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Fees and Funding

Department of Economics Graduate Programs

Funding

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.


SSHRC Master's Scholarship

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. For more information, visit the FGS website, or if you have questions contact: gsaward@ucalgary.ca.

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Vanier Scholarships

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.

The citizenship is unrestricted and eligible applicants must first submit a Preliminary Assessment Form (PAF) to the Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarship Office. For more information about eligibility and deadlines visit the FGS website or contact gsaward@ucalgary.ca.

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SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship

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 the FGS website, or if you have questions contact: gsaward@ucalgary.ca.

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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. 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.

China Scholarship Council Scholarship

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.

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IDRC Internship Awards

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 the IDRC Website.

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Funding Policy

  • Please consult your individual letter for details specific to your funding
  • PhD Students: There is no guaranteed funding after Year 4
  • Masters Students:  There is no guaranteed funding after Year 1
  • 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 PhD 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.

Note: The graduate funding levels indicated in this document are the minimum amounts; financial support to individual students may exceed these amounts.

1. The effective date of this policy is September 1, 2019.

2. The Minimum Doctoral Stipend for students enrolled full time in the PhD program is $18,000 annually for four years.

3. There is no Minimum Stipend for Master’s students.

4. Students who are externally sponsored (i.e. admitted with documented financial support from an external agency meeting the minimum amount) are not normally funded from university sources, and are exempted from the Minimum Doctoral Stipend.

5. To be eligible to receive financial support, a student must be registered full time and active in program. In addition:

  • Students receiving scholarship funding from their supervisor’s grant must fulfil their supervisor’s reasonable expectation regarding attendance and activity in the research environment.
  • Employment income as a teaching or research assistant is included in the guaranteed funding amount offered to students. Students must be available to take this employment as a GAT or GANT; otherwise the amount of the GAT or GANT refused will be deducted from the annual funding offered to the student for that academic year.
  • To be eligible for scholarships/stipends paid as scholarships offered by the Department of Economics graduate program, or competitive university scholarships, a student cannot hold paid employment for more than 612 hours a year while registered as a full-time student. This includes hours worked as a GAT or GANT.
  • Students must maintain satisfactory progress in the graduate program.
  • Instances of academic or non-academic misconduct may result in the re-evaluation of prior funding commitments, subject to the minimums established above.

6. All of the following count toward meeting the student’s guaranteed funding amount (i.e. the amount guaranteed in the student’s offer of admission):

  • Stipend/scholarship payment from supervisor’s research grant
  • GAT/GANT income
  • Research assistantship income from supervisor’s research grant
  • Income as sessional instructor
  • External scholarships, including SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR/AIHS/AITF/QEII
  • Internal scholarships, including from program, or university competitions such as the Graduate Awards Competition

7. Income from the following sources is not counted toward the student’s guaranteed funding amount:

  • Income earned through unrelated paid employment external to the University that does not exceed 612 hours/year.
  • Internal prizes and awards that recognize excellence in research, teaching, or course work.
  • Internal or external awards specifically meant to offset travel expenses related to a student’s scholarly activities.

8. Students are required to apply for external scholarships for which they are eligible.

9. Success in external and internal scholarship competitions will affect the student’s guaranteed minimum funding in the following way:

  • $1 - $3,000 per annum (cumulative awards): The student receives the award(s) in addition to the guaranteed minimum funding
  • $3,001 - $5,000 per annum (cumulative awards): The award goes towards the student’s base funding and the student receives a $3,000 top-up to their guaranteed minimum.
  • $5,001-10,000 per annum (cumulative awards) – The award goes towards the student’s base funding and the student receives a $4,000 top-up to their guaranteed minimum.
  • $10,001-15,000 per annum (cumulative awards) – The award goes towards the student’s base funding and the student receives a $5,000 top-up to their guaranteed minimum.
  • Over $15,000 per annum (cumulative awards) – The award goes towards the student’s base funding and the student receives a $6,000 top-up to their guaranteed minimum.

Scholarships and awards

Scholarships and awards

Learn more about scholarships and awards available to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Student loans

Student loans

If you're a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person or American citizen, you can apply for a student loan.

Working during grad school?

Working during grad school?

Have a competing award or assistantship? The Faculty of Graduate Studies can help explain the rules and regulations concerning awards, grants and assistantships graduate students are eligible to receive.