WCGS Graduate Student Professional Development Fund

The Waterloo Centre for German Studies supports graduate student professional development. Any University of Waterloo graduate student whose program or primary research project contributes to German studies broadly conceived may receive up to $500/year for the reimbursement of research and professional development expenses.

Eligibility

• Full-time student in a master’s or doctoral program at the University of Waterloo

• Student must be in good standing and within the normal length of the program

• The student’s program must be centred in German studies OR their primary research project (e.g., PhD dissertation, Master’s thesis, or research paper) must contribute substantially to any facet of German studies (i.e., our understanding of German-language society, history, and culture)

Eligible expenses

Please make sure that all receipts are itemized. 

The fund supports any expense related to the graduate student’s professional development, research, instructional training, career preparation, etc. Examples of reimbursable expenses include: 

• Conference, seminar, workshop registration fees

• Conference travel and accommodation.

• Scholarly or professional association dues

• Costs associated with organizing an academic event (conference, seminar, workshop, etc.)

• Materials

  • Books, film purchases, and periodical subscriptions 

  • Tickets (Cinema, Theatre, Museums, etc.)

  • A/V equipment

  • Images and professional photography

  • Computer hardware and software 

• Research travel and accommodation

• Journal publication fees and other printing fees

• Study participant remuneration

• Meal costs associated with funded travel. Please read the Guidelines for Expenses - Hospitality Expenses for an outline of what/how much is reimbursable.

• Other costs associated with professional development

Not sure an expense is eligible? Contact the WCGS Administrative Assistant for help.

*Travel for participation in the IcGS program is not eligible.

Amount Available

• Up to $500 per year for the student’s program. (For example, a student in the two-year IcGS program is eligible to receive $1,000 in total or $500 per year.)

• Unused annual amounts may be carried forward to the next year of the student’s program. (For example, if a student uses $250 in year one of a two-year program, they’ll have up to $750 for the second year.)

• Payment is on a reimbursement basis only. Students must present receipts within 90 days of purchase.

Process

1. Prior to your first reimbursement, register for the WCGS Graduate Student Professional Development Fund using our form. Be prepared to provide:

   • Your contact information (including student number)

   • Your graduate program details (name of program, your starting term in the program, how many terms you have been in the program, normal length of program)

   • A short statement indicating how your program of study contributes to German studies

   • For students not in Germanic and Slavic Studies, the name of your graduate supervisor or mentor

2. Reimbursements will start in early August 2022. At that time we will provide detailed instructions on how to be reimbursed.

If you are in the Mannheim cohort of the IcGS program please use the UW term system (i.e., three terms per year - fall, winter, spring).