Assists Canadian women university graduates to further their post-secondary education.
Fellowships & Awards
About the Fellowships & Awards Program
The National Fellowships & Awards Program of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) is an affirmative action program as provided for in the Constitution of Canada and eligibility is restricted to women.
CFUW’s Fellowship & Award winners have produced work in a variety of academic areas, including international humanitarian efforts, feminist and gender analysis, advanced science, medicine, social justice and human rights for women and girls.
The CFUW Charitable Trust provides funds for the CFUW Fellowships & Awards Program. The Trust is supported by donations from CFUW clubs, individual club members and non-members.
Susan Murphy served as a Past National President of CFUW (2010-2014). She was also a Past Chair of the CFUW Charitable Trust Board (2012-2016).
Susan helped kick-off the CFUW 100th Anniversary Campaign to raise an additional $100,000 for scholarships, fellowships, and awards. In the late summer of 2014, she had walked the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain, raising almost $18,000 for the Charitable Trust’s Fellowship and Award Fund.
The education of girls and women was something that Susan believed in and she devoted time and expertise to contributing to this cause. The CFUW Charitable Trust and CFUW members acknowledge Susan’s strong leadership by awarding the inaugural CFUW 100th Anniversary Legacy Fellowship in Susan’s memory.
The Fellowship is awarded to a woman who has completed one calendar year of a doctoral program, at the time of application. The PhD thesis research/project must focus on advancing gender equality. It is not restricted to a specific field of studies. The Fellowship is tenable in Canada or abroad.
Fellowship Amount: $5,000
Tenure Period: 2021-2022 Academic Year
Frequency of Fellowship: Biennial
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The PhD thesis research/project must focus on advancing gender equality. It is not restricted to a specific field of studies. Some examples falling within our criteria:
Thesis/project in the field of Law or International Law on access to justice for Aboriginal women.
Thesis/project in the field of International Development on an intersectional feminist approach to international cooperation.
Thesis/project in the field of Philosophy in Pharmacy on sex and gender bias in clinical research.
Thesis/project in the field of Computer Science focusing on exploring the gender bias in big data.
The PhD thesis/project must be well defined in terms of objectives, implementation, and expected results.
Applicants must have completed one calendar year of a doctoral program, at the time of application.
The Fellowship is tenable in Canada or abroad.
Each project is evaluated by members of the CFUW Fellowships Committee, whose decision is final.
Students in any branch of learning may apply but their program must demonstrate relevance to CFUW’s mission, aims, and objectives.
Two awards at the masters level and two for doctoral level study. The value of each award is $5,000.
Dr. Alice E. Wilson, CFUW member, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the first woman to hold a professional position at the Geological Survey of Canada won the 1926 CFUW Travelling Fellowship.
Awarded to mature students returning to graduate studies in any field after at least three years.
Honours those for whom the CFUW Charitable Trust receives memorial donations. At the time of application, the candidate must be enrolled in masters studies in science, mathematics or engineering. This fellowship is tenable in Canada or abroad.
Established in 2006, in memory of Elizabeth Massey, a young lawyer and member of CFUW whose life was greatly enriched by her love of the creative arts.
For post-graduate studies in the visual arts/fine arts, such as painting or sculpture; or in music. The award is tenable in Canada or abroad.
One award for masters study: $5,000 Two awards for doctoral studies: $7,000 each
Commemorates the fourteen women students murdered at the École Polytechnique in Montreal. For graduate studies in any field. The applicant must justify the relevance of her work to women.
Inaugurated in 2015, the award is named to honour Linda Souter, the only Canadian member of CFUW that has served both as President of CFUW and Graduate Women International (formerly known as International Federation of University Women, IFUW).
Awarded to a masters or doctoral student studying in the area of the Humanities. Generally, study in the Humanities is theoretical and does not involve empirical methodology. The Humanities could include the following: English Language and Literature, History, Languages Study, Classics, Philosophy, Film Studies, Communication Studies, and Culture Studies.
CANADIAN HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION (CHEA) FELLOWSHIP 2022-2023
Value: $6,000
The fellowship is open to candidates enrolled in studies in Human Ecology including Family and Consumer Sciences, at the masters or doctoral level. The applicant must be accepted or enrolled in a post-graduate program in Canada at the time of application.
The evolving studies in Human Ecology include: human nutrition, food science, housing/shelter and aesthetics, architecture, financial resource management, clothing and textiles, family relations, human sexuality, and human development.
Honours a founding member of the Nova Scotia Home Economics Association who dedicated her professional life to home economics education. At the time of application, the applicant must be enrolled in masters studies that focus on one or more aspect(s) of the field of Human Ecology/Home Economics/Family and Consumer Studies. Special consideration will be given to those pursuing a postgraduate degree in education. She may be studying abroad.
The evolving studies in Human Ecology include: human nutrition, food science, housing/shelter and aesthetics, architecture, financial resource management, clothing and textiles, family relations, human sexuality, and human development.
Georgette LeMoyne was one of the first women to receive a university degree in French Canada. She devoted her life to the promotion of education and employment for women. It is for graduate study in any field at a Canadian university. The candidate must be studying in French and write the Statement of Intent (Section I) of the application in French.
CFUW Dr. MARGARET MCWILLIAMS PRE-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP 2022-2023
Value: $11,000
This fellowship, established in 1952, honours Margaret McWilliams, first CFUW President (1919-1923), who dedicated her life to furthering the status of women through improved access to higher education and the active involvement of women in public life. It is awarded to a woman who has completed at least one calendar year in a full-time doctoral program and is enrolled in full-time studies in Canada or abroad at the time of application.
The CFUW Creative Arts Award was created to promote interest and involvement in the creative arts by engaging audiences and inspiring discussion.
The amount of the award is normally $4,000 and is set by the CFUW Charitable Trust budget. It is awarded biennially.
Each submission must be nominated by a CFUW Club local to the applicant.
The winner of the 2021 CFUW Creative Arts Award is the East Coast Inspire Video Project. CFUW Moncton was the nominating CFUW Club.
This year, Festival Inspire is taking the show on the road and travelling around the province to spread art, culture, and a celebration of civic spaces in NB communities.
Along the theme of arts through the province, the East Coast Inspire Video Project is designed to honour performing arts in the province, pair artists with awe-inspiring natural landscapes, feature local talent, and incubate community collaborations through the creation of a series of music videos.
Artists will be chosen by the Inspire selection committee for their enthusiasm towards the mission of the project: to celebrate the arts, community, and our natural landscape.
This project comes at a time when artists need all the support they can get to get back to work doing what they do best. Inspire is looking forward to working with artists to promote them, and gift them videos to help them build their portfolios and promote themselves for years to come.
The project has designed the showcase to feature female musicians from New Brunswick in the first video. This video project not only helps the musicians, but also shines a light on our community, and certainly adds a positive highlight to NB tourism. A win-win-win!
2021 CFUW Creative Arts Award Winner – East Coast Inspire Video Project. From L to R: Karen Dunnett, President, CFUW Moncton; Lisa Griffin, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Festival Inspire; Maureen Mills, Secretary, CFUW Milton.
The next award will be presented in 2023.
The winners of the 2019 Award were:
CFUW Abbotsford and the Reach Gallery Museum
CFUW 100th Anniversary St. John’s and the Persistence Theatre
The CFUW Library Award was created to promote literacy and learning by supporting innovative approaches, encouraging community involvement and advocating for the Canadian library system.
CFUW offers the Library Award every two years which is available to:
academic institutions,
community centres,
cultural centres,
youth organizations or any community based organization/team/group.
Please note that each submission must be nominated by a CFUW Club local to the applicant.
CFUW Library Award Winner 2020:
Saanich School District 63 Individual Learning Centre (ILC)
The award funding is for the ILC’s project entitled: Hummingbird Project – Building Understanding & Reconciliation. CFUW Saanich Peninsula was the nominating CFUW Club.
Saanich School District (SD63) is located on the Saanich Peninsula and includes four local Indigenous villages: Tsawout, Tsartlip, Tseycum, and Pauquachin. The school, SD63 Individual Learning Centre, is the alternate public high school in the district. It provides a standard BC Ministry of Education 9-12 curriculum through a different approach than a traditional classroom. ILC is a school of choice.
The project will create an inviting space and build a collection for students to explore and share Indigenous stories, history and landscape knowledge. The collection will include books with primarily written text, with graphic text, and with text supported with audio; videos; and digital resources. Items in the collection will provide access for varied reading levels, and will support literacy development. The intent of the Hummingbird Project is to foster reconciliation by creating a space and offering a collection that invite the Indigenous and non-Indigenous students of our school to learn about each other and the traditional territory they live on; to share their stories; and to strengthen their confidence as learners. For many of our Indigenous students and their families, this project is also about building trust in the school system as a place where they are valued and experience success. When students see themselves and their culture reflected in educational resources, students feel they belong and are motivated to learn.
Send inquiries to: Email: fellowships@cfuw-fcfdu.ca CFUW Office Hours: Mon. to Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Phone: 613-234-8252 ext.3 Toll-free in Canada and US: 1-888-220-9606
The award funding is for the ILC’s project entitled: Hummingbird Project – Building
