Summary
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) is a prestigious scholarship program designed to support outstanding graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), this program aims to empower the next generation of innovators and thinkers. It provides substantial funding and flexibility to support contributions to world-class research capacity and Canada’s prosperity.
Designation
Doctoral Scholarship
Value and Duration
| Value | Duration |
|---|---|
| $40,000 per year | 36 months |
Research Areas
The CGRS D program supports and promotes research excellence across a wide variety of disciplines and broad fields, including interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. These include:
- Health
- Natural Sciences and Engineering
- Social Sciences and Humanities
Priority Research Areas (Budget 2024):
- Advanced digital technologies (including AI, quantum, and cybersecurity)
- Health, including biotechnology
- Clean technology and resource value chains
- Environment, climate resilience, and the Arctic
- Food and water security
- Democratic and community resilience
- Manufacturing and advanced materials
- Defence and dual-use technologies
Location
You may propose to hold your CGRS D at any eligible Canadian institution or a degree-granting institution outside of Canada (or eligible CIHR institution paid).
- For holding the award outside of Canada: You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, and have completed at least one previous undergraduate or graduate degree at a Canadian institution. Up to 20% of all doctoral awards can be held outside of Canada.
Eligibility/Qualification
To be eligible to apply to the CGRS D program, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have completed no more than 36 months of full-time equivalent study in the doctoral program, the PhD portion of a joint professional undergraduate/PhD program, or the joint program for which you are requesting funding by December 31 of the calendar year of your application.
- Months of study calculation:
- All months of full-time study, including summer months, count toward the degree.
- Two terms of part-time study count as one term of full-time study.
- All studies toward the doctoral degree for which funding is requested are counted, regardless of program or institution.
- Specific Program Types:
- Fast-track programs: Months of study are calculated from the date of transfer into the doctoral program.
- Joint programs (e.g., MA/PhD, MSc/PhD): Months of study are calculated from the date of official registration in either portion of the joint program (including the master’s portion).
- Joint professional undergraduate/PhD programs (e.g., MD/PhD, JD/PhD): Only months of study in the PhD portion are counted.
- Program of Study: Must be predominantly research-oriented, leading to a thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital, and/or exhibit that is merit-reviewed. Joint programs with a professional degree and clinically oriented programs are eligible if they have a significant autonomous research component.
Other Restrictions:
- You can apply to only one CRTAS program per academic year (CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC).
- You can apply a maximum of three times to the CGRS D program.
- You cannot have already received a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC (including a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship).
International Applicants:
- If you are not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, you must be registered in your doctoral program of study at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline.
- Up to 15% of awards are available to international applicants.
Scholarship Description
The CGRS D program is part of the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS) and is jointly administered by Canada’s three federal granting agencies. It supports outstanding doctoral students across health, natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences and humanities. The scholarship aims to enable scholars to fully concentrate on their doctoral studies, seek out top research mentors, and contribute significantly to the Canadian research ecosystem. The program prioritizes research excellence and fosters the development of highly qualified personnel who will drive innovation and competitiveness.
The agencies also offer supplementary funding and joint initiatives, including specific support for:
- Indigenous student researchers: The Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative provides an additional $5,000 for one year to meritorious Indigenous students (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) applying through NSERC or SSHRC. CIHR also has designated funding.
- Black student researchers: Additional funds have been provided by the Government of Canada to increase direct support for Black student researchers, with up to 10 additional awards per agency.
How to Apply
1. Select the Appropriate Agency: Apply to the agency (CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC) best aligned with your research subject matter. Consult agency-specific guidelines for eligibility and subject matter relevance.
2. Application Platform: Submit your application electronically through the relevant agency’s online system:
- CIHR: ResearchNET and instructions
- NSERC: Online system and instructions
- SSHRC: Registration and login and instructions
3. Submission Channel: You must apply either through a Canadian institution or directly to the appropriate agency, depending on your registration status. Failure to submit through the correct channel will result in rejection.
- If currently registered at a Canadian institution with a doctoral award quota for the selected agency: Apply through that Canadian institution.
- If not currently registered, but were registered at a Canadian institution with a quota earlier in the calendar year: Apply through that Canadian institution.
- If registered at a foreign institution or a Canadian institution without a quota, or not registered at any Canadian institution with a quota during the calendar year: Apply directly to the appropriate agency.
4. Institutional Review: If applying through an institution, your application will undergo an institutional evaluation before being forwarded to the agency.
5. References: All references must use the appropriate online application system to submit their supporting letters before the deadline.
6. Assistance: If you need help, contact the appropriate program contact well before the application deadline.
Last Date for Apply
Agency Deadline (for direct applications): October 17, 8:00 pm (ET). If October 17 falls on a weekend, the deadline is the following business day at 8:00 pm (ET).
Institutional Deadline (for applications through institutions): Contact your institution’s faculty of graduate studies (or equivalent) as their deadline is often significantly earlier than the agency’s deadline.
Apply Link
Please refer to the specific agency’s website that aligns with your research area for the application portal:
- CIHR: ResearchNET
- NSERC: NSERC Online Services
- SSHRC: SSHRC Portal
