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Presentation Title Goes In HereThe School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

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The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program at Western


Value and Duration

• An Ontario Graduate Scholarship is awarded for one academic year, which may consist of two or three consecutive terms.

• For 2011-2012, the value of the OGS is $5,000 per term.

• One-term awards are not granted.

• You may receive $10,000 for two consecutive

terms or $15,000 for three consecutive terms.


How Many are Awarded?

• OGS receives well over 10,000 eligible applications from Ontario universities every November.

• This year 3,000 scholarships will be awarded of which 90 will be awarded to students who have been admitted to Canada as visitors with a student authorization/study permit.


Do I Apply Through Western?

• If you are currently enrolled at Western, you apply to your current departmental office by the departmental deadline, or

• If you are not currently enrolled at Western and you graduated from Western on or after November 18th, 2009, you apply to your previous department by the departmental deadline


Eligibility

You may apply if you:• Plan to be enrolled full-time in an eligible program

leading to a master’s or doctoral degree at an eligible institution in Ontario.

• Students who are unable to study full-time due to a permanent disability may still be considered for an award provided all other eligibility requirements are

met.


Eligibility (cont’d)

• You must be 16 years of age or older• If you are a Canadian citizen you are eligible to be

considered for an OGS award. If you are in any of the following citizenship categories, statuses, you must have obtained that status no later than the OGS deadline date of November 17, 2010 in order to be considered for an OGS award:

• Permanent Resident

• Protected Person [under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protections Act (Canada)]

• Temporary resident visa as a member of the student class under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)



Academic Standard:

• Applicants who are entering the first or second year of graduate studies at the time of application, must have an overall average of at least A- (80.0% at Western), or the equivalent, on the last 20 half courses completed, or the equivalent.



Academic Standard:

• Applicants who are in the third year of graduate studies or beyond at the time of application, must have an overall average of at least A- (80.0% at Western), or the equivalent, on all graduate courses completed.


If You Receive an OGS Award…

• You must be enrolled as a full-time student in an approved graduate program for the tenure of the award at an Ontario university.

• You may hold one OGS award for either two or three consecutive terms.

• You cannot hold an award for only one term.


Lifetime Maximum

You can receive a lifetime maximum of four years of government-funded student awards. Awards received under the following programs are counted toward this lifetime maximum:the Ontario government, through the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS),- the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC),- the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC),- the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).


Other Conditions for Holding OGS

• You cannot hold a scholarship from SSHRC, NSERC, or the CIHR, or a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEIIGSST) at the same time as an OGS.


Other Conditions (cont’d)

• You can receive up to two OGS awards at the master’s level. The award is tenable during either one or both of the first two academic years (12-month periods) of a master’s degree program, but not after the second year.

• You can receive up to four OGS awards at the doctoral level. The awards are tenable during any of the first five academic years (12-month periods) of a doctoral program, but not after the fifth year.


How To Apply

• Visit the OGS website

• Apply online using the OSAP on-line application. Print all items listed in the ‘Last Step’ of your online application.

• Paper application form. If you do not have a Social Insurance Number (SIN), you must apply using a paper application form.


Application Package

• Application form (4 pages) • Student Checklist • Summary Sheet • Two Academic Assessment Reports • Statement of Interest or Plan of Study • List of Significant Academic Accomplishments • List of Scholarships or Awards • Official/original University transcripts for undergraduate studies • Official/original University transcripts graduate studies (if applicable) • Temporary Resident Visa Student Class documentation (if

applicable)


Academic Assessment Reports

• You require two letters of support written by two professors who are most familiar with your academic performance

• An Academic Assessment Report is comprised of one form on which the professor will rank you in eight different categories in relation to all students at a similar stage that the professor has previously evaluated, PLUS a one-page signed letter of support elaborating on the assessment


Academic Assessment Report Tips

Provide your two referees with the following tools to aid them in writing the best possible letter of support

• Lots of time before the departmental deadline

• A copy of your research plan/statement of interest

• Copies of your academic transcripts

• C.V. or resumé highlighting your academic, research, leadership, communication, outreach skills and achievements

• The link to the .pdf fillable Academic Assessment Report

• The information they need to input into Section A

• A pre-addressed/pre-stamped (if necessary) envelope

• A thank you e-mail a few days before the departmental deadline


Preparing your Statement of Interest (for Master’s Level) one page

• Explain why you want to pursue graduate studies• Indicate at which university you intend to undertake your

studies and the degree program you intend to pursue• Your application may be reviewed by someone outside of

your specific discipline• Focus on tangible aspects of your interest• If applicable, outline the research training

component of your proposed degree program and your research proposal


Preparing your Plan of Study (for Doctoral Level) one pageEntering first year of doctoral studies: • Clearly state your current level of study. • Give the title and a brief description of your Master's thesis, if

applicable. • Identify the field of concentration or subject of your proposed

doctoral studies and describe your special interests in this area. • Describe to the extent possible the program of

doctoral study you plan to pursue during the period for which support is requested.


Preparing your Plan of Study (for Doctoral Level)Currently in a doctoral program: • Clearly state your current level of graduate study. • Outline your thesis and explain how it will build on

existing research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.

• Indicate what stage you are at in your thesis. • Describe what you plan to accomplish during the

award tenure and what will remain to be done.


List of Scholarships and Awards (one page)

• List your awards and scholarships in reverse chronological order starting with your most recently won

• List only competitive awards and remember to list those you have won but declined.

• If you have many to list, limit the list to your top 10 and consider the impact factor of each award/scholarship you choose to list

• Use a table to present your list of competitive awards and scholarships

Title of Award Type of Award

University of Tenure

Total Value and Duration

Period Held

2010-2011 NSERC CGS Master’s Award

Academic The University of Western Ontario

$17,500/yr. for

12mo.

September 2010-August 2011

2010-2011 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (declined)

Academic ---- $15,000/yr for one year

---

2009-2010 Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Academic The University of Western Ontario

$15,000/yr for one year

September 2009-August 2010


List of Academic Accomplishments(one page)

• Be sure to include all relevant accomplishments including publications properly documented, clearly identifying refereed contributions, non-refereed contributions, and other refereed contributions

• Avoid “embellishing”, or including a paper described as “in progress”

• Provide brief explanations for accomplishments or accolades that may not be clear to a reviewer

• Dean’s Honour Roll would be included here


List of Academic Accomplishments (cont’d)• A Bibliography or references may be included only on

either the Plan of Study or Statement of Interest page. No extra pages are allowed.

• Publications must be included on the List of Significant Academic Accomplishments page only. No extra pages are allowed.

• Do not include a resumé/ curriculum vitae in your application.


List of Academic Accomplishments (cont’d)

• You may add a maximum of 100 words at the bottom of the Academic Accomplishments page to describe any special considerations such as health problems, family responsibilities, disabilities or other circumstances that have had an effect on your academic performance or productivity, including any delays in disseminating research results or completing a degree.

• The weight to be given to any special circumstances will be determined by the OGS selection panels evaluating the application.


Western Transcripts

The university will provide:• Your official Western transcript for the provincial competition

Transcripts from other Institutions

• OGS requires one official transcript for each university you have attended

• Order your transcripts to be delivered sealed to your external scholarship coordinator


Foreign University Transcripts

• OGS will accept a photocopy of a transcript from a foreign university only when it is not possible to get another official transcript; verified as a “True Copy of the Original Document” by your department.

• OGS only requires the official English translation of a foreign language transcript and legend, not the original foreign language transcript and legend.

• Do not include: diplomas, certificates, laminated documents, letters or attestations from translators, photographs of yourself


A Good Application…

• Demonstrates:– strong academic ability– excellent potential to conduct advanced

scholarly research/advanced clinical training– strong communication and leadership skills – the ability to successfully complete your

studies in a timely manner• Is clear, concise, error-free and complete

• Presents a focused program of study


Important Reminders

• Assume your plan of study will be read by a multi-disciplinary committee

• Reviewers, who are not experts in your particular area, must be able to see the importance of the research being planned. Explicate your plan of study in such a way as to make it relevant and significant.

• Avoid jargon, acronyms, highly technical terms and density of writing that will only serve to obscure rather than enlighten


Competition Results

• All eligible OGS files across Ontario are forwarded to the OGS Office of the MTCU every November

• Provincial selection panels are convened and applications are adjudicated from January to March

• Results are released individually to applicants by mail in April followed a few days later by the release of results to each university’s scholarship liaison officer

• Tracking your application in the Student Centre


Starting tomorrow…SGPS “Consult the Experts” sessions!

• A well-structured and well-written proposal is the key tosuccess.

• Bring along a one-page draft of your research plan, project proposal or statement of interest.

• These sessions are intended to allow you to have your outline reviewed by a member of the SGPS academic mentoring team.


“Consult the Experts” SessionsEvenings starting at 5:00pm

First 4 sessions in the SGPS Conference Room (NSC107) :• Thursday, September 9th

• Monday, September 13th • Tuesday, September 14th • Monday, September 20th

Final 6 sessions in the Grad Club Conference Room (Middlesex):• Tuesday, September 21st

• Monday, September 27th

• Tuesday, September 28th

• Wednesday, September 29th

• Monday, October 4th

• Tuesday, October 5th


Final Reminders• Know who the external scholarship coordinator (ESC) is

in your Faculty/School/Graduate Program or University College

• Know your internal deadline• It is your responsibility to ensure that your application

package and any required supporting documentation are received by your department by its deadline,

so…


ASK QUESTIONS

We are here to help you succeed!!

Thank you for coming

presentation title goes in here the school of graduate and postdoctoral studies presentation title...

Documents

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