Physics Graduate Scholarships and Awards

The President’s PhD Scholarship (PS) rewards PhD students who have made excellent progress in their degree, and who have demonstrated academic excellence, substantial scholarly output and leadership early in their PhD program relative to their peers. The award is intended to provide PhD students with a semester to concentrate full-time on their research. PhD students must have completed fewer than 12 terms of enrollment to be eligible for this award. In the Department of Physics, the President's Scholarship worth $7000.00 (as of Fall 2020) is typically awarded to a student who plans to defend at the end of the term of the award.

This award is not awarded in addition to the Physics annual graduate stipend, but is offered as an alternative to TA and RA funding to allow the recipient to focus on writing their thesis.

Up to five awards per year, valued at $250, will be awarded as an honorarium to celebrate teaching excellence by teaching assistants of physics courses. Only teaching assistants who are graduate students enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program at Simon Fraser University are eligible for nomination.  

A teaching assistant can receive only one such award in a two-year period.

Up to four $100 awards per year, given as an honorarium or gift certificate, to recognize student contributions towards Physics Outreach Events. 

Nominations will be solicited by the ORSEC Chair.  Award winners will be determined by the ORSEC at the start of every Fall semester, with the goal of awarding at least one undergraduate student and one graduate student each year.   

A student can only win the award once every two years.

This award is intended to provide financial support to travel and expenses relating to the research component of the student’s graduate degree. The maximum award amount is $7,000 but individual award values will vary, depending on the expenses being submitted, academic unit approval and budgetary restrictions.  

Eligible students apply using the Graduate Award, Application, and Adjudication System (GA3) and submit all required documentation to their department of enrollment. Departments should advertise their own deadlines for receiving applications. Students should be aware that not all departments hold competitions for this award.

To be eligible for this award, travel must take place during the current academic year (September though the end of August). You may apply for a TARA during any of the competitions that year either before or after travel takes place. Unsuccessful applications will automatically be considered in later competitions.

The Physics Department requires both a Reference from Senior Supervisor (entered into the Reference Section on GA3) and a current, Official or Unofficial SFU Transcript with TARA applications in addition to standard application materials.

This travel award opportunity is provided by the TriCouncil granting agencies to holders of NSERC CGS, SSHRC CGS or CIHR CGS awards only.

The value of the CGS-MSFSS award is up to $6,000, based on the information and budget justification provided in the application. Supplements are non-renewable. The related research study period must be between three to six months.

For a list of awards with links to the terms-of-reference for each Ebco-Eppick Award, please visit the SFU Graduate Studies Ebco/Eppich page.

Available to graduate students in physics or for majors or honors undergraduate students in physics, mathematical physics, chemical physics, biophysics or other joint programs with physics. These bursaries are subject to demonstrated financial need and good academic standing. Nominations will be made by the chair of the Department of Physics in consultation with Financial Aid and Awards.

Please search the Curzon-Digman bursary on the Scholarship, Awards and Bursaries Database for more details.

For general eligibility requirements and application procedures visit the Financial Aid and Awards Graduate Students Bursaries page.

Visit the Financial Aid and Awards Graduate Students Bursaries page and scroll down for details about the TSSU Childcare Bursary.