CGRS-D FAQ | Vanier Closed, Quotas, International Caps

Quick eligibility checker

The same four hard filters as the overview. Use the accordion below for the rest.

1. By 31 December of the application calendar year, will you have completed no more than 36 months of full-time-equivalent doctoral study?

2. Is this at most your third CGRS-D application (not a fourth)?

3. Have you NEVER held a doctoral scholarship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC, including a Vanier CGS?

4. Are you applying to only one CRTAS program (CGRS-M, CGRS-D or CPRA) this academic year?

You meet these published cutoffs

These four published cutoffs look clear. Read the FAQ that matches your situation.

You may not be eligible on these rules

Stop and read eligibility before you pay for another transcript run.

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

Questions

Answers the agencies already published

No. The official Vanier homepage (dated 2025-07-09 in the public notice) says applications are no longer accepted and tells you to use CGRS-D. Vanier is the closed predecessor. vanier.gc.ca.

The Canada Research Training Awards Suite: CGRS-M, CGRS-D, and CPRA, administered jointly by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. You may apply to only one of those programs per academic year.

CAD $40,000 per year for 3 years (36 months). That is not the historical Vanier $50,000 figure.

Yes, if you are registered in a doctoral program at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline. Up to 15% of awards are available to international applicants.

Only if you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person as of the deadline and you completed at least one prior degree at a Canadian institution. Up to 20% of awards may be held outside Canada. Where you hold the award does not decide the application channel.

A maximum of three times to CGRS-D. You cannot already have held a doctoral scholarship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC, including Vanier.

Typically by 30 April (NSERC CGRS-D page and the NSERC deadlines table).

Research potential 50%. Relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia 50%. The official table lists the indicators (proposal quality, contributions, academic record, community work, EDI in the research if applicable).

CIHR: [email protected]. NSERC: [email protected]. SSHRC: [email protected]. Write well before the deadline.

Yes. English or French. CIHR gives French attachments at least 20% more space. Institutions must review in the language submitted.

CIHR also keeps a program FAQ at cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/54348.html.