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Canada Graduate Research Scholarship (CGRS M) – Masters program

Category: Graduate Students, Master level
Value: $27000
Application Deadline: December 1

The Canada Graduate Research Scholarships – Master’s (CGRS M) is a scholarship in the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS) administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The CRTAS includes the following programs: the CGRS M, the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) and the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA). The CRTAS recognizes and empowers the next generation of highly qualified innovators, knowledge workers and creative thinkers. It supports outstanding graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in developing their research skills and provides the funding and flexibility needed to support their contributions to building world-class research capacity and to Canada’s prosperity and competitiveness.

The CGRS M program supports up to 3,298 students annually in all disciplines and is administered jointly by Canada’s three granting agencies. The selection process and post-award administration are carried out at the institutional level under the guidance of the three agencies. Students submit their application to the institution(s) at which they intend to hold their award using the Research Portal. Concordia University of Edmonton is an eligible participating institution.

Value

Students enrolled in this program are eligible to receive $27,000 for 12 months (non-renewable).

Eligibility

  • Must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, as of the application deadline date
  • Must be enrolled in, have applied for or will apply for full-time admission to an eligible graduate program at the master’s or doctoral level that can be started within the eligible dates of the competition year at a Canadian institution with a CGRS M allocation.
  • Must have completed no more than 12 months of full-time studies in a graduate program as of December 31 of the year of application
  • Must not have previously held a CGRS M
  • Must not have held or be currently holding an Indigenous Scholars Award and supplement
  • Must have achieved a first-class average*, as determined by the host institution, in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent)
  • Must submit a maximum of one scholarship application per academic year to either CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC. If you apply to more than one program, only the first eligible application submitted to the agencies will be retained
  • For complete eligibility requirements, please consult the CGRS-M website

*Institutions may, at their discretion, offer a CGRS M award to applicants who have not obtained a first-class average.

Application Procedures

Students apply online through the Research Portal. Within your application you must include:

  • An outline of your proposed research
  • Up to date official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate studies. Important information regarding transcripts from NSERC:
    • Up-to-date official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate studies must be included in the application, including transcripts for the fall semester of the year of application, whether they contain grades or not. Transcripts serve to confirm the number of months of graduate studies completed, determine your first-class average and confirm your current registration.
    • If your transcripts include transfer credits from another institution, the original transcript with the grades shown should be included, or your application may be deemed ineligible.
    • If you have not provided the up-to-date official transcripts needed to determine whether you have achieved a first-class average in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent), your application will be deemed ineligible.
    • Retain the paper copy of any uploaded transcripts, as you may be asked to provide it for verification purposes.
  • Canadian Common CV (CCV)
  • Two Reference Assessments (It is your responsibility to ensure your reference assessments are complete and submitted early enough to allow you to submit your completed application in the Research Portal before the December 1 deadline. Reference must verify and validate their Research Portal account at least 48 hours in advance of the deadline to address system issues (such as forgotten passwords, locked or multiple accounts), which may prevent the timely submission of the assessment.)

Students are expected to read and follow the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s program instructions for completing an application.

Deadlines

December 1st, before 8:00p.m. (ET), 6:00pm (MST).

Complete applications must be submitted by the deadline using the research portal. If the deadline falls on a weekend, applications must be submitted by the following business day before 8:00pm (ET)/ 6:00pm (MST).

Note: As the application deadline approaches, delays may occur due to a high volume of users on the Research Portal, which may prevent the timely submission of your application. It is your responsibility to strictly follow the instructions for completing an application. Requests to submit late applications will not be accepted.

Prospective students must apply for Admission to the program by Concordia’s Program Admission Deadline in order to be considered for a CGRS-M at Concordia University of Edmonton.

Useful Timelines:

September 1st: Application opens

December 1st at 6:00pm (MST): Application Deadline

January – March 31st: Committee Review

April 1st: Decisions are announced via research portal

Adjudication Procedures

Applications are reviewed for eligibility and completeness then forwarded to a selection committee. The selection committee selects recipients to receive Concordia’s allocations. Official notification to applicants takes place through the Research Portal and is available on April 1st.

Important Steps

Step 1: Ensure you are FULLY eligible before starting an application

Step 2: Start thinking of who you will ask to write your letters of reference

Step 3: TODAY, order every transcript from any post secondary institution you have attended. You will need a transcript for any post secondary class you have taken. This includes institutions you have only taken one course from and/or all transfer credit. Missing one transcript can make you ineligible. All transcripts must be OFFICIAL.

Step 4: Ask two referees if they can provide you with STRONG Letters of Reference. If they say yes, provide them with full information about the competition. Send your referees the link to completing the reference assessment video will be helpful. Be sure to give your referee a deadline of at least 1 week (or more) ahead of yours to ensure they submit on time. You cannot submit your application until your reference has submitted their letter.

Step 5: Submit your application on the portal well ahead of the December 1st deadline. The online portal traffic is very heavy near the deadline and delays can occur. No late applications are accepted. Be sure to submit early!

Step 6: Contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office at finaid@concordia.ab.ca should you have any questions.