COVID-19 Delay Assistance Program

The College of Arts recognizes the significant impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, on our graduate students. The pandemic has caused a partial or complete disruption of research progress for many of our graduate students, causing unavoidable delays and unexpected financial challenges.

To address the continued needs of our graduate students the College of Arts has established the COVID 19 Program Delay assistance program co-funded by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Questions about the COVID-19 Delay Assistance Program can be directed to artsadr@uoguelph.ca

About the COA COVID-19 Delay Assistance Program

Research-based, full-time or part-time, domestic or international, graduate students in the College of Arts (COA) who were not able to make significant progress due to COVID-19 delays can apply for the COVID-19 Program Delay Assistance Program for a one-semester funding extension. Applications can be submitted at any time during or after the student's final semester of guaranteed funding. Every eligible COA student registered during the pandemic (W20 to S21) will be able to apply for this fund at the end of their program.

• The COVID-19 Program Delay Assistance Program provides up to $5,500 of financial support to domestic graduate students and up to $8,000 to international graduate students. If an award or funding (e.g. GTA/GRA) is received and/or held for the semester of application that is valued at less than $5,500, graduate students can request the difference such that they receive a maximum of $5,500/$8,000 in total for the semester.
• Students can receive this award only once.

Program Eligibility

1.  Domestic or International students who are registered full-time (FT) or part-time (PT) in a research- based graduate program in COA, and who were within their funding guarantee period for at least two registered semesters during the pandemic (W20 to S21);
2. and whose most recent progress report indicates “satisfactory” progress. If progress was “some concerns” or “unsatisfactory”, students may still apply if the letter from their faculty advisor includes an explanation of progress impediments that were not COVID-related;
3. and who were not able to make significant, expected progress in achieving research objectives due to COVID-19;
4. and who are beyond the final semester of their funding guarantee duration for the semester of application.

This program is not open to students:

1. On a leave of absence (LOA) for the entirety of the pandemic (i.e. students who were not impacted by COVID-19 academic/research delays because they were on a LOA for the period W20–S21);
2. or who have already received supplemental COA funding intended to offset COVID delays;
3. or who are receiving $5,500 or more from other funding sources at the University of Guelph (or $8,000 in the case of international students), e.g. GTAs or scholarship, for the semester of application.