Financial support for new PhD students in Physics and Geophysics

The total annual support package for students holding assistantships in the Department of Physics varies depending on the program and whether or not the student holds a major scholarship. At this time, the minimum funding for a full-time first-year PhD student in Physics is approximately $30,720 for students who request and receive funding from graduate teaching and/or research assistantships. (PDF, 40.8k)

If requested, basic financial support from the Department and from students' research supervisors includes:

  • Graduate Teaching Assistantship (TA) and/or Graduate Research Assistant Fellowship (GRAF), usually granted over 4 terms each year, September-December, January-April, May-June, July-August.

Please note that students are responsible for paying their tuition and other fees. No departmental financial support will be provided to part-time students.

Typical Funding, 2022-2023

Typical funding for full-time PhD students is below and is determined by whether or not a student has a scholarship. Not all major scholarships are listed; please contact us about top-ups if your scholarship is not listed below.

Funding for students holding various scholarship

If a Student comes with-->

no scholarship1 AGES5 Golden Bell Jar2 Alberta Innovates3
NSERC PGSD3
fall TA and/or GRAF 10,240 0/10,240 5,120 5,120/0 5,120/0
winter TA/GRAF 10,240 10,240/0 5,120 0/5,120 0/5,120
summer GRAF 10,240 10,240 5,120 2,560
AGES 12,000
Golden Bell Jar 18,000
NSERC PGSD 21,000
President's Doctoral Prize/Walter Johns* 5,700
$2K scholarship; top-up to NSERC PGSD6 2,000
Alberta Innovates 31,000

first-year stipend

30,720 32,480 38,480 36,120 36,240

In their first year, international students will be reimbursed by their supervisors for the international student Differential Fee.

Funding for students holding various scholarships

If a Student comes with-->

AI + PGSD
NSERC CGSD
AI + CGSD
CSC4 CONACYT
Vanier
fall TA and/or GRAF 5,120
winter TA/GRAF 5,120
summer GRAF 5,120
QEII
Golden Bell Jar
NSERC PGSD 21,000
NSERC CGSD 35,000 35,000
Vanier 50,000
President's Doctoral Prize/Walter Johns* 5,700 5,700 5,700 5,700
$2K scholarship; top-up to NSERC PGSD
Alberta Innovates 12,000 12,000
CSC 26,400
CONACYT 17,000

first-year stipend

38,700 40,700 52,700 26,400 32,360 55,700

1Students will receive a 12 hr/wk TA in fall and winter semesters
2Students are offered a 6 hr/wk TA in fall and winter semesters
3Students are offered a 6 hr/wk TA in fall or winter semester

4For students starting from September 2020-on
5Students will receive a 12hr/wk TA in fall or winter semester
6Awarded to any new graduate student entering a PhD program who has won a NSERC PGSD

*The President's Doctoral Prize of Distinction consists of a payment of $10,000 in Year One, with an amount equal to all unreduced instructional tuition (this year, $5,700) and fees in up to three subsequent years in which an eligible award is held.

The commitment for financial support from the Department is for a student's first year of residence. Students can, however, expect support through teaching and/or research assistantships to be extended through the normal duration of their programs as long as they are making satisfactory progress toward their degree and in their tasks as a graduate assistant. For an PhD student, the maximum period of guaranteed financial support is 5 years for students entering with only an undergraduate degree, 4 years for students entering with a graduate degree or post-graduate studies.

We encourage students to apply for all scholarships and fellowships for which they are eligible.

  • Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada apply for NSERC scholarships in October, through their home departments.
  • International and Canadian students doing research in nanoscale physics, biophysics, or energy can apply for Alberta Innovates graduate student scholarships before being admitted to University of Alberta. The application deadline is in January.

Information on this page is subject to change without notice.