Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Doctoral (CGRS D)

CAD 40,000 per year for 36 months. It is a personal award and does not include a separate tuition payment.

Fields: health research, natural sciences, Engineering, social sciences, humanities

Open to most nationalities

• International applicants must already be registered in a doctoral programme at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline.
• Up to 15% of awards are reserved for international applicants.
• No more than 36 months of full-time doctoral study completed by 31 December of the application year.
• Apply to only one tri-agency research training award programme per year, up to three times for CGRS D in total.
• Not eligible if you already hold a doctoral-level CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC scholarship, including Vanier.
• International award holders must hold the award in Canada; holding it abroad is limited to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons.

Agency deadline is 17 October at 8:00 pm Eastern time (2026 competition), but if your university has a quota you must meet its internal deadline, often in September. Results are released by 30 April. Confirm your university's internal date with its graduate studies office.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• Online application through the chosen agency system (CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC)
• Research proposal
• Academic transcripts
• Record of prior research experience and achievements
• Referee letters submitted by the referees through the same system
• Certified translations of any supporting documents not in English or French

1. 1

   Step 1: Enrol in a Canadian PhD first

   International students only become eligible once registered in a doctoral programme at an eligible Canadian institution, so secure admission and funding from your university first.
2. 2

   Step 2: Pick the right agency

   Choose CIHR for health research, NSERC for natural sciences and engineering, or SSHRC for social sciences and humanities; applications sent to the wrong channel are rejected.
3. 3

   Step 3: Check the internal deadline

   If your university has a quota, apply through it by its internal deadline, which is usually weeks before the agency date.
4. 4

   Step 4: Prepare and submit

   Write your research proposal, gather transcripts and ask referees to submit letters through the agency system before the deadline.

• Must be held in Canada by international award holders.
• Full-time doctoral study and research are expected for the award period.
• Cannot be combined with another doctoral-level CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC scholarship.

• This is not a route into Canada from Nigeria or another African country: you need an offer and registration in a Canadian PhD first, then you can compete in your first or second year.
• Ask your supervisor and graduate office early about the internal deadline, which can be as early as mid-September.
• Only about 15% of awards go to international students, so build a strong research record and a clear, feasible proposal.
• Master's-level CGRS awards are not open to international students; only the doctoral award is.

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• Canada student visa

Checked against these official pages on 16 Oct 2026.

• NSERC: Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Doctoral program (opens in a new tab)
• NSERC: Canada Graduate Research Scholarship, Master's program (opens in a new tab)