Tools and Resources

External award applications often require both undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all previous and current institutions.

If you are applying for the CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC CGRS-D or CGRS-M at the University of Guelph you may order your University of Guelph transcript free of charge. To obtain a free transcript (for eligible Scholarship purposes only) from the University’s Office of Registrarial Services, please email transcript@uoguelph.ca and indicate that the official transcript will be used for scholarship purposes. Please include the name of the scholarship you are applying to in the subject line of the email.

Please also include your name and student ID number. If you are requesting that the transcript be mailed, the you must provide the full mailing address with your name.

You may request a digital transcript, but it can only be sent to your University of Guelph email account.

Deadline to request transcripts free of charge for scholarship purposes:

CIHR Doctoral - September 1, 2026

NSERC Doctoral - September 1, 2026

SSHRC Doctoral - September 1, 2026

CGRS-M - November 16, 2026

Note: There is a five-day turn-around time from the initial ordering of the transcript, so please order your transcript well in advance of the scholarship application deadline. Ordering before the above listed deadlines is advised.

If you require the transcript prior to the standard five days, you will need to request RUSH service. RUSH orders will not be accepted by email. Please request a RUSH copy through the online application form.

The University of Guelph will not provide students with copies of transcripts from previous institutions unless you have transcripts from institutions outside of North America. For transcripts from outside of North America, we will accept copies of the final and official transcript if they are certified by your home department/school (ONLY if you are applying for the CIHR Doctoral, NSERC Doctoral, and/or SSHRC Doctoral). Please contact your department's Graduate Program Assistant for assistance.

Ensure that transcripts are ordered from all other institutions early to allow time for delivery. This is especially important given the transcript processing times at various institutions. 

• Start preparing your application early!  Know deadlines and applications requirements for each scholarship that you plan to apply.
• Give yourself time.  Completing an application takes a lot of time and effort.  Hastiness will be reflected in the quality of your submission.
• Don’t get discouraged if you are not successful.  Each competition is different so apply each year if eligible.
• Make sure your application is complete.  If not included with the application, make a check list and use it.
• Only provide what is asked for.  Respect page limits and word counts; additional pages will be removed.
• Use 12 point font size and plain font such as Times New Roman or Arial.  Set margins.  No part of the application should be handwritten!
• Pay close attention to grammar and spelling.
• Have someone who knows you well, like your Advisor or a peer from your program, review your application.  They may notice inaccuracies or omissions.
• Have a friend or relative who knows you, but not necessarily your research, review your application.  They will be able to evaluate your application in an objective way without any prior assumptions.
• Take a break!  Look over your application a few days later with fresh eyes and a refreshed mindset.
• The following article from University Affairs may be useful: Increase your chances of winning a scholarship

• Choose your referees carefully.  Request letters from referees who know you well and who you know will provide a positive reference.  Some scholarships require letters from specific types of referees, so read the requirements carefully.  Reference letters from faculty tend to carry more weight.
• The endorsement from a referee is a huge part of any awards application and can help you to stand out from everyone else.  Letters that seem like templates, or do not substantiate their claims about your abilities and experience can be harmful to your application.
• Choose referees who have strong communications skills.  If you know your referees, you will know from experience if they communicate well.
• Provide your referees with all required information including a list of your research contributions, the appropriate form or link to the referee form if applicable, a copy of your program of study, and the deadline to submit the letter.   The more tools you give the referees to work with the better!
• If the reference letter must be mailed, give each referee an envelope, postage paid, so they can easily mail the letter by the deadline.
• Most importantly, give them time!  The best referees are probably very busy people so be cognizant of their time.
• Remind faculty of the Award Reference Letters - Tips, Templates, and Recommendations for Writers Document

• Carefully read the application instructions regarding the research proposal/summary section.  Provide the adjudicators with the information they are looking for; no more, no less.
• Write in a clear, concise way, avoiding use of jargon.   Say what you mean in an accessible and dynamic way so that anyone reading it will be engaged and understand your point.
• Organize your ideas efficiently.  You don’t have a lot of space to work with, so make every word count.  Make sure you are relating your research to the mandate of the specific award, providing evidence of your connection to that mandate. 
• Emphasize what makes your proposal special/original, and how it will contribute to your specific field of study.
• Take the time to write, and re-write your applications to set yourself apart from others in competitions. Every applicant will have a competitive GPA, so a well-written proposal will help your application stand out from others.  

TBC, Assistant VP, Graduate Studies

Andrew Bailey, COA

Monica Cojocaru, CCMPS

Ibrahim Deiab, COE

Graham Holloway, CBS

Sean Lyons, LANG

Jess Haines, CSAHS

Eric Lyons, OAC

Alice Defarges, OAC

Last updated August 11, 2026

CIHR:

TBC, Assistant VP, Graduate Studies

Roger Moorehead, OVC

Julang Li, OAC

Siavash Vahidi, CBS

Kieran O'Doherty, CSAHS

Last updated August 10, 2026

SSHRC:

TBC, Assistant VP, Graduate Studies

Andrew Bailey, COA

Mark Fortier, COA

John Hacker-Wright, COA

Peter Goddard, COA

Kathleen Rodenburg, LANG

Elizabeth Kurucz, LANG

Lysa Porth, LANG

Chris Choi, LANG

Eric Lyons, OAC

Sara Epp, OAC

Alfons Weersink, OAC

Jess Haines, CSAHS

Laura MacDiarmid, CSAHS

Mark Harding, CSAHS

Kaitlyn McLachlan, CSAHS

Last updated August 11, 2026

NSERC:

TBC, Assistant VP, Graduate Studies

Eric Lyons, OAC

Mike Rogers, OAC

Marc Habash, OAC

Alice Defarges, OVC

Jonathan LaMarre, OVC

Ian Tobias, OVC

Jess Haines, CSAHS

Evan Fraser, CSAHS

Boyer Winters, CSAHS

Graham Holloway, CBS

Cort Griswold, CBS

Steve Brown, CBS

Ibrahim Deiab, COE

Shen Yang, COE

Manickavasagan Annamalai, COE

Yan Yan, CCMPS

Jeremy Gauthier, CCMPS

Khashayar Ghandi, CCMPS

Last updated August 11, 2026

Quinn Webber, CBS

Jesse Palsetia, COA

Rafael Stantos, COE

Troy Riddell, CSAHS

Sara Epp, OAC

Arata Matsuyama, OVC

Saerom Lee, LANG

Yulia Kotseruba, CCMPS

Last updated August 11, 2026