- Graduate Student Research Bursary
- Departmental Bursaries and Scholarships
- General Information on awards and additional financial assistance (Graduate Calendar)
Graduate Student Research Bursary
Terms and Conditions
The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research provides funds to students in financial need who require assistance to conduct or disseminate their research. The fund may cover a portion of the cost related to research activities such as field travel and supplies, long-distance telephone charges, questionnaire publication, translation, mailing, and the cost of copying journal articles. In addition, it may cover costs related to attend a scholarly conference at which the graduate student is presenting a paper. The fund is intended to cover modest costs where other sources of support are not available. Costs not covered under this bursary include: costs associated with interview subjects, honoraria, the cost of copying the graduate thesis, and attendance at scholarly conferences where no paper is being presented.
The bursary account contains a limited amount of funds assigned to each of the Fall, Winter and Spring terms. Approval of each application is dependent on the availability of funds. It is not possible to fund all applications in any given term. Applications are considered on a case-by-case and first-come-first served basis. Students are restricted to one application and one conference per academic year (September to August). However, if funds are available, a second application may be considered within the same academic year. The maximum bursary is $800 for students travelling to international conferences and $500 for students travelling within Canada.
Deadline For Applications
Application forms must be submitted at least one month in advance of the expected travel activity or in the same term in which the research expenditures are incurred. Retroactive applications will not be approved.
Application Requirements
The following constitutes a complete application:
Completed Graduate Research Bursary application form online
- Letter of support from supervisor (indicating amount of financial support if applicable)
Submit the completed application to the Graduate Administrator at least a month prior to travel.
If the bursary is to assist in the costs associated with presenting a paper at a scholarly conference, official confirmation from the conference organizer that the student’s paper has been accepted for presentation must also be included in the application.
Registration Requirement and Eligibility
Normally, students requesting funds for either research or travel must be registered full-time in the term in which the bursary is approved (for research) and the travel occurs. Students conducting research will normally be registered in the thesis, research essay or major research project course.
Report Requirement
Students are required to submit a report to the graduate administrator after attending the conference, to include proof of attendance (e.g., boarding passes, registration fee receipt). If the travel is not completed for any reason, the amount of the bursary must be reimbursed in full.
Departmental Bursaries and Scholarships
Awards requiring application by the student
Graduate Scholarship in Northern Research
Awarded annually, on the recommendation of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, to a graduate student who is conducting northern research. Students must submit an application, which includes a description of their intended or ongoing thesis research to the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee by March 1 of each year. Established in 2002 by Thomas L. (Les) White, Ph.D. (Carleton) in Earth Sciences and former Director of the Geotechnical Science Laboratories at Carleton University, President of Permafrost Environmental Consulting
Ina Hutchison Award in Geography
Established in 1989, the fortieth anniversary of the founding of geography at Carleton, this award is presented annually. Its primary purpose is to assist graduate students in geography undertake research, but it may also be used to assist graduate students in the preparation of manuscripts for publication and to facilitate conference participation. The recipient(s) will be chosen each year on the recommendation of a Department of Geography selection committee.
Ina Hutchison Memorial Bursary for Ontario Students
Endowed 2007 by the Estate of Ina Hutchison. Awarded annually, by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, to students undertaking research in geography. Eligible recipients must be Canadian Citizens or permanent residents of Canada (landed immigrant or a protected person), and must meet the Ontario Residency Requirements set forth by OSAP. Recipients must also demonstrate financial need. Department nominations for this award must include the OTSS form, as well as a statement from the student describing their research.
Torrance Research Scholarship in Geography and Environmental Studies
Endowed in 2001 by J. Kenneth and Margaret Torrance, this scholarship is awarded annually. Its purpose is to support field research and/or conference presentations by graduate students in geography and environmental studies. Application is required and must be accompanied by a research proposal or the abstract of the paper to be presented. Recipient(s) are chosen by a Department of Geography and Environmental Studies selection committee. Further details of application procedures may be obtained from the Graduate Administrator.
Torrance Graduate Research Award
Endowed in 2006 by J. Kenneth and Margaret Torrance. Awarded annually by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research on the recommendation of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies selection committee to outstanding PhD students in the department of Geography and Environmental Studies. 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 Administrator.
Awards not requiring application by the student
Canadian Standards Association Pat Keindel Graduate Scholarship in Climate Change
Awarded annually by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, on the recommendation of the Chair of the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, to two full-time graduate students in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit to students pursuing research related to climate change from either an earth systems science or human dimensions perspective. Preference will be for students in financial need.
Douglas Fullerton Graduate Award in Urban Studies
Awarded annually, when merited, to a graduate student engaged in research or a project in the field of urban studies. The fund has been established to assist students who are in need of financial assistance to undertake study of the urban area, particularly as it relates to the quality of urban life. 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. This will be awarded by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs on the recommendation of the Chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and a selection committee of faculty members. Endowed in 2009 by friends, colleagues and family of the late Douglas Fullerton, former Chairman of the National Capital Commission, in recognition of his visionary contributions to city life.
Duncan M. Anderson Memorial Bursary
This bursary was endowed in 1992 by colleagues, former students, and friends of Duncan M. Anderson, who was a professor in the Department of Geography from 1964 to 1992. It is awarded annually to a deserving full-time student enrolled in the graduate program in geography who is in need of financial assistance, and whose studies relate to land use planning, resource management, or geographic aspects of the environment.
Auto-Carto Six Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded annually to a graduate student in geography studying computer-assisted cartography. The scholarship is awarded, on the recommendation of the Department of Geography, on the basis of academic merit as determined by the academic index used by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.
Michael Hare Fellowship
The fellowship was endowed in 1988 by colleagues, friends, and family in memory of Michael Hare, a graduate of the master’s program in geography and former senior proctor in the department.
The fellowship is normally awarded annually to a student in the third or subsequent term of a graduate program in the Department of Geography. It may be held in combination with a teaching or research assistantship. Application is not required; the recipient is selected by the departmental graduate studies committee. The award is made on the basis of academic achievement combined with a tangible contribution to the quality of the working environment for students in the department.
Neil Huckvale Memorial Scholarship
This award was established in 1981 by family, friends, and colleagues in honour of Neil Huckvale, a former graduate student in the Department of Geography. The recipient will reflect Neil Huckvale’s humanity and philosophy, and will be chosen on the basis of merit and special interest in teaching and resource conservation.
The scholarship is normally awarded annually to a student enrolled in the third or subsequent term of a graduate program in geography. It may be held in combination with a teaching or research assistantship. Application is not required; the recipient is selected on the recommendation of the graduate studies committee. If an award is not appropriate in a given year, it will be held over so as to allow more than one recipient in a subsequent year.
Philip E. Uren Fellowships
Two fellowships are awarded annually, one to a graduate student in the Department of Geography and one to a graduate student in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and may be held in combination with a teaching or research assistantship. Application is not required; the recipient is chosen by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research on the recommendation of the awards committees from the academic units involved. The fellowships were established in 1980 by relatives, friends, former students, and faculty and staff colleagues as a memorial to the late Philip Ernest Uren who was a professor of geography between 1965 and 1979, and who served the University as Chair of the Department of Geography, Director of the Institute of Soviet and East European Studies, Director of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and Director of the Paterson Centre for International Programs.
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