Graduate funding
There are many funding opportunities for graduate students, including:
- Departmental teaching and research assistantships
- Concordia University awards and fellowships
- Opportunities Through Research Centers/Networks
- Federal and Provincial funding through the SSHRC and FQRSC programs, respectively. For specific application requirements, please visit the graduate funding section of the Concordia website.
- Financial Aid programs are also available to graduate students. Learn more.
Departmental Teaching Assistantships: Open semester competitions
All current graduate students and new applicants are encouraged to apply for teaching assistantships. PhD receive teaching assistantships for the first three years of their program as part of their funding packages. MPPPA students will be funded as far as possible, but typically are not considered beyond the second year of study in the program.
The department offers two levels of teaching assistantship.
GRADE 1 – Tutorial Leader
Grade 1 Teaching Assistants are required to perform a 130 hours of marking during the term and may be called upon to grade final examinations. In addition to 130 hours of marking. Grade 1 Teaching Assistants are required to attend lectures, lead seminars and to hold regular office hours during the term.
GRADE 2: Tutorial Leader
Grade 2 Teaching Assistants are required to perform 130 hours of marking during the term and may be called upon to grade final examinations. In addition to 130 hours of marking, Grade 2 Teaching Assistants are required to attend lectures and to hold regular office hours during the term.
The following list only highlights some of the available funding for graduate students at Concordia. For a more comprehensive list of funding opportunities, including deadlines for application, please consult the School of Graduate Studies Graduate Awards Directory.
Special Entrance Awards and Awards of Excellence
Offered to students who accept their offer of admission to Concordia and have received a fellowship/scholarship offer from one of the designated provincial or federal agencies (SSHRC or FQRSC). At the doctoral level, students receive a Special Entrance Award valued at $10,000 in the first year of tenure of their external award. At the master’s level, students receive a Special Entrance Award valued at $6,000 in the first year of tenure of their external award.
Faculty of Arts and Science Fellowships
The Faculty of Arts and Science offers, on a competitive basis, recruitment fellowships to incoming students valued at up to $7000 for one year in MA programs and $12,000 per year for three years at the PhD level. In addition, graduate students are eligible to hold teaching assistantships through their departments and to work as research assistants with faculty members and research centers in the Faculty.
Concordia University International Tuition Fee Remission Awards
This award exempts students from paying tuition fees at the international student rates, however candidates will be expected to pay tuition fees at the regular (Quebec) rate, as well as foreign insurance. These awards are valued at 11.25 credits per term.
Concordia University Open-Competition
There is an Open Competition for select awards for which all students are eligible. These awards range in value from $2,500 to $20,000 per year, and are granted based on the applicant’s ranking in the competition.
Supplemental Funds for Conferences
Funds are available to registered graduate students for presentations at major scholarly conferences, or artistic exhibitions in a peer-reviewed or juried context. Download the Department of Political Science Travel Support Form here. Deadlines are announced during the academic year. Learn more about conference funding & download forms.
CSDC
Antoine Bilodeau and Mebs Kanji are members of the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship, a FRQSC regroupement stratégique , that brings together a group of scholars from five Québec universities, who work on research related to democratic citizenship. The purpose of the Centre is to develop interdisciplinary and multiple methodological perspectives in the study of challenges that democracies face in a rapidly changing world.
The Centre’s main goals are to promote scientific research on fundamental questions relating to democratic citizenship, to contribute to policy debates on strengthening democracy both in Canada and abroad, to take a leadership role in the development of large-scale cross-national research projects, and to provide an enriched training environment for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Graduate students working under the supervision of Professor Bilodeau or Professor Kanji can become student members of the CSDC and hence be eligible for various sources of funding, including travel grant, training grants, and research grants,
For more information about these funding opportunities please contact Professor Bilodeau or Professor Kanji or visit the CSDC website: http://csdc-cecd.ca/resources/csdc-student-funding/
FQRSC (Provincial)
All applications and recommendation letters MUST be submitted electronically to FQRSC and applicants must submit a cover page, the official transcripts, copy of medicare card, as well as the copy of IMM1000 (for Permanent residents only), to the Graduate Awards Office (M-205) in mid-October. Please check the FQRSC website for this years deadline. At the time of application, a candidate must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and have been a resident of Quebec for at least one year. Both master’s and doctoral students are eligible.
Note: The MA competition requires a minimum 3.7 cumulative GPA.
M.A. (B-1 competition) $15,000
Duration: Two years after initial registration in the graduate program.
Ph.D. (B-2 competition) $20,000
Duration: To a maximum of three years.
SSHRC (National)
https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx
Applications to SSHRC must be submitted to the Department if the student is currently registered at Concordia. Those submitted through the University are first ranked at the Departmental level, and then sent to a University Committee where a set number of applications are chosen to send on to national competition. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants.
For the MA fellowship, GPA must be 3.7 or over for the last two years of full-time study.
M.A. Scholarship Value: $17,500
Deadline for Submission to the Department: mid-October. Confirm specific date with Graduate Program Assistant.
Doctoral Fellowship Value: $20,000 - $35,000. (The top-ranked winners are awarded “Canada Graduate Scholarships,” worth $35,000 per year, for three years; the regular doctoral fellowships are worth $20,000 per year, for up to four years).
Deadline for Submission to the Department: mid-October. Confirm specific date with Graduate Program Assistant.
Fellowship: International Political Economy of Development Finance
2024-2025
$5,000 per year
This fellowship is for a student in the MA or PhD in Political Science in the Political Science Department at Concordia University. The fellowship will be awarded to a student with an interest in international political economy and/or development studies with a strong academic track record, qualitative and/or quantitative research skills, and proven ability to work independently. The student will work alongside Prof. Zeitz on research on the contemporary politics of development finance. The research will examine the effects of the rise of China on international development finance, including examining debt restructuring negotiations in developing countries that have borrowed extensively from China. The fellow’s responsibilities as part of the project will include, among others, background research on case study countries, developing a sample frame of interviewees in case study countries, designing interview questionnaires, and analyzing interview data after the interviews are conducted.
Applicants should note their interest in the fellowship in their application to the graduate program and contact Prof. Alexandra Zeitz at alexandra.zeitz@concordia.ca for further information.
- Harvey Shulman Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Political Theory
The Department of Political Science at Concordia University (Montreal) invites applications for up to two Harvey Shulman Memorial Graduate Scholarships in Political Theory. Each scholarship is valued at $5000.00. The scholarship is not renewable.
The Harvey Shulman Memorial Graduate Scholarship was established by Celia Shulman, wife of the late Harvey Shulman. Professor Shulman was Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science as well as co-founder of the Liberal Arts College. He researched and taught American politics, Jewish political thought, political philosophy and American political theory.
Eligible candidates include all full-time students admitted to pursue an MA or a PhD in Political Science at Concordia University for the academic year 2023-2024 who intend to focus their research in the field of political theory. Canadian citizens, permanent residents and international students are all eligible. Applicants should state in their statement of purpose that they wish to be considered for the scholarship. No further application is required.
Deadline for application is February 1st, 2023 (together with the graduate application).
- MA/MPPPA position in Climate Politics
About the research:
The student will work alongside Prof. Rowan on research on the contemporary politics of climate change. The research will examine how governments set and implement climate policy targets, with particular attention to the role of international climate treaties. The fellow’s responsibilities as part of the project may include, conducting background research crucial cases of climate policy target setting, collecting new data on climate policy, and data analysis. Please note that the student’s thesis does not need to be on these topics, and the fellowship does not necessarily imply working with Prof. Rowan for thesis supervision.
Requirements:
- Admission to either the MA in Political Science or MA in Public Policy and Public Administration in the Political Science department at Concordia University
- A strong academic track record in a Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, economics, environmental studies, or a related field
- Qualitative and/or quantitative research skills (e.g. from an undergraduate thesis)
- Proven ability to work independently
Financial commitments:
- $3,500/year for 2022-2023, with the possibility of renewal for one additional year
How to apply:
Apply to the graduate program at Concordia University
Apply to either of the MA programs offered by Concordia’s Political Science department:
Mention your interest in this fellowship opportunity in your statement of purpose in your application for the program.
- MA/PhD positions: Sanctuary Cities in Canada
Funded MA and PhD positions are available for the Fall 2023 at the Concordia Research Chair on the Politics of Immigration. These positions will contribute to Dr. Mireille Paquet’s research on sanctuary cities in Canada, in relation to the international project Soli*City: Urban Sanctuary, Migrant Solidarity, and Hospitality in Global Perspective.
About the Research
Dr. Paquet’s research on sanctuary cities in Canada examines how cities develop capacities to support non-status and precarious status immigrants. The project examines how local administrations manage relations with elected officials (e.g. mayors and councils) and with other local bureaucracies, including the police. It also considers implementation of sanctuary and “don’t ask, don’t tell'' policies. This research engages with scholarship on public administration, local immigration politics and immigration studies.
Regarding the Fellowship
The paid fellowship is a unique opportunity for students to realize a thesis on sanctuary cities in Canada in the Department of political science at Concordia University. Student fellows will contribute to the project by offering research assistance and will gain access to primary data, methods training and collective publication opportunities.
Fellows will become members of the Concordia Research Chair on the Politics and participate in the activities of Soli*City and of the Équipe de recherche sur l’immigration au Québec et ailleurs (ERIQA). They will become part of a team of researchers in training and leading researchers in immigration studies with national and international connections.
La langue d’enseignement du département de science politique est l’anglais mais les étudiants peuvent rédiger leurs thèses et travaux en français ou en anglais. L’équipe de travail de ce projet est entièrement bilingue.
Financial commitment
The fellowship is valued at a minimum of $10,000 CAD per year of study (subject to ongoing satisfactory performance).
Applicants will also be considered for the following financial support (which can be held in combination): (1) Entrance awards, between $5,000 (for the first year only) – $14,000 (for four years; $56,000 total) CAD; and (2) teaching assistantships (TA), approximately $3600 per term.
Fellows will be expected to apply for external grants to support their research activities, including SSHRC and FRQSC. International students, including from the United States, will also be considered for international fee remissions.
How to apply
Candidates are invited to send their application per email to Dr. Paquet (mireille.paquet@concordia.ca) using the subject " Sanctuary Cities in Canada” with the following elements:
• Email with your motivation and relevant experience
• Complete and up-to-date CV
• Up-to-date transcript or overall grade in the Master's or BA degree
Candidates must also apply to the MA in political Science or the PhD in political Science and indicate that they would like to be considered for this opportunity in their statement of purpose. This fellowship is not open to students in the Masters in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA).
Deadline to apply is Thursday, February 15, 2023.
- MA/PhD positions: Immigration Bureaucracies in an Era of Populism
Funded MA and PhD positions are available for the Fall 2023 at the Concordia Research Chair on the Politics of Immigration. These positions will contribute to Dr. Mireille Paquet’s research on bureaucratic responses to anti-immigration populism in Canada, Australia and the U.K.
About the Research
Led in collaboration with Dr. Antje Ellermann (UBC), this SSHRC funded project examines how departments responsible for immigration in Canada, Australia and the U.K. respond to different forms of anti-immigration and anti-elite movements. The project mixes process tracing, interviews and text-as-data methods.
Regarding the Fellowship
The paid fellowship is a unique opportunity for students to realize a thesis on topics such as: 1) anti-immigration and anti-elite rhetoric in Canada, Australia or the U.K.; 2) bureaucratic politics in the immigration sector and 3) innovation in public administrations responsible for immigration. Student fellows will contribute to the project by offering research assistance and will gain access to primary data, methods training and collective publication opportunities.
Fellows will become members of the Concordia Research Chair on the Politics and of the Équipe de recherche sur l’immigration au Québec et ailleurs (ERIQA). They will become part of a team of researchers in training and leading researchers in immigration studies with national and international connections.
La langue d’enseignement du département de science politique est l’anglais mais les étudiants peuvent rédiger leurs thèses et travaux en français ou en anglais. L’équipe de travail de ce projet est entièrement bilingue.
Financial commitment
The fellowship is valued at a minimum of $10,000 CAD per year of study (subject to ongoing satisfactory performance).
Applicants will also be considered for the following financial support (which can be held in combination): (1) Entrance awards, between $5,000 (for the first year only) – $14,000 (for four years; $56,000 total) CAD; and (2) teaching assistantships (TA), approximately $3600 per term.
Fellows will be expected to apply for external grants to support their research activities, including SSHRC and FRQSC. International students, including from the United States, will also be considered for international fee remissions.
How to apply
Candidates are invited to send their application per email to Dr. Paquet (mireille.paquet@concordia.ca) using the subject "Immigration bureaucracies” with the following elements:
• Email with your motivation and relevant experience
• Complete and up-to-date CV
• Up-to-date transcript or overall grade in the Master's degree
Candidates must also apply to the MA in political Science or the PhD in political Science and indicate that they would like to be considered for this opportunity in their statement of purpose. This fellowship is not open to students in the Masters in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA).
The deadline to apply is February 15, 2023.
- MA positions: Parties and Immigration in Canada
Funded MA positions are available for the Fall 2023 at the Concordia Research Chair on the Politics of Immigration. These positions will contribute to Dr. Mireille Paquet’s research on Canadian political parties and immigration.
About the Research
Led in collaboration with Dr. Erin Tolley (Carleton) and Dr. Andrea Lawlor (King’s College, Western), this SSHRC funded project examines how Canadian federal parties have engaged with immigration policy over time and validates concepts to describe the evolution of political cleavages surrounding immigration in Canada. The project uses text-as-data methods.
Regarding the Fellowship
The paid fellowship is a unique opportunity for students to realize a MA thesis on parties and immigration in Canada. Student fellows will contribute to the project by offering research assistance and will gain access to primary data, methods training and collective publication opportunities.
Fellows will become members of the Concordia Research Chair on the Politics and of the Équipe de recherche sur l’immigration au Québec et ailleurs (ERIQA). They will become part of a team of researchers in training and leading researchers in immigration studies with national and international connections.
La langue d’enseignement du département de science politique est l’anglais mais les étudiants peuvent rédiger leurs thèses et travaux en français ou en anglais. L’équipe de travail de ce projet est entièrement bilingue.
Financial commitment
The fellowship is valued at a minimum of $10,000 CAD per year of study (subject to ongoing satisfactory performance).
Applicants will also be considered for the following financial support (which can be held in combination): (1) Entrance awards, between $5,000 (for the first year only) – $14,000 (for four years; $56,000 total) CAD; and (2) teaching assistantships (TA), approximately $3600 per term.
Fellows will be expected to apply for external grants to support their research activities, including SSHRC and FRQSC. International students, including from the United States, will also be considered for international fee remissions.
How to apply
Candidates are invited to send their application per email to Dr. Paquet (mireille.paquet@concordia.ca) using the subject "Immigration bureaucracies” with the following elements:
• Email with your motivation and relevant experience
• Complete and up-to-date CV
• Up-to-date transcript or overall grade in the Master's degree
Candidates must also apply to the MA in political Science or the PhD in political Science and indicate that they would like to be considered for this opportunity in their statement of purpose. This fellowship is not open to students in the Masters in Public Policy and Public Administration (MPPPA).
The deadline to apply is Thursday, February 15, 2023.
Elsewehere in the Faculty of Arts and Science
Opportunities in the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies:
Other possible opportunities in other departments within the faculty of Arts and Science:
