What the funding covers
- $40,000 (Canadian dollars) a year for three years.
- Awarded by Canada's three research funding agencies — CIHR (health), NSERC (natural sciences and engineering) and SSHRC (social sciences and humanities).
- It replaces both the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship ($50,000) and the former CGS-D ($35,000).
Who can apply
- International students who are registered in a doctoral programme at an eligible Canadian institution at the time of application.
- Each agency and each university has a quota of applications it can put forward, so internal competition comes first.
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents are also eligible.
How to apply
- First, be admitted to and enrolled in a PhD at a Canadian university — this award does not fund applicants from abroad.
- Apply through your university, which runs an internal competition and forwards its strongest candidates to the relevant agency.
- University deadlines fall in September and October (for 2026: UBC 15 September, Waterloo 22 September, Dalhousie 5 October).
- Prepare a research proposal, CV, transcripts and referee assessments as your university instructs.
Before you apply: things to know
- Vanier no longer exists — its last competition closed in autumn 2024. Sites still advertising Vanier are out of date.
- The value dropped from $50,000 to $40,000 a year under the new programme.
- Plan to apply in your first or second year of a Canadian PhD; you cannot use it to get there.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next typical deadline (≈ Sep 30, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Jul 8, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth — confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Jul 22, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Aug 5, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Aug 19, 2026 · NOWOrder transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Sep 2, 2026 · NOWSecond draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically
Sep 16, 2026 · NOWFinalise every document and complete the online form
Sep 23, 2026 · NOWSubmit — never on the last day
Sep 30, 2026Typical deadline
Related routes
University of Toronto — Pearson Scholarship
Due in 14 daysDetails →
Research Ireland — Postgraduate Scholarships
Next call not yet announcedDetails →
Norwegian PhD Fellowships (salaried)
Rolling · open year-roundDetails →
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Due ≈ in 36 daysDetails →
Sources
- NSERC — Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral program
- SSHRC — CGRS Doctoral, October 2026 competition: applicant instructions
- UBC Graduate School — Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Doctoral (CGRS D)
- UBC Graduate School — Vanier Scholarship (discontinued)
- CIHR — Quotas for the CGRS D program (2026–2027)
Page reviewed Sep 24, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.