Faculty eligibility
Open to all Athabasca University faculty researchers (Principal Investigators).
Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to supervise, train, and mentor a Graduate Research Assistant in accordance with AU’s Hiring Research Assistants Policy and Procedures.
Student eligibility
- Graduate students must:
- Be enrolled in an AU graduate program and in good academic standing.
- Be hired under the appropriate classification:
- GRA 1 – Master’s, certificate, or diploma student
- GRA 2 – Doctoral student
- Students may not apply directly; a faculty supervisor must request funding.
Funding details
- Maximum award per student: $18,000
- Funding term: April 1 – March 31 (AU fiscal year)
- Unused or uncommitted funds by February 1 may be reallocated by FGS to other graduate research initiatives.
Projects that engage Indigenous graduate learners or offer strong mentorship and research training opportunities will receive priority consideration.
Step 1. Review the guidelines
Before applying, review the full GRA Funding Guidelines for eligibility, required documents, and evaluation criteria.
Step 2. Prepare your application
Applications must include:
- A project summary and statement of relevance to AU’s Strategic Research Plan.
- Proposed GRA duties and responsibilities.
- A training and mentorship plan outlining expected learning outcomes.
- Confirmation of student eligibility and supervisor commitment.
Step 3. Submit your application
Send the completed GRA Funding Application Form and all supporting documentation to: fgsawards@athabascau.ca
Application deadline: Open between Apr. and Jan. (closed Feb. and March)
FGS reviews applications in consultation with relevant internal reviewers. Decisions are based on project merit, research training quality, and equitable distribution of funds across faculties and disciplines.
Successful applicants will be notified by email.
Supervisors must submit a brief final report within 30 days of the GRA’s appointment end date. Reports should outline:
- The student’s duties and training outcomes.
- Research outputs or deliverables.
- Contributions to AU’s research and strategic goals.