Durland Scholarships in Graduate Research

Terms of Reference 

The Durland Scholarships in Graduate Research is a university-wide, renewable graduate entrance scholarship program for research-based PhD and Master programs. Students must exceed the minimum admission criteria for the research-based graduate program to which they have applied. Research-based graduate programs are those that have a required research thesis and faculty supervisor requirement. Award selection will be determined by the Associate Vice-President, Research & Dean of Graduate Studies. Scholarships will be awarded as additional funding to the University’s and faculty’s standard funding commitments for graduate students that are normally provided as part of acceptance offers. These scholarships are intended to provide a supplement/’top-up’ that recognizes research excellence and potential. Scholarships will be renewable for up to three additional years for PhD students and one additional year for Master students, provided that the student maintains good academic standing.  

Eligibility 

To be considered for Durland Scholarships in Graduate Research, you must: 

• Exceed the minimum admission criteria for the research-based graduate program to which they have applied
• Scholarship selection will include special consideration of nominees’ planned area of research focus and alignment with priority research themes outlined by the University.
• The University’s Strategic Research Plan should be used as the primary guide for identifying these themes
• a nominee’s alignment with the faculty supervisor’s interests as well as the nominee’s perceived ability to contribute and complement a faculty member’s research objectives will be viewed as a key indicator of student research potential.

This scholarship is made possible by Chancellor Michael Durland BComm’87 DComm’10, his wife Catherine BComm’87 and their family’s transformative $3-million gift to A World Without Limits: The Campaign for Saint Mary’s University. We would like to sincerely thank the Durland Family for their tremendous support of our students and faculty. These scholarships will enable us to attract and retain the best and brightest graduate students to our programming across all faculties. Read more about The Durland Family’s gift to graduate research. 

* The award amounts may change over the time if it is determined that changes will sustain or better achieve the desired impact of the Scholarship Program.