Backgrounder

Program goals

Canada’s prosperity as a nation is increasingly based on science and technology and the highly skilled and creative individuals whose talents bring innovations to life. Their ideas spark the creation of new products, services and policies that support Canada’s economic competitiveness, strengthen social foundations, sustain the environment and improve our quality of life. These concepts are central to the Government of Canada’s Science and Technology (S&T) strategy, announced in May 2007, which set out a multiyear framework for improving Canada’s long-term competitiveness. Attracting and retaining the best minds to innovate within Canada is a government priority.

The Government of Canada launched the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program to strengthen Canada’s ability to attract and retain the world’s top-tier doctoral students. Vanier scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health. Scholarship recipients will receive $50,000 each year for three years. A total of 340 scholarships have been awarded since the inception of the program—79 of them to international doctoral students from the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia. The program supports up to 500 new students annually.

Selection process

Students must be nominated by a recognized Canadian university. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are awarded after a competitive process that includes a two-stage peer review of nominees. All nominees are first evaluated by peer-review committees from each of the three federal research granting agencies. The committees each select 70 nominations for the disciplines covered by that agency. These 70 nominations (for a total of 210) are then forwarded to the arm’s-length interagency selection board, which makes the final recommendation. The selection board recommends approximately 55 recipients to the president of each of the respective agencies (for a total of 166 recommended recipients). The selection board also oversees the program-delivery process and results to ensure the program achieves its objectives.

Program benefits

The Vanier CGS program helps Canada’s universities attract sought-after doctoral students from across Canada and around the world. These promising scholars help to create a dynamic and innovative environment on our university campuses. Many will stay on to become academics and professionals in Canada, helping to foster innovation and creating the jobs of the future.

Canada’s three research granting agencies—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)—provide the guidance, support and tools needed to administer and promote the program.