Alberta Ingenuity Graduate Student Scholarship
Alberta Ingenuity Graduate Student Scholarships enable academically superior graduate students in a natural science or engineering discipline to undertake full-time research training at an Alberta university, leading to a research-based Master's or Doctoral degree.
OVERVIEW and GUIDELINES
The award consists of a stipend of up to $23,000 for a Master's student or up to $26,000 for a Doctoral student per year and a $1,500 yearly research allowance for a maximum total period of support of four years.
This program is not intended to support medical or health-related research initiatives that qualify for support from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, or similar medical research agencies. Candidates performing research that is clearly health-related should apply directly to AHFMR, CIHR or similar medical research agencies. Additionally, if the supervisor's operating support for the candidate's research project is provided by grants from AHFMR, CIHR, or similar medical research agencies, applications must be directed to those agencies.
TIMELINE
**Application Deadline: December 1, 2009**
Announcement of Results: mid-March (first release of award offers), March 31 (release of remaining result letters)
Scholarship start dates: May 1, September 1 or January 1 (see Start Date)
ELIGIBILITY
The award is open to candidates entering or currently in a full-time graduate program at an Alberta university in a science or engineering-related discipline working towards a research-based master's or doctoral degree.
Master's students
- As of December 31, 2009, eligible students will have completed not more than 12 months of a master's program.
Doctoral students
- As of December 31, 2009, eligible students will have completed not more than 24 months of a doctoral program.
- For doctoral students who transfer from a master's program prior to completing the master's degree, eligibility is calculated starting from the first academic session in which you were registered in a doctoral program.
Candidates from outside Alberta or Canada are eligible, provided they meet all eligibility requirements for admission to an Alberta university. The candidate should contact the university for information on those requirements.
When candidates have interrupted their training for parenting or other reasons, it is possible to have the program start date for eligibility adjusted upon request. Candidates should contact Alberta Ingenuity to explain any special circumstances prior to submitting an application, to determine if they are eligible.
SPONSORING SUPERVISOR
A faculty supervisor possessing both a record of productive research in a science or engineering discipline and sufficient resources to ensure the satisfactory conduct of the research must sponsor the candidate.
TERM OF AWARD
Master's students
Master's funding will not extend beyond the 28th month of a master's program.
- New master's student (at deadline, student is not registered in a master's program)
Award term: 24 months
Funding can be extended if the student registers in a doctoral program during the first 24 months of funding. Support is available for a total of 48 months. - First year master's student (at deadline, student is registered in an master's program and has completed up to 12 months)
Award term: 12 months
Funding can be extended if the student registers in a doctoral program during the first 12 months of funding. Support is available for a total of 48 months.
Doctoral students
- New doctoral student (at deadline, student is not registered in a doctoral program but has completed a master's degree prior to starting PhD or was admitted directly into PhD after completing a bachelor's degree.)
Award term: 48 months - First year doctoral student (at deadline, student has completed up to 12 months of PhD program)
Award term: 36 months - Second year doctoral student (at deadline, student has completed between 12 and 24 months of PhD program)
Award term: 24 months
Award terms for students who transfer from a master's program into a doctoral program without completing a master's degree will be based on the start date of the master's program.
REPORTING
Scholarships are renewable upon submission of satisfactory annual progress reports.
START DATE
New graduate students with a program start date of January 1, 2010 or later can take up the award in May, September or January following the offer of award.
Existing graduate students with a program start date prior to January 1, 2010 can take up the award in May or September following the offer of award.
LOCATION OF AWARD
Scholarships are valid only at an Alberta university.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Submit one original COMPLETE application by the deadline. Forms are available from our website within the Forms and Guidelines section of the Alberta Ingenuity Graduate Student Scholarship page. Further instructions are provided on the application form.
REVIEW PROCEDURE AND SELECTION CRITERIA
The Alberta Ingenuity Graduate Student Scholarship Review Committee reviews all applications and evaluates them based on the excellence of the student and the proposed research.
Detailed criteria are available here.
STIPEND AND RESEARCH ALLOWANCE
Every Scholarship consists of an annual stipend and a yearly research allowance.
STIPEND
The full stipend for a master's student is $23,000 per year and the full stipend for a doctoral student is $26,000 per year.
The amount of the stipend may be affected by other sources of income as follows:
- Other major peer-reviewed graduate awards (such as NSERC CGS, Vanier CGS, PGS, IPS or Ralph Steinhauer Award of Distinction): Students who hold another major, peer-reviewed graduate award will be awarded an Alberta Ingenuity Incentive Award, if allowed by the other funding agency. The Alberta Ingenuity Incentive Award is worth $7,000 per year for the duration of the outside award. The stipend will increase to the full amount of $23,000 or $26,000 per year when the other funding ends.
For students holding the NSERC Vanier CGS award, Ingenuity will provide a research allowance of $1,500 as a supplement to your Vanier award.
- AHFMR: Students who accept support from AHFMR studentship awards cannot receive simultaneous support from the Alberta Ingenuity Graduate Scholarship program.
- Other awards: Students offered an Alberta Ingenuity Graduate Scholarship may receive an unlimited number of awards from other sources, as long as the value of any other single award does not exceed $12,000. The value of the other award will be determined by the amount provided to the student after the Ingenuity award has been implemented.
RESEARCH ALLOWANCE
A yearly allowance of $1,500 will be administered by the supervisor and may be used by the student for the following purposes:
- Travel expenses for relocation
- Travel expenses to attend scientific meetings
- Purchase of scientific materials, books, periodicals and journals
- Supplies and expendables
- Computer hardware and software
- Costs for the use of libraries, computer and animal facilities
- Costs associated with the publication of research results
All purchased scientific and computer materials become the property of the institution. The research allowance may not be used for hospitality or entertaining expenses.
CONDITIONS OF AWARD
Please refer to the Alberta Ingenuity Graduate Students Scholarship Handbook for regulations about holding the award, such as payment of awards, registration status, acknowledging support, leaves, changes, terminations, etc.
FAST TRACK APPLICATIONS
In exceptional circumstances, an institution may wish to quickly recruit an outstanding student from outside of Alberta, prior to or after the competition deadline. In these situations, the institution can submit an application for a Fast Track Scholarship.
Fast Track Graduate Scholarships are intended to assist Alberta institutions recruit exceptionally qualified trainees to the province. Up to a maximum of 10 awards per calendar year will be awarded. Applications to the program will be reviewed on a first come-first served basis. Applications must include a letter from the dean or faculty designate outlining why the application should be considered. Fast Track Student Scholarships are valid for up to 12 months. For continued support, recipients must apply for the Graduate Scholarship at the first opportunity following receipt of a Fast Track award.
Candidates will be notified of the decision within four weeks after the fast track application is submitted. Results will not be provided over the phone. Please see other sections of the Graduate Scholarship Guidelines for further details.
Inquiries? Please contact:
Kelly French
Manager, Grants Programs
kelly.french@albertainnovates.ca
phone: 780-701-3324