FHS – Student Funding for Graduate Research Programs

For doctoral students whose guaranteed funding is provided by the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), Western guarantees a minimum annual funding amount, from all sources, of $17,000 plus tuition. Funding for master's students is managed at the graduate program level.

FHS will make the base rate of a 210 Hours Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) a core component for annual doctoral student funding packages. Should a graduate student turn down the offer of a GTA position, they are then turning down that portion of their funding package.

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Employment, will be based on 210 hours for doctoral students.
  • For eligible masters programs (thesis-based), the Faculty may be able to offer eligible masters students a GTA assignment, not to exceed 140 hours.
  • Any Western employment income (e.g., GTA) requires a valid study permit and Canadian Social Insurance Number
  • Scholarships referenced below pertain to any scholarship, award or bursary of $10,000 or greater per academic year

FHS Funding: Doctoral Students

Doctoral students are eligible to receive:

  • The total amount of guaranteed funding which includes:
    • A contribution from the student's Supervisor; and,
    • Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS), value per the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Funding Support Policy (PDF)
    • The amount of a full (210-hour) GTA position;
      • Should a doctoral student turn down the offer of the GTA position, the annual funding amount will be lowered accordingly
  • Applicable to:
    • All new and continuing doctoral students

Doctoral students who hold a scholarship are eligible to receive:

  • Their scholarship amount
  • A contribution from the student's Supervisor, if eligible per the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Funding Support Policy (PDF)
    Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS), value per the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Student Funding Support Policy (PDF)
  • The amount of a full (210-hour) GTA position;
    • Should a doctoral student turn down the offer of the GTA position, the annual funding amount will be lowered accordingly

FHS Funding: Master's Students (for funding eligible programs & students only)

Master's students may be eligible to receive:

  • The amount of a full (140-hour) GTA position or the value of domestic tuition, whichever is greater
    • Should a master's student turn down the offer of a GTA position, the annual funding amount will be lowered accordingly
  • Applicable to:
    • New and continuing master's students
    • Master’s students that hold a scholarship 

Additional Notes:

  • Master's and doctoral students may still be eligible to receive additional funding support directly from their supervisor at the supervisor’s discretion
  • All funding packages and funding requirements shall be informed and guided by the Collective Agreement – PSAC.  In the event of conflict between the above and the collective agreement, terms of the collective agreement shall prevail.