Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D)

Overview

The harmonized federal doctoral award administered jointly by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC, which replaced the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and agency-specific doctoral awards in 2024. It provides $40,000 per year for up to three years to support full-time PhD research at an eligible Canadian institution, with a portion of awards reserved for international applicants.

Funding

CAD $40,000 per year for up to three years

Eligibility

• Registered (or about to be registered) in a research-based doctoral program at an eligible Canadian institution
• Completed no more than 36 months of doctoral study at the time of application
• International applicants must be enrolled at a Canadian institution to apply (up to 15% of awards go to non-Canadians)
• Have not already received a doctoral award from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC (including Vanier)
• Apply through your institution's quota or directly to the relevant agency by the October deadline

Application Deadline

Set by each university's internal deadline (typically September-October) ahead of the national tri-agency (NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR) competition; note this program was harmonized in 2024 into the Canada Graduate Research Scholarships-Doctoral (CGRS-D), replacing the former CGS-D Always confirm exact dates on the official site before planning your application, since deadlines shift year to year.

How to Apply

1. Confirm your graduate department's internal nomination quota and deadline
2. Prepare a research proposal, transcripts, and reference letters
3. Submit your application through your university's internal review process
4. If ranked competitively, your university forwards your file to the national tri-agency competition
5. Await results from NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR depending on your research field