Graduate funding

The Mayer-Heft PhD Fellowship is awarded to newly enrolled PhD candidates in the Department of Religions and Cultures who are working in the area of Judaic Studies. It is for a three year period, offering the recipient $5,000 in each of those three years.

The Mervin Butovsky Memorial Scholarship is offered annually, alternating between an undergraduate student in Judaic Studies in Religions and Cultures and the Department of English. It is for the amount of $1,000 or more depending on endowment earnings.

• Eligible candidates must be pursuing MA or PhD research in the area of Jewish Studies at Concordia University. A student may not receive more than one Montefiore scholarshiop from different sources in the same year. Awards may be renewable.
• The fellowships are valued at $7,000 each.

This award is created through the generosity of Dr. Kurt Ekler, a Holocaust survivor and Professor Emeritus who graduated from McGill University with BSc and PhD degrees before teaching Chemistry at Loyola College and Concordia University. It is for new and returning students, however preference will be given to students starting their Master's degree. It is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and international students.

Eligible applicants must be full-time, pursuing a Master's degree in Judaic Studies.

The award is renewable upon recommendation from the Department of Religions and Cultures.

About the Research

We are seeking applicants for our PhD program in Religion, who will research South Asian religious practices, specifically focusing on any of the following topics: performative traditions, heritage and art, contemporary caste politics, diasporic religious sensibilities, and religious nationalism, broadly defined. The candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Sowparnika Balaswaminathan. Additional faculty in the department who will support the student's work include Prof. Leslie Orr and Prof. Marc des Jardins.  

Requirements

Candidates should have an MA in any relevant area of Humanities or Social Sciences. Relevant language skills and preliminary research experience or member knowledge will be considered assets. See application requirements for the PhD in Religion, and see application instructions below.  Note that applicants must outline their own research project they intend to undertake. for enquiries, please contact Prof. Sowparnika Balaswaminathan.

Preference will be given to students from under-represented communities, and international students are welcome to apply.

Financial Commitment

The fellowship is valued at $25,000 CAD per year for three years (subject to ongoing satisfactory performance). Applicants will also be considered for the following financial support (which can be held in combination): (1) entrance awards, betwen $5,000 (for the first year only) -$14,000 (for four years; $56,000 total) CAD; and (2) teaching assistantships (TA), approximately $3600 per term. Students are expected to apply for external grants to support their research activities, including SSHRC and FRQSC. International students, including from the United States, will also be considered for international fee remissions.

How to Apply

Apply to the Graduate Program at Concordia, to the PhD in Religion in the Department of Religions and Cultures, and mention your interest for this opportunity in your statement of purpose. Application deadline is Feb. 1, 2025 for September 2025 program start date.

About the Research

We are seeking applicants for our MA program in Religions and Cultures, who will research South Asian religious practices, such as performative traditions, heritage and art, contemporary caste politics, and diasporic religious sensibilities, and religious nationalism, broadly defined. The candidates will work under the supervision of Prof. Sowparnika Balaswaminathan, Prof. Leslie Orr or Prof. Marc des Jardins.

Requirements

Candidates should have a BA in any relevant area of the Humanities or Social Sciences. Relevant language skills and field of experience will be considered an asset.

See application requirements for the MA in Religions and Cultures, and see application instructions below. Note that in their statement, applicants must outline their own research project they intend to undertake. For enquiries, please contact Prof. Sowparnika Balaswaminathan, Prof. Leslie Orr or Prof. Marc des Jardins.

Preference will be given to students from under-represented communities, and international students are welcome to apply.

Financial commitment

The fellowship is valued at $15,000 CAD (for the first year, renewable for the second year, subject to ongoing satisfactory performance). Applicants will also be considered for the following supplementary financial support (which can be held in combination): (1) entrance awards, between $1,000-$10,000 CAD; (2) teaching assistantships (TA), approximately $3600 per term; and (3) research assistantships. Students are expected to apply for external grants to support their resarch activities, including SSHRC and FRQSC.

How to Apply

Apply to the Graduate Program at Concordia, to the MA in Religions and Cultures in the Department of Religions and Cultures, and mention your interest for this opportunity in your statement of purpose. Application deadline is Feb. 1, 2025 for a Sept. 2025 start date.

SSHRC - Social Science and Humanities Research Council

FRQSC - Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Société et Culture