CCanadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), NSERC and SSHRC (Tri-agency)
Partially funded
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Master's (CGRS M)
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), NSERC and SSHRC (Tri-agency), Canada
Scholarship overview
The CGRS M is a master's scholarship in the Canada Research Training Awards Suite, administered jointly by CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. It replaces the former Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's program.
It supports high-calibre students in an eligible research-oriented master's program, and in some cases a doctoral program, at a Canadian institution. Selection and post-award administration are carried out by institutions under agency guidance.
Award Information
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person as of the application deadline
- Registered in, applied for or will apply for an eligible master's or doctoral program at a Canadian institution with a CGRS M allocation
- Between 0 and 12 months of full-time study (or equivalent) in the program as of December 31 of the application year (4 to 12 months in specific master's-to-doctoral cases)
- Has not held a master's-level scholarship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC, nor an Indigenous Scholars Award or Supplement
- First-class average in each of the last two completed years of study, unless the host institution accepts otherwise
- Apply to only one CRTAS program per academic year
- Program must be predominantly research-oriented and lead to a thesis, major research project or equivalent; coursework-only master's are typically not eligible
- Award tenable only at eligible Canadian institutions
- $27,000 for 12 months
- Indigenous Scholars Supplement: $5,000 for qualifying Indigenous CGRS M holders (NSERC or SSHRC); Indigenous alternates may be offered a $27,000 award plus the supplement
- Up to 20 additional awards per agency reserved for Black student researchers
- Joint initiative supplements (for example Research Travel Supplements, DND MINDS)
- Application deadline: December 1 before 8:00 p.m. (ET); next business day if it falls on a weekend or federal holiday (December 1, 2026 competition)
- Offers available in the Research Portal from April 1; alternate offers until January 31 of the next year
- Confirm eligibility and contact the graduate studies office of each host institution about internal deadlines.
- Complete the application in the Research Portal for up to three institutions, following the 11 steps in the instructions.
- Arrange references through the Research Portal.
- Submit before the deadline; late applications are not accepted.
- Check the Research Portal from April 1 for results.
Official links
Documents you will need
- Application form and Canadian Common CV
- Transcripts
- Reference assessments
How selection works
- Academic excellence (50%): academic record, scholarships and awards, duration and type of previous studies, relative standing
- Research potential (30%): research history, proposed research, critical thinking, initiative
- Personal characteristics and interpersonal skills (20%): work and leadership experience, communication, involvement in academic life, volunteerism
- Merit review is carried out by institutions with an allocation
