This web page relates to the fall 2023 SSHRC Doctoral Scholarships competition and the University of Waterloo's internal administration of the program. For information pertaining to the Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Scholarships Master's (CGS M) competition, please visit Waterloo's Tri-Agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) Canada Graduate Scholarships Master's (CGS M) website.
Overview
Important dates
Critical steps
1. Eligibility
It is the applicant's responsibility to confirm that the minimum eligibility criteria are satisfied before they begin the application process. Some eligibility requirements for the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships differ from those of the CGS-D Scholarships. Interested applicants must review the official eligibility criteria on the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship website and the CGS D Program website before beginning their application.
Note 1: Applicants may also be eligible to apply for the Vanier CGS; applicants MUST apply for the Vanier CGS and for the SSHRC Doctoral Scholarships separately. Details about the Vanier CGS are available on the official agency website; applicants applying for the Vanier with the intention of holding it at Waterloo should refer to Waterloo's Vanier web page for additional details. Successful applicants can only take up one award.
Note 2: Applicants who are or will be registered in a fast-track program (accelerating from a master's program into a doctoral program without obtaining the master's degree) or direct-entry PhD program (never enrolled in a master’s program), may be eligible to apply for a CGS Master's Scholarship (CGS M) for the first year of doctoral funding which could maximize their potential funding. If eligible for both a CGS M and a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS D, then it is the applicant’s responsibility to determine which scholarship they are going to apply for.
2. Confirm where your application should be considered
The student’s registration status at the time of application will determine where their application will be forwarded to (and considered by); i.e., either through Waterloo, another Canadian university, or directly by SSHRC. Applicants should review the flowchart regarding “Where should I submit my application?” on SSHRC’s web page to ensure their application is submitted appropriately. Applicants who apply incorrectly will be deemed ineligible.
3. Transcripts
Transcripts are required for all programs of study listed in the SSHRC CV, including if the applicant just started their program in Fall 2023. Students are unable to submit their application until they have uploaded all transcripts to their application.
The process to obtain these transcripts is as follows:
- Applicants must complete and submit a Tri-Agency Doctoral Scholarships Transcript Request Form (webform). This request is free of charge and is due by September 13, 2023.
- In order for GSPA to fulfil these requests, students must have provided their official transcripts from previous institutions as part of their application for admission.*
- If there are any transcripts which GSPA is unable to provide because they are not on-file, the student is responsible for ordering a new hardcopy version. The student must then scan the hardcopy and merge it with the pdf sent by GSPA.
- GSPA will email a single pdf file of the requested transcripts to the student via the email provided in the request form. It is the student’s responsibility to then upload the file to their SSHRC Online Application.
*Applicants who are in the following situations are responsible for obtaining their own final official transcripts from previous post-secondary institutions:
- Students who went on exchange for any terms and the courses do not have an actual grade showing on your home university transcript, you will require official transcripts from the exchange institution.
- Students who have not provided their final official transcripts from previous institutions to GSPA for graduate admission purposes.
Note: Students who are in the above situations and are having issues with obtaining their official transcripts must contact Miranda Bilotta in GSPA, by Wednesday, September 13, 2023 for further direction.
4. Read the application instructions
Applicants must follow the detailed instructions provided on SSHRC's website including how to complete the application, how to confirm the proposed research falls under the correct agency's mandate, the number of referees required, presentation standards of the free form documents, etc.
5. Selecting referees
Two completed Letters of Appraisal (reference letters) are required to apply through the SSHRC Online System.
- Instructions regarding referees, including recommendations for who should be completing the appraisal, can be found in the Application Instructions (SSHRC website).
- Applicants must contact potential referees as soon as possible, but no later than 3 weeks prior to the
October 10October 17 application deadline. Invitations for the referees are initiated through the SSHRC Online System and a deadline must be set for the referee (refer to instructions). Referees should be given a deadline at least 3 days in advance of the application deadline. - Applicants must provide the potential referees with SSHRC's evaluation and adjudication guidelines (see SSHRC website), as well as SSHRC’s Instructions for Referees.
- Once submitted, applicants will only be able to see that the referees have submitted their appraisals but will not be able to see the content of them.
Tips for selecting referees and reference letters:
- Applicants should select referees who know them well and can make an informed assessment from an academic perspective (i.e., current or previous supervisor) based on the evaluation criteria.
- Applicants should be up front and ask their potential referees if they have the time and are able to provide a supporting reference letter that can address the applicant's strengths based on the evaluation criteria. Letters should highlight qualities such as academic and non-academic leadership as well as research ability/potential, academic accomplishments, and the importance of any publications, if applicable.
- Applicants should provide referees with a package of information that will assist them with writing the appraisal. This package should contain:
- Current curriculum vitae
- Transcripts
- A list of research contributions; applicants are encouraged to request referees to address the importance of their publications and contributions in the letters of appraisal (e.g. focus on the impact your research has received outside of the academy and the applied outcomes that have positively influenced society, governance, industry or other sectors, etc.)
- A copy of the research proposal
- A list of community involvement or other extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership qualities
6. Research proposal
The proposed research project and doctoral program of study must be eligible within the mandate of the agency to which the application is being submitted. To confirm the proposal falls under the correct agency, applicants should refer to the Government of Canada’s website for Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency or SSHRC’s website for Subject Matter Eligibility for more details about applying to the correct agency. Applicants can only apply to one Tri-Agency competition, and it is important to ensure it is the correct one or they may be disqualified.
7. Components of a complete application
A complete application package includes the following sections:
- SSHRC web-based CV (not the Canadian Common CV)
- SSHRC Doctoral Award application
- Application Profile
- Program Information (where the institution with a quota is identified)
- Areas of Study
- Diversity Considerations in Research Design Module
- Research Proposal – upload (max. two pages)
- Bibliography / Citations – upload (max. five pages)
- Official and/or certified copies of all undergraduate and graduate level transcripts– upload (max. 10 MB)
- Note: for the fall 2023 competition, SSHRC will accept unofficial electronic transcripts if official transcripts are not available
- Official letter confirming part-time status or interruptions (max. one page if applicable)
- Allowable Inclusion – upload (max. one page if applicable)
- Research Contributions, Relevant Experience and Activities - upload (max. two pages)
- Justification pages for supplements and joint initiatives (max. one page each if applicable)
- Two completed letters of appraisal (max. one page each)