Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral Program
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral Program provides $40,000 per year for up to three years to outstanding doctoral students conducting research in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.
Overview
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) Program offers substantial financial backing to exceptional doctoral students pursuing research in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. Administered jointly through Canada's three federal research agencies—CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC—the programme awards successful scholars $40,000 annually for 36 months, equating to a total potential funding of $120,000.
The award is designed to help recipients focus intensely on their doctoral studies, collaborate with leading research mentors, and contribute to Canada's research and innovation ecosystem. It also encompasses support for interdisciplinary studies and priority research areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, clean technology, climate resilience, food and water security, and advanced manufacturing.
Benefits
- Funding amount of $40,000 per year.
- Duration of 36 months, providing a total value of $120,000.
- Flexibility to dedicate more time to research and collaborate with leading mentors.
- Supplementary funding opportunities, including potential Indigenous Scholars Supplements and designated support for Black student researchers.
Eligibility
- Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, and eligible international doctoral students.
- International applicants must be registered in an eligible doctoral programme at a Canadian institution by the application deadline.
- Applicants must have completed no more than 36 months of full-time equivalent study in their doctoral programme by December 31 of the application year.
- The doctoral programme must be predominantly research-oriented and lead to a thesis, dissertation, major research project, or equivalent scholarly requirement.
- Applicants can apply a maximum of three times to the CGRS D programme and may only submit to one CRTAS programme per academic year.
- Applicants cannot have previously received a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC.
How to Apply
Applicants must apply through the federal research agency best aligned with their proposed research subject matter:
- CIHR: Use the ResearchNET platform.
- NSERC: Use NSERC Online Services.
- SSHRC: Use the SSHRC registration and application system.
Depending on registration status and institutional quotas, candidates may need to apply through their current Canadian institution or directly to the federal agency. Candidates applying through a Canadian institution must coordinate with their faculty of graduate studies to meet internal institutional deadlines and guidelines.
Deadline
Applicants applying directly to an agency must submit their materials before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 17, 2026. Candidates applying through a Canadian institution must adhere to their institution's internal deadline, which may be significantly earlier.