Identify opportunities and apply for funding (e.g., fellowships, grants, scholarships). Manage finances and risks. Estimate costs and deliver projects on-budget.

Jump to section: Understanding Finances & Funding | Cultivating Financial Literacy and Funding Knowledge | Quick Guide to Finances & Funding | Taking Action | Resources | References

Understanding Finances & Funding

Financial literacy is the possession of knowledge and skills required for effective money management, which includes making informed economic and financial decisions at the personal and/or professional levels. ^[1] The process of funding implicates locating and securing financial resources to fund particular needs or projects, normally for a designated period of time. ^[2] The sources of funding in academia are either internal (from a department or unit within the institution) or external (through government agencies or private donors). Funding can be allocated to students, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents as scholarships or fellowships. Other sources of funding include grants and stipends.

Why does it matter?

A survey showed that 40% of Canadians identified money as their highest source of stress, greater than work, health, and relationships. ^[3] In addition to paying for life's necessities, graduate students have tuition and fees to add to their financial burden. Research has shown that greater financial literacy, ranging from savings and budgeting strategies to debt management, helps improve mental and physical health while increasing productivity.^[4]  Additionally, enhancing your financial education will help you to efficiently locate funding sources and learn about your financial rights (e.g., student stipends are non-taxable, earning tax credits, fee waivers). While typically linked with project management skills (e.g., delivering on budget), financial literacy is considered an asset for jobs in a variety of fields. ^[5]

In addition to financial benefits, successfully applying for or earning monetary awards are regarded as academic achievements that could boost your resumé and your chances for getting additional funding opportunities later stages in your career.

Cultivating Financial Literacy and Funding Knowledge

Many financial institutions, services, and funding agencies offer training and tools to assist students in learning how to manage their finances and to identify funding opportunities (e.g., university student aid offices, bank financial advisors, or web applications). Knowledge of budgeting strategies and debt management is critical for students—a population that generally receives a modest income while studying and has loans to repay following graduation. Estimating your current and potential financial resources (e.g., part-time income, government student loans, family, fellowships, scholarships, and lines of credit) is the first step in budgeting. To manage your debt, McGill Scholarships and Student Aid suggests a number of money-saving strategies. If you have any government loans that you acquired during a previous program, but don’t have any currently, the Scholarships and Student Aid Office can assist you with confirming your interest-free status and understanding your repayment responsibilities.

Students are advised to seek out information from funding agencies directly or through services offered to students. On- and off-campus information sessions, such as those given by federal funding agencies, provide a wealth of information about available opportunities and submission procedures. Attend grant writing workshops to learn how to write a persuasive funding proposal. Consider learning about the reviewing process of funding proposals to identify reviewers’ expectations and to better understand their perspective when they are assessing your proposal. ^[6] Consult theTaking Action section for suggestions.

Quick Guide to Finances & Funding

1. Identify gaps in your finance knowledge and seek out training and/or resources to support growth in areas that are important to your financial health
2. Develop your financial planning and management skills, and respect budget limits
3. Understand the principles of financial management and develop commercial awareness: i.e., the understanding of how a business makes money, what customers want, and what problems exist within a business areas ^[7]
4. Develop your oral and written communication skills to draft more persuasive funding proposals
5. Identify relevant funding opportunities and procedures (e.g., application requirements, deadlines) 

Taking action

Resources

Funding databases & resources

• McGill Scholarships and Student Aid: Funding resources for Graduate Students, Postdoctorals, International Students, University-Wide Funding, and other funding.

• Universities Canada – Scholarships, Grants and Bursaries for Canadian Students: A list of scholarships, grants, bursaries, and other financial assistance for Canadian students.

• Universities Canada – Scholarships, Grants and Bursaries for International Students: A list of scholarships, grants, bursaries and other financial assistance for international students.

• Government of Canada – Scholarships: A list of merit-based scholarships for students.

• Government of Canada – Benefits: A list of programs and resources to find financial assistance in Canada.

References