GAPS grad students financial intake reminder

[Gaps]

Hi all GAPS students,

This is a reminder to please complete the financial disclosure survey. The deadline for this intake form is next Monday, September 30th. Prior to submission, please discuss the components of this form with your TRIUMF supervisor (for both GSRAs and GSVs), as well as your university supervisor for GSVs.

This intake form is very important, as the information that TRIUMF gathers from this form will directly impact the level of financial assistance for those who need financial support. As Marcello states, “It really is an important part of the graduate program that we have a good picture of the financial condition of the students – one cannot make decisions nor any necessary adjustments without good data.” The information you provide will be used to ensure that your pay meets the new TRIUMF minimum pay for graduate students.

We’ve received quite a few questions from graduate students on how to answer some of the components. Here is an FAQ of these questions, answered by Marcello:

Q: What is the purpose of this form?
A: It has multiple purposes. The most important is to record that a student has made a request for financial assistance if they are below the minimum amounts, and to ensure compliance that your pay is at least at the minimum amount. It will also be used to assess the general financial situation for graduate students at TRIUMF.

Q: What does the word “annual” mean in the form?
A: “Annual” means one academic year from September 1st 2024 to August 31st 2025. Please use the most up-to-date numbers that you have from your university when reporting tuition costs and other mandatory fees.

Q: I have to pay MSP (Medical Service Plan, the BC provincial health insurance). Where is the line where I can enter in this information?
A: This is the question that asks “Are you studying at home university in Canada on a student visa from a foreign country?” Since all international students in BC must pay for MSP, if you answer “Yes” to this question then TRIUMF will account for the extra $75/month that MSP costs.

Q: I have a large annual award. What should I expect my total pay to be based on the new TRIUMF minimums?
A: Assuming a 40k doctoral tri-agency award, with the TRIUMF PhD net minimum, the breakdown looks like this:
TRIUMF minimum = 32,000 (75% * 40,000 from award + 2,000 from supervisor)
Award top up  = 10,000 (25% * 40,000)
Total for awardee = 42,000

Q: For GSVs, what costs should I consider in the “living support request”?
A: GSVs are considered by TRIUMF to be similar to sabbatical visitors, so these should be additional costs that you incur because you do research at TRIUMF and not at your home university. For example, students coming from out-of-province could request assistance for rent and transit passes, but a UBC GSV would likely struggle to justify additional support whereas an SFU GSV might only be able to request transit assistance.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to email the GAPS committee (gaps at triumf.ca<mailto:gaps at triumf.ca>), Louis (lcroquette at triumf.ca<mailto:lcroquette at triumf.ca>),  Felix (fcormier at triumf.ca<mailto:fcormier at triumf.ca>) or Marcello directly (marcello at triumf.ca).
Thank you to everyone who has already responded, your contributions will be very valuable in assessing levels of financial support for all graduate students at TRIUMF.

Best,
Your GAPS

gaps.triumf.ca<http://gaps.triumf.ca>
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TRIUMF is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next on this site.
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