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Updates
VIURAC application deadlines
The 2025 Spring Call is now closed.
Apply in ROMEO using the Internal Grant Intake Form.
SRCA Work Opportunity students
The SRCA now has an allocation of Work Opportunity students. By including a work opportunity student in your internal grant application, you can show a cash commitment by the university to your project. If your grant is approved and you have applied for a Work-Opportunity student, that Work-Opportunity student will be automatically approved.
VIURAC form templates
Share Grant: international travel considerations
Despite VIU lifting the ban on international travel, Global Affairs Canada still has a very cautious approach to travel with COVID Travel Advice. In order to ensure the continued safety of all VIU students and employees, an international travel approval process remains in place.
To receive reimbursement for international travel expenses, VIU Employees must receive travel approval from the Office of the Provost, before departure. If you intend to apply for Share Grant funding for international travel, a covid-19 travel risk self assessment form must be completed. Please refer to VIU's International Travel Authorization to determine the best next steps.
Internal awards for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity
The table below provides details on the internal funding opportunities for faculty at VIU. Additional VIU funding sources are identified below the table as well. All applications are to be submitted through ROMEO.
Amplify Grant
The Amplify Grant will allow for applications up to $3,000 for the development of web, social media, and digital sharing of research knowledge in innovative ways that reach beyond face-to-face methods.
Value: up to $3000
Application deadline: January 15
Instructions: to be announced.
Explore Grant
Explore Grants will be used to provide up to $2,500 for applications that aim to explore and create new knowledge outputs where at least one undergraduate or graduate student is involved in the investigation in a paid role.
Value: up to $2500
Application deadline: January 15
Instructions: to be announced.
Engage Grant
The Engage Grants provide funding of applications up to $2,500 for projects aimed at building or expanding collaborative projects with community or industry partners, or that focus on mobilizing research knowledge to non-academic audiences.
Note that Social Sciences and Humanities Research (SSHRC) Exchange Grants are funded for 3 years through the SSHRC Institutional Grant and will be used to create three sub-categories of awards, including: Engagement, Gather and Amplify awards.
Value: up to $2500
Application deadline: January 15
Instructions: to be announced.
Collaborate Grant
The Collaborate Grants are intended to enable VIU faculty to invest in the development of research centres, labs and institutes to develop strategic plans and communication tools that promote pathways for faculty and student collaboration on projects.
Value: up to $5000
Application deadline: Closed
Instructions: to be announced.
Innovate Grant
Innovate Grants will be used to provide up to $5,000 for applications to support research and creative activity that results in innovative or creative outputs or applications. Applicants cannot apply for Innovate and Inquiry Grants for the same project. Applicants who apply for additional funding to hire a student cannot apply for Explore Grants for the same project.
Value: up to $5000 or up to $7000 if hiring a VIU student
Application deadline: January 15
Instructions: to be announced.
Inquiry Grant
The Inquiry Grants (formerly the Research Fund) will be used to provide up to $5,000 for applications to support investigator-led inquiry and research. Inquiry grants support disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies and inquiry in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Applicants cannot apply for Innovate and Inquiry Grants for the same project. Applicants who apply for additional funding to hire a student cannot apply for Explore Grants for the same project.
Value: up to $5000 or up to $7000 if hiring a VIU student
Application deadline: January 15
Instructions - To be announced.
Time Award
The Time Award is a section release intended to support Professional Development and Scholarly Activity projects that do not require a full-year or half-year leave. The final report template can be found on the Attachments tab in ROMEO.
Value: Up to 2 sections of teaching workload reassignment or equivalent for non-instructional or VIUFA faculty
Application deadline: February 3 by 11:59 pm
Instructions: to be announced.
Gather Grant
The Gather Award will allow for funding applications up to $3,000 to enable researchers to host events (i.e. conferences, symposia, exhibitions) and gatherings aimed at mobilizing research knowledge.
Value: up to $3000
Application deadline: January 15
Instructions: to be announced.
Share Grant
Travel and conference funding is awarded to VIUFA, BCGEU, or CUPE members who wish to present at a conference or event.
Value: up to $1200
Application deadline: September 15 @ noon
Instructions: Share Grant
Enable Grant
Value: 1 section reassignment
Application deadline: Open
Instructions: email Grants and Contracts@viu.ca.
Publish Grant
Grants to support faculty to publish their findings in peer-reviewed open-access journals and books published by high-quality publishers.
Value: $1000
Application deadline: Closed
Instructions: to be announced.
Provost Awards for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity
These Awards were introduced in 2018 to recognize the outstanding contributions of VIU employees in Scholarship, Research, Creative Activity and Community Engagement. They are merit-based awards of no financial value. More information is available on the VIU Awards of Excellence.
Value: Merit award only
Nominating deadline: May 15
Additional VIU internal funding sources
Asper Media Studies Endowment Award
Application deadline: April 6 or October 31 by 4 pm
Award amount: up to $5,000. for research projects/$2,000. for conference attendance
The Media Studies department is soliciting proposals for projects that involve research, program development, or other forms of scholarship in the area of media studies. The proposal can include a request for conference attendance. These funds are made available through the Asper Media Studies Endowment (CanWest Global).
Asper Media Studies Endowment Award Application Details
Applications can be submitted in ROMEO.
BCGEU Long-term Assisted Professional Development Leave
BCGEU employees are eligible to apply for a Professional Development Leave after 3 consecutive years of employment or attend an event as stated in the BCGEU Collective Agreement.
Global Engagement Program Development Grants
Application deadlines: September 30 and January 31
Global Engagement Program Development Grants are designed to support faculty and staff as they develop curriculum and university programming that is international in nature and provides students with the attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary to perform effectively (professionally and socially) in an international and intercultural environment. The intent of the program is to foster incremental, innovative activities that weave internationalization into curricula, departments or areas where there is little or no international focus. For application details, see WorldVIU Global Engagement.
- Global Engagement - Travel Grants
- Application deadlines: September 30, January 31 and April 30
Global Engagement Travel Grants are designed to assist VIU faculty and staff to explore or develop international teaching and learning opportunities that directly benefit the VIU community. Funding can be used to pay for eligible travel expenses only.
The Global Engagement International Work Opportunity Grant is designed to engage VIU faculty and staff in high-quality international workplace-based experiences that support development projects.
Self-Funded Research Grant (in lieu of salary)
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has made provision for faculty to receive certain tax concessions in instances where they are using salary to cover the costs of their research. This means that part of your salary can be considered a research grant in lieu of salary. The purpose of this grant is to allow faculty to receive a portion of their salary tax-free for research purposes.
Self-funded Research Grant Application Details
Tri-Agency General Research Funds (GRF)
Under certain conditions, SSHRC and NSERC permit institutions to retain residual funds from completed projects. The Agencies expect that the institution will use these funds for the broad purpose of enhancing the quality of research in the natural sciences and engineering, or in the social sciences and humanities, as applicable.
Tri-agency General Research Fund Application Details
VIUFA Professional Development Leave
It is recognized that many opportunities for professional development require a longer period of time than is available between the spring and fall instructional periods. To encourage faculty to take advantage of these opportunities, a program of assisted professional development leave of absence is available to regular VIUFA members. The VIUFA Leave Committee administers this program.
VIUFA Professional Development (Assisted) Leave Information Sheet
Criteria for Evaluating Leave Proposals and Time Awards