External + Additional Awards

This page lists external funding agencies, organized by research areas or funding audience. In most cases, students apply directly to the agency, following their instructions and deadlines. This is not an exhaustive list, nor is Graduate Studies involved in the adjudication process.

Contact: if the application asks for a financial officer or SFU contact for payment, use: Dima Baukun, Manager, Financial and Award Systems, grad_finance@sfu.ca, 778.782.3042

Pro Tip: Click your research area, read the agency summary and visit their website to subscribe to updates so you don’t miss an opportunity.

Page Index

Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

Business, Economics, Finance & Entrepreneurship

Environmental Sciences

Health Sciences, Health Systems, Medical Research

Indigenous Student Support

Science, Applied Science and Technology

Support for Exchange Opportunities

Upcoming Deadlines

April 15: Al Martin HCTF Conservation Scholarship
April 22: Azrieli International Visiting PhD Fellowship
April 25: 2025-2026 National Scholarship for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students
April 30: 2025 BC Scholarships | Transition Award
May 19: 2025 SFU Climate Innovation Seed Funds
May 30: Scholarships - JCF Montreal | Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal
May 30: Karen E. Latt Memorial Medical Scholarship | Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal
September 22: Savvy New Canadians Financial Literacy Scholarship 2025

Other SFU Funding

Province of BC

Financial Help for students
Province of BC / Funding and Grants
Province of BC / Searchable database of Economic Development Funding and Grants for communities
CivicInfoBC Grants Database
Northern Development BC list of funding databases

Other Databases

Government of Canada awards database (sortable by country)
Scholarships Canada database
ScholarTree
EU Research and Innovation Participant Portal (more info and background)
Horizon Europe
Universities Canada Program and Scholarships
Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool

ACT WEST Community Foundation
Supports: single mothers pursuing post-secondary education
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

AMI Scholarship Program for Persons with Disabilities
Supports: full time students with permanent disability
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Supports: fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges
Supports: fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

Canada's Research Affiliate Program
Supports:students working part time with the government of Canada while pursuing studies/research.
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

Canadian Foundation for Governance Research
Supports: organizational governance issues at universities across Canada
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research
Supports: issues relevant to military members, veterans and their families
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Canadian Japanese Mennonite scholarship
Supports: research that helps protect minority or human rights in Canada
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Canadian Water Resources Association
Supports: research-based program of study focuses on applied, natural, or social science aspects of water resources.
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents;
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring

Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
Supports: novel research relating to standards in any field
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's
Term to apply: spring

Children's Health Foundation of Vancouver Island
Supports: students with disabilities in pursuing post-secondary education
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance)
Supports: digital research infrastructure, EDI initiatives
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation
Supports: art, painting, sculpture, printmaking
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

Flight 302 Legacy Award
Supports: humanitarian, environmental, and/or aviation causes
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall

Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
Supports: students enrolled in fish culture or natural resource management program
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

IDRC International Doctoral Research Awards (IRDC-IRDA)
Supports:developing research skills in Canada and the Global South to improve the lives of people in the Global South
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: doctoral
Term to apply: summer

Informed Opinions
Supports: women and gender-diverse people ensuring their experiences, ideas and insights help shape a more equitable, inclusive and democratic Canada
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

IODE War Memorial
Supports: study within Canada or within the Commonwealth
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: doctoral
Term to apply: fall

Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal (JCF)
Supports: various fields of study
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation
Supports: female Canadian citizens pursuing a PhD
Open to: Canadians
Level: doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Kimberly Foundation
Supports: alternative energy, climate change, sustainability, social sciences/design concerned with earth, sustainability or environmental issues
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: deferred

Leakey Foundation
Supports: PhD research relevant to human origins and evolution
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents; international
Level: doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

Local Government Management Association (LGMA)
Supports: studies on federal, provincial, local government or First Nations administration and policy studies
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall

Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security
Supports: research related to food insecurity in Canada
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

MAX Scholarship Fund
Supports: Muslim students in various fields
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

MINDS Policy Challenges
Supports:students interested in defence and security addressing pressing issues supporting collaboration and knowledge transfer
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents; international
Level: master's
Term to apply: fall, spring

MITACS
Supports: pursuing research placements with industry partners
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall, spring, summer

National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
Supports: students with permanent disabilities
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Supports: social sciences research which align one or more of the Foundation's 4 themes
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: doctoral
Term to apply: fall

Pride Foundation
Supports: LGBTQ+ students, who are/were residents of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington but may study elsewhere
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall

Research Impact Canada (RIC)
Supports: engaged scholarship, co-creation of knowledge, integrated knowledge translation efforts
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Sealaska Heritage Institute
Supports: Alaska Natives, Sealaska Shareholders and/or descendants
Open to: international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada (SWAAC)
Supports: female students with outstanding leadership (nomination process through Graduate Studies)
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

SFU Community-Engaged Research Initiative (CERi)
Supports: SFU graduate students undertaking community engaged research or research methods
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: summer

Simons Foundation Canada
Supports: non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament (NACD) issues
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Skills for Hope Foundation
Supports: empowering students to achieve their goals
Open to: Canadians; international
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

Tanaka Fund Program
Supports: research related to Japan with methods in the humanities and social sciences.
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

The Rhodes Scholarship (Canada)
Supports: students applying for admission to University of Oxford, UK and are within a specific age limit.
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents (+ refugees)
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: fall

Vertex Foundation
Supports: people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their immediate families (siblings, caregivers and children) pursue education
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring

YMCA - Ellen Bell Memorial
Supports: women pursuing postsecondary in marketing/advertising
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents; international
Level: any related postsecondary program
Term to apply: fall, spring

Yukon Foundation
Supports: students who graduated from, lived in or doing research in the Yukon
Open to: Canadians; permanent residents
Level: master's; doctoral
Term to apply: spring