University of Calgary

Awards and Financial Assistance

Additional information available in the Faculty of Graduate Studies web-pages 


 Description of Possible Awards and Financial Assistance for Graduate Students in the Department of French, Italian and Spanish

updated January 2012

  • Graduate Assistantships (Teaching, Non/Teaching)  
  • Graduate Assistantships (Trust)
  • Sessional Lectureships
  • Graduate Project Employees
  • Casual Hourly Employment
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarships (FGSS)
  • Advanced Education awards for Language Learning Enhancement (EPE)
  • Differential Tuition Fee Award
  • Master’s Programs :  a) Admission Awards (QEII) Master’s Program:  b) Research Awards (QEII) for Continuing MA students
  • Doctoral Programs: Open PhD Scholarship competition
  • ALL programs:  Other competitive awards offered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Awards Offered by Government, etc.(ie. CGS and SSHRC)

Graduate Assistantships (Teaching / Non-Teaching)

Each year, the Department of French, Italian and Spanish has available varying numbers of graduate assistantships to be awarded on the basis of merit.  New and continuing students are considered for these positions, and may contact the Department Head or Graduate Coordinator for information concerning eligibility, application deadlines and procedures. The stipends as indicated are subject to change without notice. These are the categories of appointment: Graduate Assistantships (Teaching or Non-Teaching) and Graduate Assistantships (Trust).                        
                (i) Graduate Assistantships (Teaching or Non-teaching) to assist with the instructional        responsibilities of the Department.
                (ii) Graduate Assistantships (Non-Teaching) to assist the department and/or professors with             non-teaching responsibilities (e.g., research for a faculty member).
APPLICATION:   Newly admitted students and continuing students may be invited to apply for GAT-NT assignments, prior to the Fall admission period.  The Department will identify how many positions will be available and what type of work may be assigned. Applicants will be asked to provide a CV (resume).
The stipend, funded by the department, will be $7,651 as of May 1, 2009.  This represents teaching and/or instructional service of up to 12 hours per week. Regulations governing terms of employment for Graduate Assistantships (Teaching, Non-Teaching) are covered by the Agreement Between the Governors of the University of Calgary and the Graduate Students' Association 2008-2011.

Graduate Assistantships (Trust)

Graduate Assistantships (Trust) are funded from the research support accounts held in trust for University staff who select and recommend graduate students for such appointments. The stipends vary. This type of support must be arranged directly between graduate students and their prospective supervisors.

Please note that International students awarded a Graduate Assistantship (Teaching, Non-Teaching or Trust) must submit a copy of a valid Study Permit giving the student permission to work prior to the commencement of the Assistantship.

For more information on Graduate Assistantships (Trust), see Guidelines for Appointments Not Covered by the Agreement Between the Governors of the University of Calgary and the Graduate Students' Association.

 Sessional Lectureship

 The Department of French, Italian and Spanish places a premium on the training of graduate students in the teaching field.  Our students are given the opportunity to apply for Sessional Teaching appointments throughout the year. Application procedures are covered by the Collective Agreement between the Governors of the University of Calgary and the University of Calgary Faculty Association.

Notices containing “Call for Applications” for ALL semesters will be posted to the Department’s web-site at http://fis.ucalgary.ca/.  Graduate students wishing to avail themselves of any teaching opportunity must apply directly to the Department, according to the specific instructions contained in the notices.

Interested parties should check the web-site on a regular basis and must apply following the specific instructions set in the Call for Applications.  The department cannot guarantee assignments.

Graduate Project Employee

A Graduate Project Employee is funded from a trust account to provide a direct service in connection with a faculty member's research. This research is normally not related to the student's program and/or area of research. The service is normally supervised by someone other than the student's supervisor and is treated as regular employment. Regulations governing Graduate Project Employees are covered by the Project Employment Guide.

Casual Hourly Employment

On occasion, the department may offer employment to graduate and/or undergraduate students as language laboratory or tutorial monitors.  When this is the case, graduate students will normally be given the first opportunity to apply for these assignments.

Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarships (FGSS)

Faculty of Graduate Studies Scholarships are for research directly related to the student's research.  No teaching or service duties are required of graduate students who hold an FGSS.  Only students in thesis-based programs are eligible.  FGSS awards are tenable only for those in full-time attendance at the University of Calgary, although provision may be made for off-campus tenure where this is essential to the student's research.

The stipend is determined and awarded by the department or program and is funded by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.  All thesis-based, full-time students admitted to the French or Spanish program will be considered for the FGSS.  There are no required application procedures.

Advanced Education awards for Language Learning Enhancement (EPE)

A Language Learning Enhancement award is funded by the Enrollment Planning Envelope from Alberta Learning, Province of Alberta.  There are no specific duties related to the EPE award; however only full-time, thesis-based students are eligible hold this award. EPE holders must show progress in their research and/or study program.  All thesis-based, full-time students admitted to the French or Spanish program will be considered for the FGSS.  There are no required application procedures.

Differential Fee award

The Department of French, Italian and Spanish follows the "Principles and Procedures Guiding Use of Graduate Student Visa Differential Revenue - April 2004" provided by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Specifically, in all cases in which the student or the supervisor is paying visa differential fees, the differential fee amount is returned to the said student, supervisor or department. The differential fee will be returned to the student in the form of a special scholarship. The visa differential fees for a student whose fees have been paid by a foreign government, employer (other than their supervisor), or corporation, will be retained by the Department for graduate student support. Both Canadian and international students will be eligible for this support.

Competitive awards and scholarships offered through the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Various scholarships and fellowships are awarded by the University of Calgary. Scholarships and fellowships are awarded primarily on the basis of academic standing and demonstrated potential for advanced study and research. In general, awards are made only to applicants whose previous academic standing is either first or high second class.

The Department expects all continuing students to apply for these scholarships. All prospective students are expected  to apply as well. Deadlines vary and students should refer to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Graduate Awards website, http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca/awards, and the Awards Database  for a detailed list 

The Graduate Award Competition (GAC) is an annual competition for scholarships randing in value from $750 to $60,000.  Numerous awards are funded from various sources. Detailed information is available from the Faculty of Graduate Studies website http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca/awards/award_competitions/graduate_award_competition

Only ONE completed application is needed for all award categories in the GAC competition.  Applicants must meet the terms of reference for each award they apply for and should refer to the Graduate Award Database to review the eligibility criteria.     

Queen Elizabeth II awards (QEII) are funded by Alberta Learning, Province of Alberta. The department receives a specific number of QEIIs which may form part of the funding offered to top-ranked students. Applicants for the QEII awards MUST submit a GAC application.  Eligibility: Canadian residents in the Thesis based program, Full-time.   The

ONLY ONE COMPLETED GAC APPLICATION IS NEEDED FOR BOTH THE GAC AND THE QEII COMPETITIONS.

External Awards

External Awards and Fellowship Awards are offered through the University of Calgary from various sources. Deadlines vary according to the specific award. Notices are posted on the Faculty of Graduate Studies web-page and are updated regularly.   Go to: http://www.grad.ucalgary.ca/awards for further details and be sure to review eligibility and application information through the Graduate Awards Database.    

Awards Offered by Government and Others

A large number of foundations, professional organizations and other agencies offer financial support to the graduate student. Consult the University of Calgary websites and the Calendar for further information.  For example:

- The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSRHC) provides grants for Masters and Doctoral students.  Check with FIS for the exact deadline which is usually in late October.  Documents are handed in directly to the Department. Instructions are available at: http://www.sshrc.ca/

Students are expected to do their best to apply for scholarships from all possible sources.  In addition to the obvious advantage of financial gain, students benefit in other ways:

- The application process helps graduate students organize their ideas in a way that will be highly useful when working on the thesis project. 

- A student’s CV will be enhanced by the prestige of winning such a distinction.

- A financial benefit will be realized

- Requests for departmental funding will become all the more serious and competitive if the student has attempted to secure funding elsewhere.