Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) | Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies

Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Presentations

Information sessions for the 2023/24 SSHRC competitions may be found under the Tools and Resources tab.

Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master's (CGS M) Program

The objective of the Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master's (CGS M) Program is to help develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified personnel by supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies. The Tri-council allocates CGS M awards to universities specifying the number of awards that each may offer to their students annually. CGS M awards can only be offered to students pursuing graduate studies at eligible Canadian universities, and the award must be held at the university that has made the offer.

Find out how to apply to hold a CGS M at the University of Guelph here.

SSHRC Doctoral Awards

SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships (Fellowships) and Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral (CGS D) provide financial support to high calibre scholars who are engaged in a doctoral program in the social sciences or humanities; Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada are eligible to apply.

Value & Duration

Fellowships - $40,000 per year for 1, 2, 3, or 4 years
CGS Doctoral - $40,000 per year for three years

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria vary for the Fellowships and CGS Doctoral awards, so please carefully review both the Fellowships and CGS websites.

Quota

The University of Guelph is an institution with a quota from SSHRC. For the 2024-25 competition, Guelph may forward 29 applications for consideration by SSHRC.

Indigenous student researchers

Institutions may recommend applications from self-identified Indigenous student researchers to the doctoral awards competition beyond their application quota. Self-identified Indigenous student researchers must agree to their personal information being used for this purpose by making the appropriate selection in the application form.

Black student researchers

The Government of Canada has deployed additional funds to increase direct support for Black student researchers. CGS D applicants who self-identify as Black and provide consent to be considered for funds targeted towards specific groups may be selected to receive this funding. Each agency has a limited number of additional CGS D awards reserved for this initiative.

For more information, consult the Frequently asked questions about the new Black scholars funding.

SSHRC Doctoral Application Process

Please note that this information is specific to those students submitting their application through the University of Guelph only. Refer to the detailed instructions on the CGS D website to ensure that you are submitting your application to the correct institution.

There is a single application and selection process for the CGS-D and the Fellowships:

  • All applicants must submit their applications through the SSHRC online application portal.
  • The online application will prompt you to indicate if you are applying through a university or if you are applying directly to the agency.
    • Please refer to the CGS website for directions on how to determine where you should submit your application.
    • If you are applying through the University of Guelph, enter "University of Guelph" in your online application. When you submit your application it will be routed to the University of Guelph for consideration.
  • The institution will review applications received:
    • Applications will be reviewed and ranked by the applicant’s proposed or current academic department/school and forwarded to the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS).
    • The OGPS Awards Committee reviews the applications and selects those that will be forwarded to the national competition. The university is given a quota for applications that can be forwarded each year.
  • If selected by SSHRC, the top-ranked applicants will be offered a CGS-D, and the next tier of meritorious applicants will be offered a Fellowship.

Transcript Submission

Applicants must upload their own official transcripts to the application. Current Guelph students may be able to obtain their Guelph transcripts at no charge; please refer to “Ordering Transcripts” under Tools and Resources on our website.

NOTE: Students are responsible for verifying the completeness and accuracy of transcripts uploaded to their application. Failure to do so may result in the disqualification of the application from consideration.

SSHRC Doctoral Application Deadline

Complete applications to the University of Guelph are due online by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on September 26th, 2024. 

  • Applications submitted online after this date will not be considered.
  • It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their entire application, including transcripts and all attached files, is complete and in adherence to all guidelines set by SSHRC, and that the application is submitted prior to the deadline.
  • Applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected to be forwarded to the national competition by late November.

SSHRC Impact Awards–Talent Award

The five annual SSHRC Impact Awards (Gold Medal, Talent Award, Insight Award, Connection Award, Partnership Award) recognize the highest achievements in social sciences and humanities research, knowledge mobilization, and scholarship supported by SSHRC.

The SSHRC Talent Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual who, at the nomination deadline, holds a SSHRC doctoral or postdoctoral fellowship or scholarship (including, but not limited to, a Canada Graduate Scholarship, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, or Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship). For more information regarding the application process and eligibility, please visit the SSHRC Talent Award page.  

Talent Award nomination packages are due to the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS) by February 29, 2024 for consideration by the OGPS Awards Committee.

Each institution may submit only one nomination for each Impact Award in each category in a given year. See previous SSHRC Impact Award winners.

Contacts & Resources

If you have questions, please contact the Graduate Awards Officers by email.