Question | Answer |
---|---|
What is it? | REACH grants provide students with financial support to offset direct costs of eligible research expenses. |
How much is it worth? | The maximum amount approved per project shall not exceed $1,500. The actual amounts per project will be determined by the STaR committee. REACH grants are always paid as reimbursment upon the submission of an expense claim and funding report. |
What is the deadline? | October 31. |
Am I eligible? | You must currently be registered in your program, be in good academic standing, have a faculty mentor, not have previously held a REACH or currently hold any major awards (>$10,000 per year for graduate students; 2025 USRA for undergraduates), and not have completed the entire project by the application deadline. |
How are the proposals adjudicated? | Proposals are assessed by the STaR committee. Please be aware that you are now required to include a budget and budget justification as part of your application. Applications that do not include a budget and rationale will not be considered for the REACH grants. |
Is there a workshop? | To be determined. |
Application process
Applications must be submitted through ROMEO. If you don't have a Romeo account yet, please register using your student e-mail (my.viu.ca). Once your account is created, you can start your application:
- Click on ‘APPLY NEW’. It is located on the right hand side ¾ of the way up the page.
- Scroll down to ‘Student Awards’ and click on ‘REACH Grant Application Form’
- Fill out the tabs as required - see details for each tab below
- You can save as you go along, and come back to your application whenever you want.
- When you are ready to submit, just press ‘Submit’ along the top.
Title: Your project’s title. Give this a legitimate, descriptive title, not 'PSYC491 project'.
Start Date: September 1 of current year, if you have already started your project. If not, please use the date you plan to start your project.
End Date: April 30, next year.
Keywords: Choose one with the ‘1-‘ label. Not mandatory, but helps us with metrics.
Project Abstract (media-ready): Provide a brief (150-250 words) abstract that outlines your project proposal. This is mandatory and your application will be considered incomplete if you do not provide a project abstract.
Related Certifications: Leave Blank unless your project has received approval by either the REB or the Animal Care Committee.
Principal Investigator: Do not change – you are the principal investigator.
Other Project Member Info: Add the name of the VIU faculty that will serve as your project mentor. Their role is ‘Supervisor’ and they will fill out the ‘Mentor Support Form’.
Attention, applicants! You must combine the items listed below in one PDF file. Please have them in the following order: Project Proposal, References Cited, Mentor Support Form and Statement of Interest.
- Project proposal (max 1 page, single spaced): Margins should be set at 1" on all four sides, and font should be set at Calibri Light with a font size 11. Put title at the top of your proposal. Proposal must include:
- the research problem or issue your project is tackling
- a brief literature/background summary to situate the project
- the methods to be used
- a brief timeline (if your project requires REB (or other) approval, include in the timeline)
- the knowledge mobilization plans to share results - if you receive a REACH, then you have to attend CREATE
Your proposal should use clear language as they are adjudicated by an interdisciplinary panel.
- References Cited (max 1 page): Margins should be set at 1" on all four sides, and font should be set at Calibri Light with a font size 11. It does not matter what reference system you use. Pick one and be consistent.
- Mentor Support Form: The person you listed in the ‘Project Team Info Tab’ under the role of supervisor fills this out. The link to form can be found in the application form.
- Statement of Interest (max 0.5 page, single spaced): Margins should be set at 1" on all four sides, and font should be set at Calibri Light with a font size 11. Please describe why this project is personally important/relevant/interesting. You want to get the committee excited for you to do this research.
You are now required to provide a budget for your project. Eligible expenses directly related to your project include:
- Materials and supplies
- Gear/Equipment
- Travel expenses for data collection (mileage, accommodation, food)
- Hospitality for data collection activities (e.g. tea service for focus groups)
- Incentives/gratitude gifts
Budget Justification: Please explain how you came up with the proposed budget and why these amounts are necessary for the successful completion of your project.
Reference Letter
The REACH grant application requires a reference letter provided by a person who can comment on your ability to undertake your proposed project and the foreseeable benefits your project will have on your academic and/or professional pursuits. Ensure that the person you ask is not your mentor for the proposed project.
The reference letter needs to be sent directly to Vanessa Moraes (Vanessa.Moraes@viu.ca) and received by October 31. The referee sends the letter (the person who writes it), not the student. Reference letters will be kept confidential and will only be used in the adjudication of the REACH grants.
Resources
The following can assist you with your proposal:
Vanessa Moraes (Student Research Engagement Coordinator): Vanessa.Moraes@viu.ca
The Writing Centre: book an online appointment with the Writing Centre!
Results and reimbursements
The results will be announced by the end of November.
If your project is awarded, you will receive the instructions on how to claim your REACH grant. Please remember to keep the receipts/invoices of all expenses you wish to be reimbursed for. You will need to submit your expense claim and final report no later than February 27, 2026.
Past REACH recipients
Looking for some inspiration? Have a look at the 2024-25 REACH Award recipients.
2023-24 Reach Award recipients