Research Funding
Funding for Conference Presentations
Toward supporting doctoral students’ scholarly engagement and dissemination of their doctoral work, the Faculty of Social Work invites PhD students to apply for funding to help offset the costs of presenting at academic and professional conferences through presentations, keynote addresses, posters, workshops, panels, or roundtables. Each award is for up to $300. Depending on resources, approximately 9 travel grants will be available each fiscal year. The award payment is distributed after the presentation is completed.
Application Guidelines and Process: Registered students are eligible to apply and the conference must occur when the awardee is a registered student. The presentation, keynote address, poster, workshop, panel, or roundtable must be confirmed (i.e., accepted or invited) at the time of the application. A student can be awarded the award up to three times during their doctoral studies. Given limited funds, priority will be given to first time applicants. Also, the number of previous travel awards held by the applicant will be considered and priority will be given to students who have received fewer awards.
To apply for the award complete the FSW Student Conference Award Request Form prior to the application deadline (see below). Applications will be reviewed three times per year (with approximately 3 awards per term), with any surplus funds being forwarded to subsequent terms in the fiscal year (May – April). Any eligible applications not funded in one term will be carried forward to the next review(s) in the same fiscal year in case funding is available. The Associate Dean: PhD Program reviews the applications. Each applicant will be notified of the decision.
Reimbursement: When the conference is complete, within 30 days following the conference, award holders must submit a Travel Expense Claim Form to the Administrative Coordinator (Peggy Freymond; the form is provided when notified about winning the award). Awardees are to attach documentation of the conference presentation (e.g., acceptance notification/invitation, program) as well as original itemized receipts and boarding passes (if requesting support for travel). All expenses must comply with the University’s Expense Handbook (a copy will be provided with the appropriate form).
|
Date Range for Conference |
Submission Deadline |
|---|---|
| May 1 – August 31 (Spring term) | August 31 |
| September 1 - December 31 (Fall term) | December 31 |
| January 1 - April 30 (Winter term) | April 30 |
All applications will be reviewed following the submission deadline.
Funding for Thesis/Dissertation Research
Students are invited to apply for funding to support their thesis or dissertation research. PhD students are normally allotted up to $250. The types of expenses that are covered include, but are not limited to, the costs for:
- transcription
- travel
- honoraria for research participants
- photocopying
- printing supplies
- hiring a research assistant
To apply for funding, please complete the Thesis/Dissertation Research Funding Request Form. This form will assist the FSW Programs Office to better track research funds that are granted internally to students. Please note that while requests for funding for thesis or dissertation research are normally granted, the Associate Dean: PhD Program has final budgetary approval.
Once your request has been approved, please submit the corresponding expense form (Travel Expense, Meeting Expense, Cheque Requisition), to the Administrative Coordinator (Peggy Freymond pfreymond@wlu.ca). All itemized original receipts and documentation for your expenses must be attached.