Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Confirm you meet all eligiblity criteria before you apply for a Vanier CGS.

Visit the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship website to read the full eligibility details.

Vanier nominees will be evaluated and selected based on the following three criteria: 

• Academic Excellence
• Research Potential
• Leadership (Potential and Demonstrated Ability)

Please see the Vanier CGS website for complete selection criteria.

UVic students will be contacted by the Faculty of Graduate Studies with an invitation to apply for a Vanier CGS. Applicants to UVic must submit their complete Vanier application package via ResearchNet by noon (12:00pm) on September 01, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted. 

Students must apply for a Vanier CGS through the ResearchNet Portal. Applicants should refer to the Vanier CGS website for step-by-step application instructions. 

• The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship program does not accept direct applications. You must be nominated by a Canadian university with a Vanier CGS allocation. 
• Only one Canadian university can nominate you and it must be the university where you intend to pursue doctoral studies.
• If you want to be nominated by UVic, you should speak with your department's graduate adviser to express interest in the Vanier Scholarship. The Faculty of Graduate Studies will request one nomination from each department in early September of each year. 
• If nominated, complete the full Vanier application via the online portal. 
• Ensure you include all parts of the application.

Trancripts: All official transcripts must submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies; unofficial transcripts will not be accepted. 

• Transcripts must be up-to-date and include the applicants complete academic record (this includes all undergraduate and graduate studies, completed or ongoing) 
• Transcripts can be sent either electronically (include password if applicable), mailed, or dropped off in person to FGS office; students cannot upload transcripts to their application.
• If your transcripts include transfer credit from another institution, the original official transcript with grades shown (and legend) must be included in your application. 
• Transcripts must display registration up to May 01, 2024 (2023 competition), as study months are calculated as of May 01, 2024.
• If you have part-time studies on your transcript it must be outlined in the "attach other application materials' section. If you have been erolled part-time during your PhD studies, specify which semesters. This information must be reflected in your transcripts.

Please visit the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships website for the most up-to-date information regarding eligibility and application details. This website should not be your main source for application information. 

The UVic Faculty of Graduate Studies will convene an adjudication committee composed of UVic faculty members to review applications and select UVic nominees to move forward to the national competition. For information about the adjudication process at the national level, please review the selection committee guide. 

UVic has a limit to the number of nominations they may submit to the Vanier CGS national competition. Applicants will be advised if their application has been forwarded to the national competition in early November. Results of the national competition are announced to applicants the following April.

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is a very prestigious scholarship for graduate students and we want you to succeed in your application. 

1. Start early! There are many components to the application and may require you to have several edits over the application period. 
2. Read the website: Visit the Vanier CGS website and read over the full instructions, eligibility, document requirements, presentation standards, etc.
3. Review: Once you have written your proposal, ask several people to review:  your graduate supervisor or advisor, a friend, a family member, etc. Remember, the adjudication committee is not made up of experts in your subject matter area. Ensure that your proposal is clearly communicated and not filled with specific jargon. 
4. Transcripts: All post-secondary official transcripts must be attached to each nomination package. If these transcripts include credits earned at another college/university that have been transferred to a university degree for credit, an official transcript must be provided. One copy of the legend (reverse of each transcript) must be included. Transcripts must be sent to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (scholoff@uvic.ca).
5. Referee Assessment: We strongly encourage you to complete the "Identify Referee" (ResearchNet) well in advance of the UVic internal deadline. Provide your referee with your proposal, CV, list of accomplishments, etc; ensure they have all the information they need in order to complete their assessment.  One referee assessment must come from your curent graduate supervisor.
6. SUBMIT! Ensure you submit your application by the required UVic internal deadline. DO NOT leave submission to the last minute in case there are any technical issues with the system.

Recipients of a Vanier CGS should familiarize themselves with the policies and regulations and follow the acceptance and payment activation procedures that are outlined in the Tri-Agency Training Award Holder's Guide. 

Students who are currently registered in the degree program for which the Vanier CGS was graded, should start their award at the earliest possible term (terms: May 01, September 01, or January 01).

Please note, students who hold a UVic Fellowship cannot concurrently hold a tri-agency award. If a student has one last term (May to August) remaining of fellowship funding, they may wish to start their Vanier CGS in the September term to maximize funding. 

Payment of Vanier CGS funds will be administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS). To arrange for payment, please complete the following steps:

1. Submit a Response to Offer to Vanier via email and send a copy to scholoff@uvic.ca
2. Once your Response to Offer is processed, a Confirmation of Commencement Form will appear on your ResearchNet account (two months prior to your start date). Email the completed form to vanier@cihr-irsc-bc.ca and a copy to scholoff@uvic.ca
3. Once FGS has received both forms, they will send you a UVic Activation Form to complete and FGS will send response to Vanier CGS. 
4. Vanier CGS will send FGS an Authorization for Funding (AFF) document to activate your funding at UVIc.

Please note, for students electing to start their award in May (Summer Session), funds may not be transferred from Vanier in time to administer the first payment by May 01. Once UVic has received the AFF, it will be paid retroactive to the May 01 start date.

• Step-by-step Vanier Application instructions
• ResearchNet FAQ's
• Completing the Common CV (CCV) instructions 
• Information for referees
• UVic Vanier Applicant Checklist
• For technical assistance with your ResearchNet account, email support@research-net-researchnet.ca or call 613-941-9080
• Contact Vanier: vanier@cihr-irsc.gc.ca 
• UVic Scholarship Administrative Officer: scholoff@uvic.ca