applications Open |
September 29 |
Student deadline to submit full application to gpsaward@sfu.ca. Referee deadline to submit the Letter of Support directly to gpsaward@sfu.ca. Please put subject line as - MSFSS October 2023 Application - Full Name |
October 10 | SFU final submission deadline to the Tri-Agency |
December | Notice of Decision |
FEBRUARY 2024 ADDITIONAL INTAKE (Subject to the availability of funding):
January | Competition Launch (TBD) |
January | Student deadline to submit full application to gpsaward@sfu.ca. Referee deadline to submit the Letter of Support directly to gpsaward@sfu.ca. Please put subject line as - MSFSS January 2024 Application - Full Name |
February | SFU final submission deadline to the Tri-Agency |
TBD | Notice of Decision |
- Eligible host institutions include foreign universities, inter-university research centres, international or national research institutes or laboratories, or other institutions with a research mandate.
- Host supervisor must be affiliated with and employed full-time at an eligible host institution.
- The choice of host institution and host supervisor must be justified in your application.
- Their affiliation and employment with the host institution.
- Their support for your research study period abroad and the resources they have available (i.e. supervision, time, equipment, library access, etc.)
- The synergies between your research and the host supervisor/host institution.
- Check eligibility here or contact our office at gpsaward@sfu.ca.
- Each agency has its own application form, instructions, and consent forms. Please make sure to choose the correct form.
- Request a letter from your current supervisor detailing their support for your research study period abroad and confirming that your proposed research aligns with the research from your CGS award (maximum one page).
- Request a Host Supervisor Letter detailing their support for your research study period abroad and the resources they have available to support your planned research activities (maximum one page).
- Submit your application form and required supporting documentation as one PDF file via e-mail to gpsaward@sfu.ca. If the deadline falls on a weekend or on a federal statutory holiday, application must be submitted by the following business day.
- COVID-19: All MSFSS candidates need to adhere to SFU Covid-19 policy as well as provincial (if applicable) and national guidelines, and have approval to travel. Please visit the SFU FAQ Page and SFU Travel Safety for the latest SFU-specific information.
Terms of Reference
- The Dossa Graduate Student Travel Award is supported by the Dossa Endowment Fund. It supports a graduate student award for a student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences who has undertaken research on Muslim societies and cultures. To be eligible for this award, students must be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral thesis program in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
- The criteria for this award are:
- full-time registration at Simon Fraser University in a graduate program
- completed at least one term in a graduate program in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- a program which requires travel abroad to undertake research on some aspect of a Muslim society or culture
- This award may be held in any term in conjunction with other awards made by Simon Fraser University or other agencies where permitted by those agencies.
- Application must include:
- current, unofficial SFU transcript
- a research proposal concerned with Muslim societies and cultures
- a letter from the student’s supervisor attesting to the quality of applicant and supporting the need for research abroad for the applicant’s research
- The award will be made by the Dean of Graduate Studies, on behalf of the Senate Graduate Awards Adjudication Committee, upon the recommendation of the Chair of the Steering Committee, Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies (CCMS), Department of History.
- Read about the award to ensure you and your research travel/expenses are eligible.
- Search and apply for the award in the Graduate Awards Application System.
- This award is usually part of the Spring and Summer Donor Funded Award competitions with deadlines falling in October and/or February.
Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) The Northern Scientific Training Program was established in 1961 to encourage Canadian universities to participate in training northern specialists to meet national needs. It provides supplementary support to offset the additional costs of northern research (i.e. transportation costs, living expenses, shipping costs and interpreter fees). This program is not intended to be a source of primary support for students pursuing northern research. The NSTP terms of reference, eligibility criteria and funding decisions are made by the NSTP Management Committee of Polar Knowledge Canada. |
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Eligibility
Students are eligible for consideration if they are:
- doing field research in Northern Canada or northern regions of other circumpolar countries (see below for definitions)
- a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- enrolled in a graduate program at SFU; or
- a third year undergraduate student who intends to undertake an honor's thesis based on northern field work.
NSTP Update (September, 2022):
The NSTP has ended the temporary measures that were put in place due to Covid-19. As a result, students who received funding between 2020 and 2022 will have until March 31st, 2023 to use the funds; extensions will no longer be granted. Students planning fieldwork between April 1st, 2023 and March 31st, 2024, are required to submit a new application.
Students who received funding for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and who plan to do their fieldwork between November 10th, 2023 and March 31st, 2023 should submit a preliminary report.
Definition of the North
For the purposes of this program, the term `North` is understood to include the part of Canada which lies north of the southern limit of the discontinuous permafrost zone in Canada (arctic and subarctic):
See NSTP Geographic Boundary Map (Electronic Version)
The ‘Circumpolar North” refers to the eight countries of the Arctic Council (Canada, Finland, Greenland [Denmark], Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States [Alaska]).
Refer to NSTP Informaion Manual (2023-2024)
Circumpolar projects in Russia
Due to the sanctions imposed in response to the gravity of Russia’s violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and grave human rights violations that have been committed in Russia, POLAR will be unable to fund projects taking place in Russia or involving collaborations with Russian organizations for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. For more information, please visit the Government of Canada’s - Canadian Sanctions Related to Russia.
Eligibile Expenses
Use the following as a guide for eligible expenses/budgeting purposes. Note that there is no budget required within the application form, but the University Northern Studies committee may require an explanation of your request.
- Read about the award to ensure you and your travel destination/expenses are eligible.
- Read through the Student's Information section (P.11-17) of the NSTP Information Manual (2023-2024) for instructions.
- Checklist for Applicant (P.17-18)
- Complete and submit the full application on the NSTP Fluid Review System by Thursday, November 10th, 2022 (23:59 EST). Note that the application has a supervisory portion that needs to be completed prior to submission. An incomplete form may result in a refusal of application for funds.
- Applications are reviewed internally by SFU’s University Northern Studies committee prior to being sent to NSTP for approval.
See Frequently Asked Questions or contact our Graduate Awards Team by email at gpsaward@sfu.ca
Updated: October 6 2022
Terms of Reference
- The purpose of the Indigenous Graduate Travel Award is to provide financial support for Indigenous graduate students for the travel and/or research component of their research. Students can only apply for the Indigenous travel award once per academic year. Indigenous graduate students may apply for this fund before their travel to pay for costs in advance.
- To be eligible for this award, the following criteria must be met:
- This award is for Indigenous graduate students attending Simon Fraser University.
- Indigenous or “Aboriginal” is defined by Canada’s 1982 Constitution as people identified as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Canada.
- Disbursements of up to $1000 each may be applied for in each academic year (starting September 1 of each year).
- The funds will be given out on a first come / first applied for basis. The fund will be considered used for the year when the $5,000 limit for the year has been reached. Once the total fund has been distributed for the year, a message will be sent out through the Indigenous graduate student listserv.
- Repeat applications will be allowed from year-to-year. Preference, however, will be given to students who have not yet received money from this fund (this is at the discretion of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies).
- Application includes:
- A completed budget which accounts for the requested amount;
- A letter of support from the applicant’s academic supervisor or a faculty member familiar with your work (to verify the student’s academic status, intent, and need).
Travel Report
Upon completion of travel, successful applicants will need to submit the following within two weeks to the Graduate Awards Assistant: gpsaward@sfu.ca
A concise Travel and Activity Report, written in language suitable for the general public. Contents and/or quotes from the report may be published in Graduate Studies promotional material. If you do not wish for your travel report to be published, please indicate so.
The following could be included in your report:
- The activities that were carried out, in respect to how the travel contributed to your research and/or scholarly activities
- Any unanticipated benefits derived from the travel, including those in relation to your current research objectives an/or to your general experience as a graduate student
- Any special issues or problems you encountered