Funding Opportunities

The deadline for the Faculty of Graduate Studies Open Competition on-line application is February 1.  All suporting scholarship documents must be submitted to the 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 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

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships  (Vanier CGS) were created to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting those who demonstrate a high standard of scholarly achievement and exemplary leadership. The scholarship is intended to support students broadening their research horizons.  Applicants who have completed both an undergraduate and Master’s degree at the University of Calgary will not be considered.

The citizenship is unrestricted and eligible applicants must first submit a Preliminary Assessment Form (PAF) to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarship Office before September 6, 2014. For more information about eligibility and deadlines visit http://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/opportunities/vanier or contact gsaward@ucalgary.ca.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)  is one of three federal agencies that provide research funding for university students, postdoctoral fellows and professors. SSHRC funds research in the social sciences and humanities. Just Canadians and permanent residents are eligible to apply for (SSHRC). For more information and the deadlines visit http://grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/tricouncil , or if you have questions contact: gsaward@ucalgary.ca.

If you are a Canadian student interested in applying for our masters program, please follow this link and apply for a SSHRC master's scholarship.  This application is due by December 1st.  Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Scholarships  are extremely prestigious and lucrative.  We strongly encourage all eligible applicants to apply.  See the Graduate Awards website with the new information and links for the Tri-Council competition, or if you have questions contact: gsaward@ucalgary.ca.

If you are a Chinese student please consider applying for a China Scholarship Council scholarship.  Information can be found on the FGS Prospective Student page under China Scholarship Council.

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 $8500 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.

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.

   Departmental Funding

• Please consult your individual letter for details specific to your funding
• There is no guaranteed funding after Year 4
• This departmental funding normally consists of both scholarship income and teaching income.  It may also consist of research assistantship income.  Graduate students usually work as a teaching assistant or a research assistant for at least one term per academic year.  Teaching and research assistantships are considered part of the total departmental funding package.
• If you are offered a teaching or research assistantship or teaching fellowship and decline it, your total departmental funding may be reduced accordingly.
• For students in Years 3 and 4 of their program, department funding may include payment for teaching a course.
• Please keep in mind that whether you receive employment or scholarship, your first payment with not be until the end of the first month in our program.

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

Many students in the programs (MA and PhD)  perform research assistance for professors in the department. This research often helps the student to identify a suitable thesis topic and can provide a springboard from which to commence thesis work .

These awards provide exposure to research for international development through a program of training in research management and grant administration under the guidance of IDRC program staff. The internship is designed to provide hands-on learning experiences in research program management – in the creation, dissemination and utilization of knowledge from an international perspective. For more information visit: http://econ.ucalgary.ca/graduate/funding-opportunities/irdc-internship-awards

Learn more about the http://econ.ucalgary.ca/graduate/funding-opportunities/meredith-graduate-scholarships

The Faculty of Graduate Studies has many additional sources of funding that students can apply for.  For more information, please visit the Sources of Funding page.

James D. Gaisford Research Prize:  For best 2nd year research paper by a Ph.D. student.  Value: $1000

Awarded annually in the Winter term.  A committee, chaired by the Head of the Research Activities Committee will adjudicate the Second Year Research Papers.

Please note that all second year students must present their papers to the department before the prize is awarded.

The following Department of Economics Prize are awarded annually in the Fall:  

Microeconomics Prize: For top Ph.D graduate student in average of ECON 707 and ECON 757 (in first year class) Value: $100

Macroeconomics Prize: For top Ph.D graduate student in average of ECON 709 and ECON 759 (in first year class) Value: $100

Econometric Prize: For top Ph.D graduate student in average of ECON 705 and ECON 715 Value: $100

M.A. Prize in Economic Theory: For top graduate student in average of ECON 657, ECON 659, and ECON 615 (in first year class) Value: $200

Teaching Assistant Excellence Prizes: For one MA and one PhD student. Awarded annually each August.  Value: $250

Criteria:  The winning TA should not only meet but also exceed the department’s expectations for TA’s.  

These expectations include:

1. Grade consistently using the grading scheme chosen by the course instructor.
2. Grade in a timely manner.
3. Carefully record grades.
4. Be prepared and on-time for tutorials and office hours.
5. Be available and on-time for exam invigilation and course evaluations (as a guideline, and depends on the needs of the instructor, arrive to do a course evaluation 15 minutes before, midterm exam invigilation 20 minutes before, and final exam invigilation 30 minutes before).
6. Provide careful monitoring during exams and tests.
7. Contact the instructor to make arrangements for responsibilities when sick.
8. Remain on campus during the exam period.
9. Be professional in interactions with students and supervising instructors.

Graduate Student Teaching Award:  Awarded annually in the Fall in recognition of teaching excellence by a graduate student teaching a Spring or Summer semester course.  The recipient is also nominated for the Victor Yang Song Graduate Scholarship in Teaching Excellence, will receive a parchment and their name will be added to a plaque within the department.  The award is decided by the Graduate Program Director. 

Value: $1,000 

Successful students will receive a parchment and have their name added to a plaque within the department.

We encourage students to take advantage of opportunities to travel to conferences and workshops. 

Economics Graduate Travel Award: This award is administered by the Department of Economics.

• Priority will be given to students presenting their own research. Other travel will be considered if a strong case can be made and budget allows.
• Priority will be given to students without other support (from FGS, URGC student travel grants, GSA, or from the conference directly). Students are expected to apply for and seek any outside funding that is available.
• Students can only receive one grant to a maximum of $500 during the course of their studies.
• Students receiving a grant must present their work in the conference practice workshop within the department, and be up to date in presenting within the department’s Wednesday seminars –summer and fall/winter. In other words, students must be in good standing within the program.
• Students must have their supervisor’s approval. A quick email to the Graduate Program Director is sufficient.
• To apply, please send the Graduate Program Director information on the purpose of travel, work to be presented, and a budget for the requested amount. Please indicate in your application where else you have applied for travel funds.
• DEADLINE: Ongoing

Faculty of Graduate Studies Travel Award: Open to students registered full-time in a graduate program at the University of Calgary who are presenting their work or research at major national and/or international conferences. Candidates must be either Canadian citizens or permanent residents and a resident of Alberta. For more information, please click here.

The Canadian Economics Association Travel Grant (2014): Committed to encouraging students and faculty members to take part in the CEA meetings, the Canadian Economics Association provides travel assistance to a limited number of participants to the annual meetings. For more information, click here.

Travel Grant from the University Research Grants Committee (URGC):   The Graduate Conference Travel Grant is accessible through a limited pool of funds that are offered by the URGC to assist international graduate students (in Canada on a study permit) to attend conferences  Deadlines: March 1 and October 1  Maximum Value: $1500 for international travel (overseas), $750 for North America (including Hawaii and Mexico)  For more information to apply see the URGC website