Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The Vanier CGS program aims to attract and retain
world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies.

Valued at $50,000 a year for three years, the Vanier is one of Canada’s most prestigious graduate awards.

The Vanier Scholarships support doctoral studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields.

Both Canadian and international students are eligible to apply.

The Vaniers are administered by Canada’s three federal funding agencies:

  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

2012 Vanier Competition at the U of A

Eligibility *

* Eligibility criteria are based on the 2011 Vanier CGS competition and will be updated once the details about the 2012 competition become available.

To be considered for a Vanier CGS at the University of Alberta, you must:

  • intend to pursue a doctoral degree (or combined MA/PhD or MD/PhD) full-time at the University of Alberta in the May 2012 semester or the 2012/13 academic year.
  • have completed between zero and 20 months of doctoral studies as of May 1, 2012 (ie. may not have begun the doctoral program earlier than Sept 1, 2010).
  • have achieved a first-class average (equivalent to 3.5 or greater at the University of Alberta) in each of the last two years of full-time study or equivalent.
  • be seeking financial support to pursue a first doctoral degree (or combined MA/PhD or MD/PhD).
  • be invited to apply by the University of Alberta; applicants may only be nominated to the national competition by one Canadian university.
  • not have already received a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR to undertake or complete a doctoral degree.

See the Vanier Scholarship website for complete eligibility details.

 

Important Dates
  • September 7, 2011
    Deadline for departments to indicate support for eligible candidates whom they wish to invite to complete the full online 2012 Vanier CGS application form.
  • September 23, 2011
    Deadline for online submission of applications via ResearchNet and for receipt of official transcripts (including current U of A transcripts), and other supporting documents in FGSR AND deadline for receipt of department draft institutional nomination letter via e-mail.
  • September 29 - October 20, 2011 
    U of A Vanier CGS committee reviews submitted applications and finalizes list of applicants to be recommended to the national Vanier CGS committee
  • November 9, 2011 
    University deadline for submitting nominations to granting agencies
  • April 2012
    Communication of results to applicants

See below for the detailed timeline.

 

How to Apply – For Students
  • Students must contact the U of A department and express interest in the Vanier scholarship as soon as possible.
  • The department and the U of A Vanier CGS Committee will perform a preliminary assessment of qualified applicants; based on these preliminary assessments, eligible candidates will then be invited to complete the tri-agency’s full online Vanier CGS application and submit supporting documents. Only invited applicants are required to complete the online application.
  • The U of A Vanier CGS Committee will adjudicate, select and forward nominees to the national Vanier CGS competition by the national deadline.
  • Nominations will be considered at the national Vanier CGS adjudication with results for the 2012 competition expected in April 2012.
Application/Nomination – For Graduate Departments

For complete details, including important competition deadlines, see the documents below.

  • 2012 Vanier Competition Timeline [PDF Document] 
  • 2012 Vanier Competition Memo [PDF Document]

 

Resources
  • How to complete a Vanier Preliminary Assessment form [PDF Document]
    (from the Vanier Information Session held on January 25, 2011)
  • Tips for Completing Vanier CGS Application (CCID required for access) [PDF Document]
    (from the Vanier Information Session held on January 25, 2011)
    For security reasons it is recommended that you logout after you have downloaded the file.


Related Links

  • CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
  • NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council)
  • SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)

Vanier Renewals

Recipients of NSERC & SSHRC Vanier Scholarships at the University of Alberta must submit the following Progress Report to the FGSR for each renewal year of the award.

NSERC/SSHRC Progress Report [Word Document] (required 6 weeks before start of renewal year)

About the Vanier Scholarships:

  • Valued at $50,000 per year for three years
  • Designed to build a world-class research capacity by attracting top-tier doctoral students, both nationally and internationally
  • Named in honour of former Governor General Georges Vanier, a statesman and hero
  • Must be taken up at the university that submitted the nomination

2011 Vanier Scholars

2011 Vanier Scholars: 11 students selected for Canada's most prestigious graduate scholarship. Details...

2010 Vanier Scholars

University of Alberta garners 15 Vanier Scholars in 2010. Details...

2009 Vanier Scholars

Meet the University of Alberta's 2009 Vanier Scholars. Details...