Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) | Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies

Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)

Presentations

Upcoming information session webinar details for the 2024/25 CIHR Scholarships will 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.

 

CIHR Doctoral Awards

Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral Awards (CGS D) provide financial support to high calibre scholars who are engaged in a doctoral program in a health-related field.  Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada are eligible to apply.

Value & Duration

$40,000 per year for three years 

Eligibility

Please carefully review both the CGS website. You may also wish to review CIHR's website for other doctoral funding opportunities.

Quota

The University of Guelph is an institution with a quota from CIHR. For the 2025-26 competition, Guelph may forward 3 applications for consideration by CIHR. 

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.

CIHR Doctoral Application Process

Please note that this information is specific to those students submitting their applications through the University of Guelph. Please refer to the institutional application deadline listed below.

All applicants must submit their applications through the ResearchNet. The ResearchNet 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, please input this in the institution field.

The application can be accessed on ResearchNet, and application instructions can be found on CIHR's website.

Transcripts

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.

  • Official up-to-date transcripts/proofs of registration for all undergraduate and graduate programs must be submitted.
    • Up-to-date transcripts are defined as transcripts dated or issued in the fall session of the year of application (if currently registered) or after the last term completed (if not currently registered).
  • If the applicant is already registered in their program of study at the time of application, they must submit a transcript for this program regardless of the number of months completed in the program or whether the transcript contains any marks. This requirement also applies to programs of study started in the fall session of the year of application.
  • Certified copies will be accepted only for transcripts from foreign locations where official transcripts cannot be obtained (normally only considered for transcripts from outside of North America). If an applicant cannot obtain official transcripts, they need to provide verification from the institution to demonstrate its inability to provide official transcripts.
  • If a university’s policy is not to provide transcripts, then a letter bearing the official university seal/stamp or a letter signed by the Dean of Graduate Studies confirming i) the applicant’s program of study and registration status, and ii) that the university does not provide transcripts must be submitted in lieu of a transcript.
  • Please have all of your transcripts sent to your home mailing address or personal email. Do NOT send the transcripts for this application to your academic department or to OGPS.
  • 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.

Print/Upload Signature Page

Although the page for the institutional signatures is part of the signature page document, institutional signatures are not required at the time of application. The only signature required at the time of application is your advisor's signature (see the Print/Upload Signature Pages instructions). Please note that applicants must first enter their supervisor’s information in the Identify Participants section of the ResearchNet application. Once this step is complete, applicants must go to the Print/Upload Signature Page section and click the “Signature Page” link to generate a page requiring the supervisor’s signature. After collecting the signature, you must scan and upload all three pages into your application.

CIHR Doctoral Application Deadline

Complete applications are due online by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on September 26, 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 CIHR, and that the application is submitted before the deadline.

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.

Applicants will be notified whether or not their application has been selected to be forwarded to the national competition by late November.

Contacts & Resources

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