Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program

Deadline:

TBD: Likely December 1, 2025 before 5:00 PM (PT)


Eligibility of Citizenship: Canadian and Permanent Residence
Degree Level: Masters
Award Status: Closed
Applicant Status: Incoming Students and Continuing Students

Description

Quick Facts

The Canada Graduate Scholarships Master’s (CGS-M) Program provides financial support for one year to high-caliber scholars who are engaged in eligible master’s or, in some cases, doctoral programs in Canada. This support allows these scholars to fully concentrate on their studies in their chosen fields.

The CGS-M program supports up to 3,000 students annually in all disciplines and is administered jointly by Canada’s three federal agencies: The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative (NSERC and SSHRC): The Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative consist of a one-year, non-renewable supplement valued at $5,000 for all meritorious Indigenous CGS M applicants and a one-year, non-renewable award valued at $27,000 for all alternate candidates, subject to the limit of available funding. If you self-identify as Indigenous you are eligible to apply for this initiative.  Note: CIHR is not participating in this initiative.  For more information, see the pilot initiative webpage.

Annual Value: $27,000
Duration: 1 year

Eligibility

  • Complete eligibility criteria are available on the CGS-M website
  • For research subject matter guidelines, please refer to Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency
    • If applicants are unsure whether they should submit their application to CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC, they should consult their research supervisor and/or Graduate Program Coordinator. In cases where clarification is still needed, applicants should send a half-page summary of their intended research proposal to one of the agencies and ask the agency to confirm in writing (including by e-mail) if they are eligible to apply to that agency. Applicants are advised to err on the side of caution, and ask the funding agency for an assessment rather than guess or assume incorrectly

Evaluation Criteria

Complete evaluation criteria are available on the CGS-M website.

Application Procedures

The Tri-Council master’s programs (CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC) have harmonized the application process. Competition details are accessible via the NSERC website. Applicants  are to submit the application through the online Research Portal by the deadline.

  • Applicants must create a Canadian Common CV (CCV) and complete and submit the online application using the Research Portal (please make sure to follow the instructions)
  • Each applicant may apply to up to three eligible institutions in Canada. To be considered for a CGS-M at UBC, applicants must fill out one of  “Proposed Host Organization” sections with the following information:
    • Organization: select “The University of British Columbia”
      • Within this framework, the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses are considered one institution. For this reason, applicants will need to identify the Okanagan campus in either the free-form Faculty field or in the drop-down menu of the Department/Division field
    • Faculty: select the disciplinary faculty under which your current/proposed graduate program falls (look up your faculty if you are unsure)
    • Department/Division: select your current/proposed graduate program if it is available on the list. If it is not available on the list, select the closest available department/division based on your research area

A complete application includes the following documents:

  • Application form
    • Identification, Summary of Proposal, and Activity Details
  • Outline of the proposed research (including the bibliography and citations) – applicant uploads as a PDF
  • All required undergraduate and graduate official transcripts (including studies undertaken but not completed, e.g., transfer / exchange terms) – applicant uploads as a PDF
    • UBC transcripts:
      • Must be official
      • If currently enrolled, the transcript must include the 2024W1 (Fall 2024) registration and must be ordered after September 1st, whether they contain grades or not
      • The grade summary page from your Workday Student profile is not acceptable
      • Students can order official transcripts from student services here: https://students.ok.ubc.ca/courses-money-enrolment/transcripts/
    • Other transcripts:
      • Must be official and up-to-date (include degree conferral, if applicable) as of August 31, 2024
      • Transcripts are required even from institutions in cases of transfer credit or exchange terms
      • Applicants may still need to order some of their transcripts to complete their transcript package.
      • Foreign transcripts: if the transcripts are not presented in one of Canada’s two official languages (English or French), a certified translation must be provided, in addition to the official transcripts in its original language
      • The transcript key/legend for each institution must be included
      • Note that UBCO does not provide transcripts that are on file to students. Students must ensure that they have copies of all of their official transcripts well before the deadline so they can be uploaded to the application by the deadline
  • Please pay attention to the transcript requirements outlined in the CGS-M Instructions for completing an application. This is imperative as it is the primary reason for the rejection of applications
  • CGS-M Canadian Common CV (CCV) – applicant enters the confirmation number in their application form
  • Two reference assessments – applicant invites two referees; referee completes an online form

Nomination Procedures for Graduate Programs

  • The College of Graduate Studies will provide electronic copies of applications/transcripts submitted by their current and prospective students to UBCO graduate programs shortly after the applicant deadline. Graduate programs review their applications for eligibility and completeness, rank their applications, and select their nominees.

Adjudication Procedures

  • The College of Graduate Studies Scholarship and Awards Committee will convene an adjudication committee composed of UBC faculty members to review nominations submitted by graduate programs and select UBC’s top-ranked applicants.
  • Results are released to applicants in Spring 2025.

Additional Resources

Questions about this award? Email graduateawards.ok@ubc.ca