Studentship Awards - Application Guidelines / Evaluation and Scoring
Studentship Awards Quick Links
The purpose of the Studentship Program is to develop the capacity in Ontario to conduct problem gambling research. The Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre accomplishes this by providing financial support to students who undertake problem gambling research as part of their graduate studies programs and show promise for a career in problem gambling research. Upon completion of a Doctoral degree, the Centre will also assist recipients in applying for Level I and II research awards.
Doctoral Studentships are valued at $20,000 per year for up to three years and $17,500 for up to two years at the Masters level. Funding is available for up to three years for full time students. Doctoral and Masters Studentships can also be awarded as part of an Emerging Team Award. Applicants applying as part of an emerging team are subject to the same application and evaluation requirements as individual applicants. The maximum duration of the award is three consecutive years for each applicant.
Evaluation & Scoring
The following guidelines are to be used for both the Masters and Doctoral Studentship applications.
Eligibility
At the time of application, candidates must be registered as a full-time student in a Masters or Doctoral program at a recognized Canadian university, and anticipate completion of their program within three years. Consideration will be given to applicants awaiting acceptance. This award can be pro-rated for up to five years provided that all requirements for the Doctoral program will be completed by that date. Preference will be given to permanent Ontario residents studying at Ontario universities.
Eligible Applicants Must: Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada at the time of application; undertake problem gambling research as partial fulfillment of their Masters thesis or Doctoral dissertation; intend to pursue graduate studies or post graduate research in a field related to problem gambling at a recognized Ontario university; have obtained a first-class average (minimum A-) in each of the last two completed years of study, or present a letter from an academic supervisor detailing why the applicant's abilities merit support despite a grade average below this standard; be free from tri-council (SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR) or university sanction for financial or research misconduct.
Applicants will be required to produce an article for peer reviewed publication as an outcome of their Masters or Doctoral research.
Application Process
Applications must be word-processed, single-spaced, in black, 12-point font, and on letter size (8½" x 11") white paper with 1" margins. Applications that do not meet these basic format requirements will not be accepted for consideration.
All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date. Certified copies of transcripts and letters of academic reference must be sent in hard copy, postmarked no later than 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date.
NOTE: SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS - When submitting an application electronically, send 1 copy of the signed Cover page or Certifications Page via fax or as a scanned image (attach as a .gif, .tiff, or .jpeg file). Faxed or scanned pages must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date.
Applications will receive confirmation of receipt by the Centre within 1 business day of the deadline date. If a confirmation notice has not been received within 24 hours of the deadline date, please contact the Centre.
A copy of the complete application (excluding attachments) should be sent to the University’s Graduate Studies office at the same time the application is submitted to the Centre.
The Application
Applications must include a Cover Page, Proposal, and Attachments.
1. Cover Page
The cover page (1 page) must include the following: Name of the program the student is applying to: “Application for a Masters Fellowship”; Title of proposed research project; Name of applicant, citizenship, and contact information (mailing address, phone number, and email); Name and location of the applicant’s University, including department and supervisor’s name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and email; Status in the program and identification number; Date for proposed period of support; Dated signature of student, supervisor, and graduate studies office.
2. Proposal
The proposal must not exceed 2 pages and must include the following: Outline of the research program, including goals and deliverables, achievements to date, and the potential contribution to the problem gambling research community;Any ethical considerations and how an ethical review and approval for the research project will be obtained.
3. Attachments
Attachments must include the following:
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Certified copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts;
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Curriculum vitae (maximum of 3 pages) including the following:
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academic background;
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work experience;
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any professional experience (papers, posters, conferences, etc.);
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awards, prizes, and distinctions (include title, date, amount, awarding institution);
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Two letters of academic reference provided in sealed envelopes with the author’s signature across the seal. One of the letters must be from the applicant’s supervisor. Referees should indicate their academic rank, how long they have known the candidate, and in what capacity. Letters should address why the applicant merits the fellowship, based on the following:
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background preparation;
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originality of thought;
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judgement;
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written and oral skills;
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research skills;
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In addition, comments should be provided on the following:
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merits and limitations of applicant;
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progress toward the proposed research program;
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likely contribution to future scholarship;
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Letter from the university confirming registration and length of time in the Masters or Doctoral program.
Please forward all hard copy attachements to:
Attn: Erika Veri Levett
Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre
150 Research Lane, Suite 104
Guelph ON N1G 4T2
Evaluation & Scoring
Applications for Fellowship Grants are evaluated by the Centre's staff for demonstrated research ability and potential for future research contribution according to the following:
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Academic Record
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scholarships and awards held;
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letters of reference/ academic referrals.
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Research Ability & Potential
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overall fit with the Centre’s mandate and objectives;
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contribution to knowledge in the problem gambling field;
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quality of proposed research and program;
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contribution to building problem gambling research capacity in Ontario.
Applications are scored on a 1 to 5 scale for each criterion as follows:
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5 = Excellent
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4 = Very good
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3 = Good
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2 = Acceptable
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1 = Not Acceptable
Reviewer scores are averaged for each criterion to compute the final score for an application. The maximum application score is 35 points.
Revisions identified by the Centre may be included as a condition for final approval of a Fellowship award.
Schedule
The Centre normally holds one Studentship solicitation in the Spring of each year. A schedule will be posted when the solciation opens. Each cycle takes approximately 10 weeks.
Feedback
NOTE: The decision of the Centre is final, with no provision for appeal.
A summary of comments will be sent to successful applicants with the notification of their award. Some recommended changes to the proposed research, arising from reviewer comments, may be identified as a condition of funding.
Unsuccessful applicants may request feedback regarding their applications and should contact the Centre for such requests.
Payment
Studentship recipients are permitted to hold other awards up to a combined maximum of the value of the Masters or Doctoral fellowship plus $10,000.
Maximum levels for combined support are as follows:
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Masters applicants $17,500 plus $10,000 = maximum $27,500
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Doctoral applicants $20,000 plus $10,000 = maximum $30,000
When a successful applicant has already been awarded financial support from another organization, the Center will provide top-up funding to this maximum. If other funding organizations have set combined support at a maximum lower than the Centre’s, the Centre will top up funding to the designated maximum.
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Example 1: A student receiving a grant of $17,700 from another agency may receive a pro-rated studentship from the Centre of $9,800 at the Masters level, and $12,300 at the Doctoral level.
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Example 2: The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program awards $15,000, and allows up to $10,000 in additional funding. The Centre will provide top-up funding to this $10,000 maximum.
Transfers
Candidates who transfer universities must receive written approval from the Centre for continued financial support. Please contact the Centre for more information.
For Assistance
Applicants or potential applicants may request advice or assistance at any time by contacting the Centre at:
Toll-Free: (877) 882-2204
Telephone: (519) 763-8049
Fax: (519) 763-8521