Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship

Deadline:

TBD: Likely August 2025


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

Description

Quick Facts

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields.

Annual Value: $50,000
Duration: up to 3 years

Eligibility

Please see the Vanier CGS website for complete eligibility criteria.

Evaluation Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated and selected based on the following three criteria, which will be weighted equally by the selection committees:

  • Academic Excellence
  • Research Potential
  • Leadership (Potential and Demonstrated Ability)

Please see the Vanier CGS website for complete selection criteria.

Application Procedures

UBC Vanier applicants will complete their Vanier application using ResearchNet, an online application system. Applicants to UBC must submit their complete Vanier application package via ResearchNet by the deadline.  Late applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should refer to the Vanier CGS website for step-by-step application instructions.

To apply, applicants must do the following by the deadline noted above:

  1. Notify the College of Graduate Studies (CoGS) (graduateawards.ok@ubc.ca) that they intend to apply for the Vanier CGS.  This is an important step as the College of Graduate Studies should be aware of your intention to apply for the Vanier as they must support (nominate) your application in order for it to reach the next stage of the award competition.
  2. Provide official, up to date transcripts to CoGS for all post-secondary studies (including studies that did not lead to a degree, e.g., exchange / transfer course grades) up to 31 August 2024.
    • UBC transcripts: Students can order official transcripts from student services here: https://students.ok.ubc.ca/courses-money-enrolment/transcripts/. Note that COGS no longer provide academic histories, and students must order official transcripts from student services.
      • Your UBC transcript must include the 2024W1 (Fall 2024) registration and must be ordered after September 1st. Because of this, you do not need to submit your UBC transcript prior to the deadline. COGS will use your Advising Transcript via Workday for the University level review, and if you are nominated to the national competition, COGS will append to your application your UBC transcript. Please have your official transcript sent to graduateawards.ok@ubc.ca, and ensure the transcript is dated September 1, 2024 or later.
    • Other transcripts:
      • Must be official and up to date (include degree conferral, if applicable) as of August 31, 2024.
      • Required even from institutions in cases of transfer credit or exchange terms.
      • 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 no longer provides 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.
    • Include one copy of marking key / legend (usually on back of transcript) for each institution.
    • Note: “transcripts for post-secondary studies” includes transcripts from transfer credit courses and exchange or study abroad terms.
      • Example: UBC transcript lists study abroad terms at “Sciences Po” institute in Paris. The courses are listed as transfer credit on the UBC transcript, but the grades are not listed. The official Sciences Po transcript must be provided.
    • Questions about transcript requirements should be directed to CoGS (graduateawards.ok@ubc.ca).
    • It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm that CoGS has all of their required transcripts for their Vanier application well in advance of the deadline.
    • Transcripts are not attached to the Vanier application by the application deadline.  The nominating institution will attach the official transcripts should the application be nominated to the Vanier CGS national competition.
  3. Request letters of support from four referees:
    • two letters from referees assessing the applicant’s academic excellence, research potential and demonstrated and potential leadership ability are submitted electronically through ResearchNet by the referee.
    • two leadership reference letters; two PDFs are provided to the applicant, who uploads the letters to his or her electronic application file.
    • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): Referees are encouraged to review Vanier’s EDI resources to incorporate EDI considerations in their reference letters.
    • See further information regarding referee assessments.
  4. Create a “Vanier-Banting Academic” CV.
  5. Prepare the other required documents (Research Contributions, Personal Leadership Statement, Special Circumstances [if applicable], Research Proposal, Project References, and Voluntary Self-Identification Form for Indigenous Applicants [optional]).  The presentation standards and page limits set by Vanier must be followed.
  6. Submit a completed Vanier CGS application via ResearchNet.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): Applicants are encouraged to review Vanier’s EDI resources to incorporate EDI considerations in their application package.

Please see the Vanier CGS website for detailed application/nomination instructions.

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 nominees to the national competition.
  • Canadian universities each have a limit to the number of nominations they may submit to the Vanier CGS competition.
  • Results of the national competition are released to applicants in Spring 2024. For details about the adjudication process at the national competition level, please see the selection committee guide on the Vanier CGS website.

Additional Resources

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