Crafting a fundable SSHRC application

Not only is it sweater, pumpkin spice, apple cider season, but it’s also federal scholarship application time. I have been wanting to write a follow-up to How to fund a PhD as a Canadian student in the social sciences for a few months, and the timing finally seems right.

Here is a short post about funded SSHRC applications, including what everyone is really looking for: an example of a funded SSHRC bibliography and 2-page research proposal. The documents you have been scouring the internet for!

My first piece of advice is: apply, apply, apply. My application was funded on my third try in April/May 2020. My first application was not top-notch. I was not yet in a PhD program, and the topic I applied using was not my area of expertise, but I wanted to throw my hat in the proverbial ring, so I put together something, secured two references (my honour’s thesis advisor from undergrad and my master’s supervisor) and sent in my documents via courier from the UK, where I was living at the time. Now, my application was nowhere near fundable, but simply applying resulted in a huge benefit: I was shortlisted in the top 50% of applications and my out-of-program application was evidence that my PhD research was worthy of consideration. When I was denied entrance to the PhD program initially (a story for another day), the letter from SSHRC supporting my work was invaluable in convincing the committee to reconsider my application and I was ultimately admitted to the program I am currently completing.

Second, start early. The application is all about attention to detail. The bibliography should be formatted very specifically, each item under a thematic heading and the total page count (with numbered pages) within a limit of 5 single-spaced pages. The two-page research proposal needs to be single-spaced, and each paragraph should only be 5-6 lines long. These are important formatting considerations that should be taken seriously, and will require some creativity and finessing!

Third, have someone (preferably many someone’s) review your submission. My funded application was reviewed by at least 5 people. This was out of absolute necessity. I wrote my SSHRC application while my partner was living in the hospital, recovering from an unexpected and life-threatening illness. I wrote the application, sitting at his bedside and in hospital hallways, in between waiting for test results and emptying boxes of tissues. I was in no position to accurately assess my own writing. I needed to call on my support system to give me much-needed feedback. You also need this feedback, even if you aren’t writing under such circumstances. Imagine that you are. Imagine that you have no headspace to assess your own work, and ask for help.

For other questions or support with your application, feel free to contact me.