Awards & grants

The principal sources of financial support for MA and PhD students are Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) ScholarshipsNova Scotia Graduate Scholarship (NSGS), Killam Pre-Doctoral Scholarships, and Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) Scholarships. Scholarship funds are distributed over a 12-month period for each year the award is held.  Since the first installment is not usually paid until the end of September, students should plan their finances accordingly. Note that any funded student who submits a final (defended and revised) thesis prior to the FGS thesis submission deadline in a given academic term will receive the final funding instalment in the month the final thesis is submitted, and any remaining funds will revert back to the funding source(s).

Scholarships

Important sources of graduate funding for both MA and PhD students include The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Harmonized Scholarship Process, a streamlined Dalhousie University scholarship application process.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports postsecondary-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. The English Department can provide further information about SSHRC, and all eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents are urged to apply. (Note that SSHRC applications are due in the Fall Term preceding the year graduate work will begin.)

Harmonized Scholarship Process (HSP)website outlines the annual deadlines for Masters and Doctoral students (Fall and Winter of the preceding year of studies). Once you apply, you are considered for each of the following awards you are eligible for Nova Scotia Graduate ScholarshipKillam Predoctoral ScholarshipsEliza Ritchie Doctoral Entrance Scholarship for WomenJames Robinson Johnston Graduate Entrance Scholarship for African CanadiansAfrican Nova Scotian Graduate ScholarshipIndigenous Graduate Scholarship,  Vitamin Scholarship and the Abdul Majid Bader Graduate Scholarship. The results of the HSP are announced late Spring of he preceding academic year.

The A.S. Mowat Prize is also available for outstanding MA students at Dalhousie, and a number of other awards and scholarships are awarded to incoming and continuing students by the Department. New applicants and continuing students should also be aware of and apply for other sources of financial aid.  

Teaching Assistantships

Many of our graduate students are offered the opportunity to work as Teaching Assistants, most often for first-year courses. Though TAs may take on a variety of tasks, most lead tutorials, grade and comment on student essays, hold individual meetings with students, and sometimes lecture or lead class discussion. Experienced PhD students may be invited to serve as TAs for upper-level courses.


Research and Conference Funding

Financial support for conferences is available through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.  FGS conference travel support is available to MA and PhD students presenting a paper at an appropriate academic venue. Applications must be submitted at least one month in advance of the conference, and must be accompanied by proof of acceptance.

Depending on availability, the Department of English also provides PhD students with some funding for thesis-related travel (including conferences) during years 2-5 of their programs. The Departmental award is administered by the Graduate Committee and is intended to supplement the FGS amount for which prospective recipients are required to have first applied. Application forms are available at the Department office.

 

Application Deadlines

September 15 For travel in October, November, or December
December 15 For travel in January, February, or March
March 15
For travel in April, May, or June
June 15 For travel in July, August, or September
Scholarship Availability Nomination deadline
SSHRC graduate Scholarships
National November
Vanier Scholarship National October
Killam Scholarship Institutional February
Eliza Richie Doctoral Scholarship for Women Institutional March
James Robinson Johnson Scholarship
Institutional March

Further information

More awards, scholarships and grants
Dalhousie Henry Hicks Building

Visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies funding opportunities section for a comprehensive list of financial support options at Dalhousie.