Funding & Fees

We are committed to providing competitive funding packages to all students admitted into the graduate program. The specific amount of funding is provided in the program’s offer of admission.

 

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Funding for full-time PhD students

Upon admission into the program, PhD students are offered a four-year funding package. A typical package consists of employment as a Graduate Teaching or Student Assistant in the fall and winter terms plus scholarships in the fall, winter, and summer terms.

All PhD students are encouraged and expected to apply for external scholarships for which they are eligible. External scholarship recipients, in addition to their external award, are normally offered a Graduate Teaching or Student Assistantship and scholarships to cover tuition.

Western Graduate Research Scholarship (currently valued at over $13,250 per year) paid as lump sum at the start of each term (September, January and May) that covers tuition fees. (PhD, Domestic Offer)
Western Graduate Research Scholarship (currently valued at $8,788 per year) paid as lump sum at the start of each term (September, January and May) that substantially covers tuition fees that are currently at $9633 per year. (PhD, International Offer)
Graduate Teaching Assistantship (currently valued at about $14,000 per year). Typically all admitted accept to serve as GTAs.  This involves fall and winter-term GTA employment, with a monthly wage of about $1,700 (September through April).  Please note that a full-time GTA is only 10 hours per week on average during the fall and winter terms.
An annual conference travel allowance of up to $300 per year.

Funding for full-time MA students

Our MA students receive funding for one year (three terms) or two years (six terms), depending on their stream. Funding consists of employment as a Graduate Teaching or Student Assistant in the fall and winter terms plus some scholarship support in the fall, winter, and summer terms.

MA (thesis stream) students are encouraged and expected to apply for external scholarships for which they are eligible. External scholarship recipients, in addition to their external award, will normally be offered a Graduate Teaching or Student Assistantship and some scholarship support.

Western Graduate Research Scholarship (currently valued at roughly $6,000 per year) paid as lump sum at the start of each term (September, January and May) that partially covers tuition fees that are currently at $9,000 per year (based on 2022/2023 rates). (MA, Domestic Offer)
Western Graduate Research Scholarship (currently valued at roughly $17,000 per year) paid as lump sum at the start of each term (September, January and May) that partially covers tuition fees that are currently at $22,511 per year (based on 2022/2023 rates). (MA, International Offer)
Graduate Teaching Assistantship (currently valued at about $14,000 per year; GTA is offered in the fall (Sept 1 to Dec 31) and winter term (Jan 1 to April 30)