The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D) is the tri-agency doctoral award in Canada worth CAD $40,000 per year for up to 3 years. It supports full-time PhD research at eligible Canadian universities.
CGRS-D replaces the older CGS-D/PGS-D programs and is now the single, harmonized competition across CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC. Read the official CGRS-D overview before you start.
All citizenships can apply. International applicants must be enrolled in a Canadian PhD program at the time of application; universities set internal deadlines (often Aug–Oct). Always follow your department’s internal date.
If you previously planned for Vanier, note that the Government of Canada has stopped accepting Vanier applications and directs candidates to CGRS-D. Update your plan accordingly.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of study: Doctoral (PhD).
- Administered by: CIHR / NSERC / SSHRC (tri-agency; harmonized rules).
- Study in: Canada (eligible institutions).
- Program period: 36 months (maximum).
- Fields covered: Health (CIHR), Natural Sciences & Engineering (NSERC), Social Sciences & Humanities (NSERC).
- Annual value: CAD $40,000/year (total CAD $120,000 over 3 years).
- Typical internal deadlines: Aug–Oct (set by universities; e.g., Waterloo lists early-to-mid September).
Scholarship Coverage
CGRS-D provides CAD $40,000 per year for up to 3 years to support living and research training costs while you are registered full-time in a doctoral program. Tuition and fee policies are determined by each institution; check your graduate school’s funding page after shortlisting. Start with the CGRS-D overview and your faculty’s award page.
Eligibility Criteria
- Citizenship: All citizenships. (International applicants must be enrolled in a Canadian PhD at application time.) (Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies)
- Program stage: Eligibility is based on the number of months in program; the window is up to 36 months of full-time doctoral study by Dec 31 of the application year.
- Agency fit: Your research must align with CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC. Use the SSHRC applicant instructions or your agency’s guide to confirm fit.
- Academic standing: Strong academic record per agency and institutional rules (see agency instructions).
Helpful context while you shortlist programs: use the Universities Canada member list to identify universities and EduCanada’s program search to scan departments/supervisors by field and province. (Universities Canada, EduCanada)
How to Apply
Meet your university’s internal deadline, then submit through the correct agency portal. Do not prepare a Vanier application for 2026.
- Choose your agency (CIHR/NSERC/SSHRC) based on your research topic. Start with the SSHRC applicant instructions or your agency’s page for the current year’s rules
- Confirm your internal deadline on your target university’s CGRS-D page (example: Waterloo CGRS-D lists transcript and application cut-offs in September).
- Line up a supervisor/department fit early. Use Universities Canada and EduCanada to identify programs and supervisors who match your topic.
- Create your application in the agency portal and follow the page limits exactly. Refer to CIHR application instructions and SSHRC applicant instructions for formatting and components. (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
- Submit on time and track your university/agency timelines. Many schools post their institutional deadline (e.g., Dalhousie: Oct 6, 2025).
Important Documents Required
Prepare official documents and follow page/word limits precisely (differences exist by agency):
- Agency application form (portal) with referee reports.
- Canadian Common CV (CCV) plus any agency-specific CV sections.
- Research proposal with project references.
- Official transcripts for all postsecondary studies.
- Proof of status if requested by Canadian Institutes of Health Research, university.
Important Notes
- Harmonization: CGRS-D replaced NSERC’s CGS-D/PGS-D and other prior doctoral awards in the suite. Refer to NSERC’s summary of changes for 2025–26.
- Vanier closed: The Vanier homepage now redirects candidates to CGRS-D; avoid preparing a Vanier file for 2026.
- Eligibility windows & counting months: Agencies count all months of full-time doctoral study (including summer) toward the ≤36-month limit. Confirm the exact counting rules in your agency’s instructions.
