Fully FundedPhDCanadaFully Funded
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D): Replaces the Vanier Scholarship
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Program Overview
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships have been discontinued: the fall 2024 competition was the last one. Canada's three federal research agencies (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC) replaced Vanier and the older doctoral awards with one harmonised programme, the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D). It is worth CAD 40,000 per year for up to three years. International students can be nominated by Canadian universities, with part of the funding reserved for them.
NSERC's deadline table lists two routes for the CGRS-D. Applicants who apply through an institution follow a date set by that institution. Applicants who apply directly to NSERC have a deadline of 17 October, and results are announced on 30 April. NSERC warns that an institution's internal deadline is often much earlier than the agency deadline, so ask your faculty of graduate studies now. CIHR and SSHRC publish their own dates. The date shown on this page is NSERC's direct-application deadline for the current competition. This page was last checked against the NSERC website on 7 October 2026.
Key Information
Host Country
Canada
Funding Type
Fully Funded
English Requirement
Varies — check program requirements
Eligible Nations
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and international students at Canadian universities
Category
Fully Funded
Applications Open
Current competition is open. Institution deadlines vary; NSERC direct deadline is 17 October 2026
Status
Accepting Applications
Scholarship Benefits
CAD 40,000 per year
Up to three years of funding
Eligibility Criteria
- Enrolled in, or applying to, an eligible doctoral programme at a Canadian university
- Strong academic excellence and research potential
- Nomination through your university's internal process
- Check the agency rules for international student eligibility
Guides for this scholarship
How Applications Are Evaluated
Each scholarship provider uses its own selection criteria. Applicants should review the official scholarship guidelines for the specific criteria used to evaluate applications.
Selection information published by the provider
- Research ability and potential (50%)
- Relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia (50%)
Required Documents
Agency application through your university
Research proposal
CV
Transcripts
Reference assessments
How to Apply
1
Contact your Canadian university's faculty of graduate studies and ask for its internal CGRS-D deadline
2
Most applicants apply through their institution, by the date the institution sets
3
Applicants who apply directly to NSERC must submit by 17 October
4
The university nominates its top candidates to the national competition
5
Results are announced on 30 April
Ready to Submit?
Ensure you have reviewed all requirements and gathered your documents before starting the application.
Official Application WebsiteFrequently Asked Questions
It varies by program and by your previous education. Some providers accept other English tests, and some waive the test if your earlier degree was taught in English. Check the official program requirements before you apply.
The official deadline is 10/17/2026. We highly recommend submitting your application at least a week prior to avoid server congestion.
Most universities allow you to apply with a "Hope Certificate" or provisional transcript if you are in your final semester, provided you graduate before the intake starts.
This varies by university. Many fully funded scholarships cover or waive application fees, but some may still require an initial processing fee. Refer to the official guidelines.
For PhD and some Master's programs, securing an acceptance letter from a professor is often mandatory. For undergraduate programs, it is usually not required.
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