Graduate funding application preparation

1. There are two major agencies in Quebec that offer scholarships to support your research journey:
   The Federal Tri-Agency organization, which is composed of:
   • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
   • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
   • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
2. The Provincial Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) organization, which is composed of:
   • Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)
   • Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC)
   • Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS)  

Both Agencies offer scholarships to Master’s or PhD students in research-based programs. Just make sure to review their eligibility criteria and requirements.

You may also be interested in opportunities from other Foundations such as Mackenzie King Scholarship or Pierre Arbour Foundation.

Eligibility depends on factors such as your field of study, stage of your program, and the specific requirements of each funding program. Review the specific eligibility criteria for each award on our website or visit the respective agency's website. You can also contact our External Awards Advisor for more information.

Unfortunately, Tri-Agency and FRQ awards are solely for students in research- or thesis-based programs. If you are in a course-based program, you may be interested in other opportunities such as the Mackenzie King Scholarship or Pierre Arbour Foundation. You should also reach out to your program contact to learn about other opportunities.

Deadlines vary by award and agency, but they are usually in the fall (September to December). Consult the specific funding program’s website for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Be sure to check if Concordia has a separate internal application deadline for any awards.

Yes, you can (and should) apply for multiple funding opportunities, as long as you’re eligible! If you receive an award, you will need to adhere to each program’s rules regarding concurrent funding to avoid any conflicts.

Since the application deadline dates for funding are typically one year ahead of when awards are distributed for that cycle, you should still apply for funding even if you haven’t submitted your admission application or received an admission letter.

Tri-Agencies and FRQ applications are usually submitted online through the respective funding agency’s portal or via their application system. Some other opportunities, such as the Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students (PBEEE), the Mackenzie King Scholarship or Pierre Arbour Foundation require you to submit your application directly to a specific contact at Concordia, as detailed on each award’s webpage. Be sure to consult Concordia’s external funding page for detailed application instructions.

Choose referees who can speak to your academic and research strengths. Professors, research supervisors or employers (for research-related work) are ideal.

Notification times vary by award and funding agency. Typically, it may take several months from the application deadline to hear back about a decision. Most of the agencies release their results by April of the year following the application deadline.

First, celebrate! You should then follow the instructions provided by the funding agency for accepting the award, which often includes signing a funding agreement and making sure that you meet any additional requirements. For more guidance, you can contact our External Award Advisor.

If you are not awarded funding, review any feedback provided and consider reapplying in the future if you remain eligible. We are here to support you! Feel free to reach out to our Awards Advisor for guidance on strengthening your application for the next competition.

Contact our External Awards Advisor for questions about what options are available for you, your eligibility and post-award administration for external graduate awards.

Contact our Fellowship Advisor if you need support in writing a successful funding application to showcase your strengths and improve your proposal.