Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships for PhD(Vanier CGS) in 2023

How prestigious is the Vanier scholarship?

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program was established by the Canadian government in 2008 with the goal of enhancing Canada’s capacity to draw in and keep top-tier doctoral students and to position the country as a global hub of excellence in research and higher education. Vanier Scholars exhibit intellectual excellence and leadership qualities while pursuing graduate degrees in the social and humanities, sciences, engineering, or medicine.

In order to attract and keep top-tier doctoral students and to position Canada as a global hub of excellence in research and higher education, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) were established. The awards are for doctorate studies (or combination MA/PhD or MD/PhD degrees).

Scholarship at a Glance:

Host Institution(s):

Canadian Universities with Vanier CGS allocation. Without exception, the Vanier CGS is tenable only at the eligible Canadian institution that submitted the nomination.

Field of study:

• PhD programmes (or
• Combined MA/PhD or MD/PhD) 
• Discipline in health research, natural sciences and/or engineering research and social sciences and/or humanities research

An eligible doctoral program must include a significant research component that leads to the completion of a thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital, and/or exhibit that is merit/expert-reviewed at the institutional level as a requirement for completion of the program.

Joint graduate research programs with a professional degree (e.g., MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD) as well as clinically-oriented programs of study, including clinical psychology, are also eligible programs if they have significant autonomous research component, as described above.

Number of Scholarships:

Up to 166 scholarships are awarded annually

Target group:

• Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada,
• and foreign citizens are eligible to be nominated for a Vanier CGS.

Scholarship value/duration:

The scholarship is worth $50,000 per year for three years (Non-renewable)

Eligibility Criteria:

To be considered for a Vanier CGS, you must:

• be nominated by only one Canadian institution, which must have received a Vanier CGS quota;

• be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including joint undergraduate/graduate research program such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD – if it has a demonstrated and significant research component). Note that only the PhD portion of a combined degree is eligible for funding;

• intend to pursue, in the summer semester or the academic year following the announcement of results, full-time doctoral (or a joint graduate program such as: MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD) studies and research at the nominating institution; Note that only the PhD portion of a combined degree is eligible for funding;

• have completed no more than 20 months of doctoral studies as of 1 May 2023

• have completed no more than 32 months of full-time study in their doctoral program, by 1 May 2023 if:

• Enrolled in a joint graduate research program, (MD/Ph.D., MA/Ph.D., DVM/Ph.D.). Applicants that fall into this category have access to the 32-month window whether they were previously enrolled in a Master’s program,
• accelerated directly from a Bachelor’s to a PhD (no time spent in a Master’s program); or
• accelerated from a Master’s degree into a Doctoral program without obtaining the Master’s degree.

• have achieved a first-class average, as determined by your institution, in each of the last two years of full-time study or equivalent. Candidates are encouraged to contact the institution for its definition of a first-class average; and

• must not hold, or have held, a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC to undertake or complete a doctoral degree.

Application instructions:

UBC Vanier applicants will complete their Vanier application using ResearchNet, an online application system. Applicants must submit their complete Vanier application package via ResearchNet by 12 noon PT on Thursday, 1 September 2022.  Late applications will not be accepted.

N.B We highly recommend every applicant to see the Vanier CGS website for step-by-step application instructions before you apply.

To apply, applicants must do the following by the deadline noted above:

1. Notify their chosen UBC graduate program that they intend to apply for the Vanier CGS.  
2. Provide official, up-to-date transcripts to their UBC graduate program for all post-secondary studies (including studies that did not lead to a degree, e.g., exchange/transfer course grades) up to 31 August 2022.
   • UBC transcripts:
     • The “Academic History” document (provided by the graduate program – not available on SSC) is acceptable.  An official UBC transcript is also acceptable.
     • For applicants registered at UBC in the 2022W1 (Fall 2022) term, the UBC transcript (or SISC Academic History) must list the student’s 2022W1 (Fall 2022) registration.
     • Must include UBC transcript key. The current version is available here.
   • Other transcripts:
     • Only official transcripts will be accepted by Vanier.
     • Acceptable:
       • Official transcripts from UBC admission application (evision system): Scanned copies of official transcripts, accessed by the UBC graduate program from evision, that were validated and uploaded by G+PS (i.e., transcripts listed as “Transcripts & Diplomas – Official” under ‘Document Type’ in evision)
       • “Certified true” copies of official transcripts from the UBC graduate program’s own files.
       • Official transcripts sent directly from the issuing institution to the UBC graduate program.
     • Not acceptable:
       • Unofficial transcripts (no water mark or registrar’s signature or registrar’s stamp and/or may note ”unofficial” on each page and/or copied from institution student account)
       • Transcripts uploaded by the applicant for UBC admission (ie. transcripts in evision system that are not verified by G+PS)
       • Applicant’s personal copies of official transcripts
     • Official transcripts: Typically include a watermark from the institution and/or a registrar’s signature and/or stamp.
     • Up-to-date transcripts: Dated or issued in the summer session (summer 2022) (if currently registered) or after the last term is completed (if not currently registered).
     • International transcripts: For students including foreign transcripts, if the transcripts are not presented in one of Canada’s two official languages (English or French), a certified translation must be provided, in addition to the official transcripts in their original language.
     • Include one copy of the marking key / legend (usually on the back of the transcript) for each institution.
   • The graduate program may have some of the applicant’s transcripts on file already; if so, well in advance of the application deadline, the applicant must confirm with the graduate program which transcripts the program has on file and will provide to support the Vanier CGS application, and which transcripts the applicant must still provide to the graduate program.
   • If the applicant needs to provide any transcripts in support of their Vanier CGS application, the graduate program must receive the original, official transcripts from the issuing institution.
   • Note: “transcripts for post-secondary studies” includes transcripts from transfer credit courses and exchange or study abroad terms.
     • Example: UBC transcript lists study abroad terms at “Sciences Po” institute in Paris. The courses are listed as transfer credit on the UBC transcript, but the grades are not listed. The official Sciences Po transcript must be provided.
   • Questions about transcript requirements should be directed to the graduate program; the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies does not provide transcripts for Vanier applications
   • It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm that their graduate program has all of their required transcripts for their Vanier application
   • Transcripts are not attached to the Vanier application by the application deadline.  The nominating institution will attach the official transcripts later, should the application be nominated to the Vanier CGS national competition.
3. Request letters of support from four referees:
   • two letters from referees assessing the applicant’s academic excellence, research potential and demonstrated and potential leadership ability are submitted electronically through ResearchNet by the referee
   • two leadership reference letters; two PDFs are provided to the applicant, who uploads the letters to his or her electronic application file
4. Create a “Vanier-Banting Academic” CV
5. Prepare the other required documents (Research Contributions, Personal Leadership Statement, Special Circumstances [if applicable], Research Proposal, Project References, and Voluntary Self-Identification Form for Indigenous Applicants [optional]).  The presentation standards and page limits set by Vanier must be followed.
6. Submit a completed Vanier CGS application via ResearchNet

Please see the Vanier CGS website for detailed application/nomination instructions.

Evaluation Criteria by the Committee:

Nominees will be evaluated and selected based on the following three criteria, which will be weighted equally by the selection committees:

• Academic Excellence
• Research Potential
• Leadership (Potential and Demonstrated Ability)

Please see the Vanier CGS website for complete selection criteria.

Official Website:

Official Scholarship Website:  http://www.vanier.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html