The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Institutional Grants (SIG) fund small-scale research and research-related activities in the social sciences and humanities. These are annual grants for researchers, and are awarded through an institutional merit review process.
Funding is available to a maximum of $10,000 (one-year grant). Funds are intended to help researchers apply for an external grant and as such it is expected that potential applicants will apply once every few years.
The SIG funding opportunity supports research-creation — including creative research that results in artistic work(s). Creative expression may occur in various fields from visual and performing arts to new artistic practices.
Funding can be requested under one of the following two granting programs:
SSHRC Explore Grants
Support social sciences and humanities researchers with modest research funding requirements at any stage of their career;
Allow for small-scale innovation and experimentation by providing funding to develop a research project or to conduct pilot work; and
Enable researchers to hire students at any level to participate in their research projects, thereby contributing to the students’ professional development.
SSHRC Exchange Grants
Support the organization of small-scale knowledge mobilization activities, such as workshops and seminars, to encourage collaboration and the dissemination of research results both within and beyond the academic community
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.
Eligibility criteria
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Applicants must have a primary faculty appointment at Queen's (adjunct or tenure stream) for the duration of the grant. 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.
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Preference will be given to researchers who do not have an active external grant.
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Applicants may submit only one application per SIG competition and may not hold concurrent SIG funding.
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The work conducted with this funding must be in an area of study related to the social sciences and humanities and be consistent with the general guidelines for the subject matter eligibility at SSHRC.
How to apply
To prepare your application, please review the questions that will be asked on your submission form (Queen's NetID is required to view the file). Of note:
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All files must be uploaded in PDF format
- Consider submitting an application that aligns with the following SSHRC-required specifications:
- body text in a minimum 12-point Times New Roman font
- text single-spaced
- all margins set at a minimum of 3/4” (1.87 cm)
- pages numbered sequentially
Next deadline for applications: February 13, 2026.
Adjudication
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria, which must be addressed in your application:
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description of project, activities, and overall expected outcome
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impact of the expected project/activity outcomes
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a plan for the proposed SIG funded research leading to an application to one of the SSHRC funding opportunities listed below within two years of the commencement of the SIG grant:
- Insight Grants
- Insight Development Grants
- Connection Grants
- Partnership Engage Grants
- Partnership Development Grants
Learn more about these and other Federal and Provincial Funding opportunities.
Find funding that aligns with your research focus and goals
The VPR team maintains a curated funding database that provides information and application processes for funding opportunities that are most relevant to the Queen's community, including the SSHRC funding opportunities listed above.
Past grant recipients
Through this fund, in April 2025 we were able provide a total of $107,500 to 24 social sciences and humanities researchers working on small-scale research and research-related activities:
- Alicia Cappello (Library)
- Bhargav Gopal (Smith School of Business)
- Edem Klobodu (Smith School of Business)
- Elliot Paul (Philosophy)
- Gail Henderson (Law)
- Golshan Golriz (Sociology)
- Greg van Anders (Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy)
- Heather McGregor (Education)
- Jacob Brower (Smith School of Business)
- Jeremy Stewart (Psychology)
- Juan Francisco Chavez (Smith School of Business)
- Julien Lefort-Favreau (French Studies)
- Kelly Maracle (Languages, Literatures and Cultures)
- Lisa Guenther (Philosophy)
- Maxwell Hartt (Geography and Planning)
- Meredith Chivers (Psychology)
- Mikhail Nediak (Smith School of Business)
- Qian Zhang (Mining)
- Quinn Albaugh (Political Studies)
- Rebecca Hall (Global Development Studies)
- Reena Kukreja (Global Development Studies)
- Richard Ascough (Religion)
- Stanka Fitneva (Psychology)
- Victoria Sytsma (Sociology)
Through this fund, in February of 2024 we were able provide a total of $112,138.79 to 17 social sciences and humanities researchers working on small-scale research and research-related activities:
- Ajay Agarwal (Geography and Planning)
- Alyssa King (Law)
- Antonia Behan (Art History)
- Dean Burry (DAN School of Drama and Music)
- Douglas Friesen (DAN School of Drama and Music)
- Gregoire Webber (Law)
- Ian Matheson (Education)
- Jacob Brower (Smith School of Business)
- Karen Dubinsky (Global Development Studies/History)
- Kristin Moriah (English)
- Meena Krishnamurthy (Philosophy)
- Pamela Beach (Education)
- Reena Kukreja (Global Development Studies)
- Richard Reeve (Education)
- Saad Chahine (Education)
- Thomas Abrams (Sociology)
- Tiina Kukkonen (Education)
In June of 2023, approximately $53,000 was awarded to 16 researchers for small-scale research and research-related activities.
- Adrienne Shannon (DAN School of Drama and Music)
- Alana Butler (Education)
- Amitava Chowdhury (History)
- Benjamin Bolden (Education)
- Brooke Linden (Health Sciences, DBMS, Rehab)
- Craig Walker (DAN School of Drama and Music)
- Elaheh Fata (Smith School of Business)
- Elizabeth Baisley (Political Studies)
- Emily Pelstring (Film and Media)
- Karen Ye (Queen's Economics Department)
- Kip Pegley (DAN School of Drama and Music)
- Megan Welton (History, Classics and Archaeology)
- Qanita Lilla (Agnes Etherington Arts Centre, Fine Arts)
- Quinn Albaugh (Political Studies)
- Sarah Waisvisz (DAN School of Drama and Music)
- Scott MacKenzie (Film and Media)