UPEI increases support for graduate students through new fellowship program
UPEI’s Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is establishing a new fellowship program for incoming and existing graduate students in research thesis-based graduate programs.
“Competitive financial support is an important factor in the recruitment and retention of graduate students at UPEI,” said Dr. Greg Naterer, vice-president, academic and research. “Graduate assistantships and supervisor grant/contract funding provide a common form of graduate student support. In addition, graduate fellowships have a significant role.”
To secure an FGS fellowship, entering students will normally have an overall cumulative average of at least 75 per cent in their last program of study. Each eligible master’s or doctoral student in a research thesis-based program will receive a fellowship in an amount stipulated by their home faculty. Fellowships are awarded on a “first-come first-served” basis up to the available budget for each unit.
Dr. Naterer noted that other forms of support for students in course-based graduate programs have also been created. Graduate students in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are supported through a fellowship program specific to that faculty.
The new fellowship program will support the goals of UPEI’s Strategic Research Plan, specifically “to increase and broaden the scope of fellowship support to attract and retain outstanding graduate students and support faculty competitiveness for external grants.” It will also help faculty researchers to attract and retain graduate students, and to secure tri-agency and other grants.
In addition to fellowships, other forms of graduate student support from the Faculty of Graduate Studies, home academic units, and Robertson Library will total nearly $1 million in 2024–25. A unit’s allocation is primarily based on graduate tuition revenue it generates.
“The Robertson Library contributes significantly to graduate programs and their associated research,” said Dr. Naterer. “Additional funding to the library through this new model will support existing and new graduate program initiatives; periodicals, subscriptions, and databases; and staffing needs.”
For more information, graduate students should contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator in their faculty or school, or Dr. Marva Sweeney-Nixon, Associate Vice-President, Research, and Dean of Graduate Studies.
“Special thanks to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and all faculty supervisors who provide an exceptional learning experience for graduate students at UPEI,” said Dr. Naterer.
