Important Updates to Tri-Agency Graduate and Postdoctoral Funding

As announced in Budget 2024 and in support of the Tri-Agency Research Training Strategy, the Government of Canada’s three federal research funding agencies – the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) – are launching a new harmonized program: the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS).

This new suite consolidates and streamlines funding opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers across disciplines. While full details will be released in the coming months, the agencies have now published the updated program descriptions for:

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS M)
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D)
Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)

Ten programs will sunset, and funds will be reprofiled to CRTAS:

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s
Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral / CIHR Doctoral Foreign Study Award / NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships / SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships / Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
CIHR Fellowship / NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowships / SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships

The new harmonized programs within CRTAS are:

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS M)
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D)
Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)

For the upcoming 2025/2026 competition cycle:

minimal changes to processes of past programs for seamless transition
open for applications in summer 2025
deadlines varying by agency and program
applicants will continue using the funding agencies’ current online systems

Students and faculty are strongly encouraged to review the updated program descriptions now to begin preparing for the upcoming competitions. The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) will share further updates on the official competition launches, institutional deadlines, and details about upcoming workshops and scholarship programming to support students applying to these awards later in Summer 2025.

New Award Programs at a Glance

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS M)

Award value and duration	$27,000 for one year
Research portal opening	September 3, 2025
Application deadline	December 1, 2025 (8:00 pm ET)
Primary changes	Name of the award Research Portal – all master’s level awards (past and present) will appear as “CGRS M”. Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements program currently offered by NSERC and SSHRC will be extended to CIHR starting in the 2025/2026 competition cycle.
CGRS M Program Page	nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/cgrsm-besrm_eng.asp

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D)

Award value and duration	$40,000 per year for three years
Program literature posted	July 8, 2025
Online systems opening	CIHR and SSHRC: July 8, 2025 NSERC: July 9, 2025
Institutional internal submission deadlines	CIHR: October 2, 2025 NSERC: October 2, 2025 SSHRC: October 6, 2025
Selection criteria	Research Potential (50%) Relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia (50%)
Primary changes	Eligibility window has increased from 24 to 36 months of full-time equivalent study completed in program. Open to international students that are currently enrolled in a doctoral program of study at an eligible Canadian institution at the time of application. Up to 15% of all doctoral awards will be awarded to international applicants, and they may only hold the award in Canada. Up to 20% of all doctoral awards would be eligible to be held abroad. Institutions will continue to be able to submit additional applications from Indigenous students above their quota.
CGRS D Program Page	nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/cgrsd-besrd_eng.asp
The use of doctoral quotas will be maintained
Institutional submission and pre-selection process will be maintained

Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)

Award value and duration	$70,000 per year for two years
Program literature posted	July 8, 2025
Online systems opening	CIHR and SSHRC: July 8, 2025 NSERC: July 9, 2025
Submission deadlines	CIHR: September 17, 2025 NSERC: October 17, 2025 SSHRC: September 11, 2025
Selection criteria	Research Potential and experience (50%) Quality of proposed research program (50%)
Primary changes	Applicants may apply a maximum of three times to this funding opportunity. The eligibility window will be up to 36 months from the degree completion date. Exceptions to the doctoral degree completion eligibility period are granted up to a maximum of an additional 36 months if you meet certain criteria. Open to international students that must meet one of the following: Be currently enrolled in or have completed a doctorate or health professional degree at a Canadian institution; or Be conducting postdoctoral research at a Canadian institution Up to 20% of all postdoctoral awards will be awarded to international applicants, and they may only hold the award in Canada. Up to 30% of all postdoctoral awards would be eligible to be held abroad. This award is not intended for students (including health professionals) to complete a degree or related internship.
CPRA Program Page	nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PD-NP/cpra-bprc_eng.asp

Additional Key Points

The Black Scholars initiative will be eligible under the new CGRS M, CGRS D, CPRA as well as continue for the USRA funding opportunity.
The Canada Graduate Scholarships Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (CGS MSFSS) will be launched one last time during the 2025-26 competition cycle. The program will be rebranded and redesigned as a supplement for the CRTAS.
In anticipation of the launch of the Tri-agency grants management solution (TGMS), the application materials for the new CRTAS program may be adjusted, but the overall submission process and key deadlines for the 2025/2026 competition cycle will generally remain consistent with those of previous years.