Graduate students are encouraged to apply for funding based on external and internal awards/bursaries. The Faculty of Graduate and Postgraduate Affairs (FGPA) is the main administrative arm of all awards for graduate students, but departments are often asked to rank candidates before forwarding their names for assessment. The guide lists some of these external and internal awards that you can also find further information about here. You should consider conducting your own research since there are many organizations, institutions, and groups that may offer awards linked to your topic.
External Awards
External awards are based on funding from governmental sources such as the federal and provincial governments. For a full list of the various types of awards click here.
Here are the two main external awards you should know about and are based on mostly on your GPA and research topic. Please go to the link provided for all details regarding deadlines, value, and duration of awards listed below:
Please note: The application process for these awards usually take place in November-December. Be sure to consult the dates as indicated on the FGPA site for exact dates.
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Canadian Graduate Scholarship Master’s awards (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)
Internal Awards
Internal awards are based on funding from donors (individuals or organizations). For a full list of the various types of internal awards click here. Here are some of the main internal awards you should consider applying for as WGST grad student.
Please note: Many of these awards are due at the beginning of September unless otherwise indicated or early in the fall term via Carleton Central. Be sure to consult the dates as indicated on the FGPA site for exact dates.
Anna O’Reilly Bursary in Women’s and Gender Studies
Awarded annually by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs on the recommendation of the Director of the Feminist Institute of Social Transformation to an outstanding graduate student entering in a women’s studies program at Carleton University. Endowed in 2008 by Dr. Roseann O’Reilly Runte in honour of her mother. Revised 2011, 2013, 2017.
Maureen O’Neil-Women’s Studies
This award was endowed in 1985 by Canadian Hadassah-WIZO in honour of Maureen O’Neil, Coordinator, Status of Women Canada. It is awarded annually, when merited, to a student enrolled in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs who is doing work in the area of women’s studies. The recipient will be selected by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs from a list of candidates recommended by each department within the Faculties of Arts or Social Sciences.
Anne-Marie Dallaire-Sarazen Scholarship
Awarded annually by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs on the recommendation of the Director of the Feminist Institute of Social Transformation to and outstanding graduate student entering or continuing in a Master of Arts degree in Woman’s and Gender Studies. Recipients must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. Preference will be given to a female student. Endowed in 2019 by the Canadian Federation of University Women/Kanata Scholarship Trust.
Walker and Dervis Bursary
Awarded annually to deserving full-time mature female students who are in need of financial assistance to continue their studies at Carleton University. Eligible students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada (landed immigrant or a protected person), and must meet OSAP’s Ontario residency requirements. Should the recipient be a graduate student, the bursary will be awarded by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Endowed 2010 by Pamela Walker in memory of her late mother, Elizabeth Walker and late mother-in-law, Dianne Dervis.
Norman Pollock Memorial Award
This award is presented annually to an outstanding student in the areas of Canadian-Latin American relations or Latin American development studies. It has been endowed to honour the memory of Norman Pollock by his son David H. Pollock and his granddaughter Susan A. Harkavy. The recipient will be selected by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs from candidates nominated from relevant graduate programs.
Gary Sealey Lambda Scholarship
Awarded annually, by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs from nominations received from academic units to a graduate student demonstrating excellence in research on the subject of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, including the policies and human rights issues that affect them, as well as other topics concerning their communities, their values, their achievements, their arts and their sports. Preference will be given to students whose research focus is on the origins and remediation of discrimination against LGBTI peoples in Africa, Asia, Central Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and any other region abroad that has inscribed such anti-LGBTI discrimination in law, official policies, or community practices. Recipients will have demonstrated financial need, must be Canadian Citizens or permanent residents of Canada (landed immigrant or a protected person), and must meet OSAP’s Ontario Residency requirements. Endowed 1999, revised 2014
Torrance Family & Friends
Awarded annually by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs on the recommendation of the Director of the Feminist Institute of Social Transformation (formerly known as the Pauline Jewett Institute of women’s and Gender Studies) to outstanding graduate students in the Pauline Jewett Institute of women’s and Gender Studies. Preference will be given to PhD students. This award is to support field research and/or conference presentations. Application is required and must be accompanied by a research proposal or the abstract of the paper to be presented. Further details and application procedures may be obtained from the Graduate Secretary. Endowed in 2010 by J. Kenneth and Margaret Torrance.
2021-2022 travel budget WOMN
A travel fund for conference fees valued at $1800.00. We will make every effort to give equal opportunity to all students. Funds may be divided to ensure that everyone has a chance to benefit from these funds. Due to a COVID impacted world:
- online conference registration fees as alternatives to travel can be claimed
- If a student submits a second claim for the year and the department approves, these can be submitted provided the claims are smaller in nature (online conference registration vs full travel expenses).
Applications for travel bursaries should be submitted to departments at least a month in advance of travel.
Other Internal Awards of Interest
WGST grad students have also applied for the following internal awards. Please go to the link provided above for all details regarding the value and criteria for each award/bursary. You will have access to an excel document that provides all the information you need.
CU 75the Award
CATWAO Bursary
David and Rachel Epstein Sch.
Hamlin Graduate Fellowship
Hamlin Graduate Bursary
W.B. McDermid Holbein Memorial
International Bridge
L Nathalie Lucky Scholarship
Board of Governors
Maureen and Gulgee Ismaily Scholarship
Pat Finn Scholarship
John Lyndhurst Kingston Scholarship
CUASA Scholarship
Rudelle Hall Memorial Scholarship
James Mackie Endowment
Margaret Wade Labarge Fund
Beverlee Bell Scholarship
Please note: Many of these awards are due at the beginning of September or early in the fall term via Carleton Central. Be sure to consult the dates as indicated on the FGPA site for exact dates.