Are you an exceptional doctoral student planning to pursue your PhD in Canada? The prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) program for 2025 is now open for applications.
This fully funded scholarship offers outstanding doctoral candidates the opportunity to conduct world-class research at top Canadian institutions.
Scholarship Overview
- Degree Level: PhD
- Field of Study: Natural sciences and/or engineering, social sciences and humanities, and health research
- Host Country: Canada
- Value: $50,000 CAD per year for 3 years
- Application Deadline: November 1, 2024 (20:00 Eastern Time)
The Vanier CGS program, established by the Government of Canada in 2008, aims to strengthen Canada’s ability to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global center of excellence in research and higher learning.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, you must:
- Be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including joint undergraduate/graduate research programs such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD)
- Have completed no more than 20 months of doctoral studies as of May 1, 2024
- Have achieved a first-class average, as determined by your institution, in each of the last two years of full-time study or equivalent
- Be nominated by only one Canadian institution with a Vanier CGS quota
- Intend to pursue full-time doctoral studies and research at the nominating institution
- Not hold, or have held, a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC to undertake or complete a doctoral degree
Both Canadian citizens and international students are eligible to apply.
Application Process
The application process involves several key steps:
- Research Canadian institutions through the Universities Canada website
- Contact the graduate studies office at your chosen institution about their internal Vanier CGS nomination process and deadlines
- Prepare and submit your Vanier CGS application through the ResearchNet online system
- If selected, your institution will nominate you to the national Vanier CGS competition
Key application components include:
- ResearchNet application form
- Canadian Common CV (CCV)
- Research proposal (maximum 2 pages)
- Personal leadership statement (maximum 2 pages)
- Research contributions (maximum 1 page)
- Special circumstances (maximum 0.5 page, optional)
- Two leadership reference letters (maximum 2 pages each)
- Two academic reference letters
- Project references (maximum 5 pages)
- Transcripts
Make sure to carefully review the detailed application instructions on the official Vanier CGS website.
Selection Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on three key criteria:
- Academic Excellence
- Research Potential
- Leadership (potential and demonstrated ability)
Important Dates
- Mid-June 2024: Anticipated launch of 2025 Vanier CGS competition
- November 1, 2024: Deadline for institutions to submit nominations
- Early April 2025: Results announced to applicants
Tips for a Competitive Application
- Start your application early to allow time for a high-quality submission
- Clearly articulate your research proposal and its potential impact
- Highlight leadership experiences in academic, professional and extracurricular activities
- Ensure your reference letters speak to both your academic abilities and leadership potential
- Review the Selection Committee Guide for insight into the evaluation process
- Consider the list of resources on equity, diversity, and inclusion provided by the Secretariat
Important Notes
- Students can only be nominated once. If multiple institutions are interested in nominating you, you must choose one institution to submit your nomination.
- You cannot apply directly to the Vanier CGS program. You must be nominated by a Canadian institution with a Vanier CGS quota.
- The institution is responsible for notifying candidates if their application is not selected for nomination to the Secretariat.
Apply Now!
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship offers an unparalleled opportunity to pursue doctoral studies at world-class Canadian institutions. If you’re an exceptional student with leadership potential, don’t miss your chance to apply for this prestigious award.
Visit the official Vanier CGS website for complete program details and application instructions.
Good luck with your application!
Additional Resources
For more scholarship opportunities, check out these resources:
- Doctoral Scholarships
- Fully Funded Scholarships
- Scholarships in Canada
- Masters Scholarships
- Undergraduate Scholarships
- Postdoctoral Scholarships
- Non-Degree Training Scholarships
