Upon academic acceptance, non-Canadian students will receive a booklet from the International Students Office in which housing costs, etc. are outlined.

There are limited facilities for housing graduate students on both campuses (including facilities for married students).  Application should be made as early as possible through the Student Housing Office at the appropriate university.

Private housing is available in homes in the Kitchener-Waterloo area; prices range upward from $80/week (without meals).  This type of accommodation is scarce close to campus, so you should arrange, if at all possible, to arrive in early July or earlier to obtain suitable housing.  The Housing Offices at both universities maintain lists of available accommodation.  The Program cannot undertake to obtain housing.

Financial Assistance

There are several forms and types of financial assistance available for the well-qualified student.  These are as follows:

(a)  Teaching Assistantships
Each department has a limited number of Teaching Assistantships (TAs) available to qualified students.  These vary in amount, but they do not exceed about $5,492 per term.  Depending upon the amount of the assistantship, the responsibilities vary from 5-12 hours of work per week.  Normally, a candidate will instruct one or two laboratory classes per week, but the job assignments can vary with departmental needs.  Thesis Masters students will usually be funded for three terms and PhD students for six terms.  Coursework Masters students will normally be funded for two terms.

(b)  Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS)
To be eligible, students must intend to pursue graduate studies at an Ontario university.  Applicants must have a high level of academic achievement, with first-class standing in most courses.  The deadline for these awards is normally in October; applicants should get application forms through their home department or from
                              Ministry of Colleges and Universities
                              8th Floor, Mowat Block, Queen's Park
                              Toronto, Ontario   M7A 1L2
The awards are intended primarily for Canadian citizens and landed immigrants, but a small number is awarded to student visa holders.  Refer to the OGS Brochure for more details.  Awards are for two or three consecutive terms. 

(c)  Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
Offers Fellowships for PhD candidates in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Inquiries should be made early in the fall.  Application forms can be obtained from either:           

                              Awards Section 
                              Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council
                              P.O. Box 1047
                              Ottawa, Ontario   K1P 5V8
or
Graduate Offices
Universities                 

(d)  Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Offers awards to candidates pursuing graduate study in the physical sciences.  Inquiries should be directed to:                           

                              Awards Section
                              National Research Council of Canada
                              Ottawa, Ontario   K1A 0R6

(e)  University of Waterloo/Wilfrid Laurier University
Both universities provide some scholarship money, for which no special application forms outside the normal program application are needed.  Funds may also be available to help those on student visas during the summer months.

(f)   The Northern Scientific Training Program
This program is administered by the Northern Studies Committee of each university.  It seeks applications annually from graduate students and senior undergraduates who, in association with a faculty member, are conducting research in the Canadian North.  From an annual grant from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, monies are made available to individual applicants.  These grants are to be applied to costs incurred in the North.  For further information, contact:                               

                              Chair, President's Committee on Northern Studies
                              ES1.Room 202
                              University of Waterloo
                              Waterloo, Ontario  N2L 3G1

Chair, WLU Northern Studies Committee
Room 2E10, Arts Building
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C

Research Development Office
The Faculty of Environmental Studies at U.W. has a Research Development Office which aids in enhancing the quality and quantity of scholarly research activity. This office assists graduate student and faculty researchers to identify research priorities and funding opportunities in the private and public sector. A number of data bases are maintained related to funding opportunities.  The office also assists in preparing and evaluating scholarship, grant or contract applications for research. Researchers are strongly urged to contact this office prior to submitting applications to funding agencies. For additional information contact:

Dave Wood, Administrative Director

                              Research and International Development
                              FES, University of Waterloo
                              Phone: 1 519 888 4567  Ext. 3591
                              Email:  dwood@fes.uwaterloo.ca

A similar help function is provided by the assistant graduate dean of research in the WLU graduate office.  Students are encouraged to contact the office.