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Faculty of Graduate Studies

Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's

The objective of the Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master’s Program (CGS M) 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 CGS M Program supports 2,500 students annually in all disciplines and is administered jointly by Canada’s three federal granting agencies. The selection and post-award administration are carried out at the university level, under the guidance of the three agencies. Eligible universities receive a CGS M allocation indicating the number of students to whom they can award scholarships; these allocations are divided into broad fields of study that mirror the three agency streams. Successful applicants will win one of the following awards depending on the focus of the research proposed:

  • Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS M) in health research (CIHR)
  • Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS M) in natural sciences and engineering research (NSERC)
  • Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS M) in social sciences and humanities research (SSHRC)

Amount

$17,500

Application deadline

December 1, 2023

Applying for the CGS M

To determine your eligiblity for a CGS M visit Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program . 

Note: Information and dates may be updated depending on information provided by the tri-council agencies each year. 

  • Early September – Application opens in the Federal Council Research Portal
  • December 1, 2023 - Application Deadline (date by which the complete application must be submitted by the applicant including referee letters). Requests to submit late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances. No changes or updates can be made once the application has been submitted. 
  • Date TBD – Competition results available to students in Research Portal. Students have 21 days from the date of offer of award to accept or decline their offer. If an offer is not accepted or declined within the 21 days it will automatically be set to 'declined'. 

To apply for  CGS M scholarships, all applicants must complete and submit their applications using the Research Portal

Transcripts:  UVic requires official, up-to-date transcripts for all post-secondary studies, including any studies that did not lead to a degree (i.e., transfer course grades, study exchange courses, etc.) Consult the instructions for the appropriate agency.

UVic Transcripts

  • Official UVic transcripts are preferred, however, unofficial UVic transcripts will be accepted. 
  • Unofficial transcripts can be downloaded through a student's Online Tools, Student Services.
  • The UVic transcript must be issued in the fall session of the year of application and if the applicant is currently registered it must display current registration for the fall. 
  • A UVic transcript legend must be included

Other institution transcripts:

  • Applicants must submit official transcripts, including a transcript legend; unofficial transcripts will not be accepted
  • If the transcript is not presented in one of Canada's two official languages (English or French), a certified translation must be provided, in addition to the transcripts in their original language.
  • Up-to-date official transcripts are defined as transcripts issued by the Registrar's Office and dated or issued in the fall session of the year of the application (if currently registered) or after the last term completed (if not currently registered). Opening the envelope to scan the transcript to upload will not render it unofficial.

General transcript information:

  • All programs of study listed in the application, even if not completed, must be accompanied by up-to-date transcripts. This includes any program in which your are currently registered, even if you do not have any marks for the course yet (i.e., fall term courses you are currently enrolled in must be included on your transcript), as these are proof of your enrolment.
  • Where transcripts include transfer credits from another institution, the grades for these credits must be shown. If the grades are not shown, the original transcript from the other institution must be included in the application. This includes international exchange programs.
  • All transcripts and proof of registration should be uploaded as a single PDF document. Retain all original transcripts as they may be requested at a later date.
  • Official transcripts are defined as transcripts issued by the institution’s registrar’s office. Transcripts from other sources, such as those printed from the student’s account on the institution’s website, are not official.
  • Opening the transcript envelope and scanning the transcript will not render the transcript unofficial.
  • You must include one copy of the legend (for each transcript). Do not scan the legend multiple times.

 

Contact information: Students should contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies for assistantance or guidance well in advance of the stated deadline. Students can also contact any of the three federal council agencies for information about the program. Students should contact the council whose mandate corresponds with the applicants field of research.

Tri-Agency:

UVic Faculty of Graduate Studies:

Tri-Council Faculty Coaches:

Additional Resources:

CGS M Workshops:

SSHRC 2023 workshop:

  • Date: Tuesday, September 26
  • Time: 12:30-1:30pm
  • Location: Cornett B143

UPDATED NSERC 2023 workshop:

  • Date: Thursday, September 28
  • Time: 2:30-3:30pm
  • Location: Cornett A125

CIHR 2023 workshop:

  • Date: Thursday, September 28
  • Time: 2:30-3:30pm
  • Location: Cornett A225

Indigenous Scholars Supplement: $5000

Indigenous Scholars Award : $17,500

Duration for both Award and Supplement: over 12 months

The Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative will provide financial support to meritorious Indigenous students who have applied to the Canada Graduate Scholars—Master’s program (CGS M).

Eligibility

To be eligible students must apply to the CGSM program and self-identify as Indigenous on their application, provide a one-page (3000 characters maximum) personal statement and have had their application deemed meritorious in the CGSM review process. Meritorious applications include applications that have received the status “Offered” or “Alternate” in the Research Portal.

Application process

  • Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for this funding stream must apply through the CGS M program.
  • Applicants select “Indigenous Scholars Award and Supplement Pilot Initiative” in the drop-down menu in the “Supplements/Joint Initiatives” section of the application form, under the “social sciences and/or humanities” or “natural sciences and engineering” field of research.
  • Applicants must also submit a personal statement. In this statement, applicants must describe how their proposed research project, career and/or education goals have been informed by their experience as a First Nations, Inuit or Métis person. If appropriate, applicants can discuss their existing connection, or efforts to develop or re-establish a link, with their Indigenous community.
  • *Applicants will be asked to self-identify as Indigenous. They will also be asked to consent to SSHRC and NSERC using this information as part of their application to the Indigenous Scholars Award and Supplement.

Please note, adjudication for this award and supplement is through SSHRC/NSERC; UVic is not part of the adjudication process.