The Government of Canada launched the Vanier Canada graduate funding opportunities (Vanier CGS) program in 2008 to strengthen Canada’s ability to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global center of excellence in research and higher learning.

Vanier Scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and/or humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health.

Brief Description

  • Course Level: The studentships are available for pursuing PhD level at Canadian universities.
  • Study Subject: The studentships are provided to study any one of the courses offered by Canadian universities.
  • Award: Each Vanier Canada Graduate award is valued at $50,000 per year.
  • Number of Awards: Up to 166 opportunities are awarded annually: A total of up to 500 opportunities are active at any time.
  • Nationality: Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada and foreign citizens
  • The award can be taken in Canada

Eligibility::

  • Eligible Countries: Canadian and international students can apply for these Vanier Canada graduate funding opportunities.
  • Entrance Requirements: Confirm that you and your nominating institution meet all the criteria below before you apply for a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS).Nominations that do not meet all of the eligibility criteria will not be accepted.
    Candidate eligibility
  • Citizenship Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada and foreign citizens are eligible to be nominated for a Vanier CGS. To be considered for a Vanier CGS, you must:
    • be nominated by only one Canadian institution, which must have received a Vanier CGS quota;
    • be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including joint undergraduate/graduate research program such as: MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD – if it has a demonstrated and significant research component). Note that only the PhD portion of a combined degree is eligible for funding;
    • intend to pursue, in the summer semester or the academic year following the announcement of results, full-time doctoral (or a joint graduate program such as: MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD) studies and research at the nominating institution; Note that only the PhD portion of a combined degree is eligible for funding;
    • not have completed more than 20 months of doctoral studies as of May 1, 2019 (see calculating months of doctoral studies below);
    • have achieved a first-class average, as determined by your institution, in each of the last two years of full-time study or equivalent. Candidates are encouraged to contact the institution for its definition of a first-class average; and
    • must not hold, or have held, a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC to undertake or complete a doctoral degree. Eligibility of Degree Programs
    • Doctoral awards are tenable only in degree programs that have a significant research component. The research component must be a requirement for completion of the program, and is considered to be significant original, autonomous research that leads to the completion of a dissertation, major scholarly publication, performance, recital and/or exhibit that is merit reviewed at the institutional level. Clinically-oriented programs of study, including clinical psychology, are also eligible programs if they have a significant research component, as described above. Note: ResearchNet will only allow the creation of one application per applicant. Applicants should only seek a nomination from the institution at which they want to study and are advised to discuss their decision with the nominating institution before they submit the application through ResearchNet.
  • English Language Requirements: Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Application Procedure:

How to Apply: The mode of applying is online.

Online Application

Application Deadline: Anticipated 2019-2020 competition launch: mid-June 2019.

  • For Students: Consult the nominating institution for submission deadline.
  • For nominating institutions: Deadline: November 6, 2019 (20:00 EST).

Scholarship Link