OMAFRA Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) Entrance Scholarships

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance and Food from Thought fund the Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) program to support the development of highly skilled graduates who can meet the changing demands of the agri-food and rural sector. The health of these sectors depends on a vibrant talent pool of skilled, forward-thinking learners. The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance is committed to promoting social, economic, environmental, and public health benefits through its programs. Through the Alliance, HQP scholarships are awarded to support future generations of researchers, policy makers, and innovators in agri-food. To apply, fill out your application in the Research Management System (RMS). The student and their Faculty Advisor jointly complete an application form. Our web-based software does not allow the submission of an application that has not been completed by both student and Faculty Advisor. Scholarship Online Application Deadline Date: January 15. Application supplemental documents: CV, most recent official (Non-UofG applicants who have not already applied to Graduate Studies at UofG) or unofficial (UofG applicants) transcripts. More information about how to apply is available here. Students will be selected based on the following: • Academic performance; Minimum grade A- (>80%) or equivalent • Job experience and commitment to the Agri-Food system as demonstrated by past work and volunteer experience • Fit of research addressing the OMAFRA priorities • Research Proposal • Student CV.

Donor(s): Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance and supported by the Food from Thought, University of Guelph Value: Various awards for Master's students - up to $40,000 payable over 6 semesters, Various awards for Doctoral students - up to $75,000 payable over 9 semesters Awarded: Entrance

From the University of Guelph Graduate students may expect to undertake teaching and research assistantships as an integral part of their academic programs. Award holders are cautioned that each scholarship has specific terms regarding eligibility to hold the funding, and students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with, and abiding strictly by, the terms of any such awards.

Financial assistance may be available to graduate students in several forms and combinations. These may include employment, research awards, scholarships and bursaries. Each of these is described briefly in the Employment and Awards sections that follow. Students have the responsibility to ascertain precisely what remuneration will be received, if any, from the department or school in which they propose to register. The department or school has the responsibility to inform students about the duties they associate with that form of assistance.

When departments and schools make admission recommendations to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, they also decide what funding (if any) will be provided to each person selected. These funding decisions may include one or more of the employments and award programs described in the Employment and Awards sections that follow.

Scholarships and Other Awards The Senate of the University of Guelph is charged with the responsibility "to deal with all matters arising in connection with the awarding of fellowships, scholarships, bursaries, medals, prizes and other awards" (University of Guelph Act). In carrying out these responsibilities, Senate has established various policies regarding awards and scholarships, and approves the terms and conditions attached to such awards. Each College has a College Awards Committee, which is responsible for the awarding of scholarships and prizes in the programs under its authority. In addition, the Awards Office, Student Financial Services, is responsible for evaluating the financial need component for awards requiring the demonstration of financial need and the selection of bursary recipients.

The University reserves the right to amend these awards subject to the availability of funds.

Students are eligible for internal award consideration from the time they have accepted an offer of admission to a graduate program until they have graduated from that program; students must be registered full-time to be eligible for all internal awards, including travel grants, unless otherwise stated in the eligibility clause.

Students granted a leave of absence (see section 3.4) may defer acceptance of internal awards or interrupt acceptance of continuing internal awards until after the approved leave with the permission of the appropriate awards committee.

Students must complete the Graduate Settlement in WebAdvisor ahead of the published deadline each semester if they wish to have awards applied against tuition owing. However, if no prior arrangements are made to settle tuition, Student Financial Services will apply all internal awards against outstanding balances on student’s accounts. Awards will not be refunded to students until their tuition is settled.

Masters and Doctoral full-time students who are completing research that meet OMAFRA’s research priorities and learning firsthand how forward-thinking research can be mobilized to have a positive impact on society. The HQP Scholarship Program provides financial support for students entering or within the first three semesters of an established graduate program at the University of Guelph. Your academic studies will be governed by the guidelines and regulations of your home department. To be eligible for the HQP Scholarship Program you must: • be completing research that meets OMAFRA research priorities; • be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or studying under an international visa; • have a minimum GPA of A- (greater than or equal to 80%) or equivalent in the last 10 full-time or equivalent credits of post-secondary university studies, indicated on a transcript; • be entering your first semester of a Master's (thesis-based) or Ph.D. program at the University of Guelph in Summer, Winter or Fall. • have a University of Guelph faculty advisor confirmed; • not be an OMAFRA employee; • not concurrently hold other major awards such as NSERC, OGS, SSHRC or Arrell or other major scholarship valued at $15,000 or more per year. A major award is considered a funding source that is awarded across the full program; • have not previously held the HQP Scholarship Program award.

Application:

• College or Department Scholarship Application Form

Deadline: January 15