Ontario Graduate ScholarshipPresentation

September 2016

Faculty of Graduate Studies

Overview

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is a prestigious award valued at $15,000, which is designed to encourage excellence in graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral levels.

Awarded for one academic year, which may consist of two or three consecutive terms. The value is $5,000 per term, $10,000 for two terms or $15,000 for three terms.

The province of Ontario contributes two-thirds and Brock University provides one-third.

Faculty of Graduate Studies offers a DGS Excellence Scholarship as well as your OGS award.

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Brock’s Quota

Brock’s quota is 51 (2016/17)

2 allocated for international students

2 allocated for Canadian Aboriginal* students

Remaining 47 allocated to domestic Master’s and Doctoral students

*Canadian Aboriginal refers to self-declared First Nations (status and non-status), Metis, Inuit peoples.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have an overall average of at least A- (80%), in EACH of the last two full-time academic years of study.

Averages are based on grades up to August 31, 2016.

You must be a full-time student in an approved graduate program for the tenure of the award.

Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have a study permit at the time of the OGS Application deadline date (October 21, 2016).

You can receive a lifetime maximum of six years of government-funded student awards. Awards received under the following programs are counted toward this lifetime maximum:

NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, OGS, QEII-GSST and OTS

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Eligibility Requirements

You cannot hold an NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, OTS or QEII-GSST at the same time as an OGS award, but you can apply to OGS and one of the other listed awards.

Receive up to two OGS awards at the master’s level. The award is tenable during either the first or second year of your master’s degree program, but not after the second year.

Receive up to four OGS awards at the doctoral level. The award is tenable during the first five academic years of your doctoral degree program, but not after the fifth year.

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Eligibility Requirements

Student who have an OSAP restriction at the time of disbursement maybe unable to hold an OGS award. If there is a restriction, students will be notified to clear the restriction or forfeit their award.

Must hold the award for either two or three consecutive terms.

You cannot hold an award for only one term.

Each award is tenable for one year, non-renewable.

You may change disciplines or eligible programs during the tenure of the award, but only if your eligible institution approves the change.

You cannot be employed more than an average of 10 hours per week.

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Where to submit your OGS Application Package

Students who are currently enrolled at Brock University in graduate studies.

Submit your application package to your current program.

Students who are planning on attending Brock University for graduate studies.

Submit your application package to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Students who are planning on attending graduate studies at another university.

DO NOT apply at Brock, apply to the university you plan to attend.

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Application Package

OGS Application, Academic Assessment Report and Instructions found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website:

https://www.brocku.ca/graduate-studies/current-students/financial-resources/external-awards/OGS

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Application Package

A complete Ontario Graduate Scholarship application package consists of the following:

OGS application (8 pages) – must NOT be printed double-sided.

Two Academic Assessment Reports in sealed, signed envelopes

Order your official/original University transcripts, undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) and have them sent directly to your program/department.

No certified photocopies or web-based print-outs.

Note: If you have requested official transcripts for a Tri-Agency (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR) CGS Master’s application, you may use those transcripts to be included in your OGS application.

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Application Package

Academic studies completed up-to-date, including graduate transcripts, even if Fall 2016 is the first term of your program.

Copies or photocopies from foreign universities where it is not possible to get another official transcript will be accepted.

Request your transcripts to be submitted directly to your program/department by October 21, 2016.

Proof of Citizenship Permanent Resident Protected Person Temporary Resident Visa Students (Study Permit)

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Evaluation Criteria

Three areas of evaluation that your application will be considered.

Academic Excellence Academic transcripts

List of competitive scholarships, awards and honours

Research Ability/Potential/Achievements Publications

Conferences

Presentations

Communications/Leadership Abilities List of relevant volunteer, leadership and academic work experience

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Research Proposal - one page

For students who will be or are currently in Master’s level studies during the tenure of the award.

Provide a detailed description of the planned research/project you are doing during the tenure of the award.

Use plain language, someone outside of your field of research maybe reviewing your application.

Be as specific as possible.

State the significance of the research or project in the particular field.

One page for Bibliography and Citations.

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Research Proposal – one page

For students entering first year of doctoral studies:

Give the title and a brief description of your Master’s thesis, if applicable.

Identify the field of concentration of your proposed doctoral studies and describe your special interest in this area.

Outline the experimental or theoretical approach to be taken.

State the methods and procedures that will be used.

Explain the impact/importance of your research.

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Research Proposal – one page

For students currently in doctoral studies:

Clearly state at what stage of your thesis you are in.

Outline your thesis and explain how it will build on existing research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.

Outline what you plan to accomplish during the period for which you receive the award and what you have remaining to be completed.

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Bibliography & Citations

One page

Use this page to acknowledge any works referred to in or used in the preparation of your research proposal.

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Publications and PresentationsMaster’s – one page Doctoral – two pages

List of publications and presentations and other evidence of scholarly activities, etc.

For published contributions, include co-authors, title, publisher, journal, volume, date of publication, number of pages, etc., as they appear in the original publication.

Differentiate between refereed, non-refereed, etc.

Conference presentations, etc.

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Scholarships, Awards & Academic Accomplishments

List competitive post-secondary scholarships, fellowships, awards, prizes and other academic or professional awards that you have received that would be pertinent to the adjudication of your application.

List Tri-Agency or Ontario government awards (indicated on page 1).

Include Dean’s Honour List, teaching/research assistantships.

Do not list high school awards.

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Academic Assessment Reports Two Academic Assessment Reports

Contact your professors NOW

Complete Section 1 of the Report and forward the report by email to your Referees.

No faxed or emailed reference letters.

Academic Assessment Report is comprised of one form on which the referee ranks you, plus a one-page signed letter of support, on University letterhead, elaborating on the assessment.

Must provide a supporting reference that will speak to the particular strengths of the application.

Referees return the report to the applicant in a sealed, signed envelope.

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Academic Assessment Report Tips

Provide your referee with the following information to assist them in writing the best possible letter of support.

Lots of time before the application deadline

Copy of your OGS application/research proposal

Copies of academic transcripts

C.V. or resumé highlighting your academic, research, leadership, communication, outreach skills and achievements.

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Tips for Applicants

Assume your Research Proposal is going to be read by a multi-disciplinary committee.

Use clear, plain language and avoid jargon.

Proofread for spelling and grammar

OGS award winners are not automatically renewed. You must submit a new application each year.

Know your internal deadline date – October 21, 2016. It is your responsibility to ensure your application is received by the deadline date.

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Competition Results

To be offered an OGS award, students must apply for admission to graduate studies by the University’s Program deadline date or by February 15, 2017.

Students will be notified by email the competition results March 2017.

REMEMBER: the deadline date October 21, 2016

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Contact Information

Joanne Kremble

Graduate Officer, Funding & Awards

Faculty of Graduate Studies

(905) 688-5550 ext. 5207

Email: jkremble@brocku.ca

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