SSHRC Institutional Grants (SIG)

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada provides annual block grants to help fund small-scale research and research-related activities by their faculty and students in the social sciences and humanities through the SSHRC Institutional Grant (SIG).

SIG funds are intended to help Canadian postsecondary institutions strengthen research excellence in the social sciences and humanities.

Applications are made using the StFX ROMEO Researcher Portal. The deadline is noon on 1st March. If this date falls on holiday or weekend, the deadline is extended to the noon on the next business day.

About the SSHRC SIG Grants:

Complimentary to, and in line with, SSHRC’s three main pillars of activities (Talent, Insight and Connection) SIG funds may be used to offer:

SSHRC Explore Grants, which:

• support social sciences and humanities researchers with modest research funding requirements at any stage of career; 
• allow for small-scale innovation and experimentation by providing funding to develop a research project or conduct pilot work; and 
• enable researchers to hire students at any level to participate in their research projects thereby contributing to their professional development; and

 SSHRC Exchange Grants, which:

• support the organization of small-scale knowledge mobilization activities, such as workshops and seminars, in order to encourage collaboration and the dissemination of research results both within and beyond the academic community; and
• allow researchers to attend or present their research at scholarly conferences and other dissemination venues that align with SSHRC’s mandate in order to advance their careers and encourage the exchange of ideas and research results at the national and international level.

SSHRC expects that all SIG-funded research training will incorporate appropriate dimensions of the Guidelines for Effective Research Training.

Applicant Eligibility:

• Recipients must be affiliated with a SSHRC eligible Canadian postsecondary institution, and must maintain such an affiliation for the duration of the grant period. Researchers who maintain an affiliation with a Canadian postsecondary institution, but whose primary affiliation is with a non-Canadian institution, are not eligible to hold these grants. 
• Postdoctoral researchers affiliated with the institution are eligible to receive support for eligible activities, provided they will maintain their affiliation for the duration of the grant period. 
• Students are not eligible to hold SIG-funded grants; however, SSHRC encourages researchers to employ students in SIG-funded research. 
• The institution acknowledges SSHRC support for its research or research-related activities and clearly brands funds used for research purposes as “SSHRC Explore Grants” and funds used for dissemination purposes as “SSHRC Exchange Grants.”

SIG Grant Rules:

• The value of grants awarded to a single project must not exceed $7,000 per year (note: large projects may not be simultaneously funded by several small grants).
• Individuals may not hold more than one SIG-funded grant at a time for the same activity. 
• The subject matter of the project or activity must be consistent with SSHRC’s mandate. (Please see Subject Matter Eligibility for more information.)
• Grant recipients must acknowledge SSHRC support for their research or research-related activities.

Reporting and Length of Funding: 

A final report is due twelve months from the date of award, which helps contribute to the StFX institutional report that must be prepared for SSHRC on the use of SIG funds. Any funds remaining unspent at the end of the one-year grant period for these awards will be returned to the institutional account for future internal SIG competitions.

Additional information

For future information please see the SSHRC Institutional Grant website.