The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program 2025 is a prestigious and fully funded scholarship available to international students pursuing doctoral studies in Canada. The program, valued at $50,000 per year for three years, aims to attract and retain outstanding doctoral students who demonstrate leadership skills and academic excellence in their respective fields.
The Vanier Canadian Government Scholarships provide financial support to international students who aspire to pursue their doctoral degrees at top Canadian universities.
This scholarship seeks to recruit and support world-class doctoral students with strong leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in fields such as natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities, and health research.
Background of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
The Government of Canada launched the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program in 2008 with the objective of strengthening Canada’s ability to attract and retain top-tier doctoral students.
The program also aims to establish Canada as a global hub for excellence in research and higher education. Recipients of the Vanier Scholarship are expected to exhibit strong leadership capabilities and outstanding academic performance in their chosen disciplines. The scholarship supports students pursuing doctoral degrees, including combined MA/PhD and MD/PhD programs.
Scholarship Overview
Level of Study: PhD (Doctoral)
Institution(s): Canadian institutions with a Vanier CGS quota
Location: Canada
Program Duration: 3 years
Fields of Study:
Natural sciences and engineering research
Health research
Social sciences and humanities research
Application Deadline: Before November 2024 (anticipated launch in mid-June 2024)
Scholarship Benefits
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship offers financial assistance amounting to $50,000 per year for three years, covering tuition, research expenses, and living costs.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Language Requirement: Proficiency in English
Eligible Nationalities: Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and foreign nationals
Academic Status: Applicants must be pursuing their first doctoral degree, including joint graduate research programs (MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD), where only the PhD portion is eligible for funding
Enrollment Status: Candidates should not have completed more than 20 months of their doctoral studies as of May 1, 2024
Institutional Nomination: Applicants must be nominated by a Canadian institution that holds a Vanier CGS quota
Full-Time Commitment: Students must intend to enroll in full-time doctoral studies or a joint graduate program (MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD) at the nominating institution
Funding Restrictions: Applicants must not have previously held or currently hold a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC
Academic Performance: Candidates must have achieved a first-class average, as determined by their respective institutions, in each of the last two years of full-time study
Application Process for Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Applicants must follow these steps to successfully apply for the Vanier CGS program:
Step 1: Research Canadian Institutions
Candidates should explore Canadian universities through the Universities Canada website. Researching individual university websites, program offerings, and faculty members will help applicants identify institutions that align with their research interests.
Step 2: Check Institutional Quotas
Applicants should consult the Vanier CGS quota page to verify whether their preferred institution has available slots for Vanier nominations in the given year.
Complete Application Steps
Applications can be initiated in two ways:
The student informs the faculty of graduate studies at their chosen institution about their intent to apply.
The institution identifies and contacts a potential nominee.
The applicant prepares their application and submits it to the nominating institution by the internal deadline set by the institution via the ResearchNet application system.
The nominating institution conducts an internal selection process.
Nominated candidates are recommended to the Vanier-Banting Secretariat by November 1, 2024 (20:00 Eastern Time).
The Secretariat oversees the review process and presents recommendations to the Tri-Agency Programs (TAP) Steering Committee.
The TAP Steering Committee finalizes and approves the selection of Vanier Scholars.
Successful candidates receive notification of results in April 2025.
Additional Considerations
Candidates must be nominated by the institution where they intend to study; direct applications to the Vanier CGS program are not permitted.
Applicants should verify institutional internal deadlines with their respective graduate studies administrators.
The Selection Committee Guide provides insights into the evaluation criteria used for assessing applications.
Applicants should review resources provided by the Secretariat to ensure their applications reflect equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
Required Documents
Applicants must submit the following documents:
ResearchNet application form (includes two letters of reference)
Canadian Common CV (CCV)
Research Contributions (maximum one page)
Personal Leadership Statement (maximum two pages)
Special Circumstances Statement (optional, maximum 0.5 page)
Two Leadership Reference Letters (maximum two pages each)
Research Proposal (maximum two pages)
Project References (maximum five pages)
Academic Transcripts
Important Notes
Candidates who complete the Vanier CGS electronic application via ResearchNet must submit it online to the nominating institution, not directly to the Vanier CGS program.
Applicants must confirm whether their chosen institution has a Vanier CGS quota before applying.
Institutions will notify applicants if they are not selected for nomination.
Each student can only be nominated by one institution; multiple nominations are not accepted.
Students must contact their institution to determine the appropriate federal granting agency for their application and seek guidance on submitting a strong proposal.
Conclusion
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program provides exceptional doctoral students with the financial resources needed to pursue advanced research at top Canadian universities.
The scholarship’s objective is to nurture leadership potential and academic excellence, ultimately contributing to Canada's research and innovation landscape. Prospective applicants are encouraged to thoroughly research institutions, adhere to application guidelines, and ensure their submissions reflect the highest academic standards to increase their chances of receiving this prestigious award.