Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Research Scholarships-Doctoral (CGRS-D) 2025 Competition
As announced in March 2025, the Tri-Agencies have launched the new Harmonized Tri-Agency Scholarship and Fellowship program, the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS). The inaugural doctoral student fellowship program, the Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Research Scholarships – Doctoral (CGRS D), is now open for applicants to the Fall 2025 competition. The 2026-2027 Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral competition will also be run in conjunction with the new CGRS D competition.
Both UBC’s internal webpage and the Tri-Agency program page have been updated with information on the new competition:
- UBC CGRS D Award Opportunity Webpage: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards/canada-graduate-research-scholarships-doctoral-cgrs-d-program
- Tri-Agency CGRS D program page: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/cgrsd-besrd_eng.asp
There are significant changes to the new competition, so please read the following information carefully.
The information below will also be posted as an “FAQ”: https://faculty-staff.grad.ubc.ca/group/3909/content/58729.
Please bookmark this link, as more information will be added to this FAQ over the coming weeks.
What are UBC’s competition deadlines?
UBC Deadlines for the Tri-Agency CGSD / Affiliated Fellowships Doctoral Competitions:
- Applicant deadline: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 12:00 noon PT
- Graduate program nomination deadline: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 4:00 pm PT
How do students apply to the Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral competition?
Applicants who are eligible for the CGRS D will be automatically considered for Affiliated Fellowships. There is no longer a separate application pathway for the Affiliated Fellowship competition; to be considered for Affiliated Fellowship funding, applicants must meet all eligibility requirements for the CGRS D and submit a CGRS D application.
To be considered for a selection of criteria-based Affiliated Fellowships, students should submit the checklist of criteria-based affiliated fellowships to their graduate program by the application deadline. The checklist of criteria-based affiliated fellowships is available to download here: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/forms/list-criteria-based-affiliated-fellowships.
What about international students? Are there any changes to eligibility criteria?
International students are now eligible to apply for Tri-Agency funding through the CGRS D. A percentage of funds at the federal level is now reserved for international students.
Please note that international students must be enrolled in their doctoral program of study at the time of application. International student applicants to the Fall 2025 CGRS D competition who are not registered in a PhD program at UBC for the fall 2025 term will be deemed ineligible.
International students who are commencing their programs in September 2025 and intending to apply for CGRS D are encouraged to register for the Winter term as soon as possible if they have not already done so.
The window of eligibility to apply to CGRS D has also expanded. To be eligible to apply, students must have completed no more than 36 months of full-time equivalent study in the doctoral program for which they are requesting funding by December 31, 2025. For full eligibility criteria, please visit the CGRS D program page.
Will there be changes to quotas? Does UBC receive a separate quota for international students?
The Tri-Agencies are not issuing distinct quotas for international student nominations; at this time there is no limit to the number of international students that institutions are able to nominate.
Guidance on the proportion of international versus domestic students that programs are able to nominate to the university-wide competition will be shared when program nomination quotas are released in September. While every effort will be made to make quotas available as soon as possible, please note the Awards team needs total application numbers in order to calculate, hence they will only be available after the application deadline in September.
When will we receive the required to apply list? Will international 4YF recipients now be required to apply for Tri-Agency funding?
The “Required to Apply” list is in progress and will be shared with programs in the coming weeks. International students who are current holders of multi-year UBC-funded fellowships (such as 4YF) will now be required to apply to CGRS D in the fall competition, if they are eligible to do so.
How do students apply through UBC?
Applicants applying through UBC will either be:
- currently registered in, or are on an approved leave of absence from, a degree program at UBC (domestic and international students)
- not currently registered anywhere but were registered at any other time during the year of application (2025) in a degree program at UBC
Please consult the “Where to submit an application” section of the Application Procedures information on the CGRS D program page.
Applications will be submitted via each of the agency platforms, similar to the past application procedures for CGSD. The application portals are now open and applicants may begin preparing their applications:
- CIHR: Online Application System (application instructions)
- NSERC: Online Application System (application instructions)
- SSHRC: Online Application System (application instructions)
What about the Vanier CGS program?
As of February 2025, the Vanier CGS competition has been discontinued. Applications for Vanier are no longer accepted.