Blog post

Tips on how to Approach Your Funding Application

August 7, 2018

By GradProSkills

A notebook with a dollar sign on the page

As a graduate student, it's normal to experience a sense of panic when looking for potential funding for your research. It's also normal to be unsure where to turn to for help. We sat down with Dolly Grewal, Graduate Awards Advisor with Concordia’s School of Graduate Studies, who provided us with some insight on the do’s and don’ts for graduate scholarship applications. This blog post will provide sources for funding opportunities, describe the best way to structure your application, provide tips on how to create good rapport with potential references and suggest ways to highlight not only your academic credentials but link them to the passions behind your research.

Be proactive in finding what fits

The process of applying for graduate funding may seem highly competitive, but don’t be discouraged from applying to a scholarship that fits your research needs. Every funding agency has their own research mandate. Dolly informed us that it's important to understand granting agencies are not funding you as much as they are funding your research topic. You can also find external agencies that are interested in your topic, but it is up to you, the applicant, to be proactive and keep your options open by applying to various funding opportunities to support your research.

Good communication and your environment is key

When starting your preparation for the scholarship application process, you must first be confident in your ability as a graduate student to then represent the same confidence in your application. Don’t be fooled, time constraints will play a factor and be sure not to miss the deadline. It is important for agencies that applicants respect their rules. So, time management is important. Make sure to start the application process as soon as you decide to apply for funding.

Once you make this decision, the next step is to consider your environment and your entourage. Pick it well. As advised by Dolly, “Start by talking to your supervisor, professors, and graduate program director, and let them know of your intention to apply. This will allow everyone around you to support you through this process and to know that they have a role to play in it.” This communication is key, as it will provide you with the added encouragement and support that you will need.

Framing your scholarship application

According to Dolly, a great approach to framing your scholarship application is to go into the process like a job application. You are letting the agency know that you need this scholarship money because you have a research problem that they can help you with, while explaining to them how you will go about doing so by laying out your methodology on how to solve that problem. You can strengthen your case by providing them with your rationale and showing proof of academic excellence and research ability through your CV, your transcript and your reference letters. It is important to note that the way your referees embellish your accomplishments will play a heavy role in the selection process. Your proposal only shows the outline of how you are going to get the job done with the funding you’re applying for. It is difficult for you to speak on your credentials, as a proposal is very matter of fact. Therefore, your referees will highly impact your application and how you approach them will make all the difference!

Building good rapport when approaching your referees

For most applications, you will need to secure two references. The first reference must be an endorsement from your supervisor since they are your mentors and work closely with you as an academic. The second reference will depend on the funding agency. Sometimes they will ask for a non-academic referee, such as a president of an association or from a student group, who can speak on your behalf. You will then need to approach them the moment you realize you are interested in applying.

You should contact your referees and provide them with information on the agency, what their mandate is and why it is important to your research. You can also provide them with your academic CV. Print the proper documentation and be prepared to show how it links to your research goals. This will make it easier for your referee to speak on your qualifications, how many publications you have, and what conferences you have attended. Building good rapport will show the agency your referee knows who you are as a person, making it less generic. Don’t feel intimidated when approaching your referees, feel empowered because it is your right as a graduate student to ask for a strong reference and they are there to help you succeed!

The best way to approach your referee is in person. One meeting is all it takes. Strike up a dialogue and let them know that you’re interested in applying and that you thought of them. Talk a little bit about yourself and convey why you are so passionate about your topic. If the referee also shares that common passion, you’re already bonding! Steer the conversation towards what you’ve accomplished and update them on what your aspirations are, what you want to do going forward, and why you believe you're well-situated for the funding opportunity; all before asking them for their support. Dolly told us that she enjoys reading reference letters that show a student’s next steps, suggesting “rather than only talking about your past accomplishments, also highlight your research goals and your capabilities for taking it further.”

Your funding opportunities

You can find all Concordia affiliated scholarship opportunities, along with important deadline dates, under the Awards and Funding section of the School of Graduate studies website. These funding sources are presented in a chart with three categories of funding: Government Funded Research, Foundation and Private Sector Funded Research and Concordia University Funded Research. Federal Granting Agencies (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR) provide opportunities that are open to Canadian based and permanent residents, while Provincial Granting Agencies (FRQSC, FRQNT, and FRQS) provide opportunities open to Quebec residents. The opportunities are then further divided by fields of research, citizenship and by degree level, along with upcoming deadline dates. The peak deadline dates are in September and October, so be sure to be on the lookout for an opportunity that best fits your research needs!

Check out international funding opportunities at International Scholarships, the Government of Canada, and Scholarship Positions. You can also scan awards on IEFA's searchable directory, and search awards based on your nationality, host country and program of study.

Find out more on how to apply for research funding and preparing for your scholarship applications by attending the following GradProSkills workshops:

Blog post

Tips on how to Approach Your Funding Application

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