Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)

Overview

Update (2025): The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program has been discontinued. The April 2025 competition was the final one. It has been replaced by the new Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D) programme, launched jointly by Canada's three federal research agencies — CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC.

The Vanier CGS ran from 2008 to 2025 and was one of the most prestigious doctoral scholarships available to international students in Canada, worth CAD $50,000 per year for three years. Nepal was eligible throughout its history, and Nepali students with strong academic records and research potential were competitive applicants.

The replacement CGRS-D programme maintains the same nomination-based model — you cannot apply directly, but must be nominated by a Canadian university — and is valued at CAD $40,000 per year for up to three years. It consolidates the former Vanier CGS, Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral, and several agency-specific doctoral awards into a single harmonised programme.

International students including Nepali citizens remain eligible for the CGRS-D under the same pathway: gain admission to a PhD programme at an eligible Canadian university, be nominated by that institution, and compete at the national level.

Eligibility

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D)

• Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and international students (including Nepali citizens) are eligible to be nominated
• Pursuing a first doctoral degree (PhD) — including joint programmes with a significant research component such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD, MA/PhD
• Must be nominated by one eligible Canadian university with a CGRS-D quota — you cannot apply directly
• Intends to pursue full-time doctoral studies at the nominating institution following the announcement of results
• Has not completed more than 20 months of full-time doctoral study (standard PhD) by the eligibility date
• Demonstrates academic excellence, research potential, and leadership — the three core selection criteria carried over from Vanier
• Has a first-class average in the last two years of full-time study
• Has not previously received a doctoral-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC

Who is Not Eligible

• Students applying for Master's degrees — CGRS-D is doctoral only
• Students not nominated by a Canadian university with CGRS-D quota
• Students who have already held a Vanier CGS or equivalent tri-agency doctoral award
• Students who have completed more than the maximum months of doctoral study by the eligibility date

How to Apply

The CGRS-D uses the same nomination-based model as the former Vanier CGS. You cannot apply directly to the national programme — the process runs through your chosen Canadian university.

1. Identify a supervisor and university — research Canadian universities with strong research programmes in your field. Universities that previously held Vanier quotas are likely to have CGRS-D quotas. Contact potential supervisors early — a confirmed supervisor is essential before any application proceeds.
2. Apply for PhD admission — apply directly to the PhD programme at your chosen Canadian university. Admission and scholarship nomination run in parallel.
3. Notify the university of your interest — inform the graduate studies office that you want to be considered for the CGRS-D. Each university has its own internal selection process and deadline to choose which students to nominate nationally.
4. Internal university competition — the university selects its nominees from all eligible applicants. This internal competition typically runs August–October. Prepare a strong research proposal, leadership statement, and academic record.
5. National competition — nominated candidates submit applications through ResearchNet, the Canadian tri-agency online system. The national competition deadline is typically October.
6. Results — nominated candidates are notified of results in April of the following year.

Check the official CGRS-D page for current guidelines, deadlines, and the list of eligible nominating institutions: nserc-crsng.gc.ca.