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Physics Graduate Scholarships and Awards
Graduate Awards (Nominated by Department)
These award amounts are incorporated into regular Physics Graduate Stipends, and do not increase base stipend rates.
Graduate Fellowships
President's PhD Scholarship
The President’s PhD Scholarship (PS) rewards PhD students who have made excellent progress in their degree, and who have demonstrated academic excellence, substantial scholarly output and leadership early in their PhD program relative to their peers. The award is intended to provide PhD students with a semester to concentrate full-time on their research. PhD students must have completed fewer than 12 terms of enrollment to be eligible for this award. In the Department of Physics, the President's Scholarship worth $7000.00 (as of Fall 2020) is typically awarded to a student who plans to defend at the end of the term of the award.
This award is not awarded in addition to the Physics annual graduate stipend, but is offered as an alternative to TA and RA funding to allow the recipient to focus on writing their thesis.
Other Departmental Awards
Graduate Teaching Award
Up to five awards per year, valued at $250, will be awarded as an honorarium to celebrate teaching excellence by teaching assistants of physics courses. Only teaching assistants who are graduate students enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program at 91ÅÝܽ are eligible for nomination.
A teaching assistant can receive only one such award in a two-year period.
Outreach Volunteer Award
Up to four $100 awards per year, given as an honorarium or gift certificate, to recognize student contributions towards Physics Outreach Events.
Nominations will be solicited by the ORSEC Chair. Award winners will be determined by the ORSEC at the start of every Fall semester, with the goal of awarding at least one undergraduate student and one graduate student each year.
A student can only win the award once every two years.
Graduate Awards (Student Application Required)
These award amounts are offered in addition to regular stipend funding.
Graduate Travel and Research Award (TARA)
This award is intended to provide financial support to travel and expenses relating to the research component of the student’s graduate degree. The maximum award amount is $7,000 but individual award values will vary, depending on the expenses being submitted, academic unit approval and budgetary restrictions.
Eligible students apply using the and submit all required documentation to their department of enrollment. Departments should advertise their own deadlines for receiving applications. Students should be aware that not all departments hold competitions for this award.
To be eligible for this award, travel must take place during the current academic year (September though the end of August). You may apply for a TARA during any of the competitions that year either before or after travel takes place. Unsuccessful applications will automatically be considered in later competitions.
The Physics Department requires both a Reference from Senior Supervisor (entered into the Reference Section on GA3) and a current, Official or Unofficial SFU Transcript with TARA applications in addition to standard application materials.
Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (MSFSS) [For TriCouncil Grant Holders]
This travel award opportunity is provided by the TriCouncil granting agencies to holders of NSERC CGS, SSHRC CGS or CIHR CGS awards only.
The value of the CGS-MSFSS award is up to $6,000, based on the information and budget justification provided in the application. Supplements are non-renewable. The related research study period must be between three to six months.
Donor Awards (Application Required)
Donor Awards are made possible by our generous donors, and we're very grateful for their support of our students.
Donor Award amounts are offered in addition to regular stipend funding.
General Information 91ÅÝܽ Donor Awards
Donor Awards, Physics Department
Donor Awards, Faculty of Science
Donor Awards, University-Wide
Dissertation Awards
We strongly encourage all Physics graduate students to explore and apply for external awards. In most cases, students apply directly to the agency, following their instructions and deadlines.
Allan Carswell Physics Educator Scholarship
AMI Scholarship Program for Persons with Disabilities
Azrieli Fellows Program
Boris P. Stoicheff Memorial Graduate Scholarship
Canada's Research Affiliate Program
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
Canadian Society of Soil Science
Canadian Student Participation in Space Conferences and Training Events
Canadian Water Resources Association
Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance)
Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island
Fondation Baxter & Alma Richard
Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
IDRC International Doctoral Research Awards (IRDC-IRDA)
IEEE Signal Processing Society
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Informed Opinions
International Association For Identification
IODE War Memorial
Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal (JCF)
Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation
Laura Bassi Scholarship
Leakey Foundation
MAX Scholarship Fund
McDonald Institute - Astroparticle Physics Research Institute
MINDS Policy Challenges
MITACS
Mitochondrial Innovation Initiative (MITO2i)
National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
NSERC Graduate Scholarships - Master's Program (NSERC CGRS M)
NSERC Graduate Scholarships - Doctoral Program (NSERC CGRS D)
NSERC CREATE Program in Quantum Computing
Pride Foundation
Research Impact Canada (RIC)
Schlumberger Foundation
Sealaska Heritage Institute
Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada (SWAAC)
Society of Contaminated Sites Approved Professionals of British Columbia (CSAP)
SFU Community-Engaged Research Initiative (CERi)
Skills for Hope Foundation
Society of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
The Rhodes Scholarship (Canada)
WorksafeBC
Vertex Foundation
Yukon Foundation
Other External Awards
Bursaries are a supplemental source of funding for students with demonstrated financial need; that is, they should not be treated as a primary source of funding.
Bursaries are available to Canadian and International students. You should be aware that you may not be awarded a bursary every term. Due to the high volume of applications received each term, payment of funds may not occur until the middle of the term of application. We encourage you to plan accordingly.
Mona and Albert Curzon Bursary
Available to graduate students in physics or for majors or honors undergraduate students in physics, mathematical physics, chemical physics, biophysics or other joint programs with physics. These bursaries are subject to demonstrated financial need and good academic standing. Nominations will be made by the chair of the Department of Physics in consultation with Financial Aid and Awards.
Please search the Curzon-Digman bursary on the for more details.
For general eligibility requirements and application procedures visit the Financial Aid and Awards .
TSSU Member Childcare Bursary
Visit the Financial Aid and Awards and scroll down for details about the TSSU Childcare Bursary.