Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships – For PhD studies in Canada, grants ~$50,000/year for three years.
full and up-to-date picture of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program:
Key Details of the Vanier CGS Program (2025)
- Value: CAD 50,000 per year for three years of doctoral study.
vanier.gc.ca+1Wikipedia - Purpose: Aims to attract and retain world-class doctoral students to Canadian universities.
vanier.gc.cavanier.gc.ca - Annual Awards: Up to 166 scholarships are awarded each year, with a total of roughly 500 active scholars at any given time.
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Eligibility & Nomination Process
- Citizenship: Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals.
vanier.gc.ca+1 - Program of Study:
- Must be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including joint programs like MD/PhD, MA/PhD, etc.), with the PhD portion being research-intensive and eligible.
vanier.gc.ca - Must not have completed more than 20 months of doctoral-level study by May 1, 2025—or 32 months in certain joint-program cases.
vanier.gc.ca - Must maintain a first-class academic standing in the last two years of study.
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- Must be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including joint programs like MD/PhD, MA/PhD, etc.), with the PhD portion being research-intensive and eligible.
- Nomination Requirement:
- You cannot apply directly to Vanier CGS.
- You must be nominated by a Canadian university that holds a quota for the scholarship.
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Selection Criteria & Review Process
- Selection Criteria (all three are weighted equally):
- Academic Excellence
- Research Potential
- Leadership (demonstrated and potential)
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- Review Process:
- Institutions hold internal competitions to select their nominees.
- Nominations are sent to the Vanier-Banting Secretariat by October 30, 2024 (20:00 ET).
vanier.gc.cavanier.gc.ca - Agency-specific committees (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) evaluate nominees.
vanier.gc.ca - The TAP Steering Committee (including agency heads and government officials) approves the final slate of winners.
vanier.gc.ca - Candidates are notified of results in April 2025.
vanier.gc.ca+1 - Funding typically begins on May 1, September 1, or January 1 following the result announcement.
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Application Components
To assemble a competitive application through your institution, expect to submit:
- A Common CV (CCV) via ResearchNet
- Research Contributions (max. 1 page)
- Personal Leadership Statement (max. 2 pages in English, 2.5 in French)
- Optional – Special Circumstances (max. 1 page)
- Research Proposal (max. 2 pages in English, 2.5 in French)
- Project References (max. 5 pages)
- Transcripts
- Two leadership letters of reference (max. 2 pages each)
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Applications must adhere strictly to formatting guidelines—excess information or links may be removed without notice.
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Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Value | CAD 50,000/year for 3 years |
| Total Awards | Up to 166 awarded annually |
| Research Areas | Health; Natural Sciences & Engineering; SSH/H |
| Eligibility | First-time PhD/eligible joint-PhD; ≤20 months completed (≤32 for some) by May 1, 2025; 1st-class grades |
| Nomination | Required from Canadian university with quota |
| Selection Criteria | Academic excellence, research potential, leadership |
| Deadline to Nominate | October 30, 2024 (by institutions) |
| Result Notification | April 2025 |
| Funding Starts | May/September 2025 or January 2026 |
Next Steps
- Contact your prospective Canadian graduate department as early as possible to express interest in the Vanier CGS.
- Confirm whether your institution has a Vanier nomination quota and learn their internal deadline.
- Strengthen your application by:
- Developing a clear, compelling research proposal.
- Articulating leadership potential through your personal statement and references.
- Securing strong, strategic recommendation letters.
- Meet all formatting and submission requirements precisely.
The Vanier CGS is among the most prestigious doctoral scholarships in Canada—well worth pursuing if you’re aiming for world-class research training and leadership impact.
