Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
About the Program
Comprehensive guide for Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships. Get eligibility details, stipend amounts, and registration instructions here.
Benefits & Financial Support
The scholarship is valued at $40,000 CAD per year for three years (non-renewable), totaling $120,000 CAD over the duration. This amount is intended to support tuition fees, living expenses, and research costs. Additional funding for research travel may be available through the Canada Research Training Awards Suite—Research Travel Supplement.
Inclusions
- **
Nationality:** Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, protected persons under subsection 95
(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), and international students. - **
International
Students:** Must be registered in a doctoral program of study at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline
Up to 15% of awards will be available to international applicants. - **
Degree
Level:** Must be pursuing a first doctoral degree (PhD), including joint programs such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD, MA/PhD, or MSc/PhD, provided the program includes a significant autonomous research component. - **
Months of
Study:** Must have completed no more than 36 months of full-time equivalent study in their doctoral program (or PhD portion of a joint program) by December 31 of the calendar year of application. - **
Academic
Standing:** Must have achieved a first-class average (typically equivalent to an “A-” or “A” baseline, as defined by the specific host university) in each of their last two completed years of full-time study. - **
Previous
Awards:** Cannot hold or have held a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC (including a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship) to undertake or complete a doctoral degree. - **
Application
Limit:** Can apply a maximum of three times to the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship
– Doctoral (CGRS D) program. - **
Faculty
Appointment:** Cannot hold a faculty appointment concurrently with the CGRS D award unless they arrange for a leave of absence. - **
Nomination:** Applicants must generally be nominated by an eligible Canadian institution
Canadian citizens or permanent residents who completed a degree at a Canadian institution but are currently enrolled at a foreign university may apply directly to the federal agencies.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
PhD
Must be enrolled in PhD.
Financial & Category
Selection Process
Applications are evaluated based on two equally weighted selection criteria: Research Potential (50%) and Relevant Experience and Achievements obtained within and beyond academia (50%)
The review process typically involves an initial internal review and ranking by the applicant's nominating university, followed by a national competition adjudicated by agency-specific selection committees (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC).
Renewal Policy
The scholarship is non-renewable and is awarded for a fixed term of three years (36 months)
Award holders must remain enrolled full-time in their doctoral program and demonstrate continued satisfactory academic progress to maintain the award
Post-award policies and regulations are governed by the Tri-Agency Research Training Award Holder's Guide.
Application Process
- 1**Identify a Nominating Institution
** Research Canadian universities with a CGRS D quota and identify the institution where you intend to pursue your doctoral studies.
- 2**Contact Graduate Faculty
** Inform the faculty of graduate studies at your chosen university of your intent to apply for the CGRS D. Universities often have internal screening processes and deadlines (which are significantly earlier than the federal deadlines, typically in August or September).
- 3**Complete Online Application
** Access and complete the CGRS D application form through the relevant Tri-Agency portal: ResearchNet (for CIHR), NSERC Online System (for NSERC), or SSHRC Web-based Forms portal (for SSHRC).
- 4**Prepare Documents
** Gather and prepare all required application materials, including your Canadian Common CV (CCV), official transcripts, research proposal, and arrange for two sponsors to submit their assessments.
- 5**Submit to Institution (or Directly to Agency)
** Submit your complete application package to your nominating institution by their internal deadline. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who completed a Canadian degree but are studying abroad, you may be eligible to apply directly to the federal agencies (typically by mid-October).
- 6**University Review and Nomination
** The institution will review internal applications and forward selected nominations to the appropriate federal granting agency.
- 7**Agency Review and Notification
** The federal granting agencies will conduct a national review and evaluation of nominations. Anticipated notification of results is typically in April of the following year.
Documents Required
Important Dates
Application Deadline
30 October 2026
The final deadline for institutions to submit nominations for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships for the 2027/2028 academic intake is typically October 30. Students must apply to their chosen Canadian institution by an earlier internal deadline, which varies by institution.
Dates are subject to change as per the provider's official notification. Applicants are encouraged to apply well before the closing date.
Scholarship Quick Facts
Common Questions (FAQs)
Q.Is the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship still active?
No, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program has been discontinued and replaced by the harmonized Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) program as part of the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS). The last Vanier CGS competition concluded with results in April/May 2025.
Q.What is the scholarship value and duration for the CGRS D program?
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) is valued at $40,000 CAD per year for three years (36 months) and is non-renewable. This totals $120,000 CAD for the entire duration of the award.
Q.Can international students apply for the CGRS D scholarship?
Yes, international students are eligible to apply for the CGRS D program. However, they must be registered in a doctoral program of study at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline. Up to 15% of the awards are allocated to international applicants.
Q.How do I apply for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D)?
You typically apply through your chosen Canadian university, which must have a CGRS D quota. You need to contact the university's graduate faculty, complete the online application through the relevant Tri-Agency portal (ResearchNet for CIHR, NSERC Online System for NSERC, or SSHRC Web-based Forms for SSHRC), and submit all required documents by your institution's internal deadline. Canadian citizens or permanent residents studying abroad may, in some cases, apply directly to the agencies.
Help & Contact Support
Official Support
Need Application Help?
If you have trouble applying, you can check your eligibility or browse our step-by-step application guides.
Legal Disclaimer
IndiaScholarships.in attempts to provide accurate information manually curated from official sources. However, scholarship details, timelines, and eligibility can change without notice as per the provider's discretion. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee selection. Always verify all information on the official Government of Canada website before final submission.
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