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Description
The Canada Graduate Scholarship Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) Program will support high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions outside of Canada. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients will contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian universities and affiliated research institutions and universities or other research institutions outside of Canada.
This foreign study supplements program is available to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who hold a Joseph-Armand Bombardier, an Alexander Graham Bell or a Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) at the Master's or Doctoral level or a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) at the Doctoral level.
Funds Available
CIHR's contribution to the amount available for this initiative is subject to availability of funds voted annually to CIHR by parliamentary appropriations, and the conditions that may be attached to them.
Supplements of up to $6,000, based on the information and budget justification provided in the application, will be awarded to active CGS - Master's or Doctorate or Vanier CGS holders to help offset the costs, including travel and accommodation, of undertaking research studies outside Canada for a defined period. A defined period of study would normally be for four to six months.
A total of 250 awards will be available in 2008. They will be divided among the three granting agencies and will reflect the distributions of CGS and Vanier CGS across the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related disciplines. The current distribution among the three agencies is 50 per cent SSHRC, 32 per cent NSERC and 18 per cent CIHR. CIHR will offer 45 CGS-MSFSS per year.
Each university will be allocated a set number of supplements by each granting agency, as appropriate. The Faculty (School) of Graduate Studies at each university will be informed by the granting agencies of the number of foreign study supplements that will be available to them in each of the three areas of research disciplines. The Faculty (School) of Graduate Studies is required to set up an internal selection process to choose which applications (requesting CGS-MSFSS funds) to forward to the respective granting agency for review.
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Objectives
The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:
- to support high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions outside of Canada; and
- to contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian universities and affiliated research institutions and universities or other research institutions outside of Canada.
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Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for all CIHR research funding programs apply. The business office of the institution of an eligible Nominated Principal Applicant generally administers CIHR funds. Please refer to the Eligibility Requirements for CIHR Grants and Awards regarding the eligibility requirements for individuals and institutions.
Specific Eligibility Requirements
CIHR Applicants:
To be considered for a CGS-MSFSS funded by CIHR, you must hold a Frederick Banting or Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) (Master's or Doctoral level) or Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) administered by CIHR.
SSHRC Applicants:
To be considered for a CGS-MSFSS funded by SSHRC, you must hold a Joseph-Armand Bombardier (CGS) (Master's or Doctoral level) or Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) administered by SSHRC.
NSERC Applicants:
To be considered for a CGS-MSFSS funded by NSERC, you must hold an Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) (Master's or Doctoral level) or Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) administered by NSERC.
In addition to the above, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
- be registered at a Canadian institution at the time of application; and
- maintain full-time graduate research studies, and an active CGS or Vanier CGS during the course of your CGS-FSS supplement funded activities.
Eligible applicants can only take up one CGS-MSFSS while they hold an active CGS or Vanier CGS and must do so within one year of receiving the appropriate notification of award letter from the respective granting agency.
A CGS-MSFSS may be used for travel to any eligible foreign university or research institution (see below for specific requirements by granting agency). The choice of location for your research studies, and how the study period abroad will further your research goals, must be justified in your application.
Eligibility of host supervisors and host institutions
CIHR:
Host supervisors must hold a full-time independent research appointment at the host university or research institute and have sufficient research funding to support the proposed project. Research assistants are not eligible as host supervisors.
SSHRC:
Host supervisors must be affiliated and employed full-time at a foreign university, international or national research institute, or other institution that actively carries out research. Research assistants are not eligible as host supervisors.
NSERC:
Host supervisors must be employed full-time at a foreign university, inter-university research institute, national laboratory or other institution that actively carries out research. Research assistants are not eligible as host supervisors.
Note: You should contact the respective granting agency in advance if you are unsure about the eligibility of a particular host supervisor or host institution.
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Guidelines
This funding opportunity will follow the General Guidelines for Training Programs. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate the use of Gender and Sex-Based Analysis in applications.
Allowable Costs
The supplement will cover costs associated with travel, living and other expenses such as accommodation, meals, tuition, insurance and other necessary costs during the research study period.
Conditions of Funding
All conditions specified in the CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies shall apply to applications funded through this Funding opportunity. Conditions cover areas such as Applicant and Institutional Responsibilities, Ethics, Official languages policy, Access to Information and Privacy Acts, and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support. Successful applicants will be informed of any special financial conditions prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.
The CGS-MSFSSs will be paid directly to the institutions who will administer the supplements for the students on behalf of the granting agencies.
The granting agencies will publish the names (and other basic award information) of supplement recipients on their respective Web sites.
Post award
You must receive approval from the respective granting agency before making any changes pertaining to the location and dates of your foreign research study period, your choice of host supervisor, your choice of host institution or your proposed activities.
Post-activity deliverables
After completing your research study period abroad, you must submit, to the respective granting agency, the following documents.
- Activity report: a one to two-page report on your experience which describes
- the activities that were carried out and results achieved;
- the on-going activities resulting from the research study period abroad, such as joint publications, the development of new techniques, etc.;
- any unanticipated benefits derived from working at, or attending, the host institution in relation to your current research objectives at your Canadian institution;
- problems encountered; and
- advice on how the CGS-MSFSS program could be improved.
- Letter from host supervisor: a letter from the host supervisor evaluating your performance and summarizing the positive and negative aspects of the study period from his/her perspective.
The post-activity deliverables must be received at the respective granting agency no later than two months after completion of the activity.
Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
All personal information collected by CIHR about applicants is used to review applications, to recruit reviewers, to administer and monitor grants and awards, to compile statistics, and to promote and support health research in Canada. Consistent with these purposes, applicants should also expect that information collected by CIHR may be shared as described in Use and Disclosure of Personal Information Provided to CIHR for Peer Review.
CIHR as a federal entity is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, therefore the requirements of these two statutes will apply to all information located in CIHR's premises including, without limitation, cost-sharing agreements related to this funding opportunity and all matters pertaining thereto.
While respecting the application of the Privacy Act to federal entities, all signing parties involved in a collaborative agreement will also be bound by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). All personal information (as identified by the PIPEDA) collected, used or disclosed in the course of any commercial activity under collaborative agreements related to the Funding opportunity will be collected, used and disclosed in compliance with the PIPEDA.
Communication Requirements
Grant recipients are required to acknowledge CIHR, its institutes and partners in any communication or publication related to the project. See CIHR General Grants and Awards Policies, Public Communication and Acknowledgement of CIHR's Support for details on CIHR's communication requirements. The contributing institutes/partners will be identified on the Authorization for Funding and decision letter.
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Performance Measurement
CIHR is committed to demonstrating results to Canadians for the money invested in health research. Therefore, processes for monitoring progress and appropriate use of funds, as well as for performance measurement and program evaluation are in place. As a result, funding recipients must:
- contribute to the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes by participating in evaluation studies, surveys, workshops, audits and providing data or reports as required for the purpose of collecting information to assess progress and results; and
- encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.
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Review Process and Evaluation
University Review
Each university is assigned an allocation of CGS-MSFSS supplements that it can administer. It is up to each university to decide how it will distribute the allocation. The Faculty (School) of Graduate Studies at each Canadian university is responsible for coordinating the university review of CGS-MSFSS applications. The university submits a limited number of eligible applications (matching the allocation) to the appropriate granting agency.
The selection process and review procedures adopted by the university must maintain a focus on excellence. Supplements must be selected using the following criteria:
- Linkage between the current program of research goals, the proposed research/study activities at the host institution and the future research/career goals, including consideration of
- significance, feasibility, and merit of proposed research study activities at the foreign institution;
- justification for the choice of host institution and/or host supervisor; and
- relevance, and anticipated benefits, of the proposed research/study activities abroad to the candidate's current graduate degree training.
It is the responsibility of the university to notify candidates of the results of the competition.
Granting agency review
The granting agencies will review the applications received from universities for eligibility and completeness and a CGS-MSFSS will be awarded to the eligible applicants through the universities.
The granting agencies will notify the Faculty (School) of Graduate Studies at the respective universities of the results, at the latest, two to three months following receipt of applications.
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How to Apply
This funding program will be administered through the university at which you are holding your Canada Graduate Scholarship administered by CIHR.
Universities have been allocated a certain number of CGS-MSFSS supplements based on the number of CGS and Vanier CGS held at that university. The allocation is granting agency specific. If you are a qualified applicant, you must complete the necessary documentation and submit it to your Faculty (School) of Graduate Studies for consideration.
A common tri-agency form [ PDF (131 KB) | Help ] is available on the respective granting agencies’ websites. This form must be used to apply for the CGS-MSFSS supplements.
In general, if you apply you will be required to provide the following information:
- the name and contact information of the host supervisor and name and location of the foreign institution where you intend on pursuing your research/study activities.
- a detailed timeline regarding your research study period abroad (start and end dates).
- a summary of your intended research activities during your study period abroad (including objectives, methodology and expected outcomes) and an indication as to how this relates to your main graduate research topic.
- a description of the potential benefits that you will derive from working at, or attending, the host institution in relation to your current research objectives.
- a budget which provides estimates for costs of travel, living and other expenses during your research study period (to a maximum of $6000).
- In addition, both your current research supervisor and the potential host supervisor will have to submit letters detailing their support of your foreign research study period. The host supervisor will also need to indicate that they have the resources available (financial, supervision time, equipment, etc.) to support your planned research activities.
Only the original application and attachments are required.
Full application packages to CIHR must be sent from the administering institution by courier no later than December 10th to:
RE: "Canada Graduate Scholarship Michael Smith Foreign study Supplements Program"
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9
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Contact Information
For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the review process contact:
Canada Graduate Scholarship Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements Program
Program Delivery Coordinator
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-954-1963
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: CGSMSFSS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
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