Overview
The Transforming Climate Action (TCA) Graduate Student Scholarship Program is designed to strengthen, connect, and expand graduate-level research aligned with the TCA research program across its four partner universities:
- Dalhousie University
- Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR)
- Université Laval
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
The Program will support high-quality graduate research projects that connect into, advance, and are informed by the TCA science strategy, while increasing connectivity and collaboration among research groups, departments, disciplines, and institutions within TCA.
Program objectives are to:
- Support excellent Masters and doctoral research aligned with TCA’s scientific priorities
- Strengthen integration between graduate research occurring at partner universities and the broader TCA research program
- Enable collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-institutional graduate training
- Increase exposure to policy, applied research, innovation, and professional development activities consistent with TCA’s mission
The TCA Graduate Student Scholarship Program is pending approval by TCA governing bodies.
Eligibility
All supported projects must demonstrably align with TCA’s science strategy and contribute to one or more TCA research themes, projects, or integrative activities. Research may span disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or transdisciplinary approaches, provided it supports the objectives of Transforming Climate Action.
Academic Supervisors
Eligible supervisors must:
- Hold a faculty appointment at one of the four TCA partner universities; and
- Demonstrate active or planned engagement with the TCA research program
Joint supervision across institutions, faculties, or disciplines is strongly encouraged, with favourable consideration given to projects that include co-supervisors from different TCA partner universities.
Graduate Students
Students must:
- Be admitted to, or intend to be admitted to, a Masters or PhD program at a TCA partner university
- Be identified at the time of application (student-led applications without an identified candidate are not eligible)
- Conduct a clearly defined, TCA-aligned research project
Funding and duration
The Graduate Student Scholarship Program is intentionally flexible to accommodate:
- Disciplinary differences in funding structures
- Masters, Masters-to-PhD transfer, and early PhD trajectories
- Collaborative supervisory arrangements
- Integration with other funding sources (e.g., NSERC, OGEN, institutional awards, internships)
The Graduate Student Scholarship program will provide financial support for tuition and stipend and expects a 10-25% contribution from the supervisor(s).
Research expenses are not included in these awards.
The Program is not intended to fund the full duration of a PhD.
The use of complementary funding to strengthen connectivity between research occurring within partner institutions and TCA research objectives is encouraged.
Program timeline
- May 2026: Program approval and promotion
- Fall 2026: Student recruitment and application
- Winter 2027: Award announcement
- A second competition is expected for Fall 2027
Selection criteria
Applications will be assessed based on:
- Fit and contribution to TCA science and strategy
- Strength of connectivity to the TCA program and partner institutions
- Academic excellence and research potential of the student
- Quality and feasibility of the proposed research plan
- Evidence of collaboration across faculties, disciplines, or institutions
- Alignment with principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility
How to apply
Application requirements and process will be confirmed in spring 2026.
It is expected that each application should include:
- A clearly defined graduate research project aligned with TCA’s science strategy
- An identified student and supervisor(s)
- A statement describing the project’s connection to, and contribution to, the TCA research program
- A description of collaboration across institutions, disciplines, or faculties (where applicable)
- A supervisor letter outlining funding context, degree trajectory, and (if relevant) Masters-to-PhD transfer plans
Review process
A review committee with representation across TCA partner institutions will evaluate applications. Awards will be distributed across institutions and themes where possible.
