Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program?
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students who demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in doctoral studies. The program helps attract top doctoral students to Canadian universities by offering a significant financial award to assist successful candidates during their studies.

What is the monetary award for each scholarship?
Each Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is valued at $50,000 per year, for three years. This level of funding will provide successful candidates with significant freedom to pursue and complete doctoral studies that will lead to the growth of the global knowledge base.

Are the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships open to Canadian and international students?
Yes, both Canadian and international students may apply for a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. While individuals of this calibre will make a significant contribution to Canadian society and will always be linked to Canada, they will also make a contribution to the global society.

How is the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program beneficial to Canada?
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program confirms Canada’s standing as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. By becoming a world leader in research, Canada’s universities and its citizens will benefit from greater international partnerships, increasing economic sustainability and innovation, as well as greater learning opportunities for our university students.

What is the appeal of studying in Canada? 
Canada has a world-class education system that includes 92 universities located from coast-to-coast. Moreover, Canada has made a substantial investment in education, research and innovation over the last decade which means doctoral students will be working in a country that appreciates the social and economic value of higher education. Canada is also a beautiful, friendly, multicultural, multilingual and tolerant society.

Who is responsible for delivering the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program?
Canada’s three federal granting agencies (Canadian Institutes of Health Research [CIHR], Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council [NSERC] and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council [SSHRC]) will provide all the guidance, support and tools needed to administer and promote the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program.

Does the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship program help to position Canada globally as a leader in higher learning?
Yes, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program confirms Canada’s standing as a global centre of higher learning. The $50,000 annual award paid to the scholarship recipients each year, for up to three years, will allow world-class doctoral students to pursue and complete advanced programs of study. This will benefit Canada and the rest of the world.
 
How does the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program fit in with Government priorities?
The Government of Canada is dedicated to ensuring our future success by implementing its science and technology (S&T) strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, and investing in the building of an advanced learning capacity. The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program is one of the ways the Government of Canada is delivering on this commitment.

Introduced in Budget 2008, this program strengthens Canada’s ability to attract the world’s top doctoral students. The Vanier CGS program will encourage partnerships, promote world-class excellence and help brand Canada as a leader in higher learning, research and science and technology development. The goal is to attract and retain the best and brightest students, both in Canada and abroad. 

On what criteria are the students awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship?
To be nominated for a Vanier Canada Graduate Schlarship, a student must:

• be nominated by a Canadian university with a Vanier CGS quota;
• be seeking support to pursue their first PhD (or equivalent);
• be pursuing doctoral studies (or a combined master's/PhD degree); or
• have not already received a scholarship or fellowship from SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR to undertake or complete a doctoral degree or combined master's/PhD degree;
• not be pursuing a degree program that combines undergraduate and graduate degrees; and
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student eligible for nomination for a Vanier CGS.

What universities are eligible to hold an award?
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are tenable only at recognized universities in Canada. There are no exceptions. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships must be taken up at the university that submitted the nomination.

What is the nomination process for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships?

1. The nominating university approaches candidates (Canadian citizens, permanent residents and international students) for nomination.
2. Nominees and the nominating university complete the nomination form and submit the package to the appropriate federal granting agencyby the November 6, 2009 deadline.
3. The multi-disciplinary peer review committee evaluates the nomination packages and forwards 70 nominations to the inter-agency selection board.
4. The inter-agency selection board selects 55 Vanier CGS winners from each of the three granting agencies.
5. All nominees are notified by the respective agencies whether they will receive a Vanier CGS Scholarship.

What are the evaluation criteria for a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship?
Nominees will be evaluated on academic excellence, research potential and leadership ability measured by:

• past academic results (demonstrated by transcripts, awards and distinctions);
• the program of study and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge and innovation (critical thinking, originality), as well as the demonstrated potential of leadership skills;
• relevant professional and academic experience, including research training and potential leadership ability (as demonstrated by work experience, community involvement, participation in preparing publications, conference presentations or papers, etc.); 
• two written evaluations from referees; and
• An Institutional Nomination sheet (for those registered at Canadian universities).

Who is on the selection board for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships?

Chair:
Laurent Beaudoin, Chairman of the Board of Bombardier Inc.

Vice Chair:
Martha Piper, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alberta-based National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT)

Members:
Richard Dicerni, Deputy Minister, Industry Canada

James Edwards, Vice-President and Chair, NSERC Council

Thomas Kierans, Chair, SSHRC Council

Marc Lortie, Ambassador of Canada to France

H. Arnold Steinberg, Deputy Vice-Chair, CIHR Governing Council

Will there be a quota between domestic and international students who can apply for a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship?
No, there is no quota between domestic and international students who can apply for a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. Please refer to the "What are the evaluation criteria for a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship?" question above.