The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) supports graduate students and postdoctoral researchers through the federal Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS) and related NSERC supplements. For the 2026–27 competition cycle, the key awards are the CGRS‑D, CGRS‑M and Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA). As of 7 November 2026, the 2026 direct-agency deadlines for CGRS‑D and NSERC CPRA have passed; CGRS‑M applications remain open until 1 December 2026 before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
NSERC Graduate and Postdoctoral Funding: 2026–27 Snapshot
| Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS‑D) | $40,000 per year for 36 months. 2026 direct-agency application deadline passed. NSERC publishes October 17 as the agency date, subject to its weekend/holiday extension rule. Applicants required to apply through a Canadian institution must follow that institution’s separate internal deadline, which may be earlier; confirm the route and date with the graduate studies office. |
|---|---|
| Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS‑M) | $27,000 for 12 months, non-renewable. 2026 applications open: submit through the Research Portal by 1 December 2026, before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Follow any separate institution-specific admission requirements. |
| Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) | $70,000 per year for 24 months. 2026 NSERC application deadline passed. The published agency date is October 17, subject to NSERC’s weekend/holiday extension rule; CPRA forms part of the tri-agency CRTAS framework. |
| NSERC Indigenous Student Ambassadors (NISA) | Up to $5,000. Applications are submitted between two and six months before the proposed outreach activity. |
| Research Travel Supplements | The Canada Research Training Awards Suite Research Travel Supplements are currently listed by NSERC as closed. Applicants should not assume an older foreign-study supplement is currently accepting applications. |
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS‑D)
The CGRS‑D supports high-quality doctoral research training across the mandates of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. Applicants must select the agency that best matches the subject matter of their proposed research.
| Value | $40,000 per year |
|---|---|
| Duration | 36 months |
| 2026 application deadline | Direct-to-NSERC deadline passed (published October 17 date, subject to the weekend/holiday rule). Applicants applying through an institution must follow its separate internal deadline. |
| Results | By April 30 |
| Research scope | Research-oriented doctoral programmes across health, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences/humanities, depending on the selected agency. |
For NSERC-aligned applicants, the proposed research should fall within the natural sciences and engineering mandate.
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS‑M)
CGRS‑M supports research-oriented graduate training at eligible Canadian institutions. Applicants can submit to up to three eligible institutions through the Research Portal.
| Value | $27,000 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 months, non-renewable |
| 2026 deadline | Applications open until 1 December 2026, before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, through the Research Portal. |
| Tenure | Eligible Canadian institutions only |
| Citizenship / status | Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or Protected Person as of the deadline. |
| Academic requirement | Normally a first-class average in each of the last two completed years of study, subject to institutional discretion under the current rules. |
Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)
The CPRA is the current tri-agency postdoctoral award in the Canada Research Training Awards Suite.
| Value | $70,000 per year |
|---|---|
| Duration | 24 months |
| 2026 NSERC deadline | Passed (published October 17 date, subject to NSERC’s weekend/holiday rule). |
| Results | By March 31 |
| Research requirement | The proposed postdoctoral programme must be predominantly research oriented and meaningfully distinct from, or add substantially to, the doctoral research. |
Applicants generally must have completed all requirements for their doctorate or eligible health-professional degree within the specified three-year eligibility window, subject to published extensions for qualifying interruptions and circumstances.
International Applicant Eligibility: Key Differences
International eligibility is not uniform across NSERC-linked awards.
| CGRS‑M | Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or Protected Persons by the application deadline. International students without one of these statuses are not eligible under the current rules. |
|---|---|
| CGRS‑D | International applicants can be eligible if they are enrolled in their doctoral programme at an eligible Canadian institution by the deadline. Up to 15% of awards are available to international applicants. |
| CPRA | International applicants can be eligible if they are currently enrolled in or have completed an eligible doctorate/health-professional degree at a Canadian institution, or are conducting postdoctoral research at a Canadian institution. Up to 20% of awards are available to international applicants. |
| Holding an award abroad | Separate citizenship/status and Canadian-degree requirements apply to CGRS‑D and CPRA holders wishing to take the award to an eligible institution outside Canada. |
Current NSERC Graduate Supplements and Related Funding
NSERC’s live funding catalogue includes several targeted supplements relevant to graduate researchers. Their application routes and deadlines differ, and some are administered through institutions or partner organizations.
| Canadian Forest Sector Workforce Diversity supplement | Currently listed as open; deadline varies by institution. |
|---|---|
| Environment and Climate Change Canada Atmospheric and Meteorological graduate supplement | Currently listed as open. |
| Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aquatic Science supplement | Currently listed as open. |
| Supplement for Research in the Field of Impact Assessment | Currently listed as open. |
| Systematics Research graduate supplement | Currently listed as open; applicants should follow the sponsoring organisation’s process. |
| CRTAS Research Travel Supplements | Currently listed as closed. Monitor NSERC for a future competition rather than relying on old foreign-study deadlines. |
NSERC Indigenous Student Ambassadors (NISA)
NISA supports Indigenous students and postdoctoral researchers who promote participation in natural sciences and engineering by engaging with Indigenous communities and schools in Canada.
| Value | Up to $5,000 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Apply between two and six months before the proposed outreach activity. |
| Purpose | Science and engineering outreach in Indigenous communities and schools. |
How to Approach an NSERC Scholarship Application
- Select the correct federal agency. Your application should go to NSERC only when the research subject matter aligns with the natural sciences and engineering mandate.
- Check citizenship/status rules. Do not assume that all graduate awards are open to international applicants.
- Confirm the submission channel. For CGRS‑D, the required route depends on your registration status on the deadline date and/or during the application calendar year: submit through an eligible Canadian institution if required, or directly to NSERC if eligible for direct submission. The institution sets its own applicant deadline, while direct NSERC applicants follow the agency deadline. Using the wrong channel may result in rejection. CGRS‑M applications go through the Research Portal to eligible Canadian institutions.
- Check internal deadlines. A Canadian university may set departmental and graduate-school deadlines well before NSERC’s direct-agency deadline. Check with the institution; do not assume that the agency deadline applies to institution-routed CGRS‑D applications.
- Prepare evidence around the actual selection criteria. Academic record, research potential, research quality and relevant experience should be addressed directly.
- Check supplements separately. Targeted supplements can have different application routes, sponsor requirements and deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the CGRS‑D worth?
The current CGRS‑D value is $40,000 per year for 36 months.
How much is the CGRS‑M worth?
The current CGRS‑M value is $27,000 for 12 months and is non-renewable.
Can international students apply for CGRS‑M?
Not unless they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or Protected Person by the deadline. This is different from the current CGRS‑D international-applicant rule.
Can international students apply for CGRS‑D?
Yes, in defined circumstances. International applicants must be enrolled in an eligible Canadian doctoral programme by the deadline, and up to 15% of awards are available to international applicants.
What replaced the old NSERC postdoctoral fellowship framing?
The current tri-agency postdoctoral programme is the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA), valued at $70,000 per year for 24 months.
Are NSERC travel supplements currently open?
The current NSERC funding catalogue lists the Canada Research Training Awards Suite Research Travel Supplements as closed. Check the live funding catalogue for future competitions.
Official NSERC and Government of Canada Sources
| CGRS‑D | Current value, duration, eligibility, application route and October 17 published deadline. |
|---|---|
| CGRS‑M | Current $27,000 value, December 1 deadline and citizenship/status eligibility. |
| CPRA | Current $70,000/year postdoctoral award, 24-month duration and NSERC October 17 published deadline. |
| NSERC funding catalogue | Current status of graduate supplements and Research Travel Supplements. |
| Interagency calendar | 2026 competition deadlines for CGRS‑D, CGRS‑M and CPRA. |
| Last verified | 7 November 2026 |
