Tips for Preparing a Successful CGS, PGS or PDF Application

A well-written application will improve your chances of obtaining an NSERC scholarship or fellowship. The competition for these awards is fierce because of the limited funds available, and all applications submitted to this national competition are from excellent applicants. The application is your tool for describing your research ability or potential and for telling the committee what a dynamic researcher you are: it is your chance to sell yourself to the committee members.

Now for the tips...

Before starting to fill out your application, read the application instructions. If anything is unclear, contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies at your university or the Scholarships and Fellowships Division at NSERC.

Keep in mind that your application will be reviewed by one of eight selection committees composed of researchers from the Canadian university, industry and government sectors. Your application will be assigned to a committee based on the expertise required to evaluate your proposed research. Two selection committee members read each application and present it to their colleagues for discussion and evaluation during the competition. Given the large number of applications and the limited time available, it is essential that you provide the information in your application in a clear, concise manner.

Each application is evaluated on the following criteria:

Selection criteria	Relative weightings (%)
	CGS M/ PGS M	CGS D/ PGS D	PDF
Academic excellence	50	30	N/A
Research ability/potential	30	50	70
Communication, interpersonal and leadership abilities	20	20	30
Total	100	100	100

Check that the field of research is eligible

Some research areas overlap the funding mandates of the three federal granting agencies (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR). If you are not sure whether your proposed research is eligible, consult the Faculty of Graduate Studies at your university or staff at one of the granting agencies well before any application deadlines. It is important that you submit your application to the appropriate agency as you may only apply to one agency each year.

Follow the requirements

Before you start to complete the application form, read all the relevant instructions in the 2005 versions of both Form 200 and the NSERC Program Guide for Students and Fellows, available on the Web in August 2005. Be sure you respect the print size, margin guidelines and page limitations as outlined in the application; the application forms are photocopied and have to be legible. Proofread your application carefully – typographical, spelling and grammatical errors can have a negative impact. Take the time to make a good impression – this could be your only chance to compete for these funds!

Give a clear, detailed description of your research proposal

Clearly describe your proposed research. Write in plain language; remember that the selection committee members may not have specialized knowledge of your particular area of research. Provide a detailed description of your proposed research activities. State the objectives and outline the experimental or theoretical approach you intend to take and the methods and procedures you will use. Explain the significance of the proposed research to the natural sciences and engineering field. Ask someone whose opinion you respect, but who is not overly familiar with your work, to review your proposal. Do not repeat the information you provided in the "Theses completed or in progress" section.

If you are applying for a CGS M/PGS M, but have not yet decided on a specific research project, you must provide a detailed description of a project that interests you. Show the selection committee that you have thought about and investigated both the field of research that you would like to pursue and the projects being carried out by the supervisors with whom you would like to work. If you are successful in getting an award, you may change your research project, provided it still remains within the mandate of NSERC.

Provide the information requested if you want to hold the award outside Canada

Each year a limited number of NSERC postgraduate scholarships are awarded to students wishing to study abroad. There is a separate competition for awards tenable outside Canada that is even tougher than the PGS selection process. To apply for tenure abroad, you must explain why you have chosen the particular research topic and university. In addition, you must provide a letter from a Canadian authority in the proposed field of research explaining whether the proposed research program could be carried out in a Canadian university and discussing any benefits you would derive from holding the scholarship abroad. If you do not provide this documentation, your application will not be considered for tenure abroad.

Note: Whether you have already started your studies abroad or not has no bearing on the outcome of your application for tenure abroad. Requests to hold the award abroad are evaluated on the following criteria: program availability in Canada, excellence of student relative to other applicants, and the unique opportunity to perform research in a world-class institution. Preference is given to doctoral students. You may be successful in the competition for a scholarship but not in the competition to hold your scholarship abroad.

Choose your respondents with care

A good respondent will be able to explain clearly to the committee why you are worthy of an award and why it is important to fund you. A good reference (Appendix 1) is invaluable to the committee and to you. Respondents will provide evidence, reflection and sound judgment, information and advice, in straightforward language that leaves a committee in no doubt about the nature of that advice. It is, therefore, very important that you choose your respondents carefully. Choose individuals who know you and your academic/research ability or potential well enough to be able to write a credible letter of reference, giving concrete examples to support their comments. Inform them that if they do not feel they know you well enough, you would prefer that they decline the request rather than write a poor reference. If you have begun or completed a thesis, one of the respondents will normally be from the thesis supervisor. If your thesis supervisor is not one of the respondents, you should explain why in your application (Contributions and Statement, Special circumstances).

It would be wise to suggest to your respondents that they consult the Instructions on how to complete Appendix 1 found on NSERC's Web site at http://www.nserc.gc.ca/forms/instructions/200/a1_e.asp. Finally, it would be a good idea to check in with your respondents about a week before the letters are due (either at NSERC or at the university) just to ensure that your reference has not been forgotten.

Make sure your application is complete

Remember, it's up to you to ensure that your application is complete when submitted. Make sure you know the department, university and NSERC deadlines. Follow up with those you asked to complete Appendices 1 and 2 to ensure that they have done their part and that your application is received at the Faculty of Graduate Studies or at NSERC by the deadline.

Remember, the decision to award you a scholarship or fellowship will be made by a committee that will rank you relative to all other applicants, evaluating your academic excellence, research ability or potential, communication, interpersonal and leadership abilities based solely on your application. If you submit a well written, complete application, you will increase your chances of being offered an award.