Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program 2025
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program 2025 is a prestigious, fully funded opportunity designed to support top-tier international and Canadian doctoral students. With a generous award of $50,000 per year for three years, the Vanier CGS aims to help students complete their PhD studies in Canadaβs leading universities. If you’re pursuing research and demonstrating exceptional academic excellence and leadership, this scholarship can be your gateway to studying in one of the worldβs most research-focused countries.
About the Vanier Scholarship
Launched in 2008 by the Government of Canada, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) were created to attract and retain world-class doctoral students. This program supports PhD studies across various fields, including:
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Life Sciences
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Engineering
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Social Sciences
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Humanities
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Health
By offering substantial funding and placing a strong emphasis on leadership and academic excellence, the Vanier CGS positions Canada as a global hub for graduate-level research and learning.
Scholarship Value and Duration
π Scholarship Coverage
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Amount: $50,000 per year
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Duration: 3 years (non-renewable)
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Purpose: Covers tuition, living expenses, research costs, and more during full-time doctoral studies
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the Vanier CGS 2025, candidates must meet the following qualifications:
π Citizenship and Residency
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Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or foreign national.
π Eligible Programs
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You must be pursuing your first doctoral degree, including joint undergraduate/graduate research programs such as:
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MD/PhD
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DVM/PhD
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JD/PhD
β οΈ Only the PhD portion of a joint program is eligible for funding.
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π Doctoral Study Timeline
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You must not have completed more than 20 months of doctoral studies by May 1, 2024.
π Institutional Nomination
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You must receive a nomination from a Canadian institution that has a Vanier CGS quota.
π Academic Excellence
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Applicants must have achieved a first-class average, as defined by their institution, in each of the last two years of full-time study.
π Scholarship Restrictions
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You must not hold or have held a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from any of the Tri-Council agencies (CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC).
How to Apply for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
π§ Step 1: Explore Canadian Institutions
Start by exploring universities via the Universities Canada website. Confirm if your chosen university has a Vanier CGS quota for the 2025 cycle.
π Step 2: Check Internal Deadlines
Reach out to the graduate awards administrator at your selected institution to learn about internal deadlines and nomination processes.
π Step 3: Review Application Resources
Before writing your application:
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Read the Selection Committee Guide to understand the evaluation criteria.
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Review resources on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), provided by the Vanier Secretariat.
π Step 4: Prepare and Submit Application
There are two ways to begin:
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Institution-Initiated: The university contacts the candidate to begin the nomination process.
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Student-Initiated: The student starts the application and submits it to the institution via ResearchNet by the internal deadline.
The final nomination must be submitted to the Vanier-Banting Secretariat by November 1, 2024 (8:00 PM ET).
Selection and Approval Process
The application goes through a rigorous review:
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Institutional Review: Nominating universities screen and recommend top candidates.
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Secretariat Evaluation: The Secretariat organizes the peer review process.
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Final Decision: The Tri-Agency Programs (TAP) Steering Committee approves the final list of Vanier Scholars.
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program 2025 is an unparalleled opportunity for high-achieving graduate students to pursue doctoral research in Canada with substantial financial support. Whether your passion lies in health sciences, engineering, or the humanities, this scholarship can help you reach the highest levels of academic success while contributing to cutting-edge global research.
Start preparing early, choose your institution wisely, and make your application stand out by emphasizing leadership, research excellence, and diversity awareness.
