Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships 2025

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) is a highly competitive, fully funded scholarship offered by the Government of Canada for PhD degree students. The Vanier Canada program aims to bring exceptional doctoral candidates to Canadian institutions, strengthening the nation’s position as a leader in global research.

Moreover, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships funded by Government of Canada. This prestigious scholarship is available to both Canadian citizens and international applicants. This scholarship provides CAD 50,000 per year for up to three years.

In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know about the Vanier Canada Scholarship, including its benefits, eligibility, deadlines, and a step-by-step application process.

What are the Canada Vanier Graduate Scholarships?

The Vanier CGS is a government-funded scholarship that supports doctoral-level studies (PhD or combined MA/PhD) at top Canadian universities, established to attract world-class talent.

The Vanier CGS was launched in 2008 to support students who demonstrate:

  • Academic excellence
  • Research potential
  • Leadership skills

It supports doctoral studies in:

  • Health research
  • Natural sciences and engineering
  • Social sciences and humanities

This scholarship is managed in partnership with three federal funding organizations:

  1. CIHR – Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  2. NSERC – Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
  3. SSHRC – Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

About Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 2025

  • Scholarship Country: Canada
  • Host Institute: Listed below
  • Program: Doctoral degree
  • Value: $50,000 per year
  • Duration: 3 years (non-renewable)

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must fulfill the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships requirements.

Citizenship

  • Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or international students.

Eligibility to Apply for a Vanier CGS

  • To be eligible, applicants must be nominated by one Canadian institution with a Vanier quota.
  • Must be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including joint programs with research).
  • After the announcement of results, you will start full-time PhD studies at the nominating institution.
  • In the last 2 years of full-time study had a first-class average.
  • Applicants do not receive any previous doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC.

Number of Months of Doctoral Studies

  • Applicants must not have completed more than 20 months of full-time doctoral studies by May 1, 2025 (standard PhD path).
  • Up to 32 months are allowed if you are:
    • Enrolled in a joint program (e.g., MD/PhD, MA/PhD).
    • Direct-entry from a bachelor’s to a PhD.
    • Transferred from a master’s to a PhD without completing the master’s.
  • All previous doctoral-level studies (in Canada or abroad) count unless officially on leave.
  • Two months of part-time study is equal to one month of full-time study

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Vanier CGS Benefits

The Vanier CGS Scholarship is recognized as one of Canada’s most prestigious doctoral scholarships. It enhances academic reputation and career opportunities.

Scholarship Value
  • Amount: CAD 50,000 per year

This funding is ample to cover:

  • Tuition and academic fees
  • Living expenses
  • Research-related costs
  • Travel expenses

​Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program

The Vanier Scholarship supports research in three federal granting agencies:

  1. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  2. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  3. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

These agencies cover a wide range of subjects, like:

  • Health and Biomedical Sciences
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Psychology, Sociology, Political Science
  • Environmental Studies

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Universities

Candidates are required to submit their application through a Canadian university that has an allocated Vanier nomination quota. Some of the top participating institutions are:

  • University of Toronto
  • McGill University
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Alberta
  • McMaster University
  • University of Ottawa
  • University of Calgary

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Deadline

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships application deadline is here.

Phase Date
University Internal Deadlines August–September 2025
Application Submission via ResearchNet By November 2025
Selection Results Announced April–May 2026
Scholarship Starts May or September 2026

Before applying for Vanier CGS, you must check your chosen university’s internal deadlines first.

How to apply to Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The application process for the Vanier Scholarship in Canada is online. Here are the steps to follow;

1. Choose a university with a Vanier quota

    • Ensure the university supports your research area and has supervisors available.

2. Contact a potential supervisor

    • Students must have the support of a faculty member who is willing to support and nominate them.

3. Prepare and submit your application via ResearchNet

    • To apply for a scholarship, use the official ResearchNet portal.

4. Submit all required documents

    • List of documents given below.

5. University reviews and nominates candidates

    • Only top candidates are forwarded to the national competition for final selection.

Required Documents

Candidates must prepare the following documents. All of these documents must follow strict formatting guidelines. Therefore, poor formatting can lead to rejection.

  • Transcripts
  • Research Proposal (max 2 pages)
  • Leadership Statement (max 2 pages)
  • Canadian Common CV (CCV)
  • Referee letters (2 required)
  • Language proficiency proof (if needed)

Selection Criteria: What Makes a Strong Application?

The applications of Vanier Scholars are evaluated based on these three equally weighted criteria:

1. Academic Excellence

    • GPA, awards, academic history

2. Research Potential

    • Quality of the research proposal
    • Relevance and feasibility
    • Publications, conferences, etc.

3. Leadership

    • Community involvement
    • Leadership roles
    • Communication and collaboration skills

Tips to Win the Vanier Canada Scholarship

  • Start your application at least 4-6 months early.
  • Customize your research proposal to align with your selected agency (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC).
  • Highlight concrete leadership experience (community work, conferences, teaching).
  • Use strong, active language in your statement.
  • Ask your referees to focus on leadership + research potential.
  • Proofread for grammar, formatting, and clarity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic statements without impact
  • Weak letters of recommendation
  • Applying to a university without checking the Vanier quota
  • Poor research proposal structure
  • Missing university deadlines

FAQs

Q1: Can Master’s students apply?
Yes, if you’re transitioning to a PhD program and haven’t completed more than 20 months of doctoral study.

Q2: Is IELTS mandatory?
Not directly, but the university may ask for proof of language proficiency.

Q3: Can I apply to multiple universities?
No. However, you can only be nominated by one institution.

Q4: What is the acceptance rate?

The Vanier is very competitive, approximately 166 awards are given each year from thousands of applications.

Q5: Can I apply without a supervisor?
A: No, most universities require a supervisor agreement before nomination.

Q6: Is Vanier open to Master’s students?
A: You must be starting or enrolled in a PhD program.

Q7: How many students get the Vanier CGS?
A: Around 166 new scholarships are awarded annually.

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