CGRS-D Documents | Transcripts, Proposal, Referees

Quick eligibility checker

Document readiness. Yes means that piece is realistic before your close date.

1. Can you obtain up-to-date transcripts dated or issued in the fall session of the application year (or after the last completed term if you are not registered)?

2. Have two people agreed to submit a reference / letter of appraisal / sponsor assessment in the agency portal before your deadline?

3. Are supporting documents in English or French, or will you attach a certified translation?

4. Will you stay inside the agency page limits (over-length material is removed or can make a file ineligible)?

You meet these published cutoffs

You have a workable document plan. Confirm page limits on the agency instructions you will actually use.

You may not be eligible on these rules

Missing fall transcripts or late referees are how complete-looking files still fail.

This is a planning tool, not an official CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC decision. Confirm the current wording on the agency sites.

Tracker

Document tracker

Tick what is actually in hand. Page limits differ by agency — read that portal’s instructions.

Fall-session transcripts (all undergraduate and graduate) — official preferred; unofficial may pass national review but institutions set their own rule Proof of registration — if the fall transcript has no grades yet, or the school issues no transcript Research proposal / outline / project summary — NSERC outline 2 pages; SSHRC proposal 2 pages; CIHR training expectations 2 pages EN + 1-page summary Bibliography / citations — NSERC and SSHRC: 5 pages for CGRS-D Contributions, relevant experience and activities — typically 2 pages for CGRS-D CV in the agency format — CIHR Common CV (Academic); SSHRC web CV; NSERC Form 201 profile Two portal referees invited early — application cannot submit until both are in Certified EN/FR translation — if any support document is in another language

This is a planning tool, not an official agency decision. Combine it with the full checklist.

What every file needs

Transcripts

Up-to-date official transcripts of the complete record. “Up-to-date” means issued in the fall session of the application year if you are registered, or after the last term completed if you are not. Opening a paper transcript to scan it does not make it unofficial for agency review. NSERC will not accept transcripts sent under separate cover.

Two online assessments

NSERC: two Form 201 reference letters. SSHRC: two one-page Letters of Appraisal (the file will not verify until both are done). CIHR: two sponsor assessments on ResearchNet. A proposed supervisor may not write the NSERC letter unless they currently supervise you or have supervised you before.

Official languages

You may submit in English or French. Supporting documents in any other language need a certified translation. Institutions must be able to review the file in the language you used.

Agency-specific attachments

NSERC Form 201

Outline of proposed research, 2 pages. Bibliography, 5 pages. Contributions in three parts, 2 pages. Optional one-page subject-matter justification. EDI considerations page. Instructions.

SSHRC portal

Research proposal, 2 pages. Bibliography, 5 pages. Contributions, 2 pages. SSHRC web CV. Optional one-page allowable inclusions and supplement justifications. 2026 applicant instructions.

CIHR ResearchNet

Common CV. Training expectations, 2 pages EN / 2.5 FR. Research project summary, 1 page EN / 1.5 FR. Publications list, 2 pages. Proof of citizenship, confirmation of scientific area, signature pages. Instructions.

Documents for CGRS-D