SSHRC Master’s Awards Competition / Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program (CGS-M)

Structure

• Tri-Agency Research Training Support Programs – consists of:
  • SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada),
  • NSERC (Natural Science and Engineering),
  • CIHR (Health)
• Objectives of SSHRC’s Research Training Programs
  • Develop research skills
  • Assist in the training of highly-qualified personnel
  • Support Canada’s best graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the social sciences and humanities
• 2 Levels of Adjudication:
  • Applications received/reviewed internally at the Faculty of Information
  • Applications forwarded to SGS (UofT-wide level) based on allotted quota
    • 2021-22 results: 6 Awarded (4 MI, 2 MMSt; 5 current, 1 incoming students)
    • 2020-21 results: 12 Awarded (7 MI, 4 MMSt, 1 CDP; 6 current, 6 incoming students)
    • 2019-20 results: 9 Awarded (8 MI, 1 MMSt; 5 current, 4 incoming students)
    • 2018-19 results: 5 Awarded (4 MI, 1 MMSt; 3 current, 2 incoming students)
  • Even if initially on reversion list, may move up central list as others decline and be awarded

Important Notes:

• Successful applicants/recipients do not have to complete a thesis, taking a Research Methods course & completing a Reading Course is sufficient

Outline of Proposed Research

• Include: Objectives, Outline, Methods, Procedures, Significance;
• Write about the quality, originality, significance and feasibility of your proposed research to demonstrate your research ability and potential. You are expected to write at the graduate level, but your level of detail will be less than that of a doctoral student;
  
• Be focused and concrete. Show the panels you know what you want to research, have the ability to think critically, can apply skills and knowledge, and have initiative, autonomy and independence. Remember that even though you may not be doing a thesis, you are competing with others who are doing research;
• Don’t use jargon or technical terms that may not be understood outside your field. Ranking panels are interdisciplinary, be sure to write so that a more broad academic audience will understand;
• Don’t include website links. Committee members will evaluate only what is contained in the written application;
• Not a personal statement/biography;
• Make sure your text is grammatically correct and error-free. Check, check, and check again. And then have somebody else check it again!

Canadian Common CV

• List all awards – including ones declined for another award/reason;
• List any teaching/research assistantships, scholarly publications (differentiate between refereed, non-refereed), conference presentations, and other evidence of scholarly activities, if applicable;
• List publications that have been accepted for publication:
  • Non-peered review journal
  • Non-refereed, non-academic but relevant to field
  • Forthcoming (accepted but not yet published)
  • Do not include any that have only been submitted – not certain they’ll be published;
• Leaves of Absence and Impact on Research – include any special circumstances to describe any special considerations such as medical/health issues, family responsibilities, extenuating circumstances, etc. that have affected your performance/productivity.

Reference Assessments

• Two letters of reference in which your referees will write about your:
  • Academic Excellence
  • Research Potential
  • Personal Characteristics and Interpersonal Skills;
• Asking for a reference letter may seem intimidating at first. Here is an excellent article with advice on How to ask for a reference letter;
• Get references from faculty members who know your work well and can write about you/your work informatively, positively and enthusiastically: ideally, they will demonstrate why/how you are of superior calibre and worthy of a prestigious national award, will write more than the fact that you receive an “A” in their class;
• Offer to provide your referees with information to help them write their reports, if needed (ie: your outline of proposed research, an “A+” essay etc.);
• When requesting a letter of reference, ask faculty members whether they feel they can write a strong letter for you;
• Request a reference early and let your referees know when the reference is due well in advance;
• Remember to show your appreciation by thanking them later on (Thank You card, email, letter).

Important: Once submitted, applications cannot be un/re-submitted – ensure application is error-free, preview ALL uploaded attachments once the files have been successfully uploaded to verify that the files are downloadable and readable before final submission.

Resources

SGS Information & Instructions — CGS-Master’s Award

SSHRC Instructions

SSHRC Writing Tips (PDF)

Reminder: Apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) by March 1, 2022

Faculty of Information — OGS Deadlines

Note: If you end up receiving both CGS-M and OGS, you must decline one (usually OGS) but may include on future applications (ie: write “Declined 2022-23 OGS”)