Important Dates

Notices

Notice 1:

• The content of this funding opportunity has been updated
  Date updated: 2010-01-08
  Section updated: How to Apply

Notice 2:

• 2009-12-17: Please note that CIHR's Grants and Awards Guide has been updated. You can address any eligibility question to the CIHR funding guidelines contact found in this funding opportunity.

Table of Contents

• Description
• Objectives
• Eligibility
• Guidelines
• Performance Measurement
• Review Process and Evaluation
• How to Apply
• Contact Information
• Partner/Collaborator Description

Description

The Canada Graduate Scholarships Master's Awards administered by CIHR are intended to provide special recognition and support to students who are pursuing a Master's degree in a health related field in Canada. These candidates are expected to have an exceptionally high potential for future research achievement and productivity.

*** NOTE: This program is largely a university nomination-based program, therefore please refer to your current institution to confirm the institution application deadline which will  be BEFORE the CIHR application deadline noted above. Most institutions will manage a pre-selection process to select which of their students' applications will be put forward to CIHR on the CIHR deadline date. Only applicants that are not registered at a university for the Fall semester prior to  the CIHR application deadline will submit their applications directly to CIHR by the above deadline.

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.

Applications are invited in all areas of health research.

For this competition, applications will be accepted in all areas of health research.

The maximum amount awarded for a single award is $17,500 for up to one year:

• Trainee stipend: $17,500 per annum.
• This award is non-renewable.

Funding Opportunities in Specific Research Areas

Funds are available for this competition to support Master's Award applications in specific research areas:

• Master's Award: Winter 2010 Priority Announcement (Specific Research Areas)

Objectives

The objective of the Government of Canada's Canada Graduate Scholarships program is to help ensure a reliable supply of highly qualified personnel to meet the needs of Canada's knowledge economy.

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 to CIHR training awards, please refer to the General Guidelines for Training Programs.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

The award for which support is being sought should be under the supervision of a researcher who holds research funds obtained through a recognized competitive peer review process.

These awards must be held at a Canadian institution.

Eligibility to Apply for an Award

To be considered eligible to apply for support, a candidate must:

• be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident;
• at the time of the CIHR deadline for application (February 1):
  • have completed or be in the last year of a Bachelor's degree; or
  • have been registered for no more than ten months as a full-time student in a Master's program; or
  • have been registered for no more than ten months as a full-time PhD student and were admitted to the PhD program directly from the Bachelor's degree.
• be applying for support to pursue their first graduate degree (i.e., Master's or PhD). All previous studies at the graduate level, regardless of discipline, either course-based or research-based, will be included in determining eligibility; and
• not have already held an award from SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR or any other federal source to undertake and/or complete a Master's or PhD degree.

Persons with a health professional degree who seek support for Master's or PhD research training may be eligible to apply to this program, but should also consult the guidelines for the CIHR Fellowship award program. Those eligible for both have the option of applying to either program but not to both in the same year (i.e., September through August). Please note that a person holding a health professional degree would receive a higher stipend only through the CIHR Fellowship award program.

Eligibility to Hold an Award

To be considered eligible to hold support, a candidate must:

• be registered full-time in the first or second year of a Master's or PhD program in which research is a major component (awards will not take effect until after proof of registration is received); and
• not have already held, or hold, an award from SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR or any other federal source to undertake and/or complete a Master's or PhD degree.

Awards must be taken up within six months of the date of offer and must start September 1 or January 1 following the offer of award.

Guidelines

General CIHR 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 awards consist of a stipend.

Conditions of Funding

All conditions specified in 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 requirements prior to the release of funds or when they receive CIHR's Authorization for Funding (AFF) document.

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.

CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People

The CIHR Guidelines for Health Research Involving Aboriginal People came into effect as policy for CIHR-funded research on July 1, 2008. Applicants whose proposed research will involve Aboriginal People are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with these guidelines and in particular with the section "Application of the Guidelines," which outlines the situations in which these guidelines apply.

Communication Requirements

Award 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.

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;
• encourage their associates, trainees and administration to participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of CIHR's programs, policies and processes as required.

Review Process and Evaluation

Peer Review

A CIHR peer review committee will evaluate the full applications. The committee may be drawn from one of CIHR's pre-existing committees or may be created specifically for this funding opportunity. Committee members are selected based on suggestions from many sources including the institute(s) / portfolio(s) and partner(s), following CIHR's Policy on Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality in the context of Merit, Relevance and Peer Review (CCIP). For information on CIHR's peer review process in general, see the Understand Peer Review section of CIHR's website.

Evaluation Criteria

Master's Awards are reviewed in accordance with the Guide for Reviewers - CIHR Master's Award.

The following general criteria for evaluating training award applications will be used:

• Achievements and activities of the candidate.
• Characteristics and abilities of the candidate.
• Research training environment.

How to Apply

Note: This funding opportunity requires the use of ResearchNet to apply for funding.

• The application process for this funding opportunity is comprised of one step: Application.
• To complete your Application, follow the instructions identified in the Master's Awards - ResearchNet "Application" Phase Instructions.
• An overview of CIHR's application processes can be found under Apply for Funding.
• Reminder to applicants: Please ensure that your application is complete (including all required signatures) and submitted on time to CIHR. Effective September 1, 2008, CIHR will assume no responsibility in following-up with applicants who submit an incomplete application. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted into the competition.

Additional instructions that must be followed for this funding opportunity:
(Note: These additional instructions supersede all other policies or guidelines published by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, including, but not limited to, the Grants and Awards Guide, the Memorandum of Understanding, etc.)

• Full applications for both direct applicants and those applying through a Canadian institution must be courier stamped by the competition deadline. Canadian institutions accepting applications will set their own application deadline.
• How is the candidate applying?
  1. Through the Canadian institution at which the candidate will be registered* during the Fall semester prior to the CIHR deadline.
     • (*That is, registered in any level course, or in any other capacity; for example, part-time, full-time, one course only, course not related to the master's program, or special student.)
     • Deadlines are set by the university; please contact them for deadlines, as a pre-selection process may be held at the university level. CIHR will provide each eligible Canadian institution an allocated number of submissions allowed by that institution.
     • Institutions must forward their applications to CIHR no later than February 1 for them to be considered in the competition.
  2. Directly to CIHR, for candidates who will not be registered at a Canadian institution during the Fall semester prior to the CIHR deadline.
     • Applications must be sent to CIHR no later than February 1.
• A complete application consists of:
  • Common CV module (validated for CIHR) for the candidate only (Draft copies will not be accepted).
  • Original official transcripts (must be an unopened original from the issuing institution; it is recognized that for applications submitted through a university, university officials will have opened the transcript envelopes before they reach CIHR). Certified true copies will only be accepted from institutions outside North America (translated in either English or French). A certified true copy is defined as a copy of the original document that has been certified to be a true copy of the original document by a commissioner of oath such as a notary or lawyer. The copy must bear the original signature and stamp of the official authority. (Updated: 2009-09-24)
  • CIHR Sponsors' Report on a Candidate for a Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) Master's Award to be completed by two sponsors who have had an opportunity to assess the candidate's potential - one of these should be the candidate's most recent research supervisor, if applicable.
  • Confirmation of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency

Your Application will be submitted using ResearchNet. The signed Signature Pages and the original official transcripts must be sent (courier stamped no later than the application deadline date) to: (Updated: 2010-01-08)

RE: "Canada Graduate Scholarships Master's Awards"
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Room 97, 160 Elgin Street
Address locator: 4809A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W9

Contact Information

For questions on CIHR funding guidelines, how to apply, and the peer review process contact:

CIHR Master's Awards Program Delivery Coordinator
Research Capacity Development
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-946-0093
Fax: 613-954-1800
Email: cgsma@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your ResearchNet account or the e-Submission process contact:

CIHR ResearchNet Support
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Telephone: 613-941-9080
Email: support@researchnet-recherchenet.ca

Partner/Collaborator Description

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
CIHR is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health-care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to nearly 12,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.