Faculties and departments that are funded by SSHRC, including the following departments from the faculty of Science: Kinesiology, Psychology and Neuroscience & Behaviour, and the School of Earth, Environment & Society, are able to submit nominations for the 2026-27 Harry Lyman Hooker Sr. Fellowships competitions.

• Doctoral Competition
  • There will be one doctoral competition across all eligible departments, the top 6 overall students will receive the awards.
• Master’s Competition
  • There will be one master’s competition across all eligible departments, the top 6 overall students will receive the awards.
• No Reversion lists

Recommended nominees must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or, permanent resident;
• Nominee’s research must fall under the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) mandate;
• At the time of nomination, nominees must have an A- (10/12, 80%) average in each of the last two completed years of study;
• Be entering the first year of a Master’s or Doctoral program effective May 2026 or September 2026 at McMaster University in those disciplines that receive funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Doctoral awards are valued at $24,000 in each of the first four years that the student continues to remain registered in good standing in the doctoral program they originally entered at this University.

Master’s awards are valued at $18,000. The award is for one year only for students in a one-year Master’s program. A student in a two-year Master’s program may receive $6,000 per term for each of the first two terms of their second year ($12,000 total), provided that they remain registered and in good standing in the Master’s program they originally entered at McMaster University.

In the case of both Doctoral and Master’s awards, funding beyond the first year is conditional upon the Hooker Fellowship holder applying for all scholarships for which they are eligible, including, but not limited to Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s and Doctoral*, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowships, Ontario Graduate Scholarships, and Ontario Graduate Fellowships. In cases where a Hooker Fellowship holder also receives another fellowship or monetary award from any source, the Hooker Fellowship will be reduced in accordance with the schedule below. Recipients may hold a full or half Teaching Assistantship in each year that they hold the Hooker Award.

Hooker Fellowship – Master’s (Year 1)*
OGS @ $15,000 + Hooker @ $10,000 = $25,000
OGF @ $12,000 + Hooker @ $13,000 = $25,000

Hooker Fellowship – Master’s (Year 2)
OGS @ $15,000 + Hooker @ 6,666.66 ($3,333.33 per term for two terms) = $21,666.66
OGF @ $12,000 + Hooker @ 8,666.66 ($4,333.33 per term for two terms) = $20,666.66

Hooker Fellowship – Doctoral*
OGS @ $15,000 + Hooker @ $20,000 = $35,000
OGF @ $12,000 + Hooker @ $23,000 = $35,000

*Hooker Fellowship recipients who win any SSHRC Tri-agency award will forfeit the Hooker Fellowship during the length of the federal award. For example, if the student’s CGRS-D terminates at the end of the third year of their PhD, they are eligible to hold the Hooker Fellowship only during their fourth year.

Any other awards received by a Hooker Fellowship recipient not listed above will be assessed by the SGS Associate Deans when necessary.