Application Instructions
Note: For the purposes of these instructions, the terms “applicant” and “project director” are used to refer to individual applicants and the person acting on behalf of an institutional applicant.
Note: For the purposes of these instructions, the terms “research” and “research activity” may be read throughout to include any Connection event or outreach activity.
Table of contents
Documents to read before applying
Important links
For Knowledge Synthesis Grants applicants
For Insight Grants
- Insight Grants funding opportunity description (Including information regarding co-applicant eligibility)
- Insight program description
For Knowledge Synthesis Grants applicants
For Partnership Development Grants
- Partnership Development Grants funding opportunity description
- SSHRC’s definitions of partner organization, formal partnership and knowledge mobilization
- Insight and Connection program descriptions
- Salary Research Allowances policy
For Partnership Engage Grants
- Partnership Engage Grants funding opportunity description
- Insight and Connection program descriptions
- Definition of a partner organization and an industry partner organization
- Salary Research Allowances Policy
For Partnership Grants—Stage 1
- Partnership Grants—Stage 1 funding opportunity description (including information regarding co-applicant and collaborator eligibility)
- Insight, Connection and Talent program descriptions
- Definitions of partner organization and formal partnership
- Salary Research Allowances policy
For Partnership Grants—Stage 2
- Partnership Grants—Stage 2 funding opportunity description (including information regarding co-applicant and collaborator eligibility)
- Insight, Connection and Talent program descriptions
- Definitions of partner organization and formal partnership
- Salary Research Allowances policy
For all grant applicants
- Application deadline
- Institutional Eligibility—Guidelines and Requirements
- Regulations Governing Grant Applications
- Help: Online Application Form Support
- Guidelines for Cash and In-Kind Contributions
- Guidelines for Effective Knowledge Mobilization
- Guidelines for Effective Research Training
- Guidelines for Research-Creation Support Materials
- Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research
- Research Data Archiving Policy
- SSHRC’s definition of Indigenous research
- Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research
- Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications
- Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide
Helpful tips
Write your proposal in clear, plain language. Use non-technical terms that can be understood by a range of audiences with varied areas of expertise.
SSHRC advocates for the practices listed below when applicable in your application. In addition, costs related to these activities are eligible:
- responsible research data management strategies;
- open access publishing activities;
- dissemination in both official languages;
- promotion and support of official language minority communities through proposed activities (see Disciplines, Areas of Research, Temporal Periods, Geographical Regions and Countries Disciplines, Areas of Research, Temporal Periods, Geographical Regions and Countries Disciplines, Areas of Research, Temporal Periods, Geographical Regions and Countries section to select this option, if relevant); and
- effective research training.
If you experience technical difficulties, please contact the helpdesk as early as possible in the application process. The helpdesk has a higher volume of requests during peak periods (i.e., September 1 to December 1) and on deadline days.
Tools for research and related activities
In addition to the description of your overall proposal, if you are submitting a request for support for a tool for research or related activities, consult SSHRC’s Guidelines for Support of Tools for Research and Related Activities. The Guidelines are intended to provide assistance to researchers submitting requests for support for tools distinct from a typical component of a research grant. If your review of the Guidelines and the Canada Foundation for Innovation website indicates that your tool request corresponds with SSHRC requirements, include in your description the points outlined in the Guidelines for Support of Tools for Research and Related Activities.
Application process
Grant funds may be administered only by an eligible postsecondary institution or eligible not-for-profit organization.
Note: Where possible, data from your Stage 1 application was transferred to the Stage 2 application form to ease the process. It is your responsibility to verify the accuracy of transferred information and to update it as required. SSHRC will not be held responsible for any inaccuracies in submitted applications.
Applicant or project director responsibilities
By clicking “Submit,” the applicant or project director certifies that all information is accurate.
- Complete all mandatory fields (bold labels).
- Attach mandatory electronic files (application).
- Ensure all co-applicants and collaborators have submitted their Accept Invitation form.
- Verify and correct the data until the “Verification Report” confirms verification.
- Click “Submit” (to research administrator) for approval by your institution’s or organization’s internal deadline. The electronic submission process ensures validation of the information by an institution’s or organization’s administrator before they forward your application to SSHRC on your behalf (status is “Forwarded”).
- Once processed by SSHRC, the status will change to “Received.”
- Specifically for Partnership Development Grants, Partnership Grants and Partnership Engage Grants: Ensure that invited partner organizations have submitted their “Partner Invitation Form.”
Research or financial administrator responsibilities
Note: For Connection Grants, the applicant or project director cannot also be the research or financial administrator.
By clicking “Forward” (Forward to SSHRC), the research or financial administrator (institutional approval) certifies that:
- the applicant or project director:
- is affiliated with the institution or organization; and
- has the necessary time and facilities to carry out the activity;
- the postsecondary institution, or the not-for-profit organization:
- is willing to administer any grant received according to SSHRC policies;
- agrees to take the necessary steps to ensure that machine-readable files or computer databases are preserved and accessible under conditions agreed to by the institution and the researcher;
- will release funds to the successful candidate once all necessary certification requirements and conditions have been met;
- will notify SSHRC of any change in the grant holder’s status during the tenure of the grant; and
- for Partnership and Connection Grants: will notify SSHRC of any changes during the tenure of the grant, including changes in the composition of the partnership, such as the addition of new co-applicants, collaborators and/or partner organizations; and
- will notify SSHRC of any changes during the tenure of the grant, such as the addition of new co-applicants and/or collaborators; and
- has verified that the budgetary estimates are in accordance with its rates and policies.
Electronic submission process and acknowledgement of receipt of applications
Applicants must allow enough time for their institution’s or organization’s internal approval process, as specified by the relevant authorities. SSHRC will acknowledge receipt of your electronic application form and will assign you an application number. Please cite this number in all correspondence with us. Applications remain available for download via the SSHRC online system for 30 days after the deadline, after which they are deleted.
Eligible postdoctoral researchers and doctoral candidates may submit their application directly to SSHRC. See Administering Organization for more information.
Attaching a document
Many modules in your application will require you to attach a PDF document. You must follow the specified requirements for margins and font size, or your application will be rendered ineligible. An error message will appear if the file you are trying to attach does not meet the required specifications for page length and file size. Once you have attached the electronic file, we recommend you click “View attached file” to ensure you have the proper file and that your file is not corrupted.
Identification (mandatory)
Program name
Based on the objectives put forward in the Insight, Connection and Talent programs, select and rank, in descending order of relevance, the program(s) related to your proposal.
Based on the objectives put forward in the Insight and Connection programs, select and rank, in descending order of relevance, the program(s) related to your proposal.
Please select the Talent program only if your proposal is primarily for a partnered research training initiative. Talent can be ranked only as entry #1. If you select the Talent program, you must select “Partnered research training initiatives” as a partnership approach in the Activity Details section.
Application title
Provide a short, descriptive title for your proposal in non-technical terms. Restrict use of acronyms (e.g., UN, NATO, NAFTA). Use uppercase for only the first word of the title, proper nouns and acronyms.
Your application title will automatically be included in the Activity details section.
Project type
Please see the Connection Grants funding opportunity description for information about the difference between an event and an outreach activity.
Select “Event” and/or “Outreach Activity” from the drop-down list. If you select “Outreach Activity,” you must specify the type of activity in the box provided. Events are capped at $25,000; if your event proposal requests more than this, your application will not be “Verified Successfully” and you won’t be able to submit it.
Event start and end dates
Please indicate the start and end date of the project.
Type of partnership
Indicate whether this is a new or existing partnership. A new partnership is one that was developed for the purposes of submitting an application to this funding opportunity.
Note: If a review is requested, the application title is provided to external reviewers. The title, therefore, should communicate as clearly as possible the application’s subject matter.
Funding stream
You must choose from one of two streams, depending on the amount of funding required:
- Stream A for requests between $7,000 and $100,000 over two to five years; or
- Stream B for requests over $100,000 and up to a maximum of $400,000 over two to five years.
Preferred adjudication committee
Click “List…” and in the “Select a committee” window, select the committee that is most appropriate based on the subject and discipline(s) of your proposal. If you are not sure which adjudication committee to choose, contact SSHRC before submitting your application.
Request for multi/interdisciplinary evaluation
If your proposal is multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary and you would like it to be evaluated by experts in more than one field, select “Yes.” You must also complete the Request for Multi/interdisciplinary Evaluation module and select one of the multi/interdisciplinary adjudication committees from the drop-down list.
Note: SSHRC may adjust the committee structure from year to year, as disciplines evolve and the number of applications received changes. SSHRC will make efforts to accommodate applicant preferences; however, it reserves the right to determine an application’s review process and committee assignment without consultation with the applicant.
Joint or special initiative
Please consult the SSHRC funding search tool for a complete list of joint or special initiatives that may be relevant to your application. If you want your project to be considered for one of these initiatives, select it from the drop-down list and follow the links provided to ensure your compliance with all related instructions or guidelines.
Research-creation proposals
Before you select “Yes,” refer to the definition of research-creation for more information and examples of fields involving research-creation. If you select “Yes,” refer to Research contributions and relevant experience and the Guidelines for Research-Creation Support Materials for instructions regarding creative outputs and support material. SSHRC’s additional information on preparing an application involving research-creation. You must also select the Fine Arts, Research-creation committee from the “Preferred Adjudication Committee” drop-down list and complete the Research-Creation Support Material module.
Does your proposal involve Indigenous research, as defined by SSHRC?
Select “Yes” if you wish to signal to the adjudication committee that your application should be reviewed in the context of SSHRC’s definition of Indigenous research and its Guidelines for the Merit Review of Indigenous Research.
Project director
Carefully review the Eligibility section of the Partnership Grants funding opportunity description before completing this module. Enter complete information about the project director (the person responsible for the overall leadership of the team or partnership). If you have an existing SSHRC CV and wish to indicate a different position from that already on record, use this section to enter a new organization and/or department/division.
Applicant or project director
The applicant or project director has primary responsibility for the project and assumes administrative responsibility for the grant. Carefully review the Eligibility section of the Connection Grants funding opportunity description before completing this module.
Applicant (project director)
The information listed in this section has automatically been transferred from your CV.
Applicant (or lead organization for institutional grants)
Enter complete information about the applicant (the institution or organization that will manage or administer the funds).
For Partnership Grants, along with the information requested, enter the contact person at the organization.
Applicant or project director
The applicant or project director has primary responsibility for the project and assumes administrative responsibility for the grant. Carefully review the Eligibility section of the Knowledge Synthesis Grants funding opportunity description before completing this module.
Names and initials
To change your family name or given name, you must contact webgrant@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca. To change your initials, you must return to the “My Account” section of your portfolio to update the information.
Organization
The organization has automatically been transferred from the “current position” screen of your CV. To have a different affiliation on record for this application, click “List…” and make the necessary selection.
Address
Complete the address section only if the department is not listed.
Administering organization (individual grants) or lead organization (institutional grants)
Enter complete information about the organization that will administer the funds. Grant funds may be administered only by an eligible Canadian institution or organization. Institutions or not-for-profit organizations interested in administering SSHRC individual or institutional grants must meet the Institutional Eligibility Requirements for the administration of grants and awards, which is independent of the application process. Unless you have contacted SSHRC to begin this process, your organization will not be added to the list of eligible institutions and you will not be able to complete your application.
Host organization involvement (mandatory)—maximum one page
Partnership Grants are institutional/organizational applications. At Stage 1, you must attach a letter of engagement from your institution/organization, written on official letterhead and signed by appropriate officials. While the host institution/organization does not need to confirm its contribution to the partnership at this stage, the letter should explain any plans for involvement by the host institution/organization in supporting the partnership (e.g., infrastructure, cash and/or in-kind support , services, training, etc.). In addition, the letter should provide an overview of the organization’s research and related priorities/strategy, and of how the proposed partnership will advance those objectives.
Partnership Grants are institutional/organizational applications. At Stage 2, you must attach a letter of engagement from your institution/organization, written on official letterhead and signed by appropriate officials. The letter should include the following information:
- a statement that the institution/organization has read the proposal and agrees to its role and level of participation as outlined;
- a statement that the institution/organization is willing and able to complete activities assigned to it;
- a statement confirming the institution/organization’s financial and non-financial contribution(s), including intended support for the project director in leading these large grants (e.g., administrative support, course release, etc.); and
- an overview of the organization’s research-related priorities/strategy, and of how the partnership will advance those objectives.
Note: If applicable, the letter of supportengagement should also include contributions from departments within the host institution.
Organization information (not-for-profit organizations only)—maximum two pages
When a not-for-profit organization is the administering organization and proposes to manage the funds, you must include the following information:
- the mandate of the organization;
- descriptions of the staff position(s) assigned to the proposed project and the qualifications of individuals in these positions;
- an overview of the organization’s outcomes and, if applicable, specific outcomes related to research;
- discussion of research protocols, including the freedom to conduct research and publish findings;
- proof of incorporation; and
- the organization’s website address.
Note: Postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students may leave this field blank. To pass the validation process, ensure your SSHRC CV indicates that your current position is either “student” or “postdoctoral fellow or associate.
Note: Applicants who are postdoctoral researchers or students and who do not have an affiliation at the time of the grant application are asked to communicate with SSHRC at least 5 business days prior to the deadline date.
Activity details / research activities (mandatory) Activity details (mandatory)
Ethics
State whether or not your proposal involves human beings as research subjects. If it does, select “Yes” and consult the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans—TCPS 2 (2018) and submit your proposal to your organization’s research ethics board.
Environmental impact
The Environmental Information Form (Appendix A) must be completed and submitted with grant applications ONLY if at least one of the following situations applies to your research or research-related activities, as per the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012):
- any phase constitutes a physical activity carried out on federal lands in Canada, as defined in section 2(1), in relation to a physical work and that is not a designated project;
- any phase constitutes a physical activity carried out outside of Canada in relation to a physical work and that is not a designated project;
-
- the grant funds will permit a designated project (listed in the CEAA 2012 Regulations Designating Physical Activities (RDPA) to be carried out in whole or in part; or
- any phase of the proposed research will depend on a designated project (listed in the RDPA) that is, or will be, carried out by a third party.
If none of these situations apply to your proposed research activities, then Appendix A is not needed.
Keywords
List keywords, separated by semicolons, that best describe your proposal.
Disciplines, areas of research, temporal periods, geographical regions and countries
Indicate and rank each entry relevant to your proposal, with Entry 1 as the most relevant and the last entry the least relevant.
Partnership approaches
Partnership arrangements are defined by the nature of the activity/activities to be carried out. Select one or more possible formal partnership approaches from the drop-down menu. If your approach is not listed, select “other” from the list and type your approach in the box provided.
Approaches available within the Partnership Development Grants can include, but are not limited to, the following, as well as a combination thereof:
- cross-sector co-creation of knowledge and understanding;
- disciplinary and interdisciplinary research partnerships;
- networks for research and/or related activities; and
- partnered knowledge mobilization.
Disciplines, areas of research, temporal periods, geographical regions and countries
Indicate and rank each entry relevant to your proposal, with Entry 1 as the most relevant and the last entry the least relevant.
Approaches available within the Partnership Engage Grants can include, but are not limited to, the following, as well as a combination thereof:
- cross-sector co-creation of knowledge and understanding;
- disciplinary and interdisciplinary research partnerships; and
- partnered knowledge mobilization.
Approaches available within the Partnership Grants can include, but are not limited to, the following, as well as a combination thereof:
- cross-sector co-creation of knowledge and understanding;
- disciplinary and interdisciplinary research partnerships;
- networks for research and/or related activities;
- partnered chairs (see Guidelines for Partnered Chairs);
- partnered knowledge mobilization;
- partnered research centres; and
- partnered research training initiatives (see Guidelines for Partnered Research Training Initiatives).
Note: If you have selected the Talent program as a program name under Identification, you must select partnered research training initiatives as an approach.
Previous SSHRC funding (if applicable)—maximum one page
If the proposed partnerships’ activities are the result of previous SSHRC-funded activities, please explain how they differ from those previously financed through SSHRC grants. Describe the results and impacts of past SSHRC-funded activities, and explain how these could influence the new activities offered in your proposal. Describe any potential or perceived overlaps with, as well as value added for, other continued SSHRC funding. Also describe any links developed with the partner organizations as part of previous SSHRC-funded activities.
Co-applicants with SSHRC CV
You may invite up to 10 co-applicants with CVs. Additional co-applicants may be invited without SSHRC CVs in the Participants module; those co-applicants will have the option to add a one-page Biographical Sketch to their invitation form.
Co-applicant invitation process:
- Select “academic” or “non-academic.”
- Enter the family name. If you incorrectly type in a co-applicant’s family name, you will receive an error message. The system will recognize the discrepancy only after the co-applicant has accepted the invitation. For your application to be successfully verified, the co-applicant’s family name must be identical to the family name found in SSHRC’s database.
- Enter the email address.
- Select “Save.” The system will generate an email to each person, inviting them to participate in the application.
It is the responsibility of each invited person to complete, verify and submit their Accept Invitation form.
Note: Your application will not be “Verified Successfully” if all the co-applicants you invited have not successfully completed and verified their invitation.
| Status | Definition |
|---|---|
Invitation not yet accepted |
Co-applicant has not accepted the invitation. OR If the co-applicant deleted the system-generated invitation email by error, as the applicant you can click “Resend email,” and the same invitation will be sent again. OR If the co-applicant has declined the invitation, you must remove the person from the application by clicking “Clear entry.” |
Invitation accepted but not yet verified |
Co-applicant has accepted the invitation and a copy of their CV was attached to their Accept Invitation form on creation. The Accept invitation form is incomplete. Click “View CV” to preview the co-applicant’s CV and form. |
Invitation accepted and verified |
Co-applicant’s Accept invitation form has been completed and verified. Click “View CV” to preview the co-applicant’s CV and form. |
SSHRC CV
Co-applicants with CVs must do the following:
- Co-applicants affiliated with a postsecondary institution must submit a full SSHRC CV.
- Co-applicants from a non-academic organization have the option of submitting a full SSHRC CV or only completing the following, mandatory fields:
- Identification module—Correspondence language
- Identification module—Permanent postal code
- Current Position module—Organization, department, start date
- Current Position module—Address
- Current Position module—Primary phone number
- Research Expertise module—Keywords
- Research Expertise module—Discipline #1
Research contributions and relevant experience attachment
In addition to meeting the CV requirements above, co-applicants must also provide PDF attachments describing their research contributions and relevant experience.
A copy of the co-applicant’s CVs will be attached to the Accept Invitation form on creation. As the project director, you will then be able to view each co-applicant’s CVs as applicable. The Co-applicant with SSHRC CV Instructions outline the sections that may be included in the attachment. Co-applicants may choose to devote more space to certain sections depending on the nature of their past contributions and experience (for example, non-academic participants may choose to have a larger Relevant Experience section).
Disciplines, areas of research, temporal periods, geographical regions and countries
Indicate and rank each entry relevant to your proposal, with entry 1 as the most relevant and the last entry the least relevant.
Participants
Participants invited in this section do not submit SSHRC CVs. See module Co-applicants with SSHRC CV to invite up to 10 co-applicants with CVs. Additional co-applicants without CVs may be invited in this module along with any collaborators. Co-applicants invited in this section may include an optional one-page Biographical Sketch.
The categories of “co-applicant” and “collaborator” accord with financial regulations outlined in the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide, so project directors are encouraged to discuss roles and involvement within the team at the outset and to be clear about whether participants will have access to research funds prior to inviting them in a particular role.
Participant invitation process:
- Select the role.
- If applicable, select “academic” or “non-academic.”
- Enter the family name. If you incorrectly type in a participant’s family name, you will receive an error message. The system will recognize the discrepancy only after the participant has accepted the invitation. For your application to be successfully verified, the participant’s family name must be identical to the family name found in SSHRC’s database.
- Enter the email address.
- Click “Save.” The system will generate an email to each person, inviting them to participate in the application.
It is the responsibility of each invited person to complete, verify and submit their Accept Invitation form and Biographical Sketch (if applicable).
Note: Your application will not be “Verified Successfully” if all participants you invited have not successfully completed and verified their invitation.
Note: Your application will not be “Verified Successfully” until each participant you invited has successfully completed and verified their invitation.
| Status | Definition |
|---|---|
Invitation not yet accepted |
Participant (co-applicant or collaborator) has not accepted the invitation. |
Invitation accepted |
Participant has accepted the invitation and the Accept Invitation form was created. Click “View” to preview the form. |
Invitation accepted but not yet verified |
Co-applicant has accepted the invitation and a copy of their CV was attached to their Accept Invitation form on creation. The Accept Invitation form is incomplete. Click “View CV” to preview the co-applicant’s CV and form. |
Invitation accepted but not yet verified |
Collaborator has accepted the invitation and the Accept Invitation form was created. Click “View form” to preview the collaborator’s form. |
Invitation accepted and verified |
Co-applicant’s Accept Invitation form has been completed and verified. Click “View CV” to preview the co-applicant’s CV and form. |
SSHRC CV
Co-applicants affiliated with a postsecondary institution must submit a full SSHRC CV.
Co-applicants must do the following:
- Co-applicants affiliated with a postsecondary institution must submit a full SSHRC CV.
- Co-applicants from a non-academic organization have the option of submitting a full SSHRC CV or only completing the following, mandatory fields:
- Identification module—Correspondence language
- Identification module—Permanent postal code
- Current Position module—Organization, department, start date
- Current Position module—Address
- Current Position module—Primary phone number
- Research Expertise module—Keywords
- Research Expertise module—Discipline #1
Research contributions and relevant experience attachment
In addition to meeting the CV requirements above, co-applicants must also provide PDF attachments describing their research contributions and relevant experience.
A copy of the co-applicant’s CV will be attached to the Accept Invitation form upon creation. The applicant will then be able to view each co-applicant’s CV. The Co-applicant Instructions outline the sections that may be included in the attachment. Co-applicants may choose to devote more space to certain sections depending on the nature of their past contributions and experience (for example, non-academic participants may choose to have a larger Relevant Experience section). Co-applicants affiliated with not-for-profit organizations are only required to include their Relevant Experience section.
Description of Team—maximum three pages (mandatory)
Explain the different types of expertise needed to ensure the success of the partnership. Describe the roles, responsibilities and contributions of the project director and key co-applicants and/or collaborators. Clearly indicate, where appropriate, whether they are from an academic or non-academic sector (e.g., not-for-profit organization, philanthropic foundation, public or private sector organization), and how the activities and expertise of each member will support and enhance the proposed partnership. Include details about whether the team member has worked collaboratively with the project director and/or other team members in the past.
Invited partner organizations (mandatory)
InvitationPartner organization invitation process:
- Enter the family name, given name and email address of theeach partner organization contact.
- Click “Save.” The system will generate an email to each contact person, inviting them to participate in the application.
It is your responsibility as the project director to ensure that the invited person verifies and completes the form in advance of the application deadline.
Note: Your application will not be “Verified Successfully” if all contacts you have invited have not successfully completed and verified their invitation.
| Status | Definition |
|---|---|
Invitation not yet accepted |
Partner organization contact has not accepted the invitation. |
Invitation not yet accepted |
If the partner organization contact deleted the system-generated email by error, as the applicant you can click “Resend email,” and the same invitation will be sent again. |
Invitation refused |
Partner organization contact was unable to complete the form. |
Invitation accepted but not yet verified |
Partner organization form has been created but incomplete. Click “View” to preview the form. |
Form completed |
Partner organization form has been verified and completed. The form will be attached electronically to your application once it has been submitted to SSHRC. |
It is the responsibility of each invited partner organization contact to complete, verify and submit their Accept Invitation form, including their letter of engagementsupport. Each letter should be written on official letterhead and include the following:
- a statement that the partner organization is willing to participate in the development of a Stage 2 application;
- the reason(s) for the partner organization’s involvement in the partnership; and
- the anticipated cash and/or in-kind contributions if known at this stage.
- the relevance and significance of the project objectives for the partner organization;
- the exact nature of the involvement of the partner organization during the lifespan of the project, including the intellectual leadership and governance of the partnership, where appropriate;
- precise details on the financial and/or in-kind contributions to be provided by the partner; and
- the expected outcomes that the partner organization wishes to achieve.
By submitting, the partner organization is acknowledging that it has read and agrees in principle with the objective(s) of the proposal.
Note: If the organization with which the applicant is affiliated wishes to participate as a partner organization, the applicant must follow the same process for inviting a partner organization as outlined above, and the letter of engagement must be signed by the appropriate official(s) (e.g., department chair, non-governmental organization executive).
Request for multi/interdisciplinary evaluation—maximum one page
If you selected one of the multi/interdisciplinary committees to review your proposal, you must provide a justification for doing so.
SSHRC will secure expertise from the disciplines covered by the committee (focused on social sciences or humanities). Relevant expertise from within the larger pool of Insight Grants adjudication committee members may also be sought.
Explain how your research will integrate intellectual resources (e.g., theories, methodologies, perspectives) drawn from two or more disciplines. List the various disciplines / areas of research from which expertise should be drawn to assess the research proposal.
Response to previous critiques—maximum one page
You may, if you wish, address criticisms and suggestions offered by adjudication committees and external assessors who have reviewed your previous applications.
Note: Adjudication committees are not bound by the deliberations or scores of previous committees. Members of current committees will not be given copies of earlier applications.
Event presenters
If applicable, list the names of up to 15 key presenters. Presenters are defined by SSHRC as individuals who will make an active contribution to the project objectives and/or the production of any concrete deliverable(s). For each presenter, indicate whether you are requesting SSHRC funding in support of their involvement, and select the type of presenter (Presenter or Student presenter) from the drop-down list.
When appropriate, the list of event presenters should include students as well as a combination of established and emerging scholars.
After the data are saved, the system will automatically display the information alphabetically by family name on this screen.
As necessary, provide the information requested using the “List…” button. If the appropriate information is not listed, select “Other” and type the information in the box provided.
For each presenter, you must provide the following information:
- the title and a 100- to 150-word outline of their contribution;
- detailed justification for their inclusion in the project; and
- whether or not their attendance has been confirmed.
Letters of support from sponsoring organizations (mandatory)
SSHRC will not fund the full cost of any Connection project. Additional support in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions (excluding registration fees) equivalent to a minimum of 50 per cent of the amount requested from SSHRC must come from sponsoring organizations, not individuals (see SSHRC’s Guidelines for Cash and In-Kind Contributions for more details). For example, an applicant / project director asking SSHRC for $10,000 in Connection Grant funding will have to provide additional support equal to at least $5,000.
Letters of support are required from each organization listed in your application as a sponsoring organization and contributing toward the required minimum of 50 per cent in matching cash and/or in-kind contributions.
Only those contributions identified in letters of support that originate from sponsoring organizations and that are signed by someone with signing authority for the organization will count toward the required 50 per cent matching funds. Amounts appearing in letters of support from individuals will not be used in this calculation.
Note: If overall support totals to less than the required 50 per cent in matching contributions, the application may be deemed ineligible.
Each letter of support must:
- be submitted in one of Canada’s two official languages; and
- include a statement confirming the organization’s financial contributions that clearly outlines the amounts and types of contributions, including the value of the organization’s contributions to the proposed project.
Each letter must also include:
- a statement indicating that the organization has read the proposal and agrees to its role and level of participation as outlined; and
- a statement indicating that the organization is willing and able to complete activities assigned to it.
Failure to provide a letter of support that meets the above criteria may result in the letter being removed from consideration in the calculation of the matching funds requirement. Failure to meet the minimum matching funds requirement could render the application ineligible.
Summary of proposal (mandatory)—maximum one pagehalf a page
Provide a clear summary of your proposal indicating the challenges or issues to be addressed.:
Provide a summary of your proposal, written in clear, nontechnical language, indicating the challenges or issues to be addressed.
By submitting an application, applicants consent, should they be awarded a Knowledge Synthesis Grant, to the use of this summary for promotional purposes outside the research community, to inform parliamentarians, media and members of the public who request information about research funded by SSHRC.
- the challenges or issues to be addressed;
- the overall goal and objectives of the proposed partnership; and
- the breadth of the partnership, and the meaningful engagement of the partner organizations involved.
- the potential contribution of the research in terms of the advancement of knowledge; and
- the broader potential benefit of the research (e.g., Will this research be of interest to other disciplines/areas of research? Will it be of interest outside the academic community? How will it be used and by whom?).
Detailed description (mandatory)—maximum six pages
Using the headings below, describe the proposed research in enough detail to allow informed assessment by committee members:
- Objectives
- Context (including literature review and theoretical approach)
- Methodology
Your detailed description must address the Challenge and Feasibility evaluation criteria listed under Evaluation and Adjudication in the funding opportunity description, except for those criteria addressed in other sections of the application, that is:
- Research Team, Previous Output and Student Training;
- Expected Outcomes;
- Funds Requested from SSHRC;
- Funds from Other Sources;
- Budget Justification; and
- Knowledge Mobilization Plan.
Note: The Capability subcriteria should be addressed in the SSHRC CV and Research Contributions.
Knowledge mobilization plan (mandatory)—maximum one pagetwo pages
In planning your research project, consider the ways in which merit reviewers assess knowledge mobilization activities. For example, reviewers are advised to evaluate, under the Feasibility criterion, the “quality and appropriateness of knowledge mobilization plans, including effective dissemination, exchange and engagement with stakeholders within and/or beyond the research community, where applicable.”
SSHRC encourages its funding recipients to disseminate research knowledge in both official languages, whenever feasible and/or appropriate.
Include a plan to increase knowledge uptake by target audiences, and anticipated outputs, outcomes and/or impacts of social sciences and humanities knowledge among various appropriate audiences or participants (academic and/or non-academic), including:
- methodologies and approaches to engage appropriate target audiences or participants, including, as applicable, diverse groups of researchers, policy-makers, business leaders, community groups, educators, media, international audiences, practitioners, decision-makers and the general public;
- timeframes or a schedule for the intended knowledge mobilization activities; and
- justifications for how the above two points fit within the project’s particular knowledge mobilization objectives.
Open access and data management
To the extent possible, and in keeping with SSHRC’s endorsement of open access forms of knowledge dissemination, research results should be made openly available, through, for example, open access publications, websites, publicly accessible databases and/or institutional repositories. Grant holders must comply with the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications. To learn more, consult the Open Access overview.
SSHRC also encourages researchers to manage, in accordance with both community standards and best practices (including SSHRC’s Research Data Archiving Policy), data arising from their research.
List of references or bibliography (mandatory)—maximum two pagesthree pagesfive pages10 pages
List all references cited or works referred to in your proposal. SSHRC recognizes and allows the use of different referencing styles.
If you have included references by the project director, co-applicants or collaborators, indicate these in bold type.
Expected outcomes (mandatory)
The project’s expected outcomes are essential for the adjudication of the proposal and are part of the Challenge evaluation criterion. Elaborate on the potential benefits and/or outcomes of your proposed project. You will be able to share how your outcomes have evolved in follow-up achievement reports.
Outcomes
Connection projectResearch and related outcomes include enhanced curriculum and teaching material, enriched public discourse, improved public policies, enhanced business strategies and increased innovations in every sector of society, as well as graduate supervision opportunities. Project outcomesResearch outcomes, which are facilitated by the effective mobilization of knowledge, then permeate daily life in the form of new thinking and behaviour that lead to improvements in our economic, social, cultural and intellectual well-being.
For “Scholarly benefits,” “Social benefits” and “Audiences,” indicate and rank selections in order of importance. If the information is not listed, select “Other” from the list and type the information in the box provided.
Expected outcomes summary—Maximum one page
Describe the potential long-term benefits and outcomes (e.g., evolution, effects, potential learning and implications) that could emerge from the proposed project as a result of knowledge mobilization activities.
Project proposal (mandatory)—maximum five pages
Before writing your proposal, consult the evaluation criteria in the funding opportunity description. Within your description, provide the following information:
- a descriptive title;
- the theme(s) and subtheme(s) addressed by the proposal;
- a description of the knowledge synthesis project, including the significance, expected contributions and impacts of the proposed synthesis, contextualized within the current literature and accounting for previous research done;
- an outline of the relevant expertise and experience of the applicant/team; and
- a work plan, including timelines, and a description of the proposed methodology and approach.
Description of Connection project (mandatory)—maximum five pages
You must attach a PDF copy of your Description of Connection Project. Before writing your proposal, consult the evaluation criteria in the funding opportunity description. Write your proposal in clear, plain language. Avoid jargon, acronyms and highly technical terms.
Include:
- a description of the proposed project (this may include a draft program or agenda, if applicable);
- a statement regarding the overall goal and specific objectives of the endeavour;
- a description of the research you will be disseminating, transferring, exchanging or mobilizing;
- a description of your main audience(s) (e.g., scholars, practitioners, etc.);
- an explanation as to why it is important to connect with the specified audience(s); and
- details on how all activities can be undertaken within one year.
SSHRC encourages applicants to, if applicable, discuss how project results will be managed, including collection, preservation and sharing.
Open access and data management
To the extent possible, and in keeping with SSHRC’s endorsement of open access forms of knowledge dissemination, research results should be made openly available, through, for example, open access publications, websites, publicly accessible databases and/or institutional repositories. Grant holders must comply with the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications. To learn more, consult the Open Access overview.
Training and mentoring (mandatory)—maximum one page
It is expected that students, emerging scholars (e.g., postdoctoral researchers and other scholars in similar situations) and/or other highly qualified personnel (e.g., practitioners, subject matter experts, Indigenous Elders) will meaningfully participate in the proposed initiative(s). Clearly describe the specific roles and responsibilities of students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel, indicating the work they will be undertaking.
Consult the Guidelines for Effective Research Training in preparing this section of the application. These guidelines will also be provided to reviewers. Include:
- the nature and extent of training, mentoring and employability activities;
- the capacity of the project director and team members to provide the proposed training, mentoring and employability activities;
- the anticipated number of students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel (where applicable, indicate the level of study—i.e., undergraduate, master’s or doctoral) to be trained and mentored;
- the nature and level of specialized skills that the students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel will develop as a result of their participation; and
- any career development opportunities for students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel.
Goal and project description (mandatory)—maximum five pageseight pages
Before writing your proposal, consult the evaluation criteria evaluation criteria evaluation criteria evaluation criteria in the funding opportunity description. Within your description, provide the following information: SSHRC encourages the use of tables and charts, as they are often the most effective and efficient way to capture the proposed structure and co-ordination of formal partnerships and activities. Within your description, provide the following information:
- Clearly justify your proposal within the stated program objectives (i.e., Insight and/or Connection or Talent) and partnership approaches, and state the overall goal and specific objectives that the partnership will address during the lifespan of the grant. Demonstrate the relevance and significance of these objectives for all the partner organizations that will be involved in the partnership.
- Describe the originality, significance (social, economic, cultural and intellectual) and expected contribution to knowledge in the social sciences and/or humanities of the proposed project.
- Demonstrate the appropriateness of the theoretical and methodological approaches that will be chosen to meet the stated objectives. Include a literature review. SSHRC encourages applicants to discuss, if applicable, how research data arising from the project will be managed, including collection, preservation and sharing.
- Address the appropriateness of the duration (four to seven years) chosen to achieve the objectives.
- Describe plans for governance arrangements, the involvement of partner organizations in the leadership for the partnership, and how partner organizations will benefit from their participation in the partnership. Although only one person can be the official project director named on the application form for accountability reasons, it is permissible to propose a co-director leadership model in the narrative portions of the application, if appropriate.
- Describe the involvement of the host institution in supporting the partnership (e.g., infrastructure, cash and/or in-kind support , services, training etc.).
- Describe the training and mentoring plans for students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel.
- Outline a preliminary plan for knowledge mobilization and dissemination activities that will engage appropriate audiences or participants within and/or beyond the research community.
- Describe the potential influence and impacts of the project, as well as the progress indicators.
- In the case of partnered research training initiatives only, also:
- describe the merit of the proposed initiative and how it meets SSHRC’s Guidelines for Partnered Research Training Initiatives;
- include, in a table, information on the number of registered students and/or postdoctoral researchers expected to participate on an annual basis; and
- briefly indicate how the training of each group of trainees will be structured and managed.
- State the overall goal and specific objectives that the partnership will address and demonstrate the relevance and significance of these objectives for the partner organization.
- Describe the originality, significance (social, economic, cultural and intellectual) and expected contribution to knowledge in the social sciences and/or humanities of the proposed project.
- Demonstrate the appropriateness of the theoretical and methodological approaches that will be chosen to meet the stated objectives. Include a literature review. SSHRC encourages applicants to discuss, if applicable, how research data arising from the project will be managed, including collection, preservation and sharing.
- Address the appropriateness of the duration (one to three years) chosen to achieve the objectives.
- Outline a plan to increase knowledge uptake by target audiences, and anticipated outputs, outcomes and/or impacts of social sciences and humanities knowledge among various appropriate audiences or participants (academic and/or non-academic).
- Explain how the partner organization will participate in the intellectual leadership and decision-making process of the partnership, and how your application integrates the expertise of the partner organization.
- Describe the roles, responsibilities and contributions of the applicant and co-applicants/collaborators, if applicable, and how the activities and expertise of each member will support and enhance the proposed partnership.
- Describe the specific roles and responsibilities of students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel, indicating the work they will be undertaking.
- Outline the confirmed or proposed contributions of your host institution, the partner organization and/or other sources.
Mitacs Accelerate internships
If you selected “Mitacs Accelerate internships” as a “Joint or special initiative” under Identification, provide summary information about the proposed internship(s), such as the objectives, expected deliverables, benefits to interns, percentage of time to be spent onsite with the partner organization and planned activities.
This funding opportunity’s recipients are automatically preapproved for Mitacs Accelerate internships. Interested grant holders must submit a completed Mitacs Accelerate application form to Mitacs after SSHRC competition results have been announced. To access the Accelerate application form, contact a Mitacs business development representative.
Mitacs internships cannot be the only mechanism for training included in a research project, and must be cofunded by partner contributions separate from the partner funding contributions made toward the SSHRC grant.
Research-creation support material (if applicable)—maximum one page
If you are submitting a proposal involving research-creation to Committee 3: Fine Arts and Research-Creation, you must attach a Research-Creation Support Material document.
If in the Identification pagescreen you have self-identified yours as a research-creation project, you must include a website link to provide samples of work that best illustrate the qualifications of the team and/or the nature of the proposed research-creation.
When including a website link, please follow these instructions:
- Provide the complete and exact URL and indicate the path to access the intended support material on the website.
- Include a list of up to three works or excerpts of works to which you would like to direct the reviewers (e.g., images, audio, video, written material). Please provide titles, dates of creation/production and a brief context for the works presented. Explain why you are including these items and how they relate to your proposed project.
- Ensure that the website and all links involved will be operational up to six months after the application deadline.
- Specify the browser and version that should be used.
Note: SSHRC assumes no responsibility in cases where links provided are broken or the server is unavailable during the adjudication period. See SSHRC’s Guidelines for Research-Creation Support Materials for more information.
Reasonable efforts will be made to view or listen to support material; however, due to technical challenges, SSHRC cannot guarantee that the samples will be accessed. Please consider that reviewers will have very limited time per application to view, read or listen to samples of work.
Note that only links provided in the support material attachment will be used by merit reviewers.
Note that only links provided in this section will be used by merit reviewers.
See SSHRC’s Guidelines for Research-Creation Support Materials for more information.
For additional information on preparing an application involving research-creation, please refer to SSHRC’s Resource Centre.
Description of formal partnership (mandatory)—maximum four pages
Prior to filling out this section, see SSHRC’s definitions of partner organization and formal partnership, and the exclusions in the Guidelines for Cash and In-Kind Contributions.
Define and fully describe the partnership, so committee members can clearly understand that your proposal is a genuine formal partnership. In this attachment, explain:
- why a partnership approach is appropriate for the proposed activities, and demonstrate, specifically, how such a partnership adds value beyond what could be achieved through other approaches;
- the governance structure of the partnership, clearly demonstrating the involvement of key partner organizations in the decision-making process and explaining the conditions, if any, under which they are participating (you may wish to include a diagram to illustrate the governance structure);
- how the partner organizations will participate in the intellectual leadership of the partnership;
- the anticipated challenges in building the partnership, and how these will be addressed;
- how partner organizations will benefit from their participation in the partnership;
- how your application integrates the expertise of all partner organizations in the conduct of the activities.; and
- how the partnership has evolved since Stage 1.
Partnered chairs (if applicable)—maximum one page
If you are using a partnered chair approach, identify the proposed partnered chairholder(s), and provide the following information:
- the identity of the proposed partnered chairholder(s) and the selection process used;
- the track record of the proposed partnered chairholder(s);
- the relevance of the partnered chair(s) for achieving the proposed project goals;
- evidence demonstrating that the host institution and/or its partners have the confirmed cash to cover the salary of the partnered chair(s) for the duration of the grant; and
- an outline of the proposed program of research, training and related activities to be undertaken by partnered chair(s).
Governance (mandatory)—maximum two pages
Define and fully describe your proposed partnership governance structure. You are strongly encouraged to include a diagram to illustrate the governance structure. In this attachment:
- explain the choice of management and governance arrangements, as well as of leadership, in the design and conduct of the research, research training, and/or research-related activities;
- describe the nature of the co-applicants’, collaborators’ and partner organizations’ participation in the partnership’s governance structure, if appropriate;
- describe the involvement of key partner organizations in the decision-making process, and explain the conditions, if any, under which they are participating;
- describe the involvement of your host institution in supporting the partnership (e.g., infrastructure, cash and/or in-kind support, services, training);
- identify how issues will be resolved; and
- explain accountability and decision-making authority.
Note: Although only one person can be the official project director named on the application form for accountability reasons, it is permissible to propose a co-director leadership model in the narrative portions of the application, if appropriate.
Contributions plan (mandatory)—maximum one page
Detail your plan to secure cash and/or in-kind contributions. The plan must describe:
- the confirmed contributions of the applicant’s institution/organization;
- the confirmed or proposed contributions from partner organizations and/or other sources;
- how you will continue to seek and to secure cash and/or in-kind support during the life of the grant (one to three years); and
- how the support will benefit the partnership.
Participants’ involvement (mandatory)—maximum two pages
Explain the different types of expertise needed to ensure the success of the partnership. Describe the roles, responsibilities and contributions of the project director and key co-applicants and/or collaborators, as well as other key participants. Clearly indicate, where appropriate, whether they are from an academic or a non-academic sector (e.g., not–for-profit organization, philanthropic foundation, public or private sector organization), and how the activities and expertise of each member will support and enhance the proposed partnership.
Training and mentoring (mandatory)—maximum one page
It is expected that students, emerging scholars (e.g., postdoctoral researchers and other scholars in similar situations) and/or other highly qualified personnel (e.g., practitioners, subject matter experts, Indigenous elders) will meaningfully participate in the proposed initiatives. Attach a PDF document that clearly describes the specific roles and responsibilities of students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel, indicating the work they will be undertaking.
Consult the Guidelines for Effective Research Training in preparing this section of the application. These guidelines will also be provided to reviewers.
Include:
- the nature and extent of training, mentoring and employability activities;
- the capacity of the project director and team members to provide the proposed training, mentoring and employability activities;
- the anticipated number of students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel (where applicable, indicate the level of study—i.e., undergraduate, master’s or doctoral) to be trained and mentored;
- the nature and level of specialized skills that the students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel will develop as a result of their participation; and
- any career development opportunities for students, emerging scholars and/or other highly qualified personnel.
If you selected “Mitacs Accelerate internships” as a “Joint or special initiative” under Identification, provide summary information about the proposed internship(s), such as the objectives, expected deliverables, benefits to interns, percentage of time to be spent onsite with the partner organization, and planned activities.
This funding opportunity’s recipients are automatically preapproved for Mitacs Accelerate internships. Interested grant holders must submit a completed Mitacs Accelerate application form to Mitacs after SSHRC competition results have been announced. To access the Accelerate application form, contact a Mitacs business development representative.
Mitacs internships cannot be the only mechanism for training included in a research project, and must be cofunded by partner contributions separate from the partner funding contributions made toward the SSHRC grant.
Note: For Talent proposals (i.e., those proposals focused exclusively on partnered research training initiatives), this section may be used to expand on information provided in your Goal and Project Description.
Evidence of formal partnership (mandatory)—maximum 20 pages15 pages
Applicants for Partnership Development Grants are required to provide documentary evidence that demonstrates the quality, commitment and agreement of the formal partnership. Evidence of formal partnership may include, but is not limited to:
- governance frameworks;
- agreements (e.g., intellectual property, conflict resolution);
- strategic plans; and/or
- other relevant documentation.
Do not provide letters of engagement from partner organizations in this section, as these will already be included elsewhere in your application.
Note: Any information provided in this section that is not documentary evidence of formal partnership may be removed from your application prior to its evaluation.
List of potential partner organizations and other contributors (if applicable)—maximum one pagemaximum two pages
Attach a list of the potential partner organizations and other contributors you plan to engage during the lifetime of your grant. Include email addresses and website links, if available.
The list should be divided into the following categories:
- Potential partner organizations
Indicate whether each partner listed has been invited to participate. - Other contributors
Other contributors include organizations (e.g., philanthropic foundations, private sector organizations) or individuals who are not invited partners, but who are likely to provide cash and/or in-kind contributions during the lifetime of your grant.
Research team, previous output and student training (mandatory)—maximum four pages
Describe your research team, previous output and student training, using the following subtitles in the same order:
A. Description of the research team (if applicable)
Clearly explain:
- why a team approach is appropriate for the proposed research by describing the relative roles, responsibilities and contributions of the applicant (principal investigator), each co-applicant, and each collaborator;
- the relative proportion (in percentages) of each team member’s contribution to the proposed research;
- the proportion of time to be spent on this research project in relation to any other ongoing research projects or programs (exclude prospective grants); and
- if the project involves community participants such as knowledge users, the support provided by the community and the applicant’s ties with said community.
Note: If the adjudication committee determines that the applicant (principal investigator) is not responsible for, or equipped to exercise, the leadership of the research team, the Feasibility score may be lowered.
B. Description of previous and ongoing research results
Summarize the results of your most recent and ongoing research. Where appropriate, indicate the relevance of each to the proposed research. In the case of team research, include summaries for any relevant projects undertaken by co-applicants.
C. Description of proposed student training strategies
Clearly describe the specific roles and responsibilities of students and research assistants, and indicate the duties, especially with respect to research, that they will be undertaking, as well as how these will complement their academic training.
Consult the Guidelines for Effective Research Training in preparing this section of the application. These guidelines will also be provided to reviewers.
Funds requested from SSHRC (mandatory)
Partnership Grants are valued at a maximum of $500,000 per year, up to $2.5 million over four to seven years.
Part 1: Development funds
You may enter up to $20,000 as the amount requested to assist the research team in the preparation of the Stage 2 application. In the Budget Justification section, provide details and justification of the individual costs that make up this total.
Part 2: Estimates for full project
At Stage 1, the figures provided need be only estimates of the amounts you anticipate requesting at Stage 2 should you be invited to submit an application.
Demonstrate your ability to secure at least the minimum matching funding, by including letters of support from sponsoring organizations. See the instructions for the Letters of support from sponsoring organizations for more details.
You may draw on complementary funding from SSHRC research grants and/or other research funding agencies, but must make clear in your budget proposal that there is no duplication of financial support for the same budget expenses.
Note: While SSHRC funds may be used in this complementary way, these funds cannot be counted toward the 50 per cent requirement for matching funds.
EstimateFor each budget year, estimate the costs you are asking SSHRC to fund. All budget costs must conform to the rates and regulations of the applicant’s or project director’s institution or not-for-profit organization. All costs must be justified in terms of the needs of the project, including costs for organizing and integrating team activities and for communicating results to audiences, stakeholders and the public. The budget will be adjudicated according to the appropriateness of the requested budget, and to the justification of other planned resources (e.g., time, human and financial), including cash and in-kind support already or to be secured from partner organizations.
Note: SSHRC provides the following guidelines to committee members regarding the adjudication of the budget subcriteria of the overall feasibility score.
- Committees may consider failing a project on the Feasibility criterion if they determine that 30 per cent or more of the overall budget request is insufficiently justified and/or not appropriate to the proposed objectives or outcomes of the project.
- Committees will use the principle of minimum essential funding to guide their budget discussions.
- Committees may recommend minor budget reductions when they determine the request is inadequately justified and/or not appropriate as described above, and where they judge that savings could be achieved without jeopardizing the project objectives.
- An application will automatically be failed if the committee deems that 50 per cent or more of the overall budget is insufficiently justified and/or not appropriate to the proposed objectives or outcomes of the project.
Enter amounts rounded to the nearest dollar without any spaces or commas (e.g., 2000). For blank entries, leave in the “0” value.
Personnel costs
For each of the categories below, enter the number of students and non-students you plan to hire, whether as salaried employees or as recipients of stipends.
Student and non-student salaries and benefits
For each applicable category, enter the number of students and non-students to be hired. Specify the total amount to be paid. When students are paid by wage, the amounts should follow the university’s collective agreement or policy.
Student stipends
You may request stipends for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Stipends must be justified in terms of the projectresearch, research training and/or research-related objectives. The work performed by stipend recipients should be an integral part of the project. Stipend rates are set by the institution concerned.
Other—Salary research allowances
Salary research allowances are an eligible expense. These stipends cover up to 50 per cent of the cost of temporarily replacing an employee from a Canadian not-for-profit organization who will be devoting his or her time as a co-investigator on a SSHRC-funded research project. The request for a salary research allowance must be justified in the proposal.
Salary research allowances can be used only by not-for-profit organizations that have co-applicants listed on their Notice of Award. Researchers holding an academic position at a postsecondary institution and government employees are not eligible for salary research allowances.
Note that a salary research allowance is not a salary for the co-applicant, but is paid to the Canadian not-for-profit organization to offset the costs of replacing its employee.
For further information, please consult SSHRC’s Salary Research Allowances policy.
Travel and subsistence costs
Enter, by budget year, the total amounts requested for travel abroad and within Canada for both the research team and student personnel. Project directors must obtain the lowest possible travel fares. Car rental is an eligible expense only if it is essential to the research.
Enter the total amounts requested for travel abroad and within Canada for the project team, presenters and student personnel. Project directors must obtain the lowest possible travel fares. Car rental is an eligible expense only if it is essential to the project objectives.
Subsistence costs must be based on rates approved by the institution or organization that will administer the funds.
Other expenses
Professional or technical services
Consulting fees for professional and technical services are eligible expenditures only if the budget justification demonstrates that expert advice is needed.
If a grant is awarded and you have planned to contract consultants for amounts in excess of $25,000, two independent cost estimates will be required by your host institution/organization.
Supplies
You may include other supply items (e.g., software, stationery, postage and telephone calls) only if they directly relate to the projectresearch.
Non-disposable equipment—computer hardware
Purchase or rental of computers and associated hardware is allowable only if these are not accessible through the postsecondary institution or employer.
Other non-disposable equipment
Purchase or rental of equipment (e.g., audio or video equipment) is allowable only if it is not accessible through the postsecondary institution or employer.
Other expenses
Specify other research and/or related expenses not already included.
Tools for research and related activities
For tools for research and related activities, select “Other expenses” and specify “Tools.” You must combine all requested expenses related to tools (i.e., for software, equipment, and professional and technical services) into this category. You must then elaborate on these items in the Budget Justification section. Consult SSHRC’s Guidelines for Support of Tools for Research and Related Activities for more information on social sciences and humanities tools.
Budget justification (mandatory)—maximum one pagetwo pagesfour pages
Attach a PDF document showing the budget justification for the $20,000 in development funds requested from SSHRC for preparation of the Stage 2 application. Justification for the estimated costs of the full proposal is not required at this stage.
Using the categories listed on the Funds Requested from SSHRC page, explain how you will use the funds in each budget category to achieve the project objectives. For example, under the student and non-student salaries and benefits categories, explain why these people need to be hired to meet the project’s objectives. Applicants are reminded of SSHRC’s mandate to provide training opportunities for students, emerging scholars and other highly qualified personnel as applicable. Budget budget costs for research assistants, associates or project support personnel who are not students must be fully justified in terms of the needs of the project. Justify any funds that appear in the category “Other.”
As mentioned above, SSHRC will not fund the full cost of any Connection project. Additional support in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions (excluding registration fees) equivalent to a minimum of 50 per cent of the amount requested from SSHRC must come from other sources. You must outline the overall cost of your event or outreach activity and clearly indicate which portion will be paid with SSHRC’s grant. SSHRC suggests including a table showing a cost breakdown of both the funds requested from SSHRC and the matching contributions.
Clearly describe how the budget requested from SSHRC and any sponsoring organizations’ contributions will complement each other and benefit the objectives of the Connection project.
Please ensure that your budget requests are in accordance with the level of funding that is essential to complete the proposed program of activities. The adjudication committee may deem your application less competitive if it finds that you are requesting nonessential funding. Committees will use the principle of minimum essential funding to guide their discussions of project budgets.
Note: In reviewing the funding you have requested, committee members take into account the quality of your overall financial planning, your justification of the proposed expenditures, and the cash and in-kind contributions you have secured. Committees will recommend budget reductions in cases where they determine that budget requests are linked to ineligible activities, such as those listed in the Connection Grants funding opportunity description.
Fully justify all budget costs in terms of the needs of the research, keeping in mind that the appropriateness of the requested budget and justification of the proposed costs are a subcriterion within the Feasibility criterion. It is imperative to distinguish between types of travel when explaining your travel expenses. The types are:
- travel for research purposes; and
- travel for communication purposes (e.g., conference travel).
Briefly describe all attempts at obtaining funds from other sources and, if applicable, provide details in your budget justification.
Equally important is the justification for budget costs for research assistants or associates who are not students. These expenditures must be fully justified in terms of the needs of the research. Also, justify the number of students to be hired relative to the objectives of the proposed research.
Notes:
- Insight Grant funds cannot be used for remuneration and/or travel and subsistence costs of presenters or guest speakers, or for research costs of collaborators.
- No team members (applicant, co-applicant or collaborator) may be remunerated with grant funds. This includes postdoctoral fellows serving in any of these capacities.
- Consultation fees are eligible for expert and/or professional and technical services that contribute directly to the proposed research as long as the service is not being provided by a team member or other persons whose status would make them eligible to apply for a SSHRC grant.
For tools for research and related activities: Within the page limit, you must include in your Budget Justification a table clearly indicating amounts by item (e.g., professional/technical services, supplies). This presentation is mandatory, as these separate amounts cannot be included individually in the Funds Requested from SSHRC module. Provide clear justification for each item proposed.
Please ensure that your budget requests are in accordance with the level of funding that is essential to complete the proposed activities. Note that the adjudication committee may deem your application less competitive if it finds that you are requesting non-essential funding. Committees will use the principle of minimum essential funding to guide their discussions of project budgets.
Note: In reviewing the funding you have requested, committee members take into account the quality of your overall financial planning, your justification of the proposed expenditures, and the institutional and partner organization funding that you have secured. It is also important to indicate how the budget requested from SSHRC and the partner’s contributions will complement each other and benefit the objectives of the partnership.
Note: In reviewing the funding you have requested, committee members, and external reviewers where applicable, take into account the quality of your overall financial planning, your justification of the proposed expenditures, and the institutional and partner organization funding that you have secured. It is also important to indicate how the budget requested from SSHRC and the partners’ contributions will complement each other and benefit the objectives of the partnership.
Notes
- No team members (applicant, co-applicant or collaborator) may be remunerated with grant funds. This includes postdoctoral fellows serving in any of these capacities.
- Consultation fees are eligible for expert and/or professional and technical services that contribute directly to the proposed research as long as the service is not being provided by a team member or other persons whose status would make them eligible to apply for a SSHRC grant.
Funds from other sources
List all contributors (e.g., host institution or organization, individuals, not-for-profit organizations, philanthropic foundations and private sector organizations), apart from confirmed partners, that are providing cash and/or in-kind contributions for the proposal. Indicate whether or not these funds have been confirmed.
Only contributions confirmed by a letter of support from an organization will be counted toward the 50 per cent requirement for matching funds.
Contributions from partner organizations should not be included in this section.
If a funding source is not listed, select “Other” using the “List…” button. Type in the source name and amount and identify the contribution type.
If you have received more than one contribution of the same type from a single funding source (i.e., cash or in-kind) and same confirmation status, you must combine these into one entry (e.g., two confirmed $20,000 cash contributions from a university become one confirmed $40,000 cash contribution). Enter amounts rounded off to the nearest dollar—in Canadian currency—without spaces or commas (e.g., 40000). For blank entries, leave in the “0” value.
When you save the data, five new blank entry lines will be added to the screen to allow you to enter additional funding entries, if necessary.
Total project cost
Each partner organization will complete a Contributions from Partner Organization page (budget) indicating whether each budget item has been confirmed. When all Contributions from Partner Organization pages have been submitted, the amounts from each budget item will be automatically totalled. After the data are saved, the system will automatically display these totals in a PDF version of this page of the application form.
A. Total of all partner organizations’ contributions
The system will total the values entered for “Cash” and “In-kind.”
B. Total funds from other sources
Once you complete the “Funds from Other Sources” screen and save the data, the system will display the totals on line B.
C. Total funds requested from SSHRC
For each year, the amounts from “Student salaries and benefits / Stipends” to “Other expenses (specify)” will be automatically totalled. After the data are saved, the system will automatically display the totals on line C.
Total cost of project (A + B + C)
The system will automatically add lines A, B and C.
Environmental impact—Appendix A
If you have selected “Yes” to at least one of the questions in the Environmental Impact section on the Activity Details screen, you must complete an Environmental Information Form (Appendix A) and upload it to the Environmental Impact page.
Note: For the purposes of Connection program grant applications, “research” and “research activity” may be read throughout to include any Connection event or outreach activity.
Contributions plan (mandatory)—maximum four pagesmaximum one page
Prior to filling out this section, see the exclusions in the Guidelines for Cash and In-Kind Contributions.
At stage 2, applicants must demonstrate that they will secure, over and above the budget requested from SSHRC, a minimum of 35 per cent in additional resources from sources other than SSHRC during the life of the grant (four to seven years). Applicants should use the Funds from Other Sources module to indicate specific contribution amounts. Successful Stage 1 applicants will be required to begin confirming cash and/or in-kind contributions for inclusion in their Stage 2 application.
Applicants are required to demonstrate that they have made progress in securing the 35 per cent minimum additional cash and/or in-kind contributions, and to indicate how they will secure the remaining resources during the lifespan of the grant (four to seven years).
Detail your plan to secure cash and/or in-kind contributions. The plan must describe:
- the confirmed or proposed contributions of the host institution/organization;
- the confirmed or proposed contributions from partner organizations and/or other sources;
- how you will continue to seek and to secure cash and/or in-kind support at Stage 1 and during the life of the grant (four to seven years); and
- how the support will benefit the partnership.
Note: Administering institutions or organizations will be required to submit reports documenting both the engagement of their partner organizations and their progress in meeting the requirements for partner organization contributions. By the mid-term evaluation (halfway through the grant period), the minimum contribution of 35 per cent over and above the budget requested from SSHRC at the time of the formal application must be confirmed for the remainder of the award period. If this amount is not secured by that time, SSHRC will withhold the remaining grant payments until it receives confirmation that the minimum additional contributions have been secured.
Suggested reviewers
List up to three Canadian and/or foreign specialists whom SSHRC may ask to assess your application if you are invited to submit a proposal to Stage 2.
SSHRC reserves the right not to select a reviewer from the submitted list. This list will not be used in evaluating your Stage 1 application.
Suggested reviewers cannot be:
- affiliated with your institution or that of any member of your research team (including co-applicants and collaborators);
- someone with whom you or any member of your research team has collaborated in the past (e.g., as a co-author or co-editor, or as a co-organizer of a conference or workshop);
- someone with whom you or any member of your team has a personal relationship; or
- a previous thesis supervisor or anyone who has had a similar supervisory or mentoring relationship with you or a member of the research team over the course of doctoral or postdoctoral studies.
Sport Participation Research Initiative (statement of relevance)—maximum one page
The Sport Participation Research Initiative offers grants to conduct research on matters related to enhancing participation in sport—and to the outcomes thereof—in Canada. Sport Canada has funding available for those Insight Grant applications that propose programs of research relevant to its policy priorities and that the Insight Grants adjudication committee has recommended for funding, but which, due to budgetary constraints, did not receive a regular Insight Grant. If you have selected “Sport Participation Research Initiative” in the “Joint or special initiative” field in the Identification module, clearly explain how the proposed research meets the initiative’s objectives.
Department of National Defence (statement of relevance)—maximum one page
If you selected “Department of National Defence” in the “Joint or special initiative” field in the Identification module, clearly explain how the proposed research meets the Department of National Defence joint initiative’s objectives.
Initiative for Digital Citizen Research (statement of relevance)—maximum one page
The Initiative for Digital Citizen Research offers grants to conduct research on or related to online disinformation in the Canadian context. The Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) has funding available for those Insight Grant applications that propose programs of research relevant to these policy priorities and that the Insight Grants adjudication committee has recommended for funding, but that, due to budgetary constraints, did not receive a regular Insight Grant. Supplements intended to finance conference participation at the Conference on Digital Citizen Research organized by PCH are also available to successful Insight Grant recipients whose research falls within the scope of the initiative. If you have selected “Initiative for Digital Citizen Research” in the “Joint or special initiative” field in the Identification module, clearly explain how the proposed research meets the initiative’s objectives.
Suggested reviewers
List up to three Canadian and/or foreign specialists whom SSHRC may ask to assess your proposal. SSHRC will solicit no more than one review from a suggested reviewer. Suggesting fewer reviewers may be advantageous in cases where the number of qualified specialists is small. SSHRC reserves the right not to select a reviewer from the submitted list.
Suggested reviewers cannot be:
- affiliated with your institution or that of any member of your research team (including co-applicants and collaborators);
- someone with whom you or any member of your research team has collaborated in the past (e.g., as a co-author or co-editor or as a co-organizer of a conference or workshop);
- someone with whom you or any member of your team has a personal relationship; or
- a previous thesis supervisor or anyone who has had a similar supervisory or mentoring relationship with you or a member of the research team over the course of doctoral or postdoctoral studies.
Complete all mandatory fields (those in bold) and click “Save.” When you save the information, the “Clear entry” button will appear. Click “Clear entry” if you want to remove one of your reviewers, then click “Save” again.
Exclusion of potential reviewers (if applicable)—maximum one page
List potential reviewers who would be unlikely to provide an impartial review, in your opinion. Provide a justification for excluding potential reviewers (e.g., experts with whom you or members of your research team have had serious disputes). While SSHRC cannot be bound by this information, it will take it into consideration in the selection of reviewers.
This information will be held in strictest confidence and will not be provided to external reviewers or members of the adjudication committee. Any exclusion should be renewed with any subsequent applications, if still relevant.
Research contributions and relevant experience (mandatory)—maximum five pages Research contributions (mandatory)—maximum four pages
Applicants and projectProject directors must attach Research contributions and relevant experience. You have five pages in total to address the sections below, as applicable. You may choose to devote more space to certain sections depending on the nature of your past contributions and experience (for example, non-academic project directors may choose to have a larger “Relevant experience” section). The attachment should be presented in this order, as applicable:
Research contributions content must address the Capability evaluation criteria listed in the funding opportunity description.
Applicants or project directors must attach research contributions in this order:
- Relevant research contributions over the last six years
- Other research contributions
- Most significant career research contributions
- Career interruptions and special circumstances
- Contributions to training
Co-applicants must also provide their research contributions (maximum four pages), which they will be able to upload once they have accepted the invitation to participate.
1. Relevant research contributions over the last six years
Outline your research contributions within six years of the application deadline date. In the case of those candidates claiming career interruptions (see 4. below), you may include publications drawn from your most recent periods of research activity to an overall total of six years.
Provide details, as appropriate, about the contributions you listed, as follows.
- In the left margin, identify with an asterisk (*) research contributions that resulted from previous SSHRC support.
- Specify your role in co-authored publications.
- For published contributions, provide complete bibliographic notices (including co-authors, title, publisher, journal, volume, date of publication and number of pages) as they appear in the original publication.
- For publications in languages other than French or English, provide a translation of the title and the name of the publication.
- For recent graduates, list theses.
Group your contributions by category in the following order, as applicable, listing your most recent contributions first.
Refereed contributions
Examples include books (where applicable, subdivide according to those that are single-authored, co-authored and edited works), monographs, book chapters, articles in scholarly refereed journals and conference proceedings.
Be aware that a “refereed work” involves its assessment:
- in its entirety—not merely an abstract or extract;
- before publication; and
- by independent (at arm’s length from the author), anonymous, qualified experts.
Other refereed contributions
Examples include papers presented at scholarly meetings or conferences and articles in professional or trade journals.
Non-refereed contributions
Examples include book reviews, published reviews of work, research reports, policy papers and public lectures.
Forthcoming contributions
Indicate one of the following statuses: “submitted,” “revised and submitted,” “accepted” or “in press.” Provide the name of the journal or book publisher and the number of pages. Contributions not yet submitted should not be listed.
Creative outputs
Examples of creative outputs may include exhibitions, performances, publications, presentations, and film, video and audio recordings. List your most recent and significant achievements grouped by category. Creative outputs will be evaluated according to established disciplinary standards and creative and/or artistic merit.
If applicable, you may include a website link. SSHRC cannot guarantee that links will be accessed.
2. Other research contributions
Describe any other contributions to research and the advancement of knowledge within the last six years, including your research contributions to non-academic audiences (e.g., public, policy-makers, private sector and not-for-profit organizations).
3. Most significant career research contributions
List and rank up to five of your most significant contributions over your entire career. The six-year rule does not apply to this section. Therefore, contributions listed here may differ from those listed in other sections of your CV. Please ensure that you explain briefly the significance of the contributions listed.
4. Career interruptions and special circumstances
Career interruptions occur when researchers are taken away from their research work for an extended period of time for health, administrative, family or other reasons. In these cases, as explained above in the Relevant research contributions over the last six years section, explain the interruption(s) and ask that an overall total of six years of research activity be considered by the adjudicating committee.
Special circumstances involve slowdowns in research productivity created by health, administrative, family or other reasons (i.e., the researcher was not completely taken away from research work). Applicants from small institutions may indicate their teaching load in this section if the change in workload impacted their research output.
SSHRC asks its adjudication committees to consider career interruptions and special circumstances that may have affected candidates’ record of research achievements. In doing so, adjudication committee members will be able to more accurately estimate the productivity of each researcher, independent of any career interruptions or special circumstances in the last six years. Previous productivity is one element that may predict the success of the proposed research project.
5. Contributions to training
Provide the following information on students you have helped train within the last six years:
- Indicate your role in supervising or co-supervising ongoing and/or completed theses, listing these by the student’s level of studies.
- Describe efforts you have made to involve students (e.g., doctoral, master’s or undergraduate) and/or postdoctoral researchers in your research activities.
- Specify if opportunities for such contributions have been limited because your postsecondary institution does not have graduate degree programs in your field or discipline.
6. Relevant experience
In the Relevant experience section, non-academics and academics can describe their experience in engaging in and/or leading a Connection Grant-type event or outreach activity (e.g., event or knowledge dissemination, transfer, synthesis, exchange and/or mobilization activities), and any previous experience related to the objectives of the Connection application. Please justify how this experience will aid you in the proposed activity. Examples of relevant experience include: working within or with communities and/or organizations (e.g., not-for-profit, public and private sector organizations), non-academic career information, or voluntary work. Include:
In the Relevant experience section, non-academic and academic project directors can describe their previous experience that is relevant to the topic and objectives they are investigating in the application, including their experience in engaging in and/or leading formal partnerships and collaborative research. Please justify how this experience will aid you in the proposed activity. Examples of relevant experience include: working within or with communities and/or organizations (e.g., not-for-profit, public and private sector organizations), non-academic career information, or voluntary work. Include:
Describe your experience related to the topic and objectives of the partnership application, including experience in engaging in and/or leading formal partnerships. Please justify how this experience will aid you in the proposed activity. Examples of relevant experience include: working within or with communities and/or organizations (e.g., not-for-profit, public and private sector organizations), non-academic career information, or voluntary work. Include:
- your experience in engaging in and/or leading Connection-type projectsformal partnerships and collaborative research;
- a brief description of the nature of the work you performed;
- an explanation of how this work has prepared you for your role in the project; and
- a description of the skills you developed (e.g., training, mentoring, analysis, networking).
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