OFFICE of RESEARCH SERVICES
External Funding
When you apply for research or creative grants and awards from external organizations and institutions, the Office of Research Services can support your efforts and ensure the process runs smoothly. All applications for external scholarly funding must be reviewed by the Office of Research Services and approved by the provost before submission.
If you are planning on applying for external funding, please email research@macewan.ca before submitting your application.
Deadlines for external applications
All applications for external funding must be submitted for institutional approval using the Online Grant Application System (via Peoplesoft) at least two weeks prior to the grant deadline set by the external granting agency (e.g., NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, Government of Alberta).
There are two components to your submission to an external granting agency:
- Online Application System (via Peoplesoft)
Your application must be submitted via Peoplesoft to obtain approvals from the Chair, Dean, etc. We have moved away from physical signatures, so this is our digital way to move forward. Your full application will need to be attached on this online system for the Chair, Dean, etc. to review.
External Grant Application Guide - External Agency Grant Application
a. If the grant is Tri-Agency (i.e., NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), the application must also be submitted via the agency portal.
b. If your application is not a Tri-Agency grant you may submit your completed application directly to the external granting agency (paper, email, or portal) after you have received institutional approval.
The Indirect Costs of Research policy establishes guidelines around the recovery and allocation of the indirect costs associated with research and creative activity that is funded by external grants.
Start as early as possible. Successful applicants often begin planning and drafting their proposals and budgets, and forming their research team, several months ahead of the deadline.
As part of your preparation, read the new Indirect Costs of Research policy
Notify the Office of Research Services, your department chair and your dean to let them know you are applying for the grant.
If you would like external editorial review, contact the Office of Research Services.
If required by your Faculty or School, submit the draft application to your chair and dean at this time.
The Online Grant Application System should not be used at this stage of the process.
Submit your grant application using the Online Grant Application System by following these steps.
- Log in to PeopleSoft.
- Choose the Research tile.
- Navigate to the My Grant Application page and select External Grant from the list of awards. Choose Start a New Application to begin a new application. Applications that have already been started can also be accessed from this screen.
- You must include a PDF of your completed application as an attachment (e.g., NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR application).
- After the application has been submitted, the system will automatically seek review and approval from your department chair and dean. If you are submitting a Tri-Agency grant, submit your completed grant application through the Tri-Agency portal (e.g., NSERC, SSHURC, CIHR). When you select “submit” in the portal, the Office of Research Services will receive your completed application.
External Grant Online Grant Application System User Guide
About approvals
Approvals are required to ensure workload, personnel, space, equipment, and support needs are addressed. During this phase of the process, your application may be returned to you for editing; if so you must re-submit your application. After your dean has approved the application, the Office of Research Services reviews the institutional requirements of the grant and, if applicable, obtains institutional approval. The application may not be submitted to the external granting agency without these approvals. Note: In PeopleSoft, the proposal’s status will be updated to “Accepted by ORS” when institutional approval has been received.
Tri-Agency Funding
The university has a signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Tri-Agencies, the three primary sources of research funding in Canada: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC); and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Requirements of the agreement include the specific obligations of the university and the researcher.
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
| Key Programs | Annual deadlines (subject to change)* |
|---|---|
| SSHRC Insight Grants | October 1 |
| SSHRC Partnership Development Grants | November 15 |
| SSHRC Insight Development Grants | February 1 |
| SSHRC Partnership Grants Stage 1 | February 10 |
| SSHRC Connection Grants | February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1 |
| SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant | March 15, June 15, September 15, December 15 |
*Deadlines may change from year to year. Consult the SSHRC website for current program information.
SSHRC Institutional Grant
SSHRC Institutional Grants (SIG) help eligible Canadian post secondary institutions fund, through their own merit review processes, small-scale research and research-related activities by their faculty and students in the social sciences and humanities.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
| Key Programs | Agency deadline (subject to change)* |
|---|---|
| NSERC Discovery Grants | Notice of intent: August 1 Application: November 1 |
| NSERC Alliance | Open |
| NSERC Idea to Innovation | January 7; April 4, June 27, September 26 |
*Deadlines may change from year to year. Consult the NSERC website for current program information.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
| Key Program | Annual deadlines (subject to change)* |
|---|---|
| CIHR Project Grant | Registration February 9; Application March 9 |
*Deadlines may change from year to year. Consult the CIHR website for current program information.