Graduate Students
Graduate Conference Travel Deadline: October 15, 2025 To download the application forms, please click on the "Funding Opportunities" tab, then select "Education Grant Opportunities".
As a graduate student, there are two types of funding available to support your research. You can apply for internal travel grants from the Faculty of Education to cover conference travel to present research results. A number of external funding opportunities are also available. Below are the links to internal opportunities and to Pivot, a large international database for searching external research funding opportunities.
Funding Opportunities
Education Internal Funding
Graduate Conference Travel Deadline: April 15 and October 15 (if funding is still available).
1- Download the form related to the competition you are applying for and open it locally using Adobe Reader.
- Research Funding for Thesis-Based MA and PhD Students
- Conference Application for PhD, MA, and EdD Students
3- Submit the form via the Submit Form
**The final report must be submitted via the ONLINE FINAL REPORT FORM no later than 60 days after the conference.**
Western Internal Funding
- Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS)
- Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA)
- Graduate Student Assistantship
- Graduate Fellowship
External Grants
- Pivot Expertise Database
- Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) and QEII Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (QEIIGSST)
- Autism Scholars Awards
- John Charles Polanyi Prizes
- Ontario Women's Health Scholars Awards
Preparing for Competiton
Millions of dollars are available every year from government agencies and foundations to support the work and research of graduate students across the country. External funding bolsters your resume, enhances your scholarly reputation, and develops your career as a highly qualified researcher. The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is excited to deliver to you an enhanced program of strategic scholarship support designed to hone your skills and talents so that you can secure maximum funding for your studies.
All Disciplines- Tri-Agency Scholarships and Fellowships Program Application Tutorials Full playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6ox0GB7vXYlhaAY7mEqwmMqYK9TGCp1E
- Writing Support Centre for Graduate Students A well-written research proposal persuades reviewers that your project merits
funding, and that you have the ability and the plan to complete it. Generally, a research proposal should contain all the key elements involved in the research process and include sufficient information for the readers to easily grasp and evaluate the proposed study. Learn how to write for funding competitions with writing experts. Make an online appointment via Western Connect well in advance of scholarship deadlines! - Knowledge Exchange and EDI-D Resources Research Western has created a Knowledge Exchange and EDI-D tool and an EDI-D resource guide to strategically integrate EDI-D practises into funding applications and research programs.
- SSHRC invites all applicants to review Imagining Canada’s Future’s 16 future global challenges, and to consider addressing one or more of these areas in their research proposals.
- Future Challenge Areas - here
- All applicants for SSHRC funding should consult the following guidelines while preparing their applications:SSHRC’s Definitions of Terms for terms used in the application process;
- the Guidelines for Effective Research Training, which may also be useful to reviewers and postsecondary institutions; and
- SSHRC’s Indigenous Research Statement of Principles and Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research for applications involving Indigenous research.
- How to Integrate Sex and Gender into Research It is imperatve that you learn more about how and why to consider sex and gender in your research projects. The following tools are available and more are HERE:
- What is Gender? What is Sex?
- Online training modules:
- Sex and Gender in Biomedical Research
- Sex and Gender in Primary Data Collection with Human Participants
- Sex and Gender in the Analysis of Secondary Data from Human Participants
- Responsive Research: Competitive Scholarship Applications in the Medical and Health Sciences The CIHR Doctoral Research Awards program provides special recognition and support to students who are pursuing a doctoral degree in a health-related field in Canada or abroad. All applicants are expected to have an exceptionally high potential for future research achievement and productivity. Watch Erin Huner, Research Consultant (formerly of Research Western) explain how you can best position yourself for success in competition.
- Guide for Applicants: Considering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in your Application Equity, diversity, and inclusion strengthen the scientific and engineering communities and the quality, social relevance and impact of research. Increasing diversity and gender equity in the research enterprise are key priorities for NSERC and for the Government of Canada. Think this doesn't apply to your research? Chances are it does! Read the Guide HERE.
Education Final Report Submission
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The final report must be submitted via the ONLINE FINAL REPORT FORM to the Research Committee no later than ONE MONTH after the conference. It must also be submitted before the expense reimbursement request. Failure to do so may jeopardize a student's eligibility for future competitions.
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Students have up to 60 days after a conference to complete the ONLINE EXPENSE FORM
- Expenses must be claimed and processed before the end of the fiscal year (April 30).