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Vanier Canada graduate scholarships

Vanier Canada graduate scholarships welcome applicants to this year’s award program which grants applicants the opportunity to study on scholarships. This article digests deeper into the criteria and requirements of Vanier Canada graduate scholarships.

Named after Major-General Georges P. Vanier, the first francophone Governor General of Canada, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) program helps Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students. Valued at $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies.
Considers three equally weighted selection criteria: Academic Excellence, Research Potential, and Leadership (potential and demonstrated ability. Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian institution with a quota* to host Vanier scholars. Candidates should only seek a nomination from the institution at which they want to study.

Eligibility to Apply 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 quotaFootnote1.
  • be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including a joint program such as MD/Ph.D., DVM/Ph.D., or JD/Ph.D. – if it has a demonstrated and significant research component).
  • intend to pursue, in the summer semester or the academic year following the announcement of results, full-time doctoral (or a joint graduate research program such as MD/Ph.D., DVM/Ph.D., JD/Ph.D.) studies and research at the nominating institution.
  • have completed no more than 20 months of full-time study in your doctoral program as of May 1, 2024.

The doctoral program would begin after the completion of a Master’s degree. The months of study completed are calculated from the doctoral enrolment date.

  • have completed no more than 32 months of full-time study in your doctoral program (i.e., joint graduate research program, accelerated, previously enrolled without obtaining master’s degree), by May 1, 2024, if:
  • enrolled in a joint graduate research program, e.g., MD/Ph.D., MA/Ph.D., DVM/Ph.D. Applicants in this category have access to the 32-month window whether or not they were previously enrolled in a master’s program:
  • The months of study are calculated starting from the date on which an applicant is officially registered in the joint program (including the master’s portion of the program).
  • enrolled directly from a Bachelor’s to a Ph.D. (not previously enrolled in a Master’s program);
  • The months of study completed are calculated from the doctoral enrolment date.
  • Previously enrolled in a Master’s program without obtaining the degree.
  • The months of study completed are calculated from the original Master’s enrolment date.
  • 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 program.
  • Please note that only the Ph.D. portion of a joint program is eligible for funding.

Eligibility of program of study

  • An eligible doctoral program must include a significant research component that leads to the completion of a thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital, and/or exhibit that is merit/expert-reviewed at the institutional level as a requirement for completion of the program.
  • Joint graduate research programs with a professional degree (e.g., MD/Ph.D., DVM/Ph.D., JD/Ph.D.) as well as clinically oriented programs of study, including clinical psychology, are also eligible programs if they have a significant autonomous research component, as described above.

Eligibility to hold a Vanier CGS

Without exception, the Vanier CGS is tenable only at the eligible Canadian institution that submitted the nomination.

To hold the Vanier CGS, the candidate must:

  • be registeredFootnote2 in a full-time doctoral program (or joint graduate research program MA/Ph.D., MSc/Ph.D., or MD/Ph.D.) at the nominating Canadian institution; and
  • not hold a faculty appointment concurrently with a Vanier Scholarship unless they arrange for a leave of absence from the appointment
  • remain enrolled and demonstrate continued satisfactory progress in their doctoral program.
  • not hold, or have held, a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC to undertake or complete a doctoral program.
  • not be concurrently holding any other SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR training award (note: Michael Smith Foreign Studies Supplement excepted).
  • begin their award within 12 months of the earliest possible start date and start on May 1, September 1, or January 1 following the offer of award.

How to apply for Vanier Canada graduate scholarships

Tips for applicants new to the Canadian academic system
Step 1: Begin your application by researching Canadian institutions through the Universities Canada website. We recommend browsing each university’s respective website and thoroughly researching the program of interest in which you would like to complete your doctorate degree, as well as supervisors for your proposed research.

Step 2: Consult the Vanier CGS quota page in order to ensure that your institution of interest has a quota for the year in which you are applying.

For detailed information on Vanier Canada graduate scholarships, click here

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