The IRSST increased the amounts of the scholarships and fellowships offered by its Graduate Studies Scholarship and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. This program is designed to encourage the next generation of OHS researchers. Every year, it offers more than $400,000 to master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral students whose research programs are concerned specifically with the prevention of industrial accidents and occupational disease or the rehabilitation of injured workers.
Here are the changes for the 2019-2020 competition:
Value of the scholarships and fellowships
| Category of scholarship/fellowship |
Annual value |
| Master’s |
$16,625 |
| Doctorate |
$19,950 |
| Doctorate outside Québec |
$25,950 |
| Postdoctorate |
$45,000 |
| Postdoctorate outside Québec |
$55,000 |
Other changes
By offering scholarship/fellowship supplements that complement scholarships awarded by other funding organizations, the IRSST’s Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program helps financially support applicants with demonstrated aptitudes for graduate or postdoctoral studies and a clear interest in OHS.
- The revised master’s-level scholarship supplement is $4,375.
- The revised doctoral-level supplement is $5,250.
In addition, the IRSST’s Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program now allows applicants to obtain up to eight (8) months of paid parental leave.
The period of eligibility for the doctoral scholarship (and the related supplement) is now four (4) years instead of three (3). Payment of the 11th and 12th instalments is contingent on the initial filing of the thesis before the end of the 12th session. Lastly, the maximum duration of the postdoctoral fellowship is now three (3) years instead of two (2).
Summary of changes
| Scholarship |
Before |
Starting from 2019-2020 Competition |
| Value |
Duration |
Value |
Duration |
| Master's scholarship |
$14,250 |
2 years |
$16,625 |
2 years |
| Master’s scholarship supplement |
$3,750 |
2 years |
$4,375 |
2 years |
| Doctoral scholarship |
$19,000 |
3 years |
$19,950 |
4 years* |
| Doctoral scholarship outside Québec |
$25,000 |
3 years |
$25,950 |
4 years* |
| Doctoral scholarship supplement |
$5,000 |
3 years |
$5,250 |
4 years* |
| Postdoctoral fellowship in Québec |
$30,000 |
2 years |
$45,000 |
2 or 3 years** |
| IRSST guest postdoctoral fellowship |
$30,000 |
2 years |
$45,000 |
2 or 3 years** |
| Postdoctoral fellowship outside Québec |
$36,000 |
2 years |
$55,000 |
2 or 3 years** |
| Paid parental leave |
- |
- |
8 months scholarship equivalent |
- |
*11th and 12th instalments conditional on the initial submission of the thesis prior to the end of the 12th funded session.
**Possibility of a 3rd year of funding conditional on approval of an application for renewal.
The deadline for the 2019-2020 competition is October 17, 2018.