Envision pursuing your PhD in Canada fully supported by a prestigious tri-agency scholarship. The CGRS‑D (Doctoral) is now a harmonized national award that finances high‑calibre doctoral research at Canadian institutions, rewarding exceptional candidates with up to three years of funding.↚
Advance Your Doctoral Research in Canada with the CGRS‑D Award
Overview of the Scholarship
Administered by CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC depending on your field, the CGRS‑D replaces the previous CGS‑D program and expands eligibility to international students enrolled full‑time at a Canadian university Up to 15 percent of scholarships are reserved for international holders, and around 20 percent of awards allow tenure abroad. The award is valued at CAD 40,000 per year for up to three years.↚
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons or international students enrolled in a Canadian doctoral program at the time of application. You must have completed no more than 36 months of full‑time PhD study (or equivalent in joint programs) by December 31 of the application year Applicants must not hold any other tri‑agency doctoral award and should aim to maintain first‑class academic standing in recent years of study.What's Included
Recipients receive CAD 40,000 annually for up to three years, regardless of field, enabling full-time research progress. The scholarship supports students in health sciences, natural sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences and may replace or top up institutional stipends depending on university policies. Scholarships are tax‑exempt in most provinces.↚
Selection and Timeline
Institutions screen and nominate candidates to the national competition by November 2025. Final decisions are announced in Spring 2026. Awards begin in Fall 2026—typically May, September, or January depending on your program schedule.Why CGRS‑D Matters
This scholarship is highly competitive and recognized across Canada as a mark of research excellence and potential. It opens doors to academic, industry, government or global research careers. Alumni frequently gain positions in R&D, academia, policy, or international organisations. Reddit users describe the award as transformative—even if some university stipends may be adjusted accordingly.↚
How to Apply
The competition opens in summer 2025 with institutional nomination deadlines typically falling between September and October 2025. Some universities forward applications internally by early October and the final tri-agency deadline is generally mid‑October. Applicants submit materials including research proposals, academic transcripts, CV, letters of reference, and Canadian Common CV via the appropriate CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC portal