mike.lwrnc

This would be game-changing for me if true, but where did you get this information?

Well, I know that I was emailed last October and asked if I was sure I'd complete my doctoral requirements in time, and warned that "If your application is successful in the competition and do not complete the requirements of your doctorate by this date, the award will be cancelled. Given that you can apply only twice for a PDF, you have the opportunity to withdraw your application from the competition if you do not expect to meet this requirement." So I'd say they're likely to be pretty strict.

Slightly OT: I applied for the NSERC PDF competition thinking I'd be done my degree this summer, ready to start the PDF Sept 1, but hiccups has arisen that make this a less than likely outcome. I'm aware that failure to complete degree requirements by Sept 1 means that your PDF is revoked, but any ideas on whether this also means that your application is counted against your maximum of 2 times you're allowed to apply for the competition? Obviously if one is awarded a PDF one year that they can't accept, they're probably going to still be in pretty good standing for the next year of competition, but still, it would suck to only have one chance left at the competition... And of course, what with the delayed notifications I am indeed counting chickens before they've hatched. Though I am wondering if I should call them before I get my letter and ask them to forget I applied...