Funding for Incoming Students
MA Program
We offer some of the strongest graduate funding in the country for MA students. Typically, full-time incoming students will receive a some level of financial support through a combination of scholarships and Research Assistantships. Departmental funding is normally provided for the first year only. Thesis-based students can apply for scholarships for the second year. For additional support, see the scholarship opportunities below.
Scholarship Opportunities:
The department and the U of A offer a number of scholarships to admitted MA students, including FGSR entrance scholarships ($17,000), AGES Awards ($12,000), Sarah Nettie Christie MA Scholarships ($20,000), Larry McKill Scholarships ($1,000) and Marilyn and Thor Andressen Scholarships ($2,300) . You do not need to apply separately for these grants--all applicants are automatically considered for these opportunities.
External
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can apply for a Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) fellowship before you enter the MA program. SSHRC funding can allow you to be supported for two years, allowing you to pursue either a thesis- or course-based MA with full financial support.
Internal
There are many internal grants that support MA research. All applicants are automatically considered for smaller university awards or can apply. See Research and Travel Funding for In-Program Students for details about in-program awards.
Research Assistantships
Eligible MA students will be considered automatically by the Department. An RA is expected to work an average of 12 hours per week. Following is a list of our current RA projects:
The Canadian Writing Research Collaboratory (CWRC)
Canadian Literature Centre (CLC)
Individual Faculty Projects-change year to year
PhD Program
We offer very competitive funding for PhD students, whether they are Canadian or international applicants. The Department currently makes offers of funding for the first four years of the doctoral program as minimum guaranteed funding package. This funding may be supplemented by scholarships.
Internal
The department and the U of A offer a number of scholarships to students admitted to the PhD Program including Provost Doctoral Recruitment Scholarships ($5,000-$15,000), James Forrest Awards ($5,000, for students in early modern literature). You do not need to apply separately for these grants--all applicants are automatically considered for these opportunities.
External
The following are some external grant programs you might consider applying for:
SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - $17,500 for 12 months. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Canada Graduate Scholarships - Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements - Up to $6,000; Applicants must have accepted or hold a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship. The supplement covers costs associated with travel, living and other expenses (such as accommodation, meals, tuition, insurance and other necessary, non-research-related costs) during the research study period abroad. Deadline: Late-September.
FQRSC (Fonds de recherche sur societé et culture) - $15,000; Available to MA students who maintain residency requirements in the Province of Québec.
Margaret Brine Graduate Scholarship for Women, CFUW Edmonton - $5,000 or more. Applicants must be female, full-time graduate students. These scholarships are awarded to women who embody the values of CFUW and have demonstrated academic excellence, holding a minimum graduate level GPA of 3.9. Applicants must have completed at least one term of graduate work leading to a master's or one year leading to a doctoral degree at the U of A.
Teaching
The Department offers teaching opportunities to doctoral students. Students either teach their own first-year English classes on their own, or are part of a super-section teaching structure. Teacher training is part of the PhD program.
In the first year, students receive teacher training, and begin teaching in their second year unless they hold major awards. There are no citizenship restrictions. In addition, the Department normally provides a part-time contract teaching appointment for all fifth and sixth-year doctoral students who have made reasonable progress. Once the PhD is awarded, we are often able to offer a further two years of contract teaching (up to 4 half-year courses per year).
Students are also automatically considered for internal awards offered through the University.