Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship provides funding to doctoral students at Canadian universities. It aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting those who demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement.
About the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship program is a federal initiative designed to support doctoral students pursuing research at Canadian institutions. The program targets individuals who show both academic excellence and leadership potential in their chosen fields of study.
The scholarship is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and foreign citizens. All applicants must be nominated by a Canadian university that holds a Vanier CGS quota. Students cannot apply directly to the program without this institutional nomination.
Funding is provided for a duration of three years. The scholarship is non-renewable and is intended to support the student during their doctoral studies. The program covers a wide range of disciplines including health research, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.
The selection process involves a rigorous review by independent peer review committees. These committees evaluate candidates based on three criteria: academic excellence, research potential, and leadership. The final selection is made by the Vanier CGS Steering Committee.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
High financial value of $50,000 per year
Recognition of leadership and research potential
Access to top-tier research facilities in Canada
Support from three major federal research agencies
What the Scholarship Covers
Eligibility Requirements
5 requirements
Documents Checklist
6 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Identify a Canadian university that offers your desired doctoral program.
Contact the university to confirm their internal deadline and nomination process.
Prepare your application materials including research proposal and reference letters.
Submit your application through the ResearchNet portal by the university internal deadline.
The university reviews applications and selects nominees to forward to the federal level.
The federal agencies conduct a national peer review of all nominated applications.
Application Timeline
June
Opening
Application portal opens on ResearchNet
September to October
Internal Deadline
Varies by university
November
National Deadline
Final submission to federal agencies
April
Results
Notification of results
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Contact your potential supervisor early to discuss your research proposal.
Check the internal deadline of your chosen university as it is earlier than the national deadline.
Ensure your leadership statement provides concrete examples of your impact.
Select referees who can speak specifically to your leadership and research abilities.
Review the evaluation criteria carefully before drafting your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questions - click any to expand
No, you must be nominated by a Canadian university. You must apply through the university internal process first.
There is no age limit for this scholarship.
You cannot hold a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC simultaneously. Other funding may be permitted depending on the university policy.
⏳
Applications Currently Closed
This scholarship is expected to reopen in June. Use this time to prepare your documents and polish your application.
Accuracy notice: Information on this page was verified as of May 2026. Scholarship details - including deadlines, eligibility criteria, and required documents - can change without notice. Always confirm the latest requirements on the official website before submitting your application.
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