Funding

Funding Support - Types

Alberta Health has provided a grant to support the activities of the PGME office and postgraduate education at the University of Alberta.

Types of Funding:

1) Resident Professional Development

RPD funding is allocated to each ministry-funded resident up to $900 per year for professional development and training purposes. Sponsored Trainees from the Gulf States, other Canadian Universities, and DND-funded residents are not eligible. This funding is to be used from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

Residents are eligible for $900 per appointment year. If the program length is less than one year, these funds will be prorated to the number of months. Contingent on ministry funding, the maximum allowable amount per resident is equal to the standard length of the training program.

By accepting these funds, the resident is agreeing only to use the funds for eligible expenses.

Eligible Expenses

• Conferences and Workshop expenses (registration, travel, accommodations) 

• Textbooks

• Educational and/or Stats Software

• Professional memberships (if allows access to free or reduced-cost professional development opportunities)

• Study guides and exam preparation course fees

• Journal subscriptions

• UpToDate

Ineligible Expenses

• Fees and expenses for electives

• Items of clothing e.g., lab coats, hoodies

• Computer hardware

• Expenses related to RCPSC or CFPC certificate exams e.g., exam fees, travel expenses, accommodations, etc

• Equipment and devices such as stethoscopes and loupes

• Mobile devices

• Tution 

Residents must ensure their personal and banking information is current in Bear Tracks.

It is the responsibility of each resident to keep receipts supporting the funding received and associated spending in case the University of Alberta requires documentation for audit purposes.

2)    Program Support (RPS) - $2,500 per year ($1,250 for programs without residents)

Program Support funds can be spent on activities benefiting all residents in the program.

Eligible Expenses 

• Local educational retreats (See PGME guidelines)

• Guest speakers

• Standardized patients

• Expenses associated with research day (e.g., resident awards)

• Resident room: (furniture, computers, monitors)

• Expenses related to CaRMS

Ineligible Expenses 

• Consumables for the resident room (e.g. beverages and snacks)

• Gift cards

• Faculty awards

Please note that catering expenses may be eligible but are highly regulated. Each function/event/meeting needs to be looked at independently by the department. Please refer to the University's Hospitality, Working Sessions/Committee Meetings, and University Employee Functions Procedure. 

Departments are responsible for ensuring the eligibility of expenditures, processing these transactions, and retaining supporting documentation of expenditures.

3)   Learning Tools and Resources, Simulation, Competence by Design (CBD)

All programs are eligible to apply for additional PED grant funding to support Residency Program activities. Approximately $400,000.00 is distributed annually and provides support for a broad spectrum of PGME resources, materials, and events that benefit all residents in a program. Examples of previously approved items from this fund include: 

• Asset type purchases such as furniture, projectors, computers, and printers (please request only if program support funding is already allocated and used)

• Costs associated with simulation such as equipment and HSERC rental space

• Group educational resources such as textbooks, subscriptions, and software

• Costs associated with workshops and in town retreats such as guest speakers, room rentals, and catering. Please note, retreats outside of a program's local community will no longer be eligible for funding from this grant. For more information on eligible expenses, please review the PGME guidelines found on our website.  

• Items and workshop expenses to support the successful launch of CBD, eg EPA booklets

Requests for additional funding are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and approved semi-annually. Funding is not guaranteed. Requests must include a budget itemizing all costs, outline the benefits to all residents, and be signed by the Program Director.

Approved funding will be allocated to the department’s speed code. The department is responsible for processing the transactions in compliance with University policies.

Expenses relating to conferences and travelling

The following documentation/proof is required by the University to process your claim:

1. Registration: In addition to the registration confirmation, a copy of the conference program (brief overview only) that includes detailed information about the conference is required.

2. Proof of attendance: Conference badge and itinerary are required by Finance as proof of attendance.

3. Flight: Copy of your email confirmation (showing total cost) as well as paper copies of all boarding passes, if available for flights to the conference

(Please note the following are not covered: seat selection, onboard food purchases, Air Canada lounge access, etc).

3. Transportation: All original receipts (i.e. parking, taxi, etc).

4. Accommodation: Official copy of hotel receipt (Note: room service, wifi charges, valet parking, etc. are not covered).

5. Meals: Meals will be claimed per diem (receipts, therefore, not required) as per the University of Alberta Travel guidelines that follow (meals provided by the conference cannot be claimed). The per diem allowance is:

• • • Within Canada:  $70 CAD per day  

    • Outside Canada:  $95 CAD per day  

6. Claims must be submitted within 30 days of travel.