Changes in scholarship funding analyzed
T. Ryan Gregory at Genomicron published an insightful analysis of changes at NSERC to the way graduate scholarships are awarded. Instead of focusing on the recent budgetary issues surrounding scholarships (increases in scholarship funding, business-related SSHRC funding), he shines a light on the change in NSERC scholarships that sees PhD funding terms increased from 2 to 3 years, but also sees Master’s funding terms decreased from 2 years to 1 year.
He points out that PhD students were already indirectly supported by the MSc funding, since PhD students all have to enrol in a Master’s program first. Since Master’s degrees generally take two years to complete, he argues that students will have to convince supervisors to assume responsibility for their second year of funding, and suggests that many advisors will encourage their students to transfer to the PhD level inappropriately. He also points out that other funding programs that fund two-year periods, like Ontario’s OGSs, will become more competitive as NSERC award holders will apply when their funding ends.
