The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program is one of the most prestigious doctoral awards in Canada, established by the Government of Canada in 2008. Its primary goal is to attract and retain top-tier doctoral students who demonstrate academic excellence, research potential, and leadership ability. The program offers $50,000 per year for up to three years during doctoral studies.

The Vanier CGS is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students pursuing a doctoral degree (or a combined program such as MD/PhD) at Canadian universities. Eligible candidates must be nominated by a Canadian institution with a Vanier CGS allocation and meet rigorous academic and leadership standards.

Each year, up to 166 new scholars are selected, with awards distributed equally across Canada’s three federal research granting agencies:

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

The program supports scholars in a wide range of disciplines, including health, engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences and humanities. Recognized internationally, the Vanier CGS helps foster innovation and academic excellence, making Canada a global destination for research and graduate study.

For details, visit vanier.gc.ca.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) 2025

Application Deadline

• Institutional Nomination Deadline: October 30, 2024, by 8:00 PM EDT
• Anticipated Notification of Results: Mid-April 2025
• Award Start Dates: May 1, September 1, or January 1, 2026(vanier.gc.ca, vanier.gc.ca)

Scholarship Overview

• Value: $50,000 per year for three years
• Total Scholarships Awarded Annually: Up to 166
• Total Active Scholarships at Any Time: Up to 500
• Administered by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) (opportunitiescorners.com, vanier.gc.ca)

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Vanier CGS, candidates must:

• Citizenship: Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and foreign citizens are eligible
• Nomination: Must be nominated by a Canadian institution with a Vanier CGS quota
• Program: Pursuing a first doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent), including joint programs such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD, or MBA/PhD with a significant research component
• Study Timeline:
  • Standard Applicants: Have completed no more than 20 months of full-time study in the doctoral program as of May 1, 2025
  • Joint Program Applicants: Have completed no more than 32 months of full-time study as of May 1, 2025
• Full-Time Enrollment: Intend to pursue full-time doctoral studies at the nominating institution in the summer semester or academic year following the announcement of results
• Previous Funding: Not hold or have held a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC to undertake or complete a doctoral program
• Concurrent Awards: Not be concurrently holding any other SSHRC, NSERC, or CIHR training award (with exceptions) (ed.acba.africa, opportunitiescorners.com, opportunitiesforafricans.com, vanier.gc.ca, studygreen.info)

Application Process

1. Institutional Nomination: Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian institution with a Vanier CGS quota. Self-nomination is not permitted.
2. Application Submission: Prepare and submit the application package through the ResearchNet application system to the nominating institution by their internal deadline.
3. Institutional Review: The nominating institution performs an internal selection process and forwards recommended nominations to the Vanier-Banting Secretariat by the institutional deadline.
4. National Review: The Secretariat coordinates the review process, and final decisions are endorsed by the Tri-agency Programs (TAP) Steering Committee.
5. Notification: Nominated candidates are notified of the competition results in April 2025. (vanier.gc.ca, vanier.gc.ca)

To apply for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) 2025, you must be nominated by a Canadian institution with a Vanier CGS quota. Self-nominations are not accepted. Once nominated, your institution will submit your application on your behalf through the ResearchNet application system.

More Application Process Overview

1. Find a Participating Institution: Identify a Canadian university that offers a Vanier CGS quota.
2. Contact the Graduate Office: Reach out to the university’s graduate office to express your interest and inquire about their internal nomination process and deadlines.
3. Prepare Application Materials: Gather necessary documents, including your research proposal, academic transcripts, and letters of reference.
4. Submit to Institution: Submit your complete application package to the university by their internal deadline.
5. Institutional Nomination: If selected, the university will nominate you and submit your application to the Vanier-Banting Secretariat via ResearchNet.(scholarripple.com.ng)

Selection Criteria

Nominations are evaluated based on three equally weighted criteria:

• Academic Excellence: Demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
• Research Potential: Proven ability to conduct significant and innovative research.
• Leadership: Demonstrated leadership skills and potential in academic and extracurricular activities. (vanier.gc.ca, opportunitiesforafricans.com)

For more detailed information and to begin the application process, please visit the official Vanier CGS website: https://www.vanier.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html. We have also written 2025 Potato LEAF Scholarship | Empowering Future Leaders in Potato Research

Official Resources

• Vanier CGS Official Website: https://www.vanier.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html
• ResearchNet Portal: https://www.researchnet-recherchenet.ca