The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s program offers $27,000 for 12 months to eligible master’s and direct-entry doctoral students at Canadian universities. Applications are open, with a December 1 deadline before 8:00 p.m. ET.
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s program (CGRS M) is open, offering $27,000 for 12 months to eligible graduate students pursuing research-based master’s or qualifying doctoral pathways at Canadian universities.
The scholarship is jointly administered through Canada’s three major federal research funding agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
Applications must be submitted by December 1 before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, through the official Research Portal. Late applications are not accepted.
The programme supports up to 3,298 students annually across all disciplines, making it one of Canada’s major federal graduate scholarship schemes.
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s |
| Abbreviation | CGRS M |
| Status | Open |
| Value | $27,000 |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Deadline | December 1 before 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Study Level | Master’s and qualifying doctoral pathways |
| Study Location | Eligible Canadian institutions only |
| Citizenship | Canadian citizens, permanent residents or eligible Protected Persons |
| Fields | Health, natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities |
| Number Supported | Up to 3,298 students annually |
| Application Portal | Research Portal |
| Institutions per Application | Up to three |
| Research Requirement | Programme must be predominantly research-oriented |
| Course-Only Master’s | Typically not eligible |
What Is the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s?
The CGRS M is part of the Canada Research Training Awards Suite, a federal research funding framework supporting graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
The wider suite includes:
- Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s
- Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral
- Canada Postdoctoral Research Award
The programme is intended to support highly qualified innovators, researchers, knowledge workers and creative thinkers while strengthening Canada’s research capacity.
How Much Is the Scholarship Worth?
The award provides:
$27,000 for 12 months.
This is a fixed one-year scholarship value rather than a multi-year master’s award.
Applicants should therefore not describe it as providing $27,000 every year for the entire duration of a degree unless another award is separately obtained.
Application Deadline
The official deadline is:
December 1 before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Because the current competition is open in 2026, applicants preparing for the current cycle should work toward the December 1, 2026 deadline.
If December 1 falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline moves to the following business day before 8:00 p.m. ET.
Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the final hours because the Research Portal may experience delays as the deadline approaches. Late submissions are not accepted.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must satisfy several requirements.
Most importantly, candidates must be one of the following as of the application deadline:
- A Canadian citizen
- A permanent resident of Canada
- A Protected Person under the relevant provision of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
This means the scholarship is not an open international scholarship for students applying from abroad without Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or Protected Person status.
Academic Status Requirements
Applicants must be registered in, have applied for, or intend to apply for admission to an eligible graduate programme at:
a Canadian institution with a CGRS M allocation.
The programme may be:
- A master’s programme
- A direct-entry doctoral programme from a bachelor’s degree
- A combined master’s-doctoral programme
- A master’s programme transitioning into an eligible doctorate
- A master’s programme whose requirements will be completed before the award ends, allowing the award to continue into an eligible doctoral programme
How Much Graduate Study Can You Have Completed?
As of December 31 of the application year, most applicants must have completed between:
0 and 12 months of full-time study or equivalent
in the programme for which funding is requested.
A separate route allows applicants with between 4 and 12 months of eligible master’s study where that degree will be completed before the award starts and the award will then be activated during the first 12 months of a subsequent doctoral programme at the same institution.
Part-time study is calculated proportionally according to the percentage of a full-time course load.
Previous Scholarship Restrictions
Applicants are generally not eligible if they have already held or currently hold a master’s-level scholarship from:
- CIHR
- NSERC
- SSHRC
Additional restrictions apply to certain Indigenous-specific awards and funding mechanisms.
Academic Performance Requirement
Applicants are generally expected to have achieved a:
first-class average
as determined by the intended host institution, in each of the last two completed years of study.
However, institutions have discretion to accept applications from candidates who do not meet that standard.
Applicants who are unsure should contact the graduate studies office at their proposed host institution.
What Kind of Master’s Programme Is Eligible?
The programme must be predominantly research oriented.
It should lead to a major research output such as:
- Thesis
- Major research project
- Dissertation
- Scholarly publication
- Performance
- Recital
- Exhibit
The research output must be merit-reviewed by experts at the institution as part of the degree requirements.
Are Course-Based Master’s Degrees Eligible?
Usually not.
The official source states that master’s programmes based only on coursework are typically not eligible because they do not contain a sufficiently significant research component.
This is an important distinction for students considering professional or taught master’s degrees.
Are Professional Joint Degrees Eligible?
Some joint programmes may qualify if they include a sufficiently substantial independent research component.
Examples given include:
- MD/PhD
- DVM/PhD
- JD/MA
- JD/PhD
- MBA/PhD
- MA/MBA
Clinically oriented programmes, including clinical psychology, may also qualify if they include a significant autonomous research component.
Where Can the Scholarship Be Held?
Without exception, CGRS M awards can only be held at:
eligible Canadian institutions.
The award cannot simply be taken to a university outside Canada.
Which Fields Are Supported?
The scholarship covers a broad range of disciplines through Canada’s three federal research agencies.
These include:
- Health
- Natural sciences
- Engineering
- Social sciences
- Humanities
- Interdisciplinary research
Applicants should make sure that their chosen institution has an allocation for the field of research they intend to pursue.
Can You Apply to More Than One University?
Yes.
Applicants may submit the CGRS M application to up to:
three institutions
through the Research Portal.
This can improve flexibility for students considering several eligible Canadian universities.
How to Apply
Step 1 — Identify Eligible Canadian Universities
Choose institutions that hold CGRS M allocations in your intended research area.
Step 2 — Confirm Your Graduate Programme Is Eligible
Make sure the programme is research-oriented and meets the scholarship criteria.
Step 3 — Check Institutional Admission Deadlines
Candidates must respect each university’s internal admission deadlines.
Step 4 — Prepare the CGRS M Application
Complete the application through the Research Portal.
Step 5 — Select Up to Three Institutions
Applicants can submit the application to as many as three participating institutions.
Step 6 — Submit Before the Deadline
The completed application must reach the portal before 8:00 p.m. ET on December 1.
How Are Applications Assessed?
Institutions evaluate applications according to three weighted areas:
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Academic Excellence | 50% |
| Research Potential | 30% |
| Personal Characteristics and Interpersonal Skills | 20% |
Academic Excellence — 50%
Half of the overall assessment is based on academic excellence.
Indicators include:
- Academic record
- Scholarships and awards
- Duration of previous studies
- Type of programme and courses
- Relative academic standing, where available
This makes academic performance the single most heavily weighted component.
Research Potential — 30%
Research potential accounts for 30%.
Reviewers may consider:
- Research history
- Interest in discovery
- Proposed research
- Contribution to knowledge
- Research and development contributions
- Relevant work experience
- Academic training
- Feasibility of the proposed research
- Critical thinking
- Initiative
- Autonomy
- Previous research achievements
Applicants should therefore focus not only on grades but also on demonstrating genuine research ability and a strong proposed project.
Personal and Interpersonal Skills — 20%
The remaining 20% evaluates personal characteristics and interpersonal skills.
Examples include:
- Work experience
- Leadership
- Project management
- Conference or meeting organization
- Written and oral communication
- Academic involvement
- Volunteer work
- Community outreach
This means extracurricular and professional experiences can materially strengthen an application.
Additional Support for Indigenous Students
The programme includes additional mechanisms for eligible Indigenous researchers.
The Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative may provide:
- A $5,000 Indigenous Scholars Supplement to successful eligible CGRS M recipients
- In some circumstances, a $27,000 Indigenous Scholars Award plus a $5,000 supplement to qualifying applicants on the alternate list
These awards are subject to available funding and specific eligibility rules.
Additional Awards for Black Student Researchers
The Government of Canada also provides designated funding for Black student researchers.
Each federal granting agency has up to:
20 additional CGRS M awards
reserved for Black student researchers who self-identify and consent to consideration for designated funding.
When Are Results Released?
Offers begin appearing in the Research Portal from:
April 1.
Alternate offers may continue to be made until:
January 31 of the following calendar year.
Applicants are responsible for regularly checking the portal during this period.
How Competitive Is the Scholarship?
The programme supports up to 3,298 students annually, but applications are assessed competitively at participating institutions.
The selection criteria place substantial emphasis on academic performance, while also rewarding strong research potential and evidence of leadership, communication and community involvement.
A competitive candidate will therefore usually need more than acceptable grades alone.
Who Should Apply?
This scholarship may be particularly suitable for candidates who:
- Have strong academic results
- Are entering a research-based master’s programme
- Have clear research interests
- Can demonstrate research potential
- Have leadership or community involvement
- Are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or eligible Protected Persons
- Intend to study at an eligible Canadian university
Documents and Evidence to Prepare
The official page does not list every application component within the supplied text, but applicants should be prepared to present information demonstrating:
- Academic record
- Research experience
- Proposed research
- Awards and distinctions
- Work experience
- Leadership
- Community engagement
Applicants should follow the official CGRS M application instructions for the complete submission requirements.
Important Application Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming the Scholarship Is Open to All International Students
It is not. Applicants must meet the specified Canadian citizenship, permanent resident or Protected Person requirements.
Applying to a Course-Only Master’s
The programme must generally have a significant research component.
Missing the December 1 Deadline
Late applications are not accepted.
Waiting Until the Last Hour
The Government of Canada warns that the Research Portal can experience delays close to the deadline.
Applying to the Wrong Research Agency Area
Applicants need to ensure their research is correctly aligned with the relevant CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC field.
Applying to More Than One CRTAS Programme in the Same Year
Applicants may apply to only one Canada Research Training Awards Suite programme per academic year. If more than one is submitted, only the first eligible application will be retained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s open?
Yes. The official funding page currently lists the programme as Open.
How much is the scholarship?
$27,000 for 12 months.
What is the application deadline?
December 1 before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
How many students receive support?
The programme supports up to 3,298 students annually.
Can international students apply?
Not simply on the basis of being an international student. Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or eligible Protected Persons by the application deadline.
Can I study outside Canada?
No. Awards are tenable only at eligible Canadian institutions.
Can I apply for a course-based master’s?
Typically not. Eligible programmes need a significant research component.
Can I apply to multiple universities?
Yes. You may submit your application to up to three institutions.
Is the scholarship only for science students?
No. It supports health, natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities.
When are results announced?
Offers become available from April 1, with alternate offers possible through January 31 of the following year.
Final Thoughts
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s is one of Canada’s major federal funding opportunities for students beginning or pursuing research-intensive graduate study.
Successful candidates receive:
$27,000 for 12 months, with the programme supporting up to 3,298 graduate students annually across multiple disciplines.
The current competition is open, and applications must be submitted by December 1 before 8:00 p.m. ET through the Research Portal.
Applicants should pay particular attention to the citizenship rules. This is not a general international scholarship: eligibility is restricted to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and qualifying Protected Persons as of the application deadline.
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