Funding Opportunities
Students in the department receive funding from a number of sources, including scholarships and positions as teaching and research assistants. This funding depends largely on the program the student is in, the individual's academic standing, and to some extent entrepreneurship on the student's part in seeking out funding opportunities.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Positions
All students admitted to full-time graduate study in economics are automatically considered for financial assistance in the form of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (TA). These are allocated on the basis of academic merit. Recipients of the TA award are required to provide up to 12 hours per week in marking, tutorial or teaching services to the Department. TA awards are currently valued at approximately $7356 per semester. "Half" TA awards, requiring up to 6 hours per week per semester are also available. Most students find that TA positions provide an interesting retrospective view on their undergraduate past, and often provide a refresher on some basic economics as well as opportunities for learning new presentation skills.
Graduate Research Scholarships
The Department awards approximately 16 Graduate Research Scholarships (GRS) to students who are working on their theses. A GRS is valued at approximately $1050 per month for 4 months.
Research Assistant Positions
Many students in the programs (MA and PhD) perform research assistance for professors in the department. This research in many circumstances helps the student to identify a suitable thesis topic and sometimes gets students started on their theses.
Funding for PhD Studemts
To be eligible for funding beyond the first year, a student must pass all comprehensive theory examinations by the beginning of classes of their second year. To be eligible for funding beyond the Fall semester of the third year, a student must pass their comprehensive field examination and their oral candidacy examination by the beginning of Winter semester courses in their third year.
In addition to teaching assistantships (TAs), Graduate Research Stipends (GRS), and scholarship and bursary funding, there are also several sources of funding for graduate student research and travel.
Department Recommended Scholarships
The following department recommended scholarships are awarded annually:
Department of Economics Alumni Graduate Scholarship
Economics Society of Calgary Graduate Scholarship
Frank Mink Economics Graduate Scholarship
John M. Dalgarno Memorial Scholarship
Stephen G. Peitchinis Memorial Graduate Recruitment Scholarship
Open Scholarship Competition
The deadline for the Faculty of Graduate Studies Open Competition on line application is February 1. All suporting scholarship documents must be submitted to thr Graduate Administrator, Department of Economics.
Most relevant scholarships are listed at the Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarships page; all candidates who are eligible are strongly encouraged to apply for these scholarships, fellowships and research grants.
Please note that the open scholarship competitions require department rankings of students. Students are required to apply through the Faculty of Graduate Studies and submit the supporting documents as requested to the Graduate Administrator, Department of Economics.
Further information on the Open Scholarship competition can be obtained by contacting the Scholarship Officer in the Faculty of Graduate Studies
http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca//funding