Eligible Canadian institutions are assigned a separate allocation of awards to offer from each agency. Institutions must respect the agency-specific allocation. AU’s allocations are as follows:
- SSHRC: 3
- NSERC: 1
- CIHR: 1
Black student researchers
The Government of Canada has deployed additional funds to increase direct support for Black student researchers. CGS M applicants who self-identify as Black and provide consent in their application to be considered for funds designated for specific groups may be able to receive this funding through a scholarship as part of this initiative. Each agency has a limited number of additional CGS M awards reserved for this initiative.
For more information, consult the Frequently asked questions about the new Black scholars funding web page.
The Tri-agencies have announced increased award values for all current and new master’s and doctoral student scholarships effective Sept. 1, 2024. The annual value of all current and new master’s scholarships will increase to $27,000.
For more information, see the May 31, 2024 news release.
AU’s Faculty of Graduate Studies has not yet received any details regarding how the increases will impact each recipient. We expect to receive further information in July/Aug. 2024. Once received, we will provide details to recipients, students, supervisors, and programs.
Value and duration: $17,500 for 12 months, non-renewable
Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative
The Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative will provide financial support to meritorious Indigenous students who have applied to the CGS M.
Value and duration: The Indigenous Scholars Award is valued at $17,500 over 12 months, and the Indigenous Scholars Supplement is valued at $5,000 over 12 months.
There is no internal deadline for the CGS M.
Dec. 1 before 6 p.m. (Mountain): Deadline to submit completed application and Canadian Common CV through the Research Portal.
April 1 of the year following the application deadline: Applicants are notified of results on the online Research Portal.
To be eligible to apply, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) as of the application deadline date
- be enrolled in, have applied for or will apply for full-time admission* to an eligible graduate program at the master’s or doctoral level at a Canadian institution with a CGS M allocation
- have completed, as of Dec. 31 of the year of application
- either between 0 and 12 months of full-time studies (or full-time equivalent) in the program for which you are requesting funding,**
- or between 4 and 12 months of full-time study (or full-time equivalent) in an eligible master’s program for which the degree requirements will be completed before activation of the award, allowing it to be activated during the first 12 months of the subsequent doctoral program for which you are requesting funding
*Refer to the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide for details regarding part-time admission.
**All studies credited toward the eligible program will be counted, whether or not they were completed at the degree-granting institution.
For full eligibility requirements, visit Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s program.
To apply to the CGS M program, you must complete and submit an application to up to 3 institutions using the Research Portal. Consult the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s program: Instructions for completing an application for more information on how to apply.
Faculty/departmental nomination is not required for the CGS M competition. However, faculties/departments should inform their prospective students of their internal application for admission deadline. Students are not required to submit their CGS M application to their faculty/department but may choose to do so if the faculty/department is offering reviews.
Offers of awards will be available in the Research Portal as of April 1. Alternate offers may be made until Jan. 31 of the next calendar year. It is your responsibility to regularly check the Research Portal between April 1 and Jan. 31 for results of the competition. Refer to the instructions for completing an application for more information on the notification of results.
Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement
Supplements of up to $6,000 are available to active CGS (master’s or doctoral) or eligible Vanier CGS holders to help offset the costs of undertaking research studies outside Canada for a defined period.
The Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study are available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada or Protected Persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) who hold a CGS at the master’s or doctoral level, or a Vanier CGS at the doctoral level.
For full details, visit Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements.
Department of National Defence MINDS Scholarship Initiative
The Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (MINDS) program of the Department of National Defence is committed to fostering the next generation of security and defence scholars in the Canadian academic community and to encouraging a strong Canadian knowledge base in contemporary defence and security issues. To this end, the MINDS program has partnered with SSHRC to deliver the MINDS Scholarship Initiative.
This initiative offers research training awards and supplements to master’s and doctoral students and to postdoctoral researchers in the social sciences and humanities whose work is related to 1 or more of the MINDS Policy Challenges and/or Canada’s defence policy: Strong, Secure, Engaged.
MINDS Master’s Scholarships for Indigenous Students: $17,500 for 12 months
MINDS Scholarship Initiative Supplements: $10,000 for 12 months
For full details, visit Department of National Defence MINDS Scholarship Initiative.