Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D)

Do I qualify

The eligibility details below come from the captured scholarship source. Compare them with your circumstances and the provider page.

Everyone needs

• career stage doctoral_full_time_equivalent_months_by_december_31_of_application_year <= 36
• CRTAS_applications_per_academic_year <= 1; if_multiple_only_first_eligible_application_retained
• CGRS_D_application_count_including_current <= 3
• Not open to: already received a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC (including a Vanier Canada Graduate S…
• degree predominantly research-oriented
• degree significant autonomous research component
• profession cannot hold a tenure or tenure-track appointment or be on leave from such an appointment concurrently
• profession approved leave of absence from a tenure or tenure-track position to undertake your first doctoral degree

These depend on how you qualify. The provider describes 4 ways, and you will not need all of them. The official page shows which applies to you.

• citizenship Canada
• permanent resident of Canada
• refugee status protected person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
• not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or protected person
• enrolment registered in your doctoral program of study at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline

Not open to: already received a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC (including a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship)

Level of study

PhD

Fields of study

Arts and humanities, Engineering, Medicine and health, Natural sciences, Social sciences

How to apply

The application information below summarizes the captured scholarship source. Review the provider page before submitting.

1. Determine the correct submission channel using your registration status during the application year, your institution's quota for the selected agency, and the programme's submission tables. If unsure, contact your faculty of graduate studies. Applications submitted through the wrong channel will be rejected. Required
2. If applying through an institution, contact its faculty of graduate studies for its internal deadline and submit by that deadline, which may precede the agency deadline. Required
3. For Waterloo transcripts, clear outstanding fines or fees, then complete and submit the CGRS D applicant transcript request form by September 10, 2026. This transcript request is free. Required
4. After receiving the transcript email, log into MyCreds using its link and use the free share credit to share the transcript with yourself and download a PDF. Enter your email address correctly; not setting an expiry date is recommended. Required
5. Obtain up-to-date official transcripts from all other current and previous post-secondary institutions, including exchange institutions. Compile and upload all required transcripts to the relevant agency application portal before submission. Required
6. If having difficulty obtaining required transcripts, contact GSPA-Awards@uwaterloo.ca for assistance by September 10, 2026. Optional
7. If accessibility barriers require an accommodation, email GSPA-Awards@uwaterloo.ca by September 10, 2026. Later requests may be considered case by case but may affect timely submission and inclusion in departmental review. Optional
8. Follow the selected agency's detailed application instructions, including referee requirements and free-form document presentation standards. Required
9. Contact potential referees as early as possible, no later than three weeks before Waterloo's September 22 application deadline. Share the relevant agency's referee instructions and ask referees to submit their letters at least three days before the deadline. All letters must be submitted through the appropriate online system before the application can be submitted. Required
10. Select the agency best aligned with your proposed research and doctoral programme, consulting the federal granting agency guide. Apply to only one competition. Required
11. Check the application for common errors: use one of the specified award start dates, accurately list current and previous degrees, include all transcripts, distinguish work experience from competitive awards, and accurately calculate programme months as of December 31, 2026. Required
12. If applying to CIHR, complete and submit the application electronically through ResearchNET using the correct institutional or direct-agency channel and its applicable deadline. Required
13. Alternatively, if applying to NSERC, complete and submit the application electronically through its Online system using the correct institutional or direct-agency channel and its applicable deadline. Required
14. Alternatively, if applying to SSHRC, register or log in and submit the application electronically through its platform using the correct institutional or direct-agency channel and its applicable deadline. Required