Funding - Department of Geography and Environment

Program funding is subject to change. Applicants and students should confirm the current funding model relevant to their situation by contacting the Graduate Affairs Assistant.

PhD Students
(Domestic & International)

Guaranteed funding for 4 years
Additional research funding may be available from your supervisor
If awarded a major external scholarship, your funding package will be adjusted, as follows:
* CGRS-D = $19,500
* OGS = $2900

You and your supervisor are expected to apply for external funding (e.g. SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR)

Master’s Students
(Domestic)

Guaranteed funding for 2 years
Additional research funding may be available from your supervisor
If awarded a major external scholarship, your funding package will be adjusted, as follows:
* CGRS-M = $10,000
* OGS = $2900

(International)

Funding is provided for 2 years
Offered a Teaching Assistantship (TA) plus departmental funding to help offset tuition
Additional research funding may be available through the supervisor
If awarded a major external scholarship, your funding package will be adjusted, as follows:
* OGS = $2900
Expected to pursue external or home-country scholarships

Teaching Assistantships

Graduate students are offered a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) as part of their funding arrangement. There is a wide array of teaching assistant duties which vary by course and range from lab demonstration, to tutorial facilitation, to marking.

GTAs work 10 hours/week (140 hours per term) during the academic year. These positions are covered under a collective agreement between Western and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

The Collective Agreement outlines employment terms, including grievance procedures.
Union representatives are appointed within each academic unit.
In the Department of Geography and Environment, the Graduate Chair and Department Chair represent the University.
All TAs receive a copy of the Collective Agreement from the union.
Appeals and grievances related to TA roles must follow the union’s process, not the academic appeals system.
For more information, visit the Graduate Teaching Assistants Union website.

TA assignments are coordinated by the Graduate Chair, with support from the Graduate Administrator.
Faculty submit their course TA needs in Summer (for Fall courses) and Fall (for Winter courses).
Graduate students can indicate their TA assignment preferences, and the department aims to accommodate them.
A final list of TA assignments is shared at the start of each term.
Each TA must complete and sign a Duties Specification Agreement (DSA) and a TA contract with their course instructor.
Mid-term check-ins are required to ensure TA hours are being properly managed and fulfilled.

First-year TAs receive teaching support through two TA seminar days hosted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning. Additional training options include:

Weekend TA Training Programs
International TA Training Program
Details are available on the Teaching Support Centre website.
A more in-depth teaching course for graduate students is offered by the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies:
SGPS 9500 – The Theory and Practice of University Teaching

E.G. Pleva Award

Honors outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Geography and Environment Department.
Two awards ($300 each) are given annually in June.
Recipients demonstrate exceptional support in instruction, marking, or guidance beyond typical TA duties.
Winners are selected based on Teaching Assistant Evaluation forms from undergraduate courses.

Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) Teaching Award

A campus-wide annual competition recognizing excellent teaching.
Nomination details and forms are available at www.sogs.ca.