The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, established by the Canadian Government in 2008, commemorates George Philias Vanier, a distinguished Canadian soldier and diplomat who held the position of Canada’s Governor-General from 1959 to 1967.
Often referred to as the Rhodes Scholarship of Canada, this program seeks to draw in exceptional students, whether they are Canadian citizens or international students living in Canada, who demonstrate remarkable skill and talent.
The Vanier Scholarship 2024 selects individuals who possess leadership qualities and showcase exceptional academic accomplishments in social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, engineering, and health-related disciplines.
This Canadian scholarship program for postgraduate studies focuses on doctoral candidates, evaluating them based on three equally weighted criteria: academic excellence, research potential, and leadership abilities.
What You Should About Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
Unlike some other scholarship programs, there are no interviews for nominees applying for the Vanier CGS 2024. Instead, all three selection criteria are evaluated based on the documents submitted by the applicants.
This distinctive Canadian Government Scholarship program in Canada features a specialized application and selection process. Participating Canadian institutions receive a designated quota of Vanier’s CGS slots under this scholarship.
Prospective applicants must apply directly to the university and express their interest in securing a Vanier Canadian Government grant for their Ph.D. studies. Nomination of candidates for this prestigious Vanier scholarship in Canada is carried out by the institutions themselves.
Further details regarding the application process and procedures are elaborated upon below. Additionally, the article provides relevant links for the convenience of both readers and applicants.
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are overseen by Canadian governmental bodies: the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the National Science and Engineering Research Council, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Recipients of the Vanier scholarship are granted $50,000 per year for a three-year period. This program can support up to 166 scholars every year. In exchange, these exceptional scholars contribute to fostering a dynamic and inventive atmosphere in Canadian universities, benefiting both the institutions and the nation as a whole.
Synopsis Of Scholarship
- Study Level: Doctorate (PhD)
- School(s): Canadian institution allocated for Vanier scholars
- Location: Canada
- Duration: 3 years
- Available Fields:
- Research in natural sciences and/or engineering
- Health studies
- Social sciences and humanities research
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship provides financial support of $50,000 annually for a duration of three years throughout doctoral studies.
Requirements For The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 2024:
- The candidate must be either a Canadian student or an international student enrolled at a Canadian institution.
- They should be actively pursuing a PhD program and must be enrolled as a full-time student at a Canadian university.
- To qualify for consideration, the nominee should be put forward by a university eligible for the Vainer CGS universities quota, with updates to the list expected by July 1st.
- The applicant must be enrolled in their first PhD program and must not currently hold any fellowships or scholarships from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC for another doctoral program.
- Additionally, they should have maintained a first-class average in their studies over the past two years. While students in joint professional degree programs (such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD) are eligible, funding will only be provided for the PhD portion.
- It’s also required that candidates include a significant research component in their research proposal.
- The candidate cannot be a faculty member of any institution with a Vanier quota or any other institution.
- To qualify, they must be granted permission for a leave of absence from their current institution to pursue the PhD program.
- Full-time enrollment is required, although individuals with disabilities or familial responsibilities may enroll part-time.
- For part-time students, two months of study will count as one month compared to full-time enrollment.
- Canadian federal government workers are only qualified if they plan to take unpaid leave from their positions.
- Those who meet the criteria can seek either Vanier or agency-specific Ph.D. scholarships.
- However, if they are chosen for multiple scholarships, they must decide on one grant after selection.
How To Submit An Application For Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)?
Below are crucial guidelines for securing the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships:
Step 1:
Initiate your application process by exploring Canadian educational establishments via the Universities Canada platform. It is advised to carefully examine the websites of each university and delve into the details of the doctoral programs you are interested in, along with identifying potential supervisors for your proposed research.
Step 2:
Refer to the Vanier CGS quota page to confirm whether your chosen institution has available quotas for the application year.
Application Process Overview:
- There are two avenues to initiate applications: either the student notifies the graduate studies faculty at their chosen institution of their intention to apply for the Vanier CGS program, or the institution starts the nomination process by reaching out to the desired candidate.
- Students prepare and submit their applications to the nominating institution by the internal deadline, which is determined by the institution and set in
- The nominating institution conducts its internal candidate selection process.
- Recommended nominations are sent to the Vanier-Banting Secretariat by November, at 20:00 Eastern Time.
- The Secretariat manages the review process.
- It then presents recommendations to the Tri-Agency Programs (TAP) Steering Committee.
- The TAP Steering Committee finalizes decisions for the Vanier CGS program.
- Applicants are informed of the competition results in April.
- Applicants seeking the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) must first be nominated by their desired educational institution; direct applications to the program are not accepted.
- It is essential for candidates to confirm the internal deadlines set by their nominating institution.
- Prior to initiating their application, candidates should familiarize themselves with the Selection Committee Guide, which outlines the three evaluation criteria and offers valuable insights into their assessment.
- The Secretariat has compiled a range of resources to assist applicants, institutions, referees, and evaluators in considering equity, diversity, and inclusion in their applications.
- Prospective applicants are encouraged to review these resources before commencing their application process.
Documents Needed For The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) Application
To apply for the Vanier scholarships in Canada, applicants need to have all of the specified documents:
A ResearchNet application form is required along with two reference letters, a CV/Resume, concise research contributions on one page, a personal statement highlighting the candidate’s leadership abilities, two leadership reference letters, a two-page research proposal, project preferences within a maximum of five pages, academic transcripts, certificates, and any proof of special circumstances, which should not exceed half a page for part-time students.
Conclusion:
The Vanier Canadian Government Scholarships welcome international students interested in pursuing their doctoral studies at leading Canadian universities. Valued at $50,000 annually for a duration of three years, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship aims to attract and retain outstanding doctoral candidates demonstrating leadership qualities and exceptional scholarly achievements in various fields including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and health.
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