Funding

Stipend

Most graduate students in the Department will be supported to some extent by a stipend that FGS will refer to as a Dalhousie Graduate Scholarship. The funds for this stipend come from a variety of sources: supervisor grants, FGS and the Department. At present, the stipend is $23,000 for MSc students and $24,000 for PhD students paying what FGS refers to as Program (tuition) Fees. (MSc students pay this for just year 1; PhD students pay this for 3 years.) In subsequent years, when FGS considers that you are a Continuing or Thesis-Only student, the stipend is $18,000 for MSc students and $19,000 for PhD students. These different amounts are an attempt to maintain the take-home pay of graduate students at about the same level each year, in the face of the different tuition amounts that are deducted from the stipend each month.

Please note that the Department does not pay extra for teaching. The expected contribution to teaching in the Department is regarded as part of the educational experience of graduate study in the Department. This also allows us to maintain consistent stipend support even in years when students are not expected to teach (see section on Teaching).

Scholarships

Several government-funded scholarships are available for graduate students. The Department (using supervisor, FGS and Departmental funds) will top-up scholarship amounts to reach the standard stipend levels and, in the case of major government scholarships, that fund most of the stipend, the Department acknowledges the success of the student in obtaining such an award by providing an additional $2,000.

NSERC – PGSM (for MSc, 1-2 years) and PGSP (for PhD, up to 3 years). The deadline is typically in the fall. Funding can start early as May of the following year. The same competition also determines the recipients of Canada Graduate Scholarships. You must be Canadian to apply for these awards.

CIHR – MSc (1 year, not renewable) and PhD level (up to 3 years). The deadline is typically in the fall with funding starting September of the following year. This competition also considers applicants for Canada Graduate Scholarships. You must be Canadian to apply for these awards.

NSHRF – MSc (1-2 years) and PhD (1-2 years) awards are available. The deadline is typically in the spring. This competition is open to international students.  Note:  in recent years NSHRF has required pre-registration 1 month prior to the full application.

Other Funding Opportunities

FGS Travel Grant – FGS provides a travel grant of $500 to assist graduate students attend a conference related to their thesis research.

Molly Appeal Fund – students accepted into the Anatomy/Neursoscience program may be eligible for a Molly Appeal award.