Funding Road Map

Glossary

The funding opportunities represented in this Roadmap use a variety of words and terms to describe the type of funding they provide. This glossary will hopefully take some of the confusion out of trying to figure out what they all mean!

Bursary - this is a grant that is offered to help contribute to education costs. Often, you will need to demonstrate financial need in order to be eligible for a bursary. It is not usually based on academic merit, although there may be a minimum academic standard required. It does not need to be repaid; it is not a loan.
Chair - This is an award that is sponsored by an individual, group or private business; the sponsor makes a donation in the form of a person to carry out work in a particular field. As the recipient of a chair, you would have to be qualified for a faculty appointment, and you would receive fully salary and research funding for your work. A chair is typically awarded for a three- to five-year period.
Charitable organization - please see Charitable organization and tax exempt criteria page, in the Extra Information section
Fellowship - This is an award that is offered to assist with some or all of the costs of (usually) post-graduate education, often including both tuition and research costs.
Grant - This is support that, depending on the source of funding, can be awarded for a broad range of projects and activities. You may receive a grant to support education and/or research.
Internship - An internship is an employment placement (sometimes paid, sometimes unpaid) that will provide you with valuable experience in the field in which the internship is being offered. The period of time an internship is held for generally ranges from a few months to a year.
Recoverable grant - This is essentially an interest-free loan. Support for your education or research is provided with the expectation that the money will be repaid.
Scholarship - An award, based on academic merit, that is offered to assist with some or all of the costs of education, and can include research costs.
Stipend - A regular amount of money usually supplied for living expenses, which may include some contribution towards the cost of the research.