Overview
Dates & Deadlines
Application Process
Review Process
Assessment Criteria
Resources and Assistance
Objective
The Undergraduate Scotia ScholarsOM Awards provide financial support to high caliber research trainees engaged in health research at select Nova Scotian universities. The objective of the Scotia ScholarsOM Award is to support the development of the next generation of highly qualified researchers and leaders in the Nova Scotia health research enterprise, and to encourage continued interest in health research careers. Funded applicants have the distinct honour of carrying the designation of Scotia Scholar.
| Participating Institutions |
|---|
| Acadia University |
| Cape Breton University |
| Mount Saint Vincent University |
| St. Francis Xavier University |
| The institution determines annually how many awards at each level of study will be issued. |
Eligibility
To apply for a Scotia Scholars Award, the applicant must meet the following criteria at the time of application:
- Have achieved a first-class average (as determined by the university) in the last two years of full time study.
- Be in good standing for enrollment in the upcoming school year.
- Not be employed full-time.
Students will not be eligible to receive Scotia Scholars Award funding past the end of Year 4 of an Undergraduate program, as outlined below:
| Enrollment Status at Time of Application | Maximum Eligible Funding Available |
|---|---|
| Applied to/Accepted in program | Ineligible to apply |
| In Year 1 or 2 of program | Ineligible to apply |
| In Year 3 of program | $5,000/8 months |
| In Year 4 of program or later | Ineligible to apply |
Funding Amount and Duration
Up to $5,000/8 months, non-renewable.
Student Funding Caps
Scotia Scholars Award applicants may receive a pro-rated award if their funding would otherwise exceed institutional funding caps or may be named an Honourary Scotia Scholar (i.e. no funding will be issued) if the applicant holds additional scholarships. Participating institutions maintain their own policies for governing funding caps for trainee support. Please contact your institutional representative for more information.
Dates and Deadlines
Application open in GMS: November 29, 2019
Application deadline: January 31, 2020 by 2:00 PM (AT)
Communication of funding decisions to students: March 2020
Anticipated funding start date: May 2020 or September 2020 for most students
Application Process
| Step | Process |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Confirm Eligibility | Consider whether you meet the eligibility criteria (outlined above) and confirm your institution is offering the award level for which you are eligible to apply.If applicants have any questions related to their eligibility, they are encouraged to contact their institution. |
| Step 2: Review Application Requirements | Be sure to carefully review all application requirements, as outlined in the document below: 2019-20 Scotia Scholar Award (Undergraduate) Application Requirements Note: You are required to submit two letters of reference and all academic transcripts. Please ensure you arrange for these documents well in advance of the application deadline. |
| Step 3: Register in RNS’s Grants Management System (GMS) | Applications must be submitted through RNS’s online Grants Management System (GMS). Please visit http://gms.nshrf.ca and click “sign up here” to create an account. |
| Step 4: Ensure Letters of Reference are Submitted | Ensure your academic and leadership letters have been submitted by the referees to Trish Cormier, Corporate Assistant (Trish.Cormier@researchns.ca) prior to the application deadline. Letters provided via the applicant will not be accepted. (This is the only component of the application completed outside of the Grants Management System.) |
| Step 5: Complete Application | To apply, login to GMS to access the application, where information will be either entered directly into GMS or uploaded as PDF documents. Be sure to refer to the Application Requirements (See Step 2) for detailed instructions. |
Review Process
- Each institution will assess applications to determine whether they are complete and meet the eligibility criteria.
- Complete and eligible applications will be reviewed by each institution in accordance with their review practices and the assessment criteria outlined below.
- Institutions will submit to RNS a list of applicants recommended for funding and a list of alternates, if applicable.
- RNS will notify applicants of funding decisions and implement the process for award acceptance and payment for funding recipients.
Assessment Criteria
The following criteria will be used by each institution to assess Scotia Scholar Award applications:
| Criteria | Weighting | |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Excellence |
| 60% |
| Leadership Qualities |
| 30% |
| Research Potential |
| 10% |
Resources and Assistance
Applicants should contact their institution well in advance of the application deadline with questions related to application content and eligibility:
| Institution | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Acadia University | Donna Dillman Research Office Administrator 902-585-1498 donna.dillman@acadiau.ca |
| Cape Breton University | Nicole MacDougall Research Administration Officer: Facilitation and Outreach 902-563-1107 Nicole_MacDougall@cbu.ca |
| Mount Saint Vincent University | Cathy Lantos Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Graduate Studies 902-457-6400 Cathy.lantos@msvu.ca |
| St. Francis Xavier University | Jacqueline MacDonald Research Administrative Coordinator Research Services Group 902-867-2393 jacmacdo@stfx.ca |
Grants Management System (GMS) Support
Download the step-by-step guide for applicants outlining how to navigate the Grants Management System.
For technical questions regarding the GMS (including password resets, system navigation), contact the RNS Helpdesk at 902-424-0218 or Helpdesk@researchns.ca
Please allow 1-2 business days for a response.